Esther's father works for a Dutch company and is subject to transfer. Last year, he was moved with his family from Japan to Vancouver. But Esther, who just completed the crucial Grade 11, does not have to worry about her marks being accepted back in Europe.
"When we came here we were looking for an IB school. That's why we chose
Stratford Hall," she says. The International Baccalaureate, administered from Geneva, establishes an internationally accepted common curriculum and university entrance requirements, and is available in 124 countries, including Canada.
That's not to say her schooling lacks a Canadian flavour: "I find Canadian history fascinating," Esther says. "Especially the Great Depression. And we have been studying Canadian poets and writers like Timothy Findley. I like my school here very much."
