INTERNATIONAL STUDENt PROGRAM

Students representing more than 20 different countries find their second home at Fountain Valley School each academic year.

Fountain Valley's International Student Support program–along with English-Language Learner (ELL) courses–challenge students to obtain new foreign language skills and become fully immersed within the School's diverse community and culture.

Getting Oriented

FVS offers a robust support system designed to ensure that international students transition well to the FVS way of life. The international student journey begins with a two-day orientation geared toward our young learners and their parents.

The orientation includes a number of activities led both by faculty and veteran international students. Activities range from field trips to area retail and grocery stores to an information session on American cultural norms and a campus tour, culminating in a fun-filled scavenger hunt to test students' knowledge of FVS's 1,100-acre Prairie and unique history.

Translators are on hand to facilitate meetings between parents and their students' advisors, to familiarize them with the technology that will be used to communicate with FVS regularly, and to meet key administrators and staff such as the Head of School.

Faculty Support

In addition to receiving support from their peer mentors, international students regularly confide in FVS's English Language Learner faculty and in their international student advisor. As advocates for each international student, these faculty offer added support for navigating the social, emotional, and cultural transition to high school in the United States.

To assist with traversing general Fountain Valley School life, all students are likewise assigned a faculty advisor and advisory group consisting of individuals across the different grade levels and with varied interests. Weekly meetings provide ample opportunities for international students to immerse themselves culturally, as they learn from and share with others while expanding their friendship circle.

Student Cultural Organization

Fountain Valley's Student Cultural Organization meets regularly to plan monthly activities, cultural celebrations during All-School meetings in the Chapel, an International Potluck Dinner, and other off-campus events.

Students are also provided with other opportunities to share their traditions with the FVS community throughout the year. For example, the School annually rings in the Lunar New Year with colorful events and activities.

ELL CURRICULUM

Approximately one-third of Fountain Valley's international student population participates in the ELL program. The ELL program provides intermediate and advanced instruction centered around each student's individual needs and academic progression to help them develop the fluency required for actively engaging in any class during the junior year, and gaining Cross-cultural Understanding. Throughout the program, students will encounter small, lively and interactive courses on literature, history, geography, and more.

English
History

English

History

English Language Learner students are expected to join non-ELL History classes. ELL students interested in gaining "Cross-cultural Understanding" will also be enrolled in Fountain Valley's "Practicing Historical Thinking" course, an instructional support block built to provide repeat exposure to History content learned in the regular classroom. This course also includes an additional adult whom students can ask questions.