A delegation led by
the Premier of the Province of Nova Scotia visited students and staff of the
Canadian High Program on Sunday, September 11th. Premier McNeil took time away from his
current trade mission in China to visit the school, where the Canadian
program is now entering its ninth year. This was the first time a
Nova Scotia Premier has visited any of the sixteen schools across China
which offer the Nova Scotia High School Program.
Members of the
Premier’s delegation remarked on the fluency of our students during their
conversations with them as students led them on a guided tour of the school
and shared their experience in the program. This is the only Nova
Scotia program in China where students spend a semester (5 months) during
their Grade 11 year in schools across Nova Scotia. This experience provides our
students with a tremendous opportunity to strengthen their English language
skills both in school and with their Nova Scotia home stay families. It also
fosters a greater cultural awareness and understanding of life in Canadian
communities.
Premier McNeil
was accompanied by two Nova Scotia university presidents during his visit;
Dr. Richard Florizone from Dalhousie University and Dr. Ramona Lumpkin from
Mount Saint Vincent University. Dr. Lumpkin who was pleased and honoured to
have a conversation with four graduates from her University’s Bachelor of Education program who are actively teaching here in China at Soochow
University High School.
Students and
Staff from SUHS attended a Press Conference held at the Marriott Courtyard
Hotel following the Premier and his delegation’s visit to our school. Premier McNeil announced a new initiative of his Government entitled ‘Study
and Stay in Nova Scotia’ which will assist 50 International students (30 of
them from China) in completing their post-secondary studies in Nova Scotia
and remaining to and work in the province after graduation. The plan will
provide a range of supports to the 50 students entering the program in
2017.
The visit by Premier McNeil and his delegation
provided a wonderful opportunity for our students and staff to meet and
engage in conversations with education and government officials from Nova
Scotia. The delegation’s visit to our school is demonstrative of the
Province’s commitment to our program and an acknowledgement of the excellent
work being done by our students and Chinese and Canadian staff.
