The Storm King School campus came to life as students from 23 countries arrived to register for their fall classes and begin their new school year on the Mountain.

On Tuesday, August 21, new international students and their families were greeted by enthusiastic faculty and staff and a week full of activities, travel, and fun –all with the aim of getting each student off to a good start. Storm King day students from around the Hudson Valley were also on campus Tuesday to register and help their new classmates settle in. As a global community of young learners and exceptional faculty, International Student Orientation Week at Storm King ensures our newcomers from all over the world get the maximum benefit from a Storm King education.

Countries represented: United States, Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Korea, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam.

 

 

Once families signed in at the Administration Building, they spent the morning visiting various information tables set up in Orr Commons, meeting with the Dean of Academics to finalize their schedules, and signing up for fall athletic teams and activities.

Following lunch, families attended a “Get to Know You Reception” where they had the chance to meet faculty members and one another. The reception was followed by a student-led tour of the campus. After their families departed, the new students enjoyed a picnic dinner on Ledoux Terrace before settling into their dorm rooms to get some much-needed rest.

 

 

The remainder of Orientation Week for our new international students features trips and activities geared toward immersing our newcomers in American history, culture, and fun. On Wednesday, August 22, the students embarked on their first shopping trip before returning to campus to complete evaluation testing. The week culminates in a trip to see a Renegades baseball game and a 4-day cultural excursion to Washington, D.C. and Six Flags Theme Park. Led by ESL Chair Cathy Hecht, the group departs Friday morning for our nation’s capital.

 

 

 

During their stay in Washington, D.C., the group will visit the White House and the National Mall, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Ford’s Theatre Museum, and take a sightseeing cruise on the historic Potomac River. Between activities, the group will also sample American food including Italian cuisine, pizza and burgers, carnival food, and a meal at D.C.’s Hard Rock Café. Before heading back to New York and Storm King, the students will stop for a day of fun and excitement at New Jersey’s Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park. The group will return to campus on Monday, August 27, which will allow them a day to rest and prepare for the first day of school on Tuesday, August 28.