For many families, summer is a season to slow down and enjoy a break from packed schedules, homework, and the routines of the school year.
For schools, however, summer is often one of the busiest and most exciting seasons of all.
At Mt. Bethel Christian Academy, summer is a time of preparation and anticipation. While students enjoy a well-earned break, our faculty and staff are busy refining curriculum, planning programs, welcoming new families, and preparing for another exceptional year of learning and growth. This summer is especially exciting as our school continues to grow and campus improvements take shape, creating new opportunities for our students.
Yet what makes a school truly special is not its facilities. It is the people who fill them.
One of the most meaningful parts of our summer preparation is welcoming a new group of international students. Each year, students from around the world choose MBCA as part of their educational journey. Families are drawn to our strong academics, Christ-centered mission, vibrant extracurricular opportunities, and the caring community that surrounds each student. In turn, these students bring unique perspectives, experiences, and cultures that enrich our entire school.
These students quickly become an integral part of school life. They excel in the classroom, compete on athletic teams, perform in the arts, participate in STEM programs, serve in leadership roles, and contribute to clubs and activities across campus. They become teammates, classmates, and friends who help all of us gain a broader understanding of the world around us.
At the same time, our international students are deeply impacted by their experience here. Through meaningful relationships with teachers, coaches, classmates, and host families, they experience authentic Christian community while gaining a firsthand understanding of life in the United States.
That experience would not be possible without the generosity of our host families.
Each year, local families open their homes to international students, providing far more than a place to stay. They offer encouragement, guidance, and a sense of belonging. They share everyday moments such as family meals, school events, holiday celebrations, and conversations around the dinner table that often grow into lifelong friendships. Many host families describe the experience as one of the most rewarding opportunities their family has ever embraced.
In fact, our own Head of School and his wife will host two international students this year, a reflection of their belief in the life-changing relationships that develop through this program.
As we prepare for another school year, we are seeking additional families who would consider opening their homes to an international student. No special expertise is required. What matters most is a welcoming spirit, a caring heart, and a willingness to invest in the life of a young person.
Whether you have ever considered hosting before or are simply curious to learn more, we would love to start a conversation. To learn more about becoming a host family, please visit the Admissions section of the Mt. Bethel Christian Academy website: MtBethelChristian.org.
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