John Barrier, Campus Director - International Academy

Mr. Johnathan Dunn, Director of College Admissions Counseling at Fairmont Preparatory Academy addressed the International Academy student body about the junior college option.  When asked whether or not it was better for an international student 18 years or older to forgo a high school diploma and go straight to a community college, his response was a resounding no. Mr. Dunn pointed to the growing fiscal crisis in the California state government as the cause of numerous recent budgetary cuts at all levels of public education in California.  Decreases in funding, said Dunn, have led to teacher layoffs and class closures at community colleges, state universities and all U.C. campuses. What once was a viable two year term of study at a junior college leading to a transfer to a U.C. campus, has now become a 3 to 5 year extended span of time for transfers that have become even less likely. 

Fairmont International Academy alumna, Rasmey Yentieng, now a student at Fullerton Community College echoed Mr. Dunn's sentiments.  Currently Rasmey is in her third year at Fullerton trying to gather enough transfer units to go to USC next fall.  She spoke of the inability to get the classes she needs in order to fulfill the requirements to transfer to USC.  Being an international student, this delay in finishing the program at community college has become a financial burden, as international students pay up to $700 per unit of course work. Karla Reyes, Administrative Assistant at the Prep Academy and a current student at Cerritos Community College, told of similar experiences she is having trying to fulfill transfer units for the UC system.  All three guest speakers at the FIA assembly encouraged FIA students to continue their college preparatory education in a reputable high school like Fairmont Prep, with the goal in mind of applying to and being admitted to a top American university.   This successful path has been followed by many Fairmont International Alumni in the past.

John Barrier

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Our hearts are heavy at Fairmont International Academy as we mourn the losses resulting from the 7.8 earthquake in Sichuan, China on Monday afternoon (local time).  While no family or friends of any of our students have been directly affected by the earthquake damage, certainly our Chinese students' thoughts are with their fellow countrymen and women.  Moments of tragedy remind us that participating together in a global society stretches far beyond business transactions and governmental relations.  To the people of Sichuan and the surrounding areas in Beichuan County, the thoughts of our students, staff, and faculty are with you, and we wish you peace and comfort in this time of sorrow.      

It's good to be home!  I'm just back from a two-week agency-sponsored trip to China and Korea.  While there, I was able to meet with the parents of some of our current Fairmont International students as well as meeting with new students that will be joining us this fall. 

 (Some of our current students' parents and me)

This was a great opportunity for me to meet personally with parents, potential students, and agents to discuss all things Fairmont!  Meeting face-to-face with these agents and explaining our program, admission's requirements, and mission statement allows us to ensure quality students entering our school. 

While maintaining a true American-High/Junior High School, an international presence at Fairmont is truly beneficial for us all.  I believe that Fairmont's multi-cultural identity will broaden all of our appreciation of the large world in which we live.

(Fairmont and the Great Wall!)

(Meeting with a new student for fall, 2007)