15 New Students from 6 Countries
Our international student program added 15 new students this year from 6 different countries. “That is the most new students we have had in about 6 years or so,” says program director Kyle Kempster, “It is also exciting that we have a balanced amount of students.” There are 6 students from Spain, 6 from Korea, 5 from Vietnam, and 1 each from Norway, Brazil and Thailand.
Students and Families Work Together at Orientation
50 students and host family members worked together at the orientation to review program objectives and activities and worked to establish expectations for school and home. Having so many new students can be a challenge with cultural differences. ISP director Kyle Kempster and Korean student agent Chanho Song presented ways to approach cultural differences and outlined a theme to love different. Kempster adds. “It is important to recognize differences and to not see them as bad or good, but just different. And then love that. Embrace it. Be transformed by it.” Students and families were asked to discuss their expectations. Students met and talked with each other about their expectations and host families met with each other to discuss theirs. They were asked to discuss them together in their homes.
ISP Activities
Students and families reviewed the calendar of activities that includes a monthly cultural event. This can be an American activity like pumpkin carving or an international activity like Asian New Year.
Western Michigan Christian High School and Middle School is a 7-12 Christian school in Norton Shores Michigan and is a member of West Michigan Christian Schools that includes Fremont Christian School, Grand Haven Christian School, Muskegon Christian School and New Era Christian School.
