International students stay connected while away from school

Social distancing isn’t stopping WSD’s international students from staying connected.

With classrooms suspended due to COVID-19, the International Education Program (IEP) launched Study in your Snuggies on March 23.

The online initiative is intended to create community between IEP students in WSD and includes daily activities, homework help and a virtual student lounge.

“It’s an online version of the international student community already created via field trips and social media,” said IEP director Debra Parker.

“Unlike kids who have grown up in Winnipeg, our students don’t have a history here or existing network of friends and family. One way we create a network for them is by having a field trip every month where they can see each other. At the moment, we can’t do that, so we thought of this as kind of extended field trip.”

Through online communication tools like WhatsApp, Google Meet and Instagram, IEP staff are keeping in close contact with students while they’re learning from home.

For instance, through Google Meet, IEP students are able to access the Homework Hotline which is facilitated by IEP support teachers and the program’s student advisor Alex Coutu.

“Normally, I have a set day at each school and the kids know when I’m there. I often will get messages from them saying ‘When you’re here on Friday, I need to talk to you,’” Coutu said.

“I wanted to make sure that continuity was there and that the virtual door is open.”

Through Study in your Snuggies, IEP students have created personal “cyberselves” through Bitmoji, participated in online polls like “Dogs versus Cats” (dogs won) and contributed name suggestions for a baby calf belonging to a homestay manager.

They’ve also interacted with their popular program mascot, Justin Beaver.

Tam Tran, a Grade 10 student at Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute, said she enjoys keeping in touch with her IEP friends.

“I think it’s important to stay connected so we can have something to do together and to be close even though we don’t have school,” said Tran, who is from Vietnam. “I think it’s important to stay connected, just to make sure everyone is fine and still doing well.”

Daniela Madrigal, a Grade 8 student at Grant Park High School, said the International Education Program has made her move from Mexico to Canada much easier.

“I’m very thankful that the teachers are taking time to make sure that we have something to do and to keep us all together,” Madrigal said. “This (Study in your Snuggies) is helping me connect with the other international students and have fun while we’re at home.”

Liam Rezaei, an Iranian Grade 10 student at Churchill High School, said he’s very appreciative of the International Education Program, especially in this time of distancing. 

“We’re not being forgotten and we’re being supported,” Rezaei said.

Almost all of WSD’s approximately 100 international students – with support from their parents back home – have chosen to stay in Winnipeg and continue their learning in WSD.

“Many families and agents abroad have expressed a preference that International Education Program students remain in Winnipeg rather than facing the uncertainty of international flights and border closures,” Parker said.

“However, if a family wishes for a child’s return, then of course WSD will work with the family to provide as much support as possible.”