Southeast Kootenay School DistrictInternational Education Program

British Columbia, Canada

Printed February, 2009

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Southeast Kootenay School DistrictLocated in the Canadian Rocky Mountains nearworld-famous Banff National Park.

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Lake Agnes, Banff National Park

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City of CranbrookCranbrook (population 25,000) is the most important

city of the Southeast Kootenay Region.

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Cranbrook has an international airport, public buses, shopping malls, movie theatres, new aquatic centre, recreation facilities and almost all the services found in larger cities.

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Cranbrook International Airport There are several flights daily from the

Vancouver and Calgary International Airports, and regular flights from Salt Lake City, USA.

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Cranbrook Recreation Complex

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Ice hockey games attract up to 4,500 people. Many international students go to the games and some volunteer to help with the entertainment.

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City of FernieFernie is located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies and is famous for its ski resort, scenery and outdoor recreation.

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Fernie Alpine Resort

• Rated as the 6th best ski resort in North America – Outside Magazine

• Located only 5 minutes from the city

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City of Sparwood

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Sparwood is a small city located 25 minutes northeast of Fernie and the Fernie Alpine Resort.

Sparwood is a great choice for students who want to live in a place with very few other international students. We accept a maximum of 3 students who speak the same language.

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Southeast Kootenay Region• Main cities are Cranbrook, Fernie and Sparwood• Almost 100% English-speaking community• Safe, small cities• Outstanding scenery and recreational activities

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Kootenay River14

Southeast Kootenay School District• Operates high schools in the Cities of

Cranbrook, Fernie and Sparwood• One of the top-ranked high school programs

in BC because of its high graduation rate

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Facts and Figures• Our schools are public and operated by the

government of British Columbia• 93% of students attend public schools• The BC government applies the same high

standards to all schools in the province• Each year, consists of two semesters

starting in September and February

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Mount Baker Secondary SchoolCranbrook, BC

Grades: 10, 11 and 12 Population: 1,000 students

Athletics: basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, rugby, badminton , track and field, cross-country running and golf

Fine Arts: Concert and Jazz Band, Concert and Vocal Jazz Choir, Theatre Production, Theatre Performance, Drama Film & Television, Visual Arts & Media Technology.

Other Electives: Calculus, French, German, Spanish, Accounting, Marketing, Business Computer Applications, Hospitality & Tourism, Food Studies, Law, Psychology, Strength & Conditioning and many more.

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Mount Baker Secondary School

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Fernie Secondary School

Grades: 7 to 12 Population: 425 students

Athletics: Grade 7/8 – basketball , volleyball, x-country running and trackSchool teams – basketball, volleyball, ski/snowboard, golf and soccer

Fine Arts: Guitar, Theatre Performance, Musical Theatre productions, and Photography, Studio Arts and Media Arts

Other Electives: Calculus, French, Information Technology, Accounting, Business Education, Law, Earth Science, Geology, Food Studies, Textile Studies, Cook Training and more.

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Sparwood Secondary SchoolA brand new school opened in September, 2008

Grades: 7 to 12 Population: 350 students

Athletics: Basketball, volleyball, soccer, ski/snowboard, curling, track, cross-country running, golf and badminton

Fine Arts: junior band, drama, studio art,

Electives: Grades 7 to 9 – woodworking, metalworking, home economics, information technology and French

Grades 10 to 12 – woodworking, metalworking, food studies, textile studies, French, computer information systems, communications, history, geography, social justice and calculus

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Middle SchoolsMost international students in grades 7 to 9 attend the Parkland Middle School in Cranbrook, which was officially opened in 2003.

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Parkland Middle SchoolCranbrook

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Grades: 7 to 9 Population: 450 students

Athletics: basketball, volleyball and noon hour sports

Fine Arts: band, choir, drama and art

Electives: French Immersion, French 9, woodwork, metalwork, information technology and food studies

International EducationIn 2009/2010, we will host about 70 international students from Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Spain and Colombia.

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Quality Care• The greatest strength of our program is the high

quality of care we provide for students• Homestays are considered the most important

part of the student’s experience in Canada• Our homestay program is managed and operated

directly by the school district

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Homestay Support• Our friendly homestay coordinators work closely with

students to ensure their stay is successful and enjoyable• All staff speak more than one language and have lived in

a non-English-speaking culture.• Available languages are Spanish, German & Japanese

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International Student Assistant

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Our International Student Assistant works full time in the schools helping our international students in the classroom, arranging course selections, and solving any problems the student might have.

International Student Assistant

Family-Style Program• Small program where all students are

important and part of our “international family”• Annual International Dinner for host families

(students provide the entertainment)• Farewell parties at the end of each semester

28International Night Dinner International Night Entertainment

Multicultural DaysInternational students present their culture to Canadian elementary school students.

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International Program Staff• Martin Ross, Director• Nahoko Sugihara, Program Coordinator• Ulli Murtagh, Homestay Coordinator (Cranbrook)• Kim Hopkins, Homestay Coordinator (Fernie)• Barb Snopek, International Student Assistant• Frances Kirkpatrick, ESL

– Spanish speaker

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Activities Included in Tuition FeesStudents enjoy a wide range of activities including an overnight trip to Banff National Park, ski and snowboard days, river rafting, dog sledding, a three day trip to Edmonton and the famous West Edmonton Mall, and many more possibilities.

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Fairmont Hot Springs

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Climate• Cranbrook is the sunniest city in the province

of British ColumbiaSummer• Average high temperature in July is 28oCWinter• Cranbrook is located on the warmer side of

the Canadian Rocky Mountains• Average high in winter months is –1oC• Average low in winter months is – 6oC

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International Education in Canada• Canadian accent is considered standard• International students are welcomed by

Canadians• The United Nations often ranks Canada as

the best place to live in the world • Wide open spaces and beautiful scenery

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