Learning in Thunder Bay is a new experience for students at an international private high school that set up in the city.
Maple Leaf World Schools has several locations in China, Australia and British Columbia, and its location on Lakehead University campus is its first in Ontario. Principal Monica Andrews says they opened in September and have enrolled 23 students so far.
“This is our first year, and we’re happy to have the students come from our sister schools in our Maple Leaf China [locations], and we’re looking to have an enrollment closer to 60 students in the coming year.”
School officials welcomed the community to an open house on Friday. They accept students from grades 10 through 12. Maple Leaf World Schools have an existing partnership with Lakehead University that encourages graduates to enter a teaching program at LU, complete their qualifications as a teacher, and then teach future students at another Maple Leaf location.
Grade 11 student Malone Wang was among the students showing visitors around their classes in the Avila Centre on Lakehead campus. He says he’s enjoying the area and the chance to improve his English.
“Life here is really, really fantastic and a big difference compared with China. It’s not as busy a city as my hometown,” he admits, adding that in the future he would like to see a larger city like Toronto.
