By David Karas | Correspondent

For a number of school communities in the Diocese of Trenton, “it’s a small world,” is more than just an unforgettable ride in a famous amusement park. It’s a reflection of the importance of providing students with exposure to cultures different from their own. And often, this can happen without students even leaving the classroom.

Schools across the Diocese of Trenton, including both elementary and secondary schools, have opened their communities to students from across the globe, with some 170 international students enrolled at present.

Referring to the experience within her own school community, Kathy D’Andrea, vice principal for admissions in Donovan Catholic High School Toms River, said that the presence of international students helps the entire student body walk away with powerful lessons. “They learn it’s a small world and [that] we have to try to understand each other and work together,” she said.

D’Andrea noted that their high school students are joined by some 35 international peers.  She said most of the students are from China, while a few have come to America from Korea and Vietnam.

Kevin Deal, a guidance counselor in Notre Dame High School, Lawrence, pointed out, “As the world shrinks, it is paramount that the opportunities for mutual understanding, acceptance and acknowledgement of difference occur. It’s really the best way to recognize the similarities in the global community.”

Notre Dame currently has enrolled students hailing from Poland, Russia, Georgia and China, as well as 20 students directly from China through an affiliation with the Cambridge Institute. Students span the four grade levels, Deal said, and are invited to join their peers in the orientation sessions.

“The students are assigned to an upper class student who serves as a guide, escorting the student to their classes, introducing faculty and assisting the students with club membership, service activities and, when interested, athletics,” said Deal. “A general sense of welcome is extended, as these students will be advocating for themselves since their families are back in China and may not speak English to successfully communicate via email.”

Marie Germano, associate principal in Holy Cross High School, Delran, said that the 25 international students there benefit most from the academic and social preparation for college and their future professional endeavors.

But the presence of international students is not limited to diocesan high schools. Julie James, senior vice principal of St. Joseph Grade School, Toms River, said that the campus will welcome four students from China in the fall.

“We are very excited to have these young international students join our community,” she said. “It will be a mutual learning experience for all involved.”

Sister Kathy Nace, principal of St. Rose High School, Belmar, said that it is the intention of their school to have roughly 20 international students each year – ideally with five in each grade level and an even gender distribution. It is the school’s third year working with the Cambridge Institute.

“It has been a great experience and certainly a learning experience on many levels for all of us,” she said, adding that the intention behind the program is “to introduce a broader world view to our students,” rather than an admissions effort.

D’Andrea explained that the international students progress in a number of facets within Catholic school environments – not the least of which concerns their proficiency in English.

“Many play sports for the first time. They love music and have the opportunity to perform to audiences. They learn American culture through living with an American host family,” she explained. “They are allowed to show their creativity in all subject areas. They go to proms and school dances. They make friends with American students.”

Another important takeaway is their exposure to the Catholic faith; the international students attend Masses and take religion courses, and one student even expressed interest in converting to Catholicism, she said.

Deal explained that the Notre Dame student population is also exposed to the various cultural perspectives brought by their new peers, as they all take part in collective class discussions and interact socially both within the halls of the school as well as outside of the institutional atmosphere.

“While not solving global warming, trade deficits or other world issues, the familiarity through association has and hopefully will continue to be quite advantageous for the entire student population at Notre Dame,” said Deal. “The presence of these students from China, and the other countries not part of the Cambridge Program, can only further this goal.”

Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, recently saw the graduation of two international students from the campus’s lower school to the upper school. Anne Reap, lower school director, said that the lessons learned by all students thanks to their presence have been significant.

“We know that we are all part of God’s family and that we are all made in his image and likeness. All God’s children are to be respected because of their human dignity – a gift given by God,” she said. “The children in all our Catholic schools are fortunate to be educated in an atmosphere where we teach this, model this, and live our faith on a daily basis.”