John Barrier, Campus Director - International Academy

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)