Kurumi Mori - Japan

I am so appreciative that I came to Hillmorton High School because the teachers and students are very kind and friendly. I was so nervous on my first school day, however, I felt like that I would be okay. That was because the teachers supported me and some students were nice to me even though we had just met each other for the first time.

I am pretty sure that Hillmorton High School is the only school that provides international students with so many opportunities. Amongst others, we have a welcome party, swimming sports, athletics sports, Stage Challenge, school formal and the international trip to Tekapo.

I can develop what I want to do as well. The teachers introduced me to an orchestra and some concert bands once I told them that I can play the piano and saxophone. They ordered some professional teachers for me to learn my instruments more. I am really enjoying performing with other people in bands. I am doing well academically. I study a rang of subjects across different levels and am on track to meet my goal of Level 3 NCEA.

I also really enjoy living with my homestay family. They understand what I want to do and are supportive of my musical activities; they are always nice to me and I always feel comfortable - it is like my real home. My family helps me with my English as we have a lot of conversations together.

Thania Zagal Fernandez - Chile

It has been an amazing experience. You can choose your subjects and meet other people from all over the world. The host families have been awesome - it's really cool to spend time with them.

Elias Rannoch - Germany

My experience in Christchurch at Hillmorton has been amazing so far. I've met a variety of different nice people who I've become good friends with. With the school and the subjects I'm studying I've visited a lot of different places and gathered a lot of good memories.

Carla Heller - Germany

Coming to Hillmorton is a great experience for me. At first, I was a bit scared, going alone to a strange country. But my host family is so lovely, and I was part of their family immediately. School here is very different to Germany; it took me a little bit to get used to it, but people are helpful. I’ve found really good friends at Hillmorton and because of that I will be really sad when I have to go home.

Ngan Dang - Viet Nam

During my time at Hillmorton High School, I have made great friends and memories. I really enjoy the various events and extracurricular activities at school such as the Cultural Day and sports.

The school provides great opportunities for students to get involved in the community and take on leadership roles. Everyone here is so supportive and they inspire me to strive for my personal best. With the help of my teachers, I have achieved great results in my NCEA assessments, and I embedded myself well within the school community.

Overall, I really enjoy being a student at Hillmorton High School. I have gained many valuable skills that I can apply in real life, and I am looking forward to using my knowledge to pursue tertiary studies in New Zealand in the future.

Chamabadee (Ploy) Suphakit - Thailand

Going to Hillmorton was the biggest change in my life, with the most welcoming experience as an international student. Both the fun times and the challenges I faced were important in my personal development to shape me to be who I am and where I am today.

It helped me so much in my transition to studying Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University and where I was the first international student to be selected for a Future Leader Scholarship.

Ryota Tezuka - Japan

I chose to study at Hillmorton High School because I want to study English and automotive engineering - I can do both at Hillmorton. My dream is to be a Formula 1 pit crew member in the future, so I need English and to understand cars. It’s really hard, but the students and teachers here are very kind. If I have a problem, they help me so I can work towards my dream.

I play many sports at school, and I’ve made friends - it is important for international life. Hillmorton has many sports so there is always something you want to do. Being a beginner is no problem. I had never played hockey, but I could play - it’s fun and I made new friends through it.

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