Norwich Free Academy is one of the biggest high schools in Connecticut, and therefore has much to offer students. And that is exactly the pitch NFA staff are making as they recruit the next generation of NFA students, including those from outside the school’s usual footprint.
Students from around the world are finding success being in the NFA community: the school is receiving international students from places such as France, China, Germany, Spain, Colombia, Canada, and Finland. International students are making the decision to come to NFA from their home countries in part because the campus is like a small university. And with NFA having advanced placement (AP) classes, honors classes, and college credit classes, students are being prepared for college, or whatever the next step in their lives entail. NFA supports all of their international students with a campus having 10 buildings, 45 acres, over 250 courses, over 75 clubs, and 40 different language classes.
NFA builds comfortability with international students. Coming from a different country, most students have interest in NFA’s safety, food, diversity, academics, athletics, and environment, and those are some of the areas that school officials discuss when recruiting possible students.
Host families also play a key factor for international students coming to NFA. Host families help international students in having a place to stay, given that their natural families are often many miles away. Host families provide transportation and living needs for the student. NFA’s number-one priority is making sure international students are comfortable, enjoy their living conditions, and enjoy their time in America. International students have agencies and host coordinators that communicate with them daily. Agency officials check in on students and their host families on a monthly basis, helping to ensure continued happiness and support for the students. Host families also help international students with learning English, making them multilingual. On campus, students are provided with a school psychologist, guidance counselor, and a social worker as well. This helps international students socially, economically, and emotionally, in addition to the academic opportunities the school provides.
“You can’t have success without a supportive environment” said Wayne Sheehan, Head of Campus Safety and Head Coach of the Norwich Hockey Club. Sheehan works with many international students on his hockey team, and provides safety for all students on campus. The Hockey Club is filled with international talent, mainly from Canada and Finland, whom he helps build connections and have success at school and off-campus. The Hockey Club, aided by international students, has been excellent in the two years of its existence. They have been invited to an invitational tournament in Chicago, have played in the United Tier 1 championship, and are looking to contend for the National Championship this year. Some of these international students are also being recognized outside the NFA community for their excellence in sports, having caught the eye of hockey scouts, coaches, and colleges. “The most important part of doors that we can open for them (international students) is getting a higher education,” Sheehan said
Dr. Nathan Quesnel, NFA Head of School and Superintendent, believes experiences and diversity help international students with their goals and their future. “You can get to know someone from Finland, Canada, or even France. I think the diversity here can help people become a more well rounded person.”
Roughly 10% of the students on the NFA campus (almost 200 students) were born outside of the United States, with 30 different first languages spoken by students. Dr. Quesnel is convinced that NFA is a special place, leaving him to vocalize that “NFA is a place that is really open to people… There is no ‘One size fits all’ and I think that’s what makes NFA such a great place.”
Sheehan also voiced his opinion, stating “I think (diversity on campus) helps prepare international students and our local students for what the real world is like.”
International students have said that they are settling in pretty well at NFA. Most students feel the school spirit, class selection, and environment help them through the day.
Though NFA Upper (Junior) Richie Aguilera is from Connecticut, he is not from a NFA sending town, and he attends NFA to take part in the Norwich Hockey Club. Aguilera spoke about his experiences as a non-local student at NFA: “I came from a really small school where everyone knew each other and there wasn’t much going on, but (at) NFA you see new people and have things happening everyday.” Aguilera also feels he made the right decision for his future, saying “Oh for sure, you can feel it. The adults seek to help us and want to see us succeed. It’s a great stepping stone for me and all of our (students’) goals.”
Christopher Tellier-Pelletier, an international student, compares life from the school he went to in Canada to NFA in Connecticut: “The school I went to was really small, everyone knew each other. School here is like a movie, you meet new people everyday. They make us feel like we belong here. (The) atmosphere is different, people are more friendly and more sociable here”.
NFA has a special background and prepares students for a better future. Dr. Quesnel, Head of School and Superintendent would like newcomers, graduates and students enrolled today, to know that they will always be a part of NFA. “I want you to walk into the next step of life prepared, you may be a little nervous, but you are ready. You’ve gone to one of the largest high schools in Connecticut – one of the best schools in the state of Connecticut – and you’ve been successful. You are walking out of here with a diploma in your hand and as an alumni at this school. If you ever tell somebody ‘Hey, I went to NFA’ you’ll know people somewhere. You’ll find something you’re passionate about at this school and this is a community that will always support you.”