Headstart 2018

By Sarah Harvey This year’s HeadStart program welcomed 28 new international students to our school. Middle and Senior School students from Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan and Austria joined us for a week designed to allow them to familiarize themselves with GNS and Victoria and to offer a taste of their new lives in Canada. For many, this was also a first opportunity to meet the Host Families with whom they will spend their time in Canada. Three of our wonderful teachers, Elspeth Horn, Robert Marthaller and Carlene Nex, led our new community members through a week of introductions, games and tours. Students explored their new surroundings via a scavenger hunt through Oak Bay Village, lunch downtown and a tour of the BC Legislature Buildings. On Thursday morning the group enjoyed a kayak adventure, departing our Beach Drive Campus and paddling the waters surrounding the school. Today they completed valuable service hours at Haliburton Farms, working together in the dirt! Throughout the week students had the opportunity to earn “GNS Bucks” through their participation, enthusiasm and involvement in program activities. Lively auctions of GNS “swag” concluded each day with Mr. Marthaller acting as a very entertaining auctioneer. The HeadStart program offers an exciting beginning to the school year, as international families arrive with their students, all very excited, and nervous about the adventures ahead. The energy on campus is infectious as we watch students discover their new environment and meet new friends from all over the world. If you see one of our new international students on campus next week, be sure to welcome them to our school and to Canada! They are on a very exciting journey and we’re so lucky to have them!