International Program

In 2020 we delighted in welcoming five new International students both on and off campus, along with a Japanese and German exchange student in Term 1. Orientation to Mater Christi this year looked a little different for some and involved Zoom meetings with new teachers as well as virtual tours of our College. Without a doubt, the year has provided students with many opportunities to strengthen their resilience and independence, particularly for those who are living away from home with our supportive homestay families. It has been such a joy to see our new students grow in confidence and make connections with local students.

A key goal for Bridging English staff this year was to develop student confidence in using Canvas’ numerous functions, and to expose new students to some of the innovative resources often employed by mainstream teachers such as Education Perfect and Padlet. A greater use of collaborative tools such as shared documents provided opportunities for students to pool their collective knowledge, and shared screens via Zoom were incredibly useful in assisting students to navigate Canvas - essential for our students who are moving towards greater independence in mainstream classes.

Our International room has been an important point of connection while we were on campus and assisted us in achieving our goal this year of continuing to build relationships across year levels. Sharing food to celebrate milestones throughout the year, playing cards and completing jigsaw puzzles together were enjoyed by students and reinforced our sense of community.

This year certainly provided many occasions for our senior International students in particular to shine their light for others in our community. Participating in the Mater Day House Performing Arts Competition was a highlight, illuminating hidden singing, musical and video editing talents. More importantly, it was a chance to demonstrate the value in taking risks and reflected the close relationships that students have built during their time at Mater Christi College. In addition, a number of our students have continued their studies from China, and our senior students in Australia were a fantastic help in sorting out technical issues and maintaining social connections. I am so very proud of their community spirit and willingness to be a beacon of leadership in the College. I congratulate all our International students who have each shone their light in a variety of creative ways to reinforce unity, show support and courage in this atypical year.

Nicole Biggelaar International Student Coordinator

Reflections

When I came here on my first day, the teachers showed consideration for me and the International students were enthusiastic.

Alice Wang Year 10

On my first day at Mater, I made many friends in 7D and with the International students. I have good memories of my first day at school.

Lydia Zhang Year 7

This is my third and last year at Mater Christi I still remember the first day I came to school and how enthusiastic the teachers were towards me. My classmates were kind and friendly, and they were willing to explain the instructions when I was confused with the language. I have learnt many things other than academic subjects at Mater Christi. For example, Mater Christi provides us many opportunities to show our talents and improve our teamwork skills. I am glad that I chose Mater Christi as I have had such a great student life here.

Shirley Shen Year 12 International Student Captain

The House Performing Arts Competition (HPAC) was such a great opportunity to celebrate the people and things of this memorable three-year high school journey. Even though we have been through a tough year in 2020, we still support and inspire each other mentally, and that makes our friendships stronger. I will never forget this remarkable HPAC day and our friendship, and I thank the Year 12 class of 2020 for presenting this wonderful performance.

Victoria Chi Year 12 International Student Captain