Our International students add a richness and diversity to our school culture and allow our domestic students to gain an understanding of what life is like in other parts of the world.

In this newsletter, I would like to feature our our successful International Department which is led by Cathy Shearer (Director of International Students)and Mary-Jane Konings (ESOL teacher). It is also supported by our generous  volunteers,  Gerry Fennessey, former Deputy Principal and Director of International Students at Roncalli College, and Kevin Walker, former Deputy Principal at St Kevin's College in Oamaru.  Both Gerry and Kevin have extensive knowledge and experience in both mainstream and international education and have an amazing rapport with our students.

Currently, we are fortunate to have 34 international students at Roncalli College representing the following countries:

United States, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Fiji.

These students add a richness and diversity to our school culture and allow our domestic students to gain an understanding of what life is like in other parts of the world. It is pleasing to see how they quickly adapt to the New Zealand way of life and take advantage of co-curricular activities on offer including: The School Production (Singin' In The Rain Jr.), Choir, Young Vinnies, Hillary Award, Loaves and Fishes, Sport and Music.

We are also very fortunate to have some excellent homestay options for our international students. Many of these homestay families have a long-standing association with the College and treat the students as one of their own. Many of the relationships formed last long beyond the schooling years. In fact, I know of several host families who have traveled overseas to attend the wedding  of an international student they hosted years prior.

Congratulations to our 11 international students who sat the Speech New Zealand examination recently: Dimitri Albertini, Lennart Hoenicke, Mayu Ito, Ryunosuke Iwai (Glen), Rina Iwaki, Momori Jingi, Junsub Kim (Ricky), Yumi Onoyama,Simon Roenner, Panthbut Saysuttiwong, Gian Zetzmann, Students worked hard and achieved at Distinction or Merit level! Well done!

On 4 April, Education South Canterbury hosted its annual Mayoral Welcome at Caroline Bay. We were treated to a performance of the National Anthem from the Roncalli Choir and a solo performance of Welcome Home (Dave Dobbyn) by Caitlin Bradley, our Head Girl.  In addition, there were performances by the TGHS Kapa Haka Group and Mountainview's Jazz Band as well as a formal welcome by the Mayor Damon Odey. 

The morning was capped off with an impressive morning tea put on by the Timaru District Council, which was appreciated by all.

On Thursday, 5 April, our international students, staff and caregivers shared a potluck dinner to farewell our three 2018 Asahikawa Fuji Girls’ High School: Dimitri Albertini, Mayu Ito and Momori Jingi. Thank you, Dimi, Mayu and Momori, for choosing to study at Roncalli College and we wish you all the best for the future. We hope to see you again one day!

We are always looking for additional caring host families for our international students. If you are interested or would like more information about hosting a student, please contact our Homestay Facilitator, Su Palmer (her contact details are included in this newsletter).