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Victoria – School – District, BC
Welcome
The Greater Victoria School Districts International High School Programs prepare students from around the world for success with a variety of quality education program options.
Proficiency in English and a familiarity with North American culture are key elements of our programs. For more than 15 years, we have been preparing our graduates for the future, whether they choose to continue their education at a postsecondary institution, or return home to pursue other goals.
Our District
The Greater Victoria School district is located in Victoria, the ‘City of Gardens’ and capital of British Columbia, Canada, and covers five municipal areas. Our student population is over 20,000 and we have approximately 2,800 regular employees, which makes us the sixth largest public school district in the province. In 2006, we had approximately 500 international students from 17 different countries studying in our 47 community schools.
The Program
If you are a serious, hard-working, motivated student with a desire to live in a new culture, our Academic High School Program may be for you. International students are fully integrated into their school community and the proportion of international students to local students is low (about 5%). This affords an excellent opportunity to make Canadian friends and practice English. The Program includes a supportive homestay environment with a host family near each school, as well as friendly and caring teachers and staff, and VIHSP International Student Advisers.
Support for Students
Homestay is an important part of the program.
- Ensures safety, well-being, and success.
- Provides students with total immersion into the Canadian way of life.
- Allows students to focus on their studies without worrying about domestic needs.
- Students can practice their English skills in a relaxing environment.
The VIHSP Homestay Program places international students in supportive, stable homes with active Canadian families.
- Homestays are arranged and supervised by the VIHSP office.
- Placement is determined by the profile information provided with the application form, homestay availability, and school placement.
- Host families are well-screened and safe.
- Host families meet their international student at the Victoria International Airport to begin their stay.
- Host families provide the student with a private room and three meals a day.
- Students are strongly encouraged to participate in all family activities.
- Homestays are close to the schools, many within walking distance.
- The Homestay Manager and Cultural Homestay Placement Officers provide comprehensive support to international students and host families.
- Support is also available in Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Thai, Korean, Spanish, and other languages.
Extra-Curricular Program Activities
During the year, for an additional cost, full-time international students are offered special activities such as skiing, skating and excursions to Vancouver. In addition, each school has its own set of special offerings such as tennis, rowing, cycling, track and field, golf, rugby, theatre, dance, band and strings, chorals work, theatre productions, media studies, vocal jazz, and archeological and ecological study excursions.
Our City
Situated at the south end of Vancouver Island off the west coast of Canada, Victoria is a medium-sized city of 350,000 with a distinct European flavour. Downtown streets are lined with handsome heritage buildings, quaint restaurants and a variety of arts and draft shops. A focal point of Victoria is the Inner Harbour. Victoria and the east coast of the island enjoy a year-round moderate climate and are home to some of the finest scenery and recreational activities anywhere in the world.
Victoria is a safe city where government, the arts and advanced learning are major activities. The city has two renowned universities and a college, a world-class museum, a symphony, an opera company, three professional theatre companies, professional dance, many golf courses and a major regional art gallery. Victoria is also home to world class Olympic athletes in rugby, field hockey, rowing, softball and basketball
