School District No. 73 (Kamloops/Thompson) SCHOOL DISTRICT No. 73 KAMLOOPS / THOMPSON international education BRITISH COLUMBIA - CANADA

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1 School District No. 73 (Kamloops/Thompson) international education BRITISH COLUMBIA - CANADA

2 a natural choice for study in canada Photo: Railway Bridge over the Thompson River Canada british British Columbia columbia Canada Kamloops vancouver Vancouver toronto Toronto 1

3 Our Location School District No. 73 (Kamloops/Thompson) international education The Kamloops Thompson School District is located in Western Canada in the beautiful Province of British Columbia. This location is a top choice for International students due to the quality of our educational system and a mild climate. Kamloops is nestled in South-Central British Columbia where the region supports approximately 500,000 residents. We are proud to be a University City with Thompson Rivers University, a leader in International Education. Over 13,000 university students choose to study here with 90 different countries being represented on campus and in our community. We are fortunate to enjoy four seasons throughout the year in a beautiful area that lends itself to hiking, skiing, boating, golf and many outdoor and indoor athletic pursuits. In fact, Kamloops is proud to be the Sports Capital of British Columbia and pleased to welcome and host many sporting events at our modern Tournament Center facility and other community sporting sites. Kamloops Our School District The Kamloops Thompson School District spans a very large geographical area with a diverse natural environment including hills, mountains, rivers, lakes and grasslands. This environment lends itself to many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Kamloops is a University City with Thompson Rivers University in the heart of our community. We are 97% native English speaking providing students with a rich immersion experience as part of a Canadian family in their homestays and chances to make friends in the classroom and in the larger community. Our District serves over 15,000 students attending 33 elementary schools, 10 senior secondary schools and 1 middle school. International students can choose between a multiple schools and are assisted in finding the best match for their educational needs and other interests. International Students are well supported during their stay in Kamloops with comfortable, caring homestay families, hard-working teachers, English as a Second Language support as required and counseling support. A vibrant Activities Program with several activities every month keeps students connected and assists them in making friends while enjoying sports and cultural experiences. With a team approach, students are well oriented to become acquainted in their new setting. 2

4 City of Kamloops Kamloops is a city in south central British Columbia, located in a beautiful river valley. Our city, with a population reaching close to 100,000, is situated where the two branches of the Thompson River meet. Kamloops in the local First Nations language actually means meeting of the waters! It is the largest community in region and is home to the centre for regional government s offices, an international airport with many daily connections and great shopping and other community facilities. It is important to know that our province of British Columbia is famous for having a mild climate when compared to the rest of Canada. In addition, Kamloops has been recognized as one of the warmest cities in all of Canada giving our students amazing recreational and lifestyle choices! 3 Map 2 Ov erlanders Park 6 8 6th Ave 3rd Ave 10th Ave = River Trails: cycling/walking/rollerblading To Stak e La ke Rec re ation Ar ea SaHali Secondary School NorKam Secondary School Westsyde Secondary School Beattie School of the Arts South Kamloops Secondary School Valleyview Secondary School International Student Program Office Thompson Rivers University

5 KAMLOOPS CLIMATE - TEMPERATURE ºC Jul Ago Sep Oct Nov Dic Ene Feb Mar Abr May Jun ºC Average high Daily mean Most of all, I grew up as a person and citizen of the world. I went to Canada planning to stay for six months to learn English and to get to know the Canadian culture but the truth is I fell in love with Kamloops and ended up staying for two years doing the graduation program. Always when I talk to other people I recommend that they go to Kamloops as an international student because I am sure that my experience there couldn t have been better. I have friends in Kamloops and all over the world now and I have a family in Kamloops. My host family is my second family; the connection we have is amazing! I think staying in a Canadian family is the best way to learn the culture and to have a true Canadian experience. The fact is, it s easier to learn the language being in a family. The staff and teachers couldn t have been more patient and caring. They would always try to help me understand their course the best way they could, many times spending their lunch hour to help me and other students. and to help out with my English. My experience as an international student changed my life in a better way. Even my choice for a university program changed. I thought I would take Engineering but now I am going into a university program called International Relations. Most of all, I grew up as a person and citizen of the world. Laura Mourao - Brazil 4

6 School District No. 73 Kamloops / Thompson High Schools Our Kamloops International Student Program currently offers International student placements in 6 high schools. Each school has its own unique programs and shares in our District s excellent reputation for high standards and for learners good academic results. All schools offer similar core academic courses that are required for graduation. There are many other interesting courses available to students that enhance their education in a broader way. These courses may vary from school to school. Some academic courses may transfer to the student s home country. Upon request, our counselors will assist in helping you with this process. Students should request courses that best match with their academic goals. The earlier the registration, the more likely we will be able to accommodate your requests. Advising us of alternate choices will assist us in finding the best courses for you! Our school year is ten months in length. It is based on a semester system with two semesters of five months each. The semesters are: (1) September to the end of January and (2) February to the end of June. Students can also choose to come for a shorter period of study of one month or more during the school year. The following information gives you a brief introduction to our secondary schools available for international students. A full list of course offerings is outlined in our schools programs mini-brochure. This mini-brochure shows each school and the course options available. Please note that all courses are subject to availability and may change. NorKam Secondary School Beattie School of the Arts Beattie School of the Arts is a small boutique art school with approximately 200 students in grades At our school we believe in Learning Through the Arts. The art forms of dance, drama, music, and visual arts are integrated into instruction in the academic areas to allow students to learn through the arts. As well, the arts are taught separately to give students an opportunity to develop skills in dance, drama, music, singing and visual arts. In addition to our strong arts focus, the provincial curriculum is also taught with expertise. This includes the areas of English Language Literary, Mathematics, Sciences, Social Studies, Physical Activity, French, Health, Career Education, and the Arts. We warmly welcome international students to join our small but amazing school of arts! NorKam Secondary School is one of our city s finest schools and is the heart of the north section of Kamloops. With a school population of almost 900 students and 80 staff members, international students are guaranteed a real Canadian high school experience! Students range from Grades Some of the highlights of our school include being one of the only IB (International Baccalaureate) Secondary Schools in the province! Other features of our school include a strong ESL program to help international students, amazing programs in multi-media and film studies, culinary arts courses, and metal jewellery art and design programs. NorKam has a strong history of athletic excellence which includes rugby, volleyball, football, wrestling, badminton and track and field and many other sports options. Special care is given to our students with options such as our Success Club, which assists students after school in tutoring and helping with homework if needed. We aim to help our students achieve their goals! 5

7 SaHali Secondary One of the region s most popular schools, Sahali Secondary School offers students a wide range of options and courses. Home to over 800 students in Grades 8-12, our school also features a full ESL language support program for international students that may need additional assistance with English. Within walking distance to Thompson Rivers University, we are located in the centre of Kamloops close to recreational facilities, shopping centers, movie theatres, medical clinics and restaurants. Sahali is well known for its top programs in Drama/Theatre, Business, Accounting and Mathematics. Our school is also home to an innovative partnership program with Thompson Rivers University and DigiPen in the area of Digital Design (DigiPen Program Game Design/Animation Computer Science Academy). Sahali hosts amazing sports programs to participate in, including an award winning girls soccer program. Valleyview Secondary Westsyde Secondary School South Kamloops Senior Secondary South Kamloops is the largest secondary school in the region. The school s student population is approximately 1400 students ranging from Grades The large student population provides expanded opportunities for student course offerings. In addition to offering all levels of core programs, several honours programs are supported in English, Mathematics, and Science. We have great leadership courses and South Kamloops also has a student council that allows students to develop capacity in leadership. Our school offers a comprehensive French Immersion Program as well as many courses in additional second languages. Students are offered courses, which include concert choir, vocal jazz, concert band and music composition/technology in our state of the modern City/School District music room. The school is home for the 710-seat performance Sagebrush Theatre complex Located on the south-eastern side of the city, Valleyview Secondary School encompasses a large geographical area, including suburbs and semi-rural neighbourhoods. Our school s student population is approximately 750 in Grades A large range of courses are provided to our students including all the regular course offerings plus Culinary Arts, Drama, Dance, Art Metal, Law and Social Psychology. Our school also is known for its strong programs in student leadership and peer mentorship, allowing students that are interested in developing social and personal leadership skills a chance to grow and learn together. In addition a wide range of after school sports and cultural options are available for students to participate in while studying here in Kamloops. Valleyview is also proud to host the school district s Hockey Academy and is home of the Kamloops Blazers Hockey Team players. Westsyde is located in northern neighbourhood of Kamloops. Approximately 720 students from Grades 8-12 join our school to make it a warm and friendly environment. Our school offers a full range of courses plus many additional elective courses in arts, sciences and other areas. Our school is well-known for its fine programs in music including outstanding band and choir programs. Educational Music trips to places such as San Francisco, Victoria, New York City and Seattle have been highlights of the Music Program at Westsyde. Student concert performances are one of the highlights of the school s calendar. In addition, a top Fine Arts Program, Performing Arts Westsyde uses an integrated approach to the arts with drama, theatre, music and visual arts, making our school a great choice for those that are interested in the arts. Strong student sport teams and after school activities in various areas are also a prominent feature of our school. 6

8 Elementary Schools Our District has 33 Elementary Schools. We currently accept Elementary International Students if accompanied by a parent. Our elementary students have been very happy in their learning in the District and are welcomed by students and staff alike. We also welcome short-term groups who come to join us for a cultural/ language experience. Our program has added value with activities designed to immerse students in our community to give them a truly Canadian experience! We look forward to working with agents and schools to arrange a quality program designed to meet your individual programming needs. Please contact our office for further details. 7

9 Activities and Recreation We are pleased to offer a vibrant activities program for our International Students! Our Activities Manager provides many opportunities for students to engage in the many recreational and cultural learning that our community affords! With four seasons and a mild, pleasant climate, Kamloops is a natural playground. We are Sports Capital of Canada! Our Olympic size swimming pool and sports center welcomes all with modern facilities including weight and exercise rooms, availability of personal trainers, an indoor and outdoor track and many playing fields for baseball, soccer, grass hockey etc. Year round sports opportunities abound with some of the favourites being curling, skating, hiking, tennis, water sports, golfing and of course skiing and snowboarding! Two local mountains provide a wonderful setting for these popular winter activities including Sun Peaks, a world renowned year round resort; the official North American training site for the Austrian National Ski Team. For those who prefer a little less active life-style, Kamloops provides opportunities for shopping, movie theatres, watching our own Kamloops Hockey Team, quality restaurants, free Music in the Park during the summer months, and live theatre. There are many choices of activities to consider while in Kamloops; a great place to live, study and visit! 8

10 Introduction to Our Programs Short Programs Our District provides quality educational and cultural experiences for International students from around the world! Canada s ranking on the International PISA test is extremely high - one of the world leaders in English, Math and Science. Within Canada, the Province of British Columbia is also one of the highest ranking provinces with the Kamloops Thompson School District No. 73 being one of the best in the province. Our expectations for students are high and our commitment to quality is evident in our attention to details and support given to students in providing solid educational experiences and excellent student results. We offer a variety of programs to suit the needs of our students. We provide support for our students with Counseling and English as a Second Language as required. Program Options include: Our programs combine the best of academics along with cultural immersions that allow students to truly experience Canada and have the chance for personal growth during their time here. We focus on helping students have a chance to discover themselves while living and learning in a high-quality, friendly environment. Students, parents and agents may request placement in a particular school and our International Program will do our best to match each student in one of our amazing schools. Special Programs Our District has many special programs to interest our students including but not limited to the following: IB Program (NorKam Secondary) ~ Grade 11 & 12 Program by application, extra cost and excellent English skills are required. Beattie School of the Arts ~ Students learn through living and learning the Arts through a fully integrated experience! Hockey Academy (Valleyview Secondary) ~ by application, hockey skills required. Advanced Placement Courses (Various Schools) ~ Academic Courses that offer University Transfer Credits. Thompson Rivers University Transition and University Credit Courses. DigiPen Course (SaHali Secondary) ~ Digital Game Design / Animation Computer Science Academy. Our District is the only District in British Columbia to be sanctioned by the BC Ministry of Education to give credit to International students living abroad for courses taken outside of Canada. These courses are provided through the internet and are highly interactive between the teacher and the student. For more information see: Short Term Programs We offer many short term learning experiences for International Students. Depending on enrolment, we offer Fall, Winter and Summer Camps. We also are flexible in designing program to suit the needs of students. Please contact us for further details. We look forward to working with you to design exciting programs that share our culture and community with International students! 9

11 Homestay Experience With a Canadian Family Our quality Homestay Program is a very important part of what we offer in Kamloops. Our Homestay Manager is experienced in finding quality families to care for our students. These families are pre-screened and are required to have a police background check. Our Manager trains homestay families, visits homes, and reviews and monitors placements. We are responsive to the needs of our students and any problems that may arise are resolved quickly and always with the student s best interest in mind. The Homestay Application Form provides us with important information to assist us in matching students interests and lifestyle with the new Host Family. We work as a team to make the best placement and to manage the homestay experience, thereby making the Kamloops/Thompson School District one of the most positive choices for international students! Our quality Homestays provide students with the following: 3 meals a day ~ snacks also provided Our students are placed as close to the attending school as possible, often within walking distance or in an area served by a school bus. City bus passes are provided for free through the program if the student requires a city bus to travel to school. a private room airport pick up working with and overseeing students at home and during after school hours a warm and welcoming Canadian family. [I]t s easier to learn the language being in a family. My host family is my second family; the connection we have is amazing! I think staying in a Canadian family is the best way to learn the culture and to have a true Canadian experience. The fact is it s easier to learn the language being in a family. Laura Braz Maurao ~ Brazil 10

12 For even more information about our amazing international student program and our city, please feel free to contact us or to visit the following websites: Our International Student Program: isp.sd73.bc.ca Thompson Rivers University: The City of Kamloops: School District No. 73 (Kamloops/Thompson) international education For further information regarding our International Student Program, please contact: Kamloops/Thompson School District International Student Program 1770 Springview Place, Kamloops, BC V2E 1X9 CANADA Phone: +1 (778) Fax: +1 (250)