The Avon Maitland District School Board has a significant number of international students in its schools again this year.
Superintendent Jodie Baker said they currently have about 200 students enrolled in the first semester, and that's about the same number as last year. The students come from Brazil, China, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland and Vietnam so far.
But Baker added they also have students in Panama and South America that are interested in coming to Huron and Perth so they're looking forward to expanding into those areas.
"We know that there will be students that come throughout the semester as well, so we're pretty close to where we were and we expect an increase for second semester, so we're looking forward to that but we'll wait until we know the students are coming for sure before we get too excited," she said.
Baker was also very quick to point there is no way their international program would be as popular as it is if it wasn't for the host families who take the students in and provide a great experience for them while they're here.