INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Indian River Charter High School, a school which regularly celebrates different cultures through festivals and a variety of art forms, gained a more diverse student body through the rigorous efforts of IRCHS Director Cynthia Aversa. This school year, IRCHS has 14 international students joining the Charter family representing eight different countries.
Students like Marta Gonzalvo, from Barcelona, Spain, are not only here to perfect their English and study American culture, but to get involved.
“I chose Indian River Charter High School because of the Visual and Performing Arts program and the type of school that it is; a school with open campus and a good curriculum program,” Gonzalvo shares.
While the Florida climate and Visual and Performing Arts program are attractive to many international students, TV Production student Lukas Loscher, of Wiesbaden, Germany, is enjoying the technology classes IRCHS also offers.
Not only is Lukas learning how to edit and shoot video, TV Production is not offered at his school in Germany. Lukas will also be anchoring the “What’s Happening” segment on Charter’s weekly newscast WOLF-TV, showcasing things to see and do in Indian River County and surrounding areas.
“I like Charter because the students and the teachers are very friendly, like a huge family,” said Lukas. “I feel very safe at Charter compared to some schools in Germany.”
IRCHS Math Teacher, Jillian Kelly, is serving as a mentor for the International students.
“Being the international student mentor is awesome,” said Kelly. “I feel like I learn as much from them as they do from me. They have shared so many things with me about their individual countries – it’s fascinating!”
Along with being someone the international students can always talk to on campus, Kelly has scheduled trips for the students to get the “Florida experience.”
