Office of International Education Global Newsletter - Vol 2 - December 2021

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION NEWSLETTER

ISSUE 3 | DECEMBER 2021

Dear Global Lancer Families and Friends, Christmas and the New Year are fast approaching!

This past year has been quite challenging for all of us, but it is encouraging that the global situation has improved since last December. At Kennedy Catholic High School, we are so grateful that all students, staff, and faculty are safe and happily back in school thanks to the school-wide vaccination.

We welcomed all students back to school in August with 100% in-person instruction this year! Despite U.S. Embassy closures worldwide and travel restrictions due to COVID-19, about 20 new international students from Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain, UAE, and Vietnam joined us this fall. We are so grateful that they chose Kennedy Catholic and traveled to the U.S. under these difficult conditions.

I can feel the students’ energy and happiness on campus every day! It’s amazing to see how they are actively participating in school life this year.

It’s as if they were in a hurry to make up for lost time. Compared to the past three years, more international students are participating in sports and clubs, International Education (IE) student monthly lunch meetings, monthly Extraordinary Experience field trips, and other school events and activities.

Homecoming Dance was held at the popular MoPOP | Museum of Pop Culture in downtown Seattle in September. About 700 students attended in formal attire and spent an exciting night with friends (click here to see photos).

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I can feel the students’ energy and happiness on campus every day!

International Education Group Holiday Photo

This year, we have added extra support for new and returning international students whose English proficiency level is below CEFR B2 (high intermediate level).

Both our ESL classroom teacher and the student mentor from the Office of International Education are working together to offer support sessions as a part of each student’s daily class schedule.

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Introduction to Catholic Theology is also new this year with new international students in mind, especially those who have no background knowledge in Christianity. Our hope is to create a more comfortable academic experience for international students to help them transition well to our school, the U.S., and academic life.

International students are a vital part of our school identity. Faculty and staff support these students, and value their contribution to school diversity. In this newsletter, we would like to feature our students’ activities, international alumni, Kennedy Catholic’s host families, and IE Office’s effort to maintain the quality of our services.

Lastly, we sincerely thank all of you, especially our host families, for keeping our students safe and embracing them with love and friendship throughout these challenging times.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sincerely, Mariko Fujiwara Director, Office of International Education

JAPAN RECRUITMENT TRIP MARIKO VISITED JAPAN THIS FALL FOR RECRUITMENT, BUSINESS NETWORKING, AND MEETING PARENTS During the Thanksgiving holiday, Mariko was able to travel to Japan, her home country. While there, she conducted school seminars, met with current Japanese students’ parents (click here for the photo gallery), visited schools, and held business meetings.

Dear Lancer Families, Christmas is a wonderful time to reflect and recall what we are most grateful for in the past year.

In the Lancer community, one of the things we are most grateful for, is our international students and you, their families, who put your trust in us to teach and take care of your student. The diversity of our students and the many cultures we are able to share and celebrate makes Kennedy Catholic a wonderful place to learn and work.

Although you may be far away, we consider you a part of the Lancer Family and we wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and very blessed, Happy New Year.

Enjoy a special holiday greeting video here.

Sincerely, Matthew Mohs President/Principal of Kennedy Catholic

Mariko presents Kennedy Catholic to a group of prospective high school students and parents at an academic seminar organized by a lead partner agency.

PICTURED L-R: Ms. Uratani, Mr. Eguchi, Principal of Kobe Regatta & Athletic Club’s (KR&AC) International Soccer Academy.

Mariko is holding the Kennedy Catholic sign with Dr. Kenichi Mikitani of Rakuten, Inc. He is the President of KR&AC. Rakuten is the Japanese electronic commerce and online retailing giant based in Tokyo.

Mr. Tanimoto is Vice President of KR&AC.

A student considering studying abroad in the U.S.

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GLOBAL LANCER ALUMNI PROFILE PANG CHANSANGAVEJ ‘21 University of Utah My experience at Kennedy Catholic High School played a big part in helping me prepare for university life in many different ways. Kennedy Catholic helped shift my perspective toward ideas such as solidarity, caring for and loving others, and giving back to the community. These concepts have now become important values for me. Photography Credit: Emily Treasure Read Pang’s full story here >> JEFF LIN ‘21 UC Santa Barbara I chose to attend Kennedy Catholic High School because of their focus on racial diversity and the rigorous study environment through AP classes. I liked studying math and Kennedy Catholic has a bunch of great math teachers with whom I took top math courses. I graduated and am now studying Actuarial Science at UC Santa Barbara.

Read Jeff’s full story here >>

SPOTLIGHT ON SERVICE MIN JAE K. CLASS OF 2023 Korea For my Individual Service Learning Experience (ISLE) project, I selected a community service activity focused on helping children who are suffering from incurable diseases. The nongovernment organization (NGO ) where I am volunteering, Make-a-Wish, helps the wishes of children who are sick come true. The organization operates in 50 countries all over the world and helps more than 500,000 children. In regards to the work that I do in the organization, I make dolls called “wish bears” as well as “wish bracelets.” These dolls and bracelets that I make get delivered to ailing children as a way to provide comfort and ease their suffering a bit.

Children become friends with the wish bears they receive and make wishes with their bracelets. I also write letters of encouragement to children who are suffering from incurable diseases. I want to help sick children not lose faith in their struggle against their disease and will continue to support them. Furthermore, I also want to be involved in community service activities who help children born with disabilities.

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CONNECTING KENNEDY CATHOLIC WITH KOREA KENNEDY CATHOLIC’S KOREAN PARENT NETWORK Kennedy Catholic High School goes the extra mile to connect with international parents and support them through our Country Coordinators. Esther Park joined Kennedy Catholic in January 2019 as Country Coordinator for Korea.

Her primary role is to help build upon a strong Lancer family and alumni network, and invite new Korean students to be a part of this community. With Esther’s help as a liaison, our Korean student population has grown substantially.

She has been effective in making personal connections with students and parents both here in Seattle and in Korea.

Parents can communicate with her in their own language and get updated on their students’ activities and academic progress.

PICTURED FROM L-R: Sehyeon (Daniel) J.’s mother, Esther Park, Doyeon (Danny) K.’s father, Yoojin S.’ father, and MinSeo & Doyun (Dean) K’s father at the Korean parents’ lunch meeting in Seattle on August 30.

RECRUITING STUDENTS IN KOREA When she’s not traveling in Korea, Esther helps facilitate networking among local families. She checks in with our students’ parents and learns about both challenges and successes for their children. She also participates in new international student orientation and greets students at the airport! This personalized and bi-lingual support offers the best learning environment, and aids new students in improving their English skills faster, which then helps them to better acclimate to the campus community and life in the United States.

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IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR* CHRISTMAS BREAK • Christmas break starts: December 17 after school. Students return to school January 3, 2022 at 8am SECOND SEMESTER 2022 DATES

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Donating to the International Student Scholarship Fund is a direct way to allow a student in need to have an opportunity to access education that they might not experience otherwise, as well as obtain real-world skills and hands-on international experience by living abroad.

• SeaTac Airport arrival for new students (from overseas & out of state): Saturday, January 8

We encourage everyone to consider the impact that a scholarship fund could make in the life of an international student. Scholarship funding is truly a gift that keeps on giving for years to come.

• School-sponsored hotel stay and COVID-19 testing January 8-14

For our step-by-step guide on how you can support the International Student Scholarship Fund, click here.

• Upon arrival to the U.S. and prior to housing arrival (approximately one week). All students who signed up for the Kennedy Catholic Housing Program will be covered by the housing fee.

• Housing check-in for new & returning students (from overseas & out of state): January 14 • Second semester begins: January 24, 8am • Easter Break starts: April 15 after school.

Students return to school: April 25 at 8am • International Senior Graduation Dinner: June 2, 2022 • Graduation: June 3 • Year end: June 10 *Dates are tentative and subject to change.

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EXTRAORDINARY AMERICAN EXPERIENCES! The IE Office provides support activities throughout the academic year. These activities are intended to motivate and increase student appreciation of arts, culture, current events and the community; and, most of all, enjoyment.

These experiences are provided to the students through our program leaders who visit museums, parks, and other local venues in search of fun and interesting events.

HALLOWEEN FUN! International Student Ambassadors welcome young visitors to the school and pass out Halloween candy

HAUNTED HOUSE Georgetown Morgue Visit

U.S. NAVY TOUR IN BREMERTON, WA USS Turner Joy Naval Destroyer Museum Tour

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EXTRAORDINARY AMERICAN EXPERIENCES! Celebrating the holidays Black Friday shopping at Bellevue Square and Snowflake Lane Parade

THANKSGIVING: A SEASON OF GRATITUDE Staff, students, and faculty share gratitude and smiles at the St. Edwards Boys Dormitory Annual Thanksgiving Feast

Festive Frozen Christmas Party!

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