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Home Contact LKDSB |
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International Students |
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Welcome to the Lambton Kent District School Board!
The Lambton Kent District School Board provides educational services to more than 26,000 students in 66 elementary and secondary schools. Lambton and Kent County are made up of numerous small towns and communities situated in Southwestern Ontario, a geographic area surrounded by the Great Lakes. International Students choose to study with the LKDSB because it:
We have municipal offices in the two main centers in our district: The Municipality of Chatham-Kent (www.chatham-kent.ca) and the City of Sarnia (www.sarnia.com). We are ideally situated to provide international students with easy access to major centers such as Toronto and Niagara Falls, but small enough to offer a true Canadian experience to visiting students. Frequently asked questions are below.
The following contacts would be pleased to assist you: Gayle Stucke, Director of EducationPhone: 800-754-7125 (x297) Fax: 519-336-1471 Email: stuckega@lkdsb.net Penny Daniels, Community Partnerships Officer Phone: 519-354-3770 (x262) Fax: 519-354-8222 Email: danielpe@lkdsb.net Dennis Hill, International Education Program Coordinator Phone: 519-355-7158 Fax: 519-354-8222 Email: hillde@lkdsb.net Tom Curtin, International Education Program Consultant Phone: 519-351-9540 Fax: 519-354-8222 Email: curtinto@lkdsb.net
How is the Ontario education system organized? District school boards administer publicly funded elementary and secondary schools in Ontario. The Lambton Kent District School Board works within the framework provided by The Ministry of Education and Training (www.edu.gov.on.ca) Students typically attend school from the age of 4 to 18. Elementary education is completed at the end of grade 8. Secondary schools offer programs from grade 9 to grade 12. To receive an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), a student must complete at least 30 credits. Students planning to attend university will require at least six university/college preparation courses in their senior level of studies. How is your school year structured? The school year for both elementary and secondary students runs from the beginning of September until the end of June. The secondary school year is divided into two semesters; semester I from September to January, and semester II from February to June. Why should an international student choose to study with the Lambton Kent District School Board? International students are provided with a safe and welcoming environment where they can obtain a quality educational experience while developing a deeper appreciation for the diverse social and cultural society that is Canada. International students can expect to gain new perspectives, new friends and a new understanding of the global nature of society. We are proud of our schools, our highly educated and qualified teachers, our students and our safe and caring school communities. We would like to share them with students from other countries and cultures. What program opportunities are available to international students? International students are provided with the same high quality instruction and support services available to our resident students during the school year. Secondary students are provided with the opportunity to achieve ‘credits’ that may qualify them to attend colleges and universities in Ontario and abroad. Because our communities are relatively homogeneous, international students enrolled in our schools can expect to be immersed in an English-only speaking environment that accelerates their understanding and usage of the English language. Can students enroll at any time? Are there time limits involved? Yes, students can enroll at any time. Elementary students can request permission to attend for a period ranging from one month to one year. Secondary students, especially those who wish to receive ‘credit’ for their studies, should consider either a full semester (5 month) and/or full year (10 month) commitment. What experience has the Lambton Kent District School Board had with international students? Over the past three years, international students have shown an increasing interest in our system. For the 2007-08 school year, over 130 international students chose to live in our community and study in one of our schools. We expect this number to increase over time as many of the students who were introduced to our system as elementary students are now requesting permission to complete their entire secondary school program (4 years) with us. What age and/or grade level of students are accepted by the Lambton Kent District School Board? The Lambton Kent District School Board accepts students from ages 9 to 20. Each student will be placed in the appropriate class setting from grade 4 to grade 12. Can an international student select the school that they would like to attend? Each year the Lambton Kent District School Board asks school principals who would like to host international students whether there is space available in their respective schools. Quite often, home stay accommodation determines the schools from which international students may choose. The Lambton Kent District School Board makes every effort to satisfy the requests of international students.
How do I get permission to study in Canada and with the Lambton Kent District School Board? The requirements for studying in Canada vary by the country of origin and the length of stay under consideration. If you would like to enroll as a student in one of our Lambton Kent District School Board schools, you will need a letter of acceptance from the Board inviting you to study in our system. For students who intend to study for less than six months, a study permit is usually not required. For students who intend to stay longer than six months, a study permit is needed. It is usually necessary to acquire this permit prior to entering Canada. For more detailed information, go to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.asp. Does an international student need to be represented by an agent and/or sponsor to study with the Lambton Kent District School Board? No. Individual students and groups of students are welcome to apply without representation by an agent and/or sponsor. However, a local sponsor familiar with the Lambton Kent District School Board system and the community can provide important insight and assistance, especially with respect to identifying appropriate home stay accommodation. Does the Lambton Kent District School Board provide home stay services? The Lambton Kent District School Board provides assistance with home stay accommodation in certain circumstances. Most students that enroll in our system are represented by an agent or sponsor who acts as guardian and provides this service for students. What are the tuition fees for the 2008 - 09 School Year? Secondary Fees: $10,500* per year or $1,050* per month Elementary Fees: $9700* per year or $970* per month At present, an application fee is not required. However, students must pay the entire fee for the period approved in their letter of acceptance prior to attending one of our schools. For students who wish to extend their stay, the appropriate fees will be determined and are payable prior to the extension being granted. For students who request permission to leave our system prior to their approved period, the appropriate refund will be calculated and provided to the student. Students who attend a Lambton Kent District School Board school for any part of a month are required to pay the ‘per month’ fee quoted above. Do tuition fees include comprehensive health insurance coverage? Health Insurance coverage is included in the fees listed above. Comprehensive health insurance is mandatory in Ontario and every international student must have documented evidence of this coverage while studying in the province. How do I begin the application process? If you are seriously considering studying in a school under the jurisdiction of the Lambton Kent District School Board, you should contact one of the representatives listed below. Once it has been determined that our system has a program appropriate to your needs, an official letter of acceptance will be issued which can then be used to apply for the credentials and documentation that you may need to study in Canada. Who should an international student contact for more information or assistance in applying to study with the Lambton Kent District School Board? The following contacts would be pleased to assist you: Gayle Stucke, Director of Education Phone: 800-754-7125 (x297) Fax: 519-336-1471 Email: stuckega@lkdsb.net Penny Daniels, Community Partnerships Officer Phone: 519-354-3770 (x262) Fax: 519-354-8222 Email: danielpe@lkdsb.net
Dennis Hill, International Education Program Coordinator Phone: 519-355-7158 Fax: 519-354-8222 Email: hillde@lkdsb.net Tom Curtin, International Education Program Consultant Phone: 519-351-9540 Fax: 519-354-8222 Email: curtinto@lkdsb.net
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Lambton Kent District School Board students enjoy a visit to a temple at Pulguksa with their Busan Dongsung School classmates as part of the LKDSB student trip to Korea.
