Contact: Jenni Brockman
Telephone: 804-443-3357
Fax: 804-443-6781
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
International Students Bring World to Tappahannock
Tappahannock, VA (October 12, 2000) - Six local families are making global connections, thanks to the "Friendship Families" program at St. Margaret's School. By serving as a home-away-from home for one or more of the school's 24 international students, program participants can experience other countries without ever leaving the United States.
Getting to know you. Miki Saito of Japan talked with the Warren Family of Montross for the first time at a recent Friendship Dinner at St. Margaret's School. Through the SMS "Friendship Families" program, many area families will be able to experience foreign cultures and international students will get to know the community.
"We saw it advertised in our church bulletin," said Kevin Dolan of Tappahannock. "It seemed like a great opportunity to learn about a different culture." He, his wife Darlene and daughter Hannah, age 2, are matched with SMS sophomores Justty Cervera and Mariana Heredia of the Yucatan in Mexico.
St. Margaret's is unique among Virginia independent schools in offering such an extensive international program, said director Leslie Bohon.
"Our American students benefit, because they will be living and working in an increasingly global society," she explained. "It's also something that St. Margaret's contributes to the larger community, through initiatives like Friendship Families."
The families offer hospitality, for example, by including their students in local activities or inviting them to Thanksgiving dinner. Perhaps most important, Friendship Families provide the additional support of caring adults for girls whose homes and parents are thousands of miles away.
International Student Director Leslie Bohon of Gloucester with 2000 SMS international students at the Friendship Family Dinner.
Other Tappahannock residents who are serving as Friendship Families this year include Martha Frank, matched with Ayako Kikuchi of Japan; Betty Rock, matched with Paola Peralta of Mexico; The Rev. Pam Webb, matched with Yoon-Hee and Yoon-Jung Chang of Korea; Alice and Pete Roye, matched with Andrea Escudero of Mexico; and Rufus and Lynne Baines, matched with Kacey Ko of Korea.
International students at SMS this year represent seven countries, including French West Indies, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Taiwan and Venezuela. Their families chose St. Margaret's because of its safe, pleasant location, small class size and well-established English as a Second Language department.
For information about how you can participate in St. Margaret's Friendship Families program, contact Bohon at (804) 445-3357.
