International Students

For over 25 years, international students have stayed with CVCA families to fully experience CVCA life and American culture. They attend classes and activities at CVCA and visit NE Ohio attractions such as Amish country, Cedar Point, and our beautiful parks for hiking.

Meet Brenda Worth

Brenda Worth, International Student Coordinator, has 15 years of experience with International Student Programs through the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS). Through AIFS, Brenda worked with international students from Kent State University, Purdue University, and Grace Powell Church. She also worked as an interpreter for Kent State University for two years. If you are interested in hosting an international student or attending CVCA as a student, Brenda will be available to answer any questions you might have. Please email her at bworth@cvcaroyals.org or call her at 330-929-0575, ext. 718.
 

Students From Around the World

For over 25 years, students have attended CVCA from our sister schools around the world:

    • Danielsen Christian School in Begen, Norway
    • EIPG/International School Preparing Generations in Atibaia, Brazil
    • Doulos Discovery School in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic.

In most cases, students from these schools are juniors who come to CVCA for one year of study.

For the last ten years, we have also had a steady influx of independent international students from around the world who come to CVCA during ninth or tenth grade and then stay through graduation. Many matriculate to American colleges and universities.

School Profile for International Students

CVCA enrolls over 800 university-bound students in grades 6-12. The school’s mission is achieved through an advanced curriculum (including 20 AP courses), student ministries, 11 performing arts groups, 26 varsity sports, numerous student organizations, and a dynamic student body.

Curricular enhancements include Jterm/Mterm, five Schools of Distinction (Medical Sciences, Engineering, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts and Humanities, and Vocational Ministry), Student Houses, weekly Connections groups, and a new 36,000 square foot building expansion.

The school is within 30 minutes of Cleveland with access to all the resources the city offers. Local universities provide college courses for high school students both on campus and online. CVCA is located on a beautiful 70-acre campus bordering a national park.

Hosting an International Student

During their visit, our international guests stay with CVCA families to fully experience CVCA life and American culture. They attend classes and school activities as well as visit Northeast Ohio attractions such as Amish country, Cedar Point, and our beautiful parks for hiking. A highlight of our fall guests’ visit is attending the CVCA Homecoming football game and banquet.

Any CVCA family interested in hosting an international student should complete a Homestay Family Application. Many lifelong friendships are formed by hosting guest students.

Hosting FAQs

The ISP gives qualified international students the opportunity to study at CVCA and exposes local students to other cultures and perspectives. Overall, the program’s goals are to promote cross-cultural learning and a global school culture that encourages students to look beyond themselves to what God is doing around the world. The school recruits, screens, trains, and cares for international students who attend the school. These international students live with Christian host families for the academic year.

Contact Brenda Worth, ISP Coordinator, at bworth@cvcaroyals.org.

Complete the online Homestay Family Application Form. The application requires a statement of faith and requests references.

Participate in a home visit. A member of CVCA’s ISP will visit with you and your family. This is both an interview and an informational session. The school will also conduct a criminal background check on all household members age 18 and older as required by state law.

Host families provide a “home away from home” for international students. They provide supervision and support as well as housing, meals, and transportation. International students are expected to cover their own school tuition and fees (including a homestay fee and a school lunch fee) and personal expenses such as money for recreational activities and trips. All host parents must be Christian believers and committed to setting a godly example and investing in the spiritual development of the international student placed in their home.

Long-term host families receive a homestay stipend to cover the basic expenses associated with hosting a student. International student tuition funds a CVCA lunch account, so host families are not required to provide lunch. Additionally, all international students have medical insurance coverage. A stipend is not available for short-term hosting.

 

There are a variety of activities (picnics, Cedar Point, professional sporting events, Amish Country trip, etc.) throughout the school year to which the international students and host students (and sometimes entire families) are invited. Costs for these are covered for the international students. Additionally, CVCA provides international celebrations at school several times per semester to which CVCA host students are invited at no cost.

 

Prayer: What is God saying about the possibility of your hosting an international student?

Interest: Are you interested in learning about another culture and country? Are you interested in providing a home to a high school student? Are all of your family members interested?

Adaptability: Are you willing to adapt to someone living in your home who will be culturally different? Are you willing to learn and grow? Are you willing to help an international student learn by taking time to explain differences?

Logistics: Will you have enough time to invest in another child in your home? Will you be able to provide reasonable transportation for activities? Do you have a place in your home where another child would have space to study and sleep?

Finances: Will your family be able to handle the additional financial expense of adding a student to your household (keeping in mind the provided stipend)?

Current family situations: Are there situations in your family right now that would make it difficult for you to host well, such as the recent death of a loved one, serious health problems, or relational issues?

 

Your student will have enough English ability to have been accepted to CVCA. Students’ language ability will vary, but all students should be conversational in English—meaning they can get by in most conversational settings, though they will not necessarily be fluent. Students will have studied English in school but may not have ever been immersed in the language. Therefore, host families will need to be patient and willing to give students helpful advice and informal instruction.

While international applicants are not required to be Christians or come from Christian homes, many are believers. Minimally, our international application process is designed to ensure that international students have a desire to learn about the Bible, Jesus, and Christianity. All CVCA students are required to take a Bible course each semester as a core academic class and attend weekly chapel. International students are also expected to attend church activities with their homestay family.

Your student will arrive within one week before the first day of school and depart within one week of the last day of school. Once you have been matched with a specific student, Mrs. Worth will let you know that student’s arrival date. Additionally, a host family is not required to house their international student over the Christmas break. If an international student is staying in the US for Christmas break, host families may wish to have their international student stay with them, or the ISP Coordinator can help arrange other accommodations for the break.

Mrs. Worth will give you specific information about your student, and she will be available throughout the school year to answer questions and help you work through any difficulties that might arise. Mr. Steve Kasiguran provides academic guidance to you and your international student. Additionally, our Student Ministries Department works with our international students throughout the year to provide spiritual and emotional support.