STANSTEAD COLLEGE - STRONG CANADIAN BILINGUAL PRIVATE SCHOOL IN THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC

I continue my acquaintance with Canadian private schools as I believe that Canadian secondary education is reliable preparation for successful future of the child. This year at our student fairs in Kiev and Lviv we had many schools from Canada. I interview a representative of Stanstead College as it is a very interesting school in the French-speaking province of Quebec. The school intertwines many cultures, mainly because of its location on the border with the United States. Stanstead College was accredited by the Canadian Association of independent schools CAIS, making it one of the 27 best schools in the country. All these factors influenced my decision to tell more about Stanstead College. Read my interview with school representative

L: What makes the school different, considering it is located in French-speaking Quebec?

R: Stanstead College is an English school, but all children are required to study French. In Quebec we have a bilingual society all speaking quietly in French and English and knowledge of a second language allows children to feel comfortable in this community. Stanstead College is a Canadian classical boarding school but because of the French language here you can feel European atmosphere.

L: Which programs are offered in Stanstead College?

R: Diploma of the province of Quebec, which is strong in Math and Advanced Placement. After these programs our students go to universities in Canada and the United States. In addition, we are the only school in Canada that is accredited by the Association of American schools in New England. It offers our graduates the road to the Ivy League, our graduates go to Harvard, Yale and other American universities. The school is strong in academic disciplines, the arts and Sciences, as well in French language. Good training in all disciplines provides a large choice of specialties and universities for our graduates.

L: Tell me about the location of the school

R: The School is located right on the border with the United States, 500 metres from Vermont, 3.5 hours from Boston and 6 hours from new York. Many excursions and activities are offered in the United States and in Canada (Montreal, Ottawa and other cities). Children would need a U.S. visa to participate in all school activities in the two countries. The nearest airport is Montreal. The school has its own coaches, we pick up children from the airport and takes about two hours. The campus is located in a small and safe town of Stanstead.

L: How many pupils are there in the school

R: the school has 250 children and 90 of them are foreign students. Most of the students are from Canada, USA, Mexico and Asia. 70% live on campus, the rest are day students. School accepts students from 7th to 12th grade.

L: Tell me more about sport and school facilities.

R: In campus, there are 4 residences – 2 for boys and 2 for girls. About 60% of the staff live on campus together with the children. All students participate in our outdoor activities and sightseeing tours in Canada and travel to the United States. We have strong sports, especially ice hockey. The school has its own arena and a strong hockey team for boys and girls. We also show good results in football, rugby and basketball.

L: Are you a selective school

R: We are very selective and only want strong students who are in the top 20 of their class for academic achievement. We want to make sure that the student has motivation to study. The first priority is academic, because we are preparing students to the best universities in the world. For those who want to enter university in the United States we are offering a preparation for SAT test. In addition to school curricular we offer a lot of optional activities as we want to see diverse students who are willing to take an active part in school life. For admission, we are also require to pass IELTS to ensure a good knowledge of English.

L: What makes Stanstead College unique

R: First, it’s a location on the border with the United States. Children spend a lot of time in America, we go on trips several times a month. Second, the study of the French language. All of our students learn French and are able to communicate in two languages. And third, I want to mention the sport in high school. As I said, we have a strong hockey team, one of our pupils played for the national team. Also we have a lot of sports clubs with good coaches.

I would like strongly recommend to the parents who are considering enrolling in the Canadian school to have closer look at Stanstead College. The location of the school on the border with the United States allows children to become acquainted with two countries and to prepare for admission to universities in Canada and the United States including Ivy League ones. In addition, studying French language adds benefits of living in Canada.