associate superintendent of curriculum and innovation, Chad Kuzyk
Fifty-eight international students are in Livingstone Range School Division classrooms this year.
The students are from Azerbaijan Austria, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain and Turkey.
“It’s been a successful year, international programming, and what that has to offer our schools,” associate superintendent of curriculum and innovation Chad Kuzyk said.
“This is the biggest year we’ve ever had.
Kuzyk was at the Jan. 18 school board meeting at the G.R. Davis Administration Building in Fort Macleod to provide trustees with an update.
F.P. Walshe school in Fort Macleod is hosting the most international students with 13.
J.T. Foster school in Nanton has nine international students, Livingstone school in Lundbreck and Matthew Halton school in Pincher Creek each has seven, and Crowsnest Consolidated has six.
“I had the privilege to pick a student up last week,” Kuzyk said of meeting the student at the Calgary airport. “It was very interesting to see his excitement, his enthusiasm, to come to this program.”
Kuzyk said there is growing demand from international students, which means more host families are needed.
International students must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before boarding a flight to Canada.
They may be required to take another COVID test upon arrival and quarantine until they receive the test results, usually within 24 hours.
Kuzyk told trustees that as of Jan. 15 some foreign national travellers, who previously were allowed to enter Canada without being fully vaccinated, are now required to be fully vaccinated.
There are also changes to testing and quarantine exemptions for certain travellers entering Canada.
International students download the ArriveCan app prior to arrival for tracking purposes.
Livingstone Range officials pick up students from the airport and transport them to homestay families.
Students wear masks, socially distance and handle their own luggage.
“We’re trying to make it as safe as possible for everyone,” Kuzyk said.
Virtual Semester 2 student orientation is Jan. 31 via Google Meet.
“What we’re doing is having impact beyond our borders, and it’s very exciting,” Kuzyk said.
Trustee Greg Long praised Kuzyk for the success of the international program.
“It’s an experience that is life-changing,” Long said.
Kuzyk said the program is a team effort requiring the work of everyone involved.
“This program is from word of mouth,” Kuzyk said. “It’s from people who come here who have gone back and shared it with others. They want to be a part of it too.”
