The November 2015 Edition

PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

CONTENTS

President and CEOKason Park

General ManagerSean Leary

EditorSusan Wessling

Assistant EditorRuth Donaghey

WritersSusan Wessling Ruth Donaghey

Cover PhotographersEduBoston St.M Students

1

4

5

8

10

13

16

20

23

24

25

Contributing PhotographersCarrie HaoSusan WesslingKristin LynchJennifer McKinstryKimberlee O'Keefe

Thank you to our partner schools and host families who contributed photographs.

DesignCarrie Hao

2015 by EDUBOSTON

IRIS LI’S UPWARD CLIMB: Bancroft Senior Excels on Many Levels

A TALENTED SHOWING BY ST. JOSEPH’S ZHANG

A GROWING FAMILY: The McKinstrys of Charlton, Mass. Go Global

THEY ARE OFF AND RUNNING: An Action-Packed Beginning for EduBoston Teens

SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT: Giving Shows Students the Value and Rewards of Community Service

BEHIND THE SCENES AT EDUBOSTON’S SUMMER ORIENTATION

THE MASTERS OF EDUCATION: EduBoston Builds on Its Past Success

BIRTHDAY LIST

ASSUMPTION COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR EDUBOSTON STUDENTS

DECEMBER 2015 DISNEYWORLD TRIP

DECEMBER 2015 CALIFORNIA TRIP

1

all her Madame President: EduBoston’s Iris Li was elected presi-dent of the Upper School at the very prestigious Bancroft School in

Worcester, Mass. for her senior year. The achievement is all the more noteworthy because unlike many high schools, Bancroft only has one president who serves with two class representa-tives from each of the other three classes, 9th grade through 11th grade. Li herself served as a rep for each of the three previous years.

It was quite a feat for Li to win this position in a

C

IRIS LI’S UPWARD CLIMBBANCROFT SENIOR EXCELS ON MANY LEVELSIRIS LI’S UPWARD CLIMBBANCROFT SENIOR EXCELS ON MANY LEVELS

By Susan Wessling

ballot vote against two of her classmates. Each candidate had to give a speech before the entire Upper School. Li used the time before the election to engage her classmates. “I talked to a lot of people I didn’t know. It was an excuse to randomly talk to people I wouldn’t normally talk to,” she said.

Her rise to the top of the school government was not always an easy one for Li, who said when she first arrived at the school in 9th grade she had trouble conversing with her classmates. “When I came to school here it was a bit difficult. I couldn’t

always understand what people were saying because I didn't have the vocabulary level,” Li explained. “I used an iPad in school and looked words up. Now I am giving speeches.”

Li exemplifies the type of courage that Bancroft School officials would like to see in all of its students, Robin Silverman, the director of the International Program at the Bancroft School, said.

“As a student new to this country three years ago, Iris bravely decided to run for student government, wrote and delivered a speech to her brand new classmates, and was elected as a representative to student council,” Silverman said. “Now, as a senior, she has earned the respect of the entire school and holds the position of student council president.”

Li is a top-notch student but she prefers not to dwell on her grades or GPA. Last year she took AP English Language, AP Biology, and AP Calcu-lus BC. This year she is taking AP Art, AP U.S. History, AP Physics, AP English Literature and AP Statistics. The latter class she is taking online. Despite her rigorous class schedule, she still leaves time for extracurricular activities, in which she also excels, even if she initially met adversity.

As a freshman, Li tried out for an on-stage role in a school production but she said she did not earn one. Instead she accepted a role as an assistant stage manager for the spring musical, a role she also held the next school year. As a junior, she took on the role of stage manager for both the school’s fall drama and spring musical, a position she is also planning on filling this school year.

Li has also been on the Upper School’s Speech Team. The Bancroft Speech Team competes in interscholastic tournaments in Massachusetts and around the country. Students may compete in 16 different speech events that range from acting to public speaking to interpretive reading. Li was part of the team her freshman and sophomore years and also took part in some of the competitions last year. She is undecided about whether or not she will compete this year.

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of Iris Li,” Roy Gillette, the Head of Upper School, said. “Not only is she our current student council presi-

dent but also she has been an ambitious and contributory student in all aspects of school life. Such determination and focus is so admirable. She is a great ambassador for this school and our international program.”

Silverman described Li as determined, articulate, smart, and funny. “When Iris sets her mind to something, she puts 100 percent of her effort into achieving her goals,” Silverman said. “Her approach to school and her work as the student council president is well conceived, measured and thorough. It is a pleasure working with her.”

As president, Li was given the task of setting forth a student theme for the year, Silverman said. “Iris chose the theme of kindness and has asked the entire community to look for ways to be kind every day,” Silverman explained. “She has set a won-derful tone for our entire school.”

The Bancroft community is Li’s favorite thing about the school. “Everyone is really nice,” she said. “At the beginning of the year I gave a speech at the opening assembly. … I chose kindness as the school theme because (over the summer) I went to Costa Rica for a volunteer assignment through an organization called Cross Cultural Solutions. I worked abroad with elders in nursing homes, and I gave them kindness and attention. They really appreciated that, and I felt really

rewarded. I felt Bancroft had it (kindness within its community), but I wanted to put a bigger empha-sis on it.”

Li’s future goals include going to a university in the United States. “I want to get into a college and study international business,” she said. “I applied to Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania early decision. I am waiting to hear.”

Hailing from Changshu, in the Jiangsu province of China, Li is well-traveled. Along with Costa Rica and visiting different parts of China, she has been to Tibet as well as Bali, Indonesia. She has trav-eled to Europe, including England and France, which was on a school trip organized by the language department and open to Latin students.

During school breaks, she has traveled within the United States, including to New York, Los Ange-les, San Diego and San Francisco, to name a few locations. “I just love the uncertainty of traveling,” she said. “You do not know what will happen next. I keep myself busy, meet different people and do different things. … In Costa Rica the best part was the other volunteers and the new adventure we had.”

Li is surely set to go on many more adventures, once she finishes blazing her trail at Bancroft.

A volunteer at heart, Iris Li spends some of her time reading to students in Bancroft’s Lower School.

2

all her Madame President: EduBoston’s Iris Li was elected presi-dent of the Upper School at the very prestigious Bancroft School in

Worcester, Mass. for her senior year. The achievement is all the more noteworthy because unlike many high schools, Bancroft only has one president who serves with two class representa-tives from each of the other three classes, 9th grade through 11th grade. Li herself served as a rep for each of the three previous years.

It was quite a feat for Li to win this position in a

ballot vote against two of her classmates. Each candidate had to give a speech before the entire Upper School. Li used the time before the election to engage her classmates. “I talked to a lot of people I didn’t know. It was an excuse to randomly talk to people I wouldn’t normally talk to,” she said.

Her rise to the top of the school government was not always an easy one for Li, who said when she first arrived at the school in 9th grade she had trouble conversing with her classmates. “When I came to school here it was a bit difficult. I couldn’t

always understand what people were saying because I didn't have the vocabulary level,” Li explained. “I used an iPad in school and looked words up. Now I am giving speeches.”

Li exemplifies the type of courage that Bancroft School officials would like to see in all of its students, Robin Silverman, the director of the International Program at the Bancroft School, said.

“As a student new to this country three years ago, Iris bravely decided to run for student government, wrote and delivered a speech to her brand new classmates, and was elected as a representative to student council,” Silverman said. “Now, as a senior, she has earned the respect of the entire school and holds the position of student council president.”

Li is a top-notch student but she prefers not to dwell on her grades or GPA. Last year she took AP English Language, AP Biology, and AP Calcu-lus BC. This year she is taking AP Art, AP U.S. History, AP Physics, AP English Literature and AP Statistics. The latter class she is taking online. Despite her rigorous class schedule, she still leaves time for extracurricular activities, in which she also excels, even if she initially met adversity.

As a freshman, Li tried out for an on-stage role in a school production but she said she did not earn one. Instead she accepted a role as an assistant stage manager for the spring musical, a role she also held the next school year. As a junior, she took on the role of stage manager for both the school’s fall drama and spring musical, a position she is also planning on filling this school year.

Li has also been on the Upper School’s Speech Team. The Bancroft Speech Team competes in interscholastic tournaments in Massachusetts and around the country. Students may compete in 16 different speech events that range from acting to public speaking to interpretive reading. Li was part of the team her freshman and sophomore years and also took part in some of the competitions last year. She is undecided about whether or not she will compete this year.

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of Iris Li,” Roy Gillette, the Head of Upper School, said. “Not only is she our current student council presi-

dent but also she has been an ambitious and contributory student in all aspects of school life. Such determination and focus is so admirable. She is a great ambassador for this school and our international program.”

Silverman described Li as determined, articulate, smart, and funny. “When Iris sets her mind to something, she puts 100 percent of her effort into achieving her goals,” Silverman said. “Her approach to school and her work as the student council president is well conceived, measured and thorough. It is a pleasure working with her.”

As president, Li was given the task of setting forth a student theme for the year, Silverman said. “Iris chose the theme of kindness and has asked the entire community to look for ways to be kind every day,” Silverman explained. “She has set a won-derful tone for our entire school.”

The Bancroft community is Li’s favorite thing about the school. “Everyone is really nice,” she said. “At the beginning of the year I gave a speech at the opening assembly. … I chose kindness as the school theme because (over the summer) I went to Costa Rica for a volunteer assignment through an organization called Cross Cultural Solutions. I worked abroad with elders in nursing homes, and I gave them kindness and attention. They really appreciated that, and I felt really

rewarded. I felt Bancroft had it (kindness within its community), but I wanted to put a bigger empha-sis on it.”

Li’s future goals include going to a university in the United States. “I want to get into a college and study international business,” she said. “I applied to Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania early decision. I am waiting to hear.”

Hailing from Changshu, in the Jiangsu province of China, Li is well-traveled. Along with Costa Rica and visiting different parts of China, she has been to Tibet as well as Bali, Indonesia. She has trav-eled to Europe, including England and France, which was on a school trip organized by the language department and open to Latin students.

During school breaks, she has traveled within the United States, including to New York, Los Ange-les, San Diego and San Francisco, to name a few locations. “I just love the uncertainty of traveling,” she said. “You do not know what will happen next. I keep myself busy, meet different people and do different things. … In Costa Rica the best part was the other volunteers and the new adventure we had.”

Li is surely set to go on many more adventures, once she finishes blazing her trail at Bancroft.

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of Iris Li.”

Roy Gillette Head of the Bancroft Upper School

Iris Li gets dramatic as the stage manager of a Bancroft School play.

Iris Li poses with fellow members of the Bancroft Speech Team.

3

all her Madame President: EduBoston’s Iris Li was elected presi-dent of the Upper School at the very prestigious Bancroft School in

Worcester, Mass. for her senior year. The achievement is all the more noteworthy because unlike many high schools, Bancroft only has one president who serves with two class representa-tives from each of the other three classes, 9th grade through 11th grade. Li herself served as a rep for each of the three previous years.

It was quite a feat for Li to win this position in a

ballot vote against two of her classmates. Each candidate had to give a speech before the entire Upper School. Li used the time before the election to engage her classmates. “I talked to a lot of people I didn’t know. It was an excuse to randomly talk to people I wouldn’t normally talk to,” she said.

Her rise to the top of the school government was not always an easy one for Li, who said when she first arrived at the school in 9th grade she had trouble conversing with her classmates. “When I came to school here it was a bit difficult. I couldn’t

always understand what people were saying because I didn't have the vocabulary level,” Li explained. “I used an iPad in school and looked words up. Now I am giving speeches.”

Li exemplifies the type of courage that Bancroft School officials would like to see in all of its students, Robin Silverman, the director of the International Program at the Bancroft School, said.

“As a student new to this country three years ago, Iris bravely decided to run for student government, wrote and delivered a speech to her brand new classmates, and was elected as a representative to student council,” Silverman said. “Now, as a senior, she has earned the respect of the entire school and holds the position of student council president.”

Li is a top-notch student but she prefers not to dwell on her grades or GPA. Last year she took AP English Language, AP Biology, and AP Calcu-lus BC. This year she is taking AP Art, AP U.S. History, AP Physics, AP English Literature and AP Statistics. The latter class she is taking online. Despite her rigorous class schedule, she still leaves time for extracurricular activities, in which she also excels, even if she initially met adversity.

As a freshman, Li tried out for an on-stage role in a school production but she said she did not earn one. Instead she accepted a role as an assistant stage manager for the spring musical, a role she also held the next school year. As a junior, she took on the role of stage manager for both the school’s fall drama and spring musical, a position she is also planning on filling this school year.

Li has also been on the Upper School’s Speech Team. The Bancroft Speech Team competes in interscholastic tournaments in Massachusetts and around the country. Students may compete in 16 different speech events that range from acting to public speaking to interpretive reading. Li was part of the team her freshman and sophomore years and also took part in some of the competitions last year. She is undecided about whether or not she will compete this year.

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of Iris Li,” Roy Gillette, the Head of Upper School, said. “Not only is she our current student council presi-

dent but also she has been an ambitious and contributory student in all aspects of school life. Such determination and focus is so admirable. She is a great ambassador for this school and our international program.”

Silverman described Li as determined, articulate, smart, and funny. “When Iris sets her mind to something, she puts 100 percent of her effort into achieving her goals,” Silverman said. “Her approach to school and her work as the student council president is well conceived, measured and thorough. It is a pleasure working with her.”

As president, Li was given the task of setting forth a student theme for the year, Silverman said. “Iris chose the theme of kindness and has asked the entire community to look for ways to be kind every day,” Silverman explained. “She has set a won-derful tone for our entire school.”

The Bancroft community is Li’s favorite thing about the school. “Everyone is really nice,” she said. “At the beginning of the year I gave a speech at the opening assembly. … I chose kindness as the school theme because (over the summer) I went to Costa Rica for a volunteer assignment through an organization called Cross Cultural Solutions. I worked abroad with elders in nursing homes, and I gave them kindness and attention. They really appreciated that, and I felt really

rewarded. I felt Bancroft had it (kindness within its community), but I wanted to put a bigger empha-sis on it.”

Li’s future goals include going to a university in the United States. “I want to get into a college and study international business,” she said. “I applied to Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania early decision. I am waiting to hear.”

Hailing from Changshu, in the Jiangsu province of China, Li is well-traveled. Along with Costa Rica and visiting different parts of China, she has been to Tibet as well as Bali, Indonesia. She has trav-eled to Europe, including England and France, which was on a school trip organized by the language department and open to Latin students.

During school breaks, she has traveled within the United States, including to New York, Los Ange-les, San Diego and San Francisco, to name a few locations. “I just love the uncertainty of traveling,” she said. “You do not know what will happen next. I keep myself busy, meet different people and do different things. … In Costa Rica the best part was the other volunteers and the new adventure we had.”

Li is surely set to go on many more adventures, once she finishes blazing her trail at Bancroft.

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of Iris Li.”

Roy Gillette Head of the Bancroft Upper School

One of the junior servers at the 2015 Senior Dinner during graduation week was Iris Li.

4

duBoston students continue to show their many talents and skills as they participate in a variety of school activities. Qiyang (Tony) Zhang recently showed he has

serious rhythm. Zhang, a student at St Joseph in Trumbull, Conn., drummed his way to a fifth-place finish at the talent show, “St. Joe’s Got Talent” on Oct. 14. Zhang is in the 11th grade and is new to the school this year. “He is doing well academically and he is very sociable. Everyone loves him,” EduBoston Program Manager Kristin Lynch said. "He always has some-where to go. He is always invited to all the parties."

Go to the link below to watch Zhang's performance, http://www.eduboston.com/en/news/2015-10-20-000000

A TALENTED SHOWING BY ST. JOSEPH’S ZHANGA TALENTED SHOWING BY ST. JOSEPH’S ZHANG

E

Tony Zhang (left)

ive years ago, Jenn and Paul McKin-stry of Charlton, Mass. decided they wanted their children to learn more about and understand another culture.

“I never dreamed how much that first phone call wanting more information about hosting would change our lives,” Jenn McKinstry said, recalling the first time she inquired about hosting interna-tional students with EduBoston.

Now, five years later, over time the McKinstry family has grown to include their international host children of all ages. “Hosting in general has been a wonderful experience for us. The students have all been different, each having something special to add to our family,” Jenn McKinstry said.

The first two students the McKinstrys hosted, Peidong Su and Chuan Chen, still come back to Charlton, Mass. to visit on their breaks from school. Both Su and Chen are now in their junior years of college and plan to visit during the holi-day break from school.

This year, the McKinstrys are hosting two students who attend St. Peter-Marian High School in Worcester, Mass.—Bowen (Harry) Sun and Chen (Arthur) Wang. Sun and Wang have been adjust-ing well to life with a U.S host family (last year they were part of the EduBoston Elite Managed Care program, which provides family-style hous-ing for a small number of the company’s students, who are managed by a live-in resident parent). The teen-age Chinese students have enjoyed

getting to know the two McKinstry children, Brianna and Cole, as well as the McKinstry’s two dogs, three cats, Cockatoo, goose, and 12 chick-ens.

It’s a full house at the McKinstry’s contemporary waterfront home, but the family wouldn’t have it any other way. “One of my favorite things is having family dinners, which we make an effort to do regularly with the students here,” Jenn McKin-stry said.

The family’s current host children also enjoy family time. “I like eating dinner with my host family, and sometimes playing games with my host brother,” Sun said.

Meanwhile Wang has enjoyed the wide range of animals at the Charlton home. “I like my host family’s pets, and the house is on a nice lake,” he said.

When asked to describe one of the family’s favor-ite memories hosting international students, Jenn

McKinstry recalled her family’s first year hosting when an ice storm hit, leaving them without power for four days straight. “With no electronics we spent a lot of time getting to know each other and learning how to get by without power,” she recalled.

The McKinstrys value the time they spend together with their international host children, and continue to make new memories as a family playing ping pong, going swimming, boating, playing basketball, going ice skating, carving pumpkins, and cutting down their own Christmas tree each year.

Close at hand during the McKinstry’s hosting experience has been EduBoston. “They have been a great partner to take this international journey with—always accessible when needed and ready and willing to help and answer any questions,” Jenn McKinstry said.

The McKinstrys have been a host family longer than he has been a Program Manager, EduBoston Senior Program Manager Garret said, and they have been instrumental in helping him transition into his role. “They’ve been very understanding of my own learning curve and whenever I had issues or needed feedback, I would go to them,” he said.

Now, with five years of dedicated hosting experi-ence under her belt, Jenn McKinstry is an official member of the EduBoston team and has been working as a Host Family Recruiter since Febru-ary 2015.

The hosting experience has certainly had a lasting impact on the McKinstry family. Let it suffice to say the McKinstry parents have achieved their goal of exposing their children to another culture. Brianna McKinstry, a senior in high school, has maintained an A/A+ average in her Mandarin class and has decided to pursue a degree in international business in college. Meanwhile, Cole McKinstry, a high school sophomore, is currently enrolled in Chinese Honors 2. As the family’s hosting journey continues to evolve, we look forward to hearing more about the McKinstry’s growing family.

5

ive years ago, Jenn and Paul McKin-stry of Charlton, Mass. decided they wanted their children to learn more about and understand another culture.

“I never dreamed how much that first phone call wanting more information about hosting would change our lives,” Jenn McKinstry said, recalling the first time she inquired about hosting interna-tional students with EduBoston.

Now, five years later, over time the McKinstry family has grown to include their international host children of all ages. “Hosting in general has been a wonderful experience for us. The students have all been different, each having something special to add to our family,” Jenn McKinstry said.

A GROWING FAMILY:

F The first two students the McKinstrys hosted, Peidong Su and Chuan Chen, still come back to Charlton, Mass. to visit on their breaks from school. Both Su and Chen are now in their junior years of college and plan to visit during the holi-day break from school.

This year, the McKinstrys are hosting two students who attend St. Peter-Marian High School in Worcester, Mass.—Bowen (Harry) Sun and Chen (Arthur) Wang. Sun and Wang have been adjust-ing well to life with a U.S host family (last year they were part of the EduBoston Elite Managed Care program, which provides family-style hous-ing for a small number of the company’s students, who are managed by a live-in resident parent). The teen-age Chinese students have enjoyed

getting to know the two McKinstry children, Brianna and Cole, as well as the McKinstry’s two dogs, three cats, Cockatoo, goose, and 12 chick-ens.

It’s a full house at the McKinstry’s contemporary waterfront home, but the family wouldn’t have it any other way. “One of my favorite things is having family dinners, which we make an effort to do regularly with the students here,” Jenn McKin-stry said.

The family’s current host children also enjoy family time. “I like eating dinner with my host family, and sometimes playing games with my host brother,” Sun said.

Meanwhile Wang has enjoyed the wide range of animals at the Charlton home. “I like my host family’s pets, and the house is on a nice lake,” he said.

When asked to describe one of the family’s favor-ite memories hosting international students, Jenn

McKinstry recalled her family’s first year hosting when an ice storm hit, leaving them without power for four days straight. “With no electronics we spent a lot of time getting to know each other and learning how to get by without power,” she recalled.

The McKinstrys value the time they spend together with their international host children, and continue to make new memories as a family playing ping pong, going swimming, boating, playing basketball, going ice skating, carving pumpkins, and cutting down their own Christmas tree each year.

THE MCKINSTRYS OF CHARLTON, MASS. GO GLOBAL

A GROWING FAMILY: THE MCKINSTRYS OF CHARLTON, MASS. GO GLOBAL By Ruth Donaghey

Close at hand during the McKinstry’s hosting experience has been EduBoston. “They have been a great partner to take this international journey with—always accessible when needed and ready and willing to help and answer any questions,” Jenn McKinstry said.

The McKinstrys have been a host family longer than he has been a Program Manager, EduBoston Senior Program Manager Garret said, and they have been instrumental in helping him transition into his role. “They’ve been very understanding of my own learning curve and whenever I had issues or needed feedback, I would go to them,” he said.

Now, with five years of dedicated hosting experi-ence under her belt, Jenn McKinstry is an official member of the EduBoston team and has been working as a Host Family Recruiter since Febru-ary 2015.

The hosting experience has certainly had a lasting impact on the McKinstry family. Let it suffice to say the McKinstry parents have achieved their goal of exposing their children to another culture. Brianna McKinstry, a senior in high school, has maintained an A/A+ average in her Mandarin class and has decided to pursue a degree in international business in college. Meanwhile, Cole McKinstry, a high school sophomore, is currently enrolled in Chinese Honors 2. As the family’s hosting journey continues to evolve, we look forward to hearing more about the McKinstry’s growing family.

6

ive years ago, Jenn and Paul McKin-stry of Charlton, Mass. decided they wanted their children to learn more about and understand another culture.

“I never dreamed how much that first phone call wanting more information about hosting would change our lives,” Jenn McKinstry said, recalling the first time she inquired about hosting interna-tional students with EduBoston.

Now, five years later, over time the McKinstry family has grown to include their international host children of all ages. “Hosting in general has been a wonderful experience for us. The students have all been different, each having something special to add to our family,” Jenn McKinstry said.

The first two students the McKinstrys hosted, Peidong Su and Chuan Chen, still come back to Charlton, Mass. to visit on their breaks from school. Both Su and Chen are now in their junior years of college and plan to visit during the holi-day break from school.

This year, the McKinstrys are hosting two students who attend St. Peter-Marian High School in Worcester, Mass.—Bowen (Harry) Sun and Chen (Arthur) Wang. Sun and Wang have been adjust-ing well to life with a U.S host family (last year they were part of the EduBoston Elite Managed Care program, which provides family-style hous-ing for a small number of the company’s students, who are managed by a live-in resident parent). The teen-age Chinese students have enjoyed

getting to know the two McKinstry children, Brianna and Cole, as well as the McKinstry’s two dogs, three cats, Cockatoo, goose, and 12 chick-ens.

It’s a full house at the McKinstry’s contemporary waterfront home, but the family wouldn’t have it any other way. “One of my favorite things is having family dinners, which we make an effort to do regularly with the students here,” Jenn McKin-stry said.

The family’s current host children also enjoy family time. “I like eating dinner with my host family, and sometimes playing games with my host brother,” Sun said.

Meanwhile Wang has enjoyed the wide range of animals at the Charlton home. “I like my host family’s pets, and the house is on a nice lake,” he said.

When asked to describe one of the family’s favor-ite memories hosting international students, Jenn

McKinstry recalled her family’s first year hosting when an ice storm hit, leaving them without power for four days straight. “With no electronics we spent a lot of time getting to know each other and learning how to get by without power,” she recalled.

The McKinstrys value the time they spend together with their international host children, and continue to make new memories as a family playing ping pong, going swimming, boating, playing basketball, going ice skating, carving pumpkins, and cutting down their own Christmas tree each year.

Close at hand during the McKinstry’s hosting experience has been EduBoston. “They have been a great partner to take this international journey with—always accessible when needed and ready and willing to help and answer any questions,” Jenn McKinstry said.

The McKinstrys have been a host family longer than he has been a Program Manager, EduBoston Senior Program Manager Garret said, and they have been instrumental in helping him transition into his role. “They’ve been very understanding of my own learning curve and whenever I had issues or needed feedback, I would go to them,” he said.

Now, with five years of dedicated hosting experi-ence under her belt, Jenn McKinstry is an official member of the EduBoston team and has been working as a Host Family Recruiter since Febru-ary 2015.

The hosting experience has certainly had a lasting impact on the McKinstry family. Let it suffice to say the McKinstry parents have achieved their goal of exposing their children to another culture. Brianna McKinstry, a senior in high school, has maintained an A/A+ average in her Mandarin class and has decided to pursue a degree in international business in college. Meanwhile, Cole McKinstry, a high school sophomore, is currently enrolled in Chinese Honors 2. As the family’s hosting journey continues to evolve, we look forward to hearing more about the McKinstry’s growing family.

“One of my favorite things ishaving family dinners, which we make an effort to do regularly with the students here.”

Jenn McKinstry Host Family Mother

7

ive years ago, Jenn and Paul McKin-stry of Charlton, Mass. decided they wanted their children to learn more about and understand another culture.

“I never dreamed how much that first phone call wanting more information about hosting would change our lives,” Jenn McKinstry said, recalling the first time she inquired about hosting interna-tional students with EduBoston.

Now, five years later, over time the McKinstry family has grown to include their international host children of all ages. “Hosting in general has been a wonderful experience for us. The students have all been different, each having something special to add to our family,” Jenn McKinstry said.

The first two students the McKinstrys hosted, Peidong Su and Chuan Chen, still come back to Charlton, Mass. to visit on their breaks from school. Both Su and Chen are now in their junior years of college and plan to visit during the holi-day break from school.

This year, the McKinstrys are hosting two students who attend St. Peter-Marian High School in Worcester, Mass.—Bowen (Harry) Sun and Chen (Arthur) Wang. Sun and Wang have been adjust-ing well to life with a U.S host family (last year they were part of the EduBoston Elite Managed Care program, which provides family-style hous-ing for a small number of the company’s students, who are managed by a live-in resident parent). The teen-age Chinese students have enjoyed

getting to know the two McKinstry children, Brianna and Cole, as well as the McKinstry’s two dogs, three cats, Cockatoo, goose, and 12 chick-ens.

It’s a full house at the McKinstry’s contemporary waterfront home, but the family wouldn’t have it any other way. “One of my favorite things is having family dinners, which we make an effort to do regularly with the students here,” Jenn McKin-stry said.

The family’s current host children also enjoy family time. “I like eating dinner with my host family, and sometimes playing games with my host brother,” Sun said.

Meanwhile Wang has enjoyed the wide range of animals at the Charlton home. “I like my host family’s pets, and the house is on a nice lake,” he said.

When asked to describe one of the family’s favor-ite memories hosting international students, Jenn

McKinstry recalled her family’s first year hosting when an ice storm hit, leaving them without power for four days straight. “With no electronics we spent a lot of time getting to know each other and learning how to get by without power,” she recalled.

The McKinstrys value the time they spend together with their international host children, and continue to make new memories as a family playing ping pong, going swimming, boating, playing basketball, going ice skating, carving pumpkins, and cutting down their own Christmas tree each year.

Close at hand during the McKinstry’s hosting experience has been EduBoston. “They have been a great partner to take this international journey with—always accessible when needed and ready and willing to help and answer any questions,” Jenn McKinstry said.

The McKinstrys have been a host family longer than he has been a Program Manager, EduBoston Senior Program Manager Garret said, and they have been instrumental in helping him transition into his role. “They’ve been very understanding of my own learning curve and whenever I had issues or needed feedback, I would go to them,” he said.

Now, with five years of dedicated hosting experi-ence under her belt, Jenn McKinstry is an official member of the EduBoston team and has been working as a Host Family Recruiter since Febru-ary 2015.

The hosting experience has certainly had a lasting impact on the McKinstry family. Let it suffice to say the McKinstry parents have achieved their goal of exposing their children to another culture. Brianna McKinstry, a senior in high school, has maintained an A/A+ average in her Mandarin class and has decided to pursue a degree in international business in college. Meanwhile, Cole McKinstry, a high school sophomore, is currently enrolled in Chinese Honors 2. As the family’s hosting journey continues to evolve, we look forward to hearing more about the McKinstry’s growing family.

“One of my favorite things ishaving family dinners, which we make an effort to do regularly with the students here.”

Jenn McKinstry Host Family Mother

8

The start of the school year saw EduBoston students experiencing a plethora of activities that provided the teenagers an opportunity to bond with classmates and get to know their schools. Some events included host families gathering while others saw parents arrive from abroad to visit. It was an eventful end of August, September and October for students who revelled in the activities provided for them.

THEY ARE OFF AND RUNNING: An Action-Packed Beginning for EduBoston Teens

THEY ARE OFF AND RUNNING: An Action-Packed Beginning for EduBoston Teens

Bancroft School

St. Peter-Marian High School

St. Mary's High SchoolCape Cod Academy

9

Cardinal Spellman High School

St. Joseph High School Central Catholic High School

St. Joseph High School

10

duBoston focuses on developing students into global citizens who use their own personal experiences to make a positive impact on the world

around them. Students at EduBoston partner schools often take part in community service projects. The company has seen its students’ participation in outreach programs increase in recent years. One such program in the Dominican Republic saw one of the company’s Chinese students teaching English to children in under-served areas of the country. The Allston-based EduBoston also had two students participate in the Global Education First Initiative over the summer of 2014. The initiative, hosted by the United

SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT: GIVING SHOWS STUDENTS THE VALUE AND REWARDS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT: GIVING SHOWS STUDENTS THE VALUE AND REWARDS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

EBy Susan Wessling

Nations at its headquarters in New York City, supported empowering women and giving all children an opportunity to receive an education.

Meanwhile many others EduBoston students have stayed closer to their American homes, serving in pet shelters, soup kitchens, elderly homes and local housing authorities. One such group included a large contingent of students from St. Peter-Marian (SPM) High School in Worcester, Mass. After returning to school the third week in August, students did not hesitate to give up the Saturday over Labor Day weekend to offer their free services to Great Brook Valley, a public housing authority in the city. EduBoston students

worked side-by-side with their American counter-parts as they spent the day painting within the public housing apartment complex.

“I think it was a great opportunity to bond with American students and at the same time give back to the local community,” SPM International Director Marcus Watson said. “One of the things we strive to instill in our students, American and international, is a sense of responsibility.”

Students new to EduBoston also gave a helping hand to those people less fortunate than them-selves at the St. Francis Xavier Center on Temple Street in Worcester, Mass. during the EduBoston Summer Orientation (ESO) session, held in August at Assumption College. Groups of approxi-mately eight to 10 students and staff members volunteered at the soup kitchen eight different days. “They did a great job,” said Bill Riley who is the unpaid supervisor of the center’s many volun-teers.

Riley said the EduBoston students did a number of different jobs, from slicing strawberries and cutting vegetables, to making sandwiches and meatloaf, as well as serving meals to the 500 people who come to the local center Mondays through Fridays between 7 and 11 a.m. The EduBoston crew arrived very early, Riley noted, and he said that was a big help. “The people who come into the soup kitchen, many of them are poor or homeless. They are very grateful for what they get,” he added.

The students who volunteered had to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to arrive at the soup kitchen well before it opened. They were back at Assumption for their morning classes, which began at 9 a.m. on week-days. “I was very proud of the work they did,” said EduBoston’s Terry Doherty who drove the students to the site each day.

11

duBoston focuses on developing students into global citizens who use their own personal experiences to make a positive impact on the world

around them. Students at EduBoston partner schools often take part in community service projects. The company has seen its students’ participation in outreach programs increase in recent years. One such program in the Dominican Republic saw one of the company’s Chinese students teaching English to children in under-served areas of the country. The Allston-based EduBoston also had two students participate in the Global Education First Initiative over the summer of 2014. The initiative, hosted by the United

Nations at its headquarters in New York City, supported empowering women and giving all children an opportunity to receive an education.

Meanwhile many others EduBoston students have stayed closer to their American homes, serving in pet shelters, soup kitchens, elderly homes and local housing authorities. One such group included a large contingent of students from St. Peter-Marian (SPM) High School in Worcester, Mass. After returning to school the third week in August, students did not hesitate to give up the Saturday over Labor Day weekend to offer their free services to Great Brook Valley, a public housing authority in the city. EduBoston students

worked side-by-side with their American counter-parts as they spent the day painting within the public housing apartment complex.

“I think it was a great opportunity to bond with American students and at the same time give back to the local community,” SPM International Director Marcus Watson said. “One of the things we strive to instill in our students, American and international, is a sense of responsibility.”

Students new to EduBoston also gave a helping hand to those people less fortunate than them-selves at the St. Francis Xavier Center on Temple Street in Worcester, Mass. during the EduBoston Summer Orientation (ESO) session, held in August at Assumption College. Groups of approxi-mately eight to 10 students and staff members volunteered at the soup kitchen eight different days. “They did a great job,” said Bill Riley who is the unpaid supervisor of the center’s many volun-teers.

Riley said the EduBoston students did a number of different jobs, from slicing strawberries and cutting vegetables, to making sandwiches and meatloaf, as well as serving meals to the 500 people who come to the local center Mondays through Fridays between 7 and 11 a.m. The EduBoston crew arrived very early, Riley noted, and he said that was a big help. “The people who come into the soup kitchen, many of them are poor or homeless. They are very grateful for what they get,” he added.

The students who volunteered had to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to arrive at the soup kitchen well before it opened. They were back at Assumption for their morning classes, which began at 9 a.m. on week-days. “I was very proud of the work they did,” said EduBoston’s Terry Doherty who drove the students to the site each day.

12

13

t was 17 fun-filled and fruitful days for approximately 130 students who attended the EduBoston Summer Orientation (ESO). Held at Assumption College in

Worcester, Mass. from Aug. 6-22, the session drew a large contingent of students from China and a smaller group of scholars from Vietnam. “Overall, the orientation was a huge success. We had very high-level students and a diverse and energetic staff,” EduBoston General Manager Sean Leary said. “The students learned about American culture and values, and they were taught some key academic subjects as well. The students also had a lot of fun going on field trips and doing the special activities planned for them.”

I

BEHIND THE SCENES: AT EDUBOSTON’S SUMMER ORIENTATION

BEHIND THE SCENES: AT EDUBOSTON’S SUMMER ORIENTATION By Susan Wessling

The high school students spent from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays in classrooms. They learned about the many facets of American life and took academic lessons on topics such as U.S. History and writing in a variety of forms including screenwriting. The latter lesson culminated in a video film contest, which is always an ESO favorite. Students undertook all the film roles, including directing, playing charac-ters, shooting and editing the films, which were shown the last Friday afternoon of the orientation to a very enthusiastic crowd of students and staff. “These were the best films our students have ever produced,” EduBoston Senior Program Manager Garret Walker said.

Another animated activity was debating. Each of the eight classes held a debate during the August ESO to practice speaking in English and formulat-ing effective arguments in the language as well. It was a well-received lesson by the majority of students, who started out slowly but then took to the task at-hand enthusiastically. Students were focused on ways to get their points across clearly and effectively as well as attempting different methods to discredit their opponents’ statements. It was clear by the end of the debates that students improved their style, technique and public speaking strategies.

Daily exercise sessions and a variety of activities were offered to the group of teenagers. The kara-oke night and dances were big hits. The ESO participants also went to Six Flags New England

in Agawam, Mass. and Mount Wachusett State Reservation in Princeton, Mass.

Every host family in the EduBoston program was invited to join in one of the two training sessions held at Assumption College throughout the month of August to expand their understanding of the program and learn new skills for building long-lasting and meaningful relationships with their international students. Host families with students on campus had the opportunity to meet their new family member at the training session.

This year, EduBoston also added a new cultural adjustment training to the Host Family Orienta-tions. The seminar was led by Madeleine Golda, director of the English Language Institute at Sacred Heart University and founder of Golda Consulting. Golda has extensive experience as a cultural trainer for schools, businesses and host families. Her presentation focused on understand-ing the student’s perspective and teaching host families new ways of supporting students through the different stages of acculturation they experi-ence.

“The ESO this summer achieved all of its bench-marks for presenting materials to the new students. It is always a work in progress; evolving as we learn new information from our experiences and from outside professional expertise,” Walker said. “We found our new affiliation with linguistic

anthropologist, Madelaine Golda, to be especially helpful. Overall the changes we made this year proved to be productive. I’m already excited about next year.”

The weeks and days leading up to the first day of school not only allowed for the incoming interna-tional students to familiarize themselves with the American way of life, but also was a perfect time to get to know their peers as well as their new schools a little better. During the orientation ses-sion, EduBoston partner schools were invited to the campus to meet and spend time with their new students. Aside from placement testing and uniform fittings, several schools took this opportu-nity to get to know their students and engage them in fun activities outside of the classroom.

By Susan Wessling

14

t was 17 fun-filled and fruitful days for approximately 130 students who attended the EduBoston Summer Orientation (ESO). Held at Assumption College in

Worcester, Mass. from Aug. 6-22, the session drew a large contingent of students from China and a smaller group of scholars from Vietnam. “Overall, the orientation was a huge success. We had very high-level students and a diverse and energetic staff,” EduBoston General Manager Sean Leary said. “The students learned about American culture and values, and they were taught some key academic subjects as well. The students also had a lot of fun going on field trips and doing the special activities planned for them.”

The high school students spent from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays in classrooms. They learned about the many facets of American life and took academic lessons on topics such as U.S. History and writing in a variety of forms including screenwriting. The latter lesson culminated in a video film contest, which is always an ESO favorite. Students undertook all the film roles, including directing, playing charac-ters, shooting and editing the films, which were shown the last Friday afternoon of the orientation to a very enthusiastic crowd of students and staff. “These were the best films our students have ever produced,” EduBoston Senior Program Manager Garret Walker said.

Another animated activity was debating. Each of the eight classes held a debate during the August ESO to practice speaking in English and formulat-ing effective arguments in the language as well. It was a well-received lesson by the majority of students, who started out slowly but then took to the task at-hand enthusiastically. Students were focused on ways to get their points across clearly and effectively as well as attempting different methods to discredit their opponents’ statements. It was clear by the end of the debates that students improved their style, technique and public speaking strategies.

Daily exercise sessions and a variety of activities were offered to the group of teenagers. The kara-oke night and dances were big hits. The ESO participants also went to Six Flags New England

in Agawam, Mass. and Mount Wachusett State Reservation in Princeton, Mass.

Every host family in the EduBoston program was invited to join in one of the two training sessions held at Assumption College throughout the month of August to expand their understanding of the program and learn new skills for building long-lasting and meaningful relationships with their international students. Host families with students on campus had the opportunity to meet their new family member at the training session.

This year, EduBoston also added a new cultural adjustment training to the Host Family Orienta-tions. The seminar was led by Madeleine Golda, director of the English Language Institute at Sacred Heart University and founder of Golda Consulting. Golda has extensive experience as a cultural trainer for schools, businesses and host families. Her presentation focused on understand-ing the student’s perspective and teaching host families new ways of supporting students through the different stages of acculturation they experi-ence.

“The ESO this summer achieved all of its bench-marks for presenting materials to the new students. It is always a work in progress; evolving as we learn new information from our experiences and from outside professional expertise,” Walker said. “We found our new affiliation with linguistic

anthropologist, Madelaine Golda, to be especially helpful. Overall the changes we made this year proved to be productive. I’m already excited about next year.”

The weeks and days leading up to the first day of school not only allowed for the incoming interna-tional students to familiarize themselves with the American way of life, but also was a perfect time to get to know their peers as well as their new schools a little better. During the orientation ses-sion, EduBoston partner schools were invited to the campus to meet and spend time with their new students. Aside from placement testing and uniform fittings, several schools took this opportu-nity to get to know their students and engage them in fun activities outside of the classroom.

15

t was 17 fun-filled and fruitful days for approximately 130 students who attended the EduBoston Summer Orientation (ESO). Held at Assumption College in

Worcester, Mass. from Aug. 6-22, the session drew a large contingent of students from China and a smaller group of scholars from Vietnam. “Overall, the orientation was a huge success. We had very high-level students and a diverse and energetic staff,” EduBoston General Manager Sean Leary said. “The students learned about American culture and values, and they were taught some key academic subjects as well. The students also had a lot of fun going on field trips and doing the special activities planned for them.”

The high school students spent from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays in classrooms. They learned about the many facets of American life and took academic lessons on topics such as U.S. History and writing in a variety of forms including screenwriting. The latter lesson culminated in a video film contest, which is always an ESO favorite. Students undertook all the film roles, including directing, playing charac-ters, shooting and editing the films, which were shown the last Friday afternoon of the orientation to a very enthusiastic crowd of students and staff. “These were the best films our students have ever produced,” EduBoston Senior Program Manager Garret Walker said.

Another animated activity was debating. Each of the eight classes held a debate during the August ESO to practice speaking in English and formulat-ing effective arguments in the language as well. It was a well-received lesson by the majority of students, who started out slowly but then took to the task at-hand enthusiastically. Students were focused on ways to get their points across clearly and effectively as well as attempting different methods to discredit their opponents’ statements. It was clear by the end of the debates that students improved their style, technique and public speaking strategies.

Daily exercise sessions and a variety of activities were offered to the group of teenagers. The kara-oke night and dances were big hits. The ESO participants also went to Six Flags New England

in Agawam, Mass. and Mount Wachusett State Reservation in Princeton, Mass.

Every host family in the EduBoston program was invited to join in one of the two training sessions held at Assumption College throughout the month of August to expand their understanding of the program and learn new skills for building long-lasting and meaningful relationships with their international students. Host families with students on campus had the opportunity to meet their new family member at the training session.

This year, EduBoston also added a new cultural adjustment training to the Host Family Orienta-tions. The seminar was led by Madeleine Golda, director of the English Language Institute at Sacred Heart University and founder of Golda Consulting. Golda has extensive experience as a cultural trainer for schools, businesses and host families. Her presentation focused on understand-ing the student’s perspective and teaching host families new ways of supporting students through the different stages of acculturation they experi-ence.

“The ESO this summer achieved all of its bench-marks for presenting materials to the new students. It is always a work in progress; evolving as we learn new information from our experiences and from outside professional expertise,” Walker said. “We found our new affiliation with linguistic

anthropologist, Madelaine Golda, to be especially helpful. Overall the changes we made this year proved to be productive. I’m already excited about next year.”

The weeks and days leading up to the first day of school not only allowed for the incoming interna-tional students to familiarize themselves with the American way of life, but also was a perfect time to get to know their peers as well as their new schools a little better. During the orientation ses-sion, EduBoston partner schools were invited to the campus to meet and spend time with their new students. Aside from placement testing and uniform fittings, several schools took this opportu-nity to get to know their students and engage them in fun activities outside of the classroom.

“Overall the changes we made this year proved to be productive. I’m already excited about next year.”

Garret Walker EduBoston Senior Program Manager

16

THE MASTERS OF EDUCATION: THE MASTERS OF EDUCATION:

EduBoston had a busy and fruitful summer. Adding four new Program Managers to ensure a low student-to-Program Manager ratio, the com-pany now has eight Program Managers within its ranks. The people in these positions oversee every aspect of their students’ lives and are avail-able to students and host families 24/7.

EduBoston President and CEO Kason Park has long made the well-being of his students a major priority. Adding more Program Mangers is one more sign of this commitment as he is ensuring that EduBoston students get significant one-on-one time and attention from the company’s growing staff. “I believe we do this better than any other company,” he said about the intensive focus the students receive from their Program Manag-ers, many of whom visit their students and/or schools on a weekly basis.

EduBoston now has students in schools in Califor-nia and Pennsylvania, along with Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The Allston-based company strives to partner only with top-notch educational institutions. One example is Bloom-ington Christian School in Bloomington, Calif., which boasts a 100 percent graduation rate.

By Susan Wessling

EDUBOSTON BUILDS ON ITS PAST SUCCESS

MEET OUR NEW PROGRAM MANAGERS

Kimberlee O’Keefe

Kimberlee O’Keefe is the new EduBoston Man-ager for the North Shore in Massachusetts. A resident of Somerville, Mass., she began working for EduBoston in mid-July. A certified teacher with a degree in English from Bridgewater State Col-lege, O’Keefe has a background as an ESL tutor. Before joining EduBoston, she also was a substi-tute teacher in the Cambridge Public Schools system for seven years and the executive director of a learning center for at-risk kids for four years.

“I really enjoy my job with EduBoston, and I hon-estly feel that all my prior work experience has led me to be a part of the team. It is an enormous responsibility to watch after these amazing kids from another country. I truly am their American mom and they know that,” O’Keefe said. “I’m here for them, and they know that I will work tirelessly to make sure they are safe and happy.”

O’Keefe is enthusiastic about her job. She has a passion for working with teenagers and is clearly

comfortable in the educational field. Visiting sev-eral schools and/or host families in a day, she works tirelessly. “Working in schools and with administration is something that I have done for years. I feel comfortable in school settings, so being a presence in their schools, speaking with their teachers, following their grades online and even tutoring them are all things I am happy to do for them,” O’Keefe explained. “I have gone from having two children to 32! I could not be happier.”

O’Keefe is often behind the scenes at various on- or off-campus school events and host family gatherings. She gets the job done with thorough administrative skills and an amicable personality. Additionally, she pays careful attention to the small details. “My experience so far while working for EduBoston has been amazing! I have met some absolutely phenomenal people and have made incredible memories,” O’Keefe said. “I am so lucky to be a part of this team.”

O’Keefe is engaged to Hunter Wollman. She has two teenage daughters: Elizabeth Amber (16) and Victoria Kelsey (15). The family has two much-loved pets, a mini English bulldog named Bellaand a cat named Mr. Millie.“I love to read and spend time with my daughters,” O’Keefe said. “We love to go to Maine and we have a RV and camp all summer and fall.”

Kristin Lynch is one of two EduBoston Program Managers who now covers Connecticut. She began working for the company in late July, and lives with her family in Guilford, Conn. She is married to John Lynch and the couple has three sons: Cory (17), Jared (13) and Ryan (10). The family pet is a beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, named Miles.

Before coming onboard with EduBoston, Lynch worked as a substitute teacher and paraprofes-sional educator. She received an M.S. in Educa-tion from the University of New Haven in Con-necticut and a B.A. in Sociology from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook.

“This position involves using my educational background, my prior work experiences, as well as my real-life experience of being a mom of adolescent boys,” Lynch explained. “Due to these experiences, I feel I have more insight and sensi-tivity to helping students achieve a more success-ful and positive school and host family experi-ence.”

Additionally, Lynch has excellent interpersonal and communication skills that allow her to work effectively with students, teachers, parents, host families and administration. She can often be found at one of the schools she covers, visiting with a student at their host family’s residence or at an event with her students.

Lynch said she loves working with international students and enjoys seeing them on a daily basis. She sees them during her weekly stops to their schools and also during visits to their host fami-lies. “It is amazing to watch them learn and grow as they adjust to their new environment in only a month or two,” she explained. “Knowing that I can make a difference in their experience here is very rewarding. I also love the relationships that I have built with not only my students, but with their host families as well.”

Lynch has a number of hobbies, including kick-boxing, running, swimming and playing the piano. “I love to collect antiques and unique treasures,” she said. “I also love to travel! My most recent trips were to Peru, Turkey and Italy.”

17

Kimberlee O’Keefe

Kimberlee O’Keefe is the new EduBoston Man-ager for the North Shore in Massachusetts. A resident of Somerville, Mass., she began working for EduBoston in mid-July. A certified teacher with a degree in English from Bridgewater State Col-lege, O’Keefe has a background as an ESL tutor. Before joining EduBoston, she also was a substi-tute teacher in the Cambridge Public Schools system for seven years and the executive director of a learning center for at-risk kids for four years.

“I really enjoy my job with EduBoston, and I hon-estly feel that all my prior work experience has led me to be a part of the team. It is an enormous responsibility to watch after these amazing kids from another country. I truly am their American mom and they know that,” O’Keefe said. “I’m here for them, and they know that I will work tirelessly to make sure they are safe and happy.”

O’Keefe is enthusiastic about her job. She has a passion for working with teenagers and is clearly

comfortable in the educational field. Visiting sev-eral schools and/or host families in a day, she works tirelessly. “Working in schools and with administration is something that I have done for years. I feel comfortable in school settings, so being a presence in their schools, speaking with their teachers, following their grades online and even tutoring them are all things I am happy to do for them,” O’Keefe explained. “I have gone from having two children to 32! I could not be happier.”

O’Keefe is often behind the scenes at various on- or off-campus school events and host family gatherings. She gets the job done with thorough administrative skills and an amicable personality. Additionally, she pays careful attention to the small details. “My experience so far while working for EduBoston has been amazing! I have met some absolutely phenomenal people and have made incredible memories,” O’Keefe said. “I am so lucky to be a part of this team.”

O’Keefe is engaged to Hunter Wollman. She has two teenage daughters: Elizabeth Amber (16) and Victoria Kelsey (15). The family has two much-loved pets, a mini English bulldog named Bellaand a cat named Mr. Millie.“I love to read and spend time with my daughters,” O’Keefe said. “We love to go to Maine and we have a RV and camp all summer and fall.”

Kristin Lynch is one of two EduBoston Program Managers who now covers Connecticut. She began working for the company in late July, and lives with her family in Guilford, Conn. She is married to John Lynch and the couple has three sons: Cory (17), Jared (13) and Ryan (10). The family pet is a beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, named Miles.

Before coming onboard with EduBoston, Lynch worked as a substitute teacher and paraprofes-sional educator. She received an M.S. in Educa-tion from the University of New Haven in Con-necticut and a B.A. in Sociology from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook.

“This position involves using my educational background, my prior work experiences, as well as my real-life experience of being a mom of adolescent boys,” Lynch explained. “Due to these experiences, I feel I have more insight and sensi-tivity to helping students achieve a more success-ful and positive school and host family experi-ence.”

Additionally, Lynch has excellent interpersonal and communication skills that allow her to work effectively with students, teachers, parents, host families and administration. She can often be found at one of the schools she covers, visiting with a student at their host family’s residence or at an event with her students.

Lynch said she loves working with international students and enjoys seeing them on a daily basis. She sees them during her weekly stops to their schools and also during visits to their host fami-lies. “It is amazing to watch them learn and grow as they adjust to their new environment in only a month or two,” she explained. “Knowing that I can make a difference in their experience here is very rewarding. I also love the relationships that I have built with not only my students, but with their host families as well.”

Lynch has a number of hobbies, including kick-boxing, running, swimming and playing the piano. “I love to collect antiques and unique treasures,” she said. “I also love to travel! My most recent trips were to Peru, Turkey and Italy.”

Kristin Lynch

18

Kristin Lynch is one of two EduBoston Program Managers who now covers Connecticut. She began working for the company in late July, and lives with her family in Guilford, Conn. She is married to John Lynch and the couple has three sons: Cory (17), Jared (13) and Ryan (10). The family pet is a beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, named Miles.

Before coming onboard with EduBoston, Lynch worked as a substitute teacher and paraprofes-sional educator. She received an M.S. in Educa-tion from the University of New Haven in Con-necticut and a B.A. in Sociology from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook.

“This position involves using my educational background, my prior work experiences, as well as my real-life experience of being a mom of adolescent boys,” Lynch explained. “Due to these experiences, I feel I have more insight and sensi-tivity to helping students achieve a more success-ful and positive school and host family experi-ence.”

Additionally, Lynch has excellent interpersonal and communication skills that allow her to work effectively with students, teachers, parents, host families and administration. She can often be found at one of the schools she covers, visiting with a student at their host family’s residence or at an event with her students.

Lynch said she loves working with international students and enjoys seeing them on a daily basis. She sees them during her weekly stops to their schools and also during visits to their host fami-lies. “It is amazing to watch them learn and grow as they adjust to their new environment in only a month or two,” she explained. “Knowing that I can make a difference in their experience here is very rewarding. I also love the relationships that I have built with not only my students, but with their host families as well.”

Lynch has a number of hobbies, including kick-boxing, running, swimming and playing the piano. “I love to collect antiques and unique treasures,” she said. “I also love to travel! My most recent trips were to Peru, Turkey and Italy.”

Lisa Breen

A world-traveler and mother of two, Lisa Breen brings a host of experiences to her position as the Massachusetts South Shore Program Manager. “I have traveled, lived and worked overseas myself,” said Breen who began working for EduBoston in late July.

A resident of Plymouth, Mass., Breen is married to Anthony Breen, Ph.D., an educator in Cambridge, and the couple has two sons, Conor (19) and Brendan (17) Breen. Both boys are Eagle Scouts in the Boys Scouts of America; one is a college freshman and the other a high school senior. “My husband is from Ireland so we are a multicultural family,” she said.

Breen has previously worked for five years with international university students in the ESL program at Babson College. For four years, she worked with international high school students at the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) as a Local Coordinator. Previously serving for three

years as the International Exchange Program Counselor at Northeastern University for France and Spain, Breen placed American university students going to work abroad in French and Spanish-speaking countries. She was also a Boy Scout leader for six years in which she planned, executed and delivered the program.

“I am happy to again be working with international students and in helping to make their experience here fun, memorable, and successful,” she said.Breen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish Literature with a Minor in French Lan-guage from Binghamton University, Binghamton, N.Y., and obtained her Master of Arts degree in Intercultural Relations with a concentration in International Educational Exchange from Lesley University, Cambridge, Mass.

Known to be diligent, detail-oriented and consci-entious yet friendly, flexible and enthusiastic, with a good sense of humor, Breen is also culturally sensitive. “This experience has been amazingly intense and equally as rewarding,” Breen said. “I am thrilled to be learning about China, its culture, and to be meeting all the wonderful students, host families and their high schools, which are partici-pating in the EduBoston program.”

The best part of her job is working with the Edu-Boston team, Breen said. “I especially like working with the new and returning PMs and the entire staff, to help students and host families enjoy this culturally enriching moment in their lives.”

In her spare time, Breen enjoys working out at a gym as well as swimming, walking on the beach near her home and experiencing local cultural and sports events in New England with friends and family. “I enjoy various types of music and love attending the parades and concerts of the bagpipe band and youth symphony orchestra my sons and husband belong to,” she said.

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Kristin Lynch is one of two EduBoston Program Managers who now covers Connecticut. She began working for the company in late July, and lives with her family in Guilford, Conn. She is married to John Lynch and the couple has three sons: Cory (17), Jared (13) and Ryan (10). The family pet is a beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, named Miles.

Before coming onboard with EduBoston, Lynch worked as a substitute teacher and paraprofes-sional educator. She received an M.S. in Educa-tion from the University of New Haven in Con-necticut and a B.A. in Sociology from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook.

“This position involves using my educational background, my prior work experiences, as well as my real-life experience of being a mom of adolescent boys,” Lynch explained. “Due to these experiences, I feel I have more insight and sensi-tivity to helping students achieve a more success-ful and positive school and host family experi-ence.”

Additionally, Lynch has excellent interpersonal and communication skills that allow her to work effectively with students, teachers, parents, host families and administration. She can often be found at one of the schools she covers, visiting with a student at their host family’s residence or at an event with her students.

Lynch said she loves working with international students and enjoys seeing them on a daily basis. She sees them during her weekly stops to their schools and also during visits to their host fami-lies. “It is amazing to watch them learn and grow as they adjust to their new environment in only a month or two,” she explained. “Knowing that I can make a difference in their experience here is very rewarding. I also love the relationships that I have built with not only my students, but with their host families as well.”

Lynch has a number of hobbies, including kick-boxing, running, swimming and playing the piano. “I love to collect antiques and unique treasures,” she said. “I also love to travel! My most recent trips were to Peru, Turkey and Italy.”

Marcus Gregory

As a former international student host parent, Marcus Gregory understands the importance of helping students have a positive educational and living experience during their journey in the United States. With a background in education added to the mix, Gregory was more than ready to take on his role as the EduBoston Massachusetts Worcester County Program Manager.

Gregory graduated from Hampden-Sydney Col-lege in Virginia where he obtained a B.A. in Eco-nomics. He has been in the educational field for the past seven years, working three years as a teacher. He spent one year as a career and tech-nical teacher for a middle school in the Cumber-land County Public Schools system in Cumber-land, Va. and two years as a high school teacher and the director of the new beginnings learning program in the same Virginia school system.

Gregory also spent four years as an athletic director at the Fuqua School, a pre-kindergarten through grade 12 private school in Farmville, Va. Additionally, Gregory worked as basketball coach during that time, both in the public and private school sectors.

These work experiences have helped him in his role with EduBoston. “My background has helped me guide kids towards productive academic

habits and on the path to prepare for college,” Gregory said.

The international piece is one of the parts of his new position that he relishes. “I have enjoyed playing a role in the EduBoston program, helping students achieve the goal of strengthening their American academics,” Gregory said.

His favorite part of his job, Gregory added, is working with students that have the ambition to pursue their goals outside of their comfort zones. “Knowing I am a resource for our students places a higher meaning to my job as a Program Man-ager,” he added.

A team player, Gregory is always willing to help out other EduBoston staff members. These char-acteristics are necessary in his role, since he and Senior Program Manager Garret Walker split duties at St. Peter-Marian.

Harding-working with an attention to detail, Gregory is often seen visiting the three schools to which he is assigned. He is also a regular visitor to his students' host family homes. Getting to know his students, their host families and school administrators is an important part of his job, which he takes seriously yet with an friendly approach.

Gregory began working for EduBoston in late July of 2015. “It’s been great to experience the transi-tions of students living in a different country while continuing to focus on their academics,” he said.

Gregory currently lives in Worcester, Mass. with his fiancée, Natalie.

AUGUST

HappyBirthdayThis Issue of The EduBostonian Recognizes August, September, October Birthdays: Join Our Students in Celebration!

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Keying XuQinhao ZhangLuoyi Jiang Chen WangXinghan HeZhuoran ChenJing DuanJu WuPeiqi JingYiran WangBoyuan WenHao DongRucheng WangXuefeng YaoYuxuan SunXiaoling HeThi Than Truc TrinhZichen ZhaoZeyu DuZhe WangZhongheng ZhangShiying WuShuning WuYunzhuo Hao Yixiao JiangDang Khoa BuiShijun LiRan WangZihao GuoTingze XiaZe Yang

8/18/28/28/48/68/68/78/88/108/108/118/118/148/178/188/188/188/198/198/218/218/218/228/248/258/258/258/268/298/298/31

Holy Name St. Peter-MarianSaint Bernard's St. Peter-MarianCape Cod AcademyCardinal SpellmanBay View AcademyHoly Name St. Peter-MarianCape Cod AcademySt. JosephSt. John’s PreparatorySt. Mary's St. Peter-MarianCape Cod AcademyBancroft SchoolSt. Mary's Central CatholicCentral CatholicSacred Heart/MACape Cod AcademyHoly Name Central CatholicBancroft SchoolCardinal SpellmanBishop ConnollyCardinal SpellmanSacred Heart/MASt. Mary's St. Mary's St. Mary's

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September

Yanwen LuoDanxiang Chen Yining YuanXinyi WangNingchen RenBohan FengQiao QiaoDonghai HuangShubo WangRun LiYunfan GaoQizhu ZhaoShang YuBowen SunBaiming Hao Tiange DaiQianyun HuangHaiwen ZhangYangchen BaiWenqing TengJunyi DaiDiheng XinYanbo Liu Yu ZhaiXuanming DaChau Cao Minh Le

9/19/19/29/39/49/69/89/89/99/99/109/109/109/139/149/159/189/219/229/239/239/259/269/279/299/30

St. John’s PreparatoryBay View AcademyCape Cod AcademyWhitinsville ChristianBishop ConnollySt. Peter-MarianCape Cod AcademySt. JosephSt. JosephTrinity CatholicWhitinsville ChristianBloomington Christian Bancroft SchoolSt. Peter-MarianSacred Heart/MASt. Peter-MarianHoly Name St. JosephSt. JosephBancroft SchoolSt. John’s PreparatorySt. JosephHamden Hall CountryHolyoke CatholicTrinity CatholicBishop Connolly

October

Qin XuDehua ChenYuzi LyuWenjun LiShaozu MaBowen DuanSihan YangTao HuKaili HuangLu YeWenjie YanKaibiao RuanChuqi XiongDi WuYuexuan ChengHaowei ZhaoYifan GuoBohaoyong ZhengSiying WangBinghan ZhouWenhao LengXuan Zhao Yueyang ZhangJunhao HuangXinyi Kong

10/310/510/510/910/910/1010/1210/1210/1410/1510/1810/1810/1810/1910/2010/2110/2210/2410/2410/2510/2510/2710/2710/2810/30

Malden CatholicSacred Heart/MACentral CatholicSt. Peter-MarianArchbishop WilliamsCardinal SpellmanBay View AcademyCentral CatholicSt. Peter-MarianSacred Heart/MASt. Peter-MarianSt. Peter-MarianCape Cod AcademyTrinity CatholicSt. Peter-MarianSt. Peter-MarianSacred Heart/MAMalden CatholicCentral CatholicSt. Peter-MarianSt. Mary's Holy Name Sacred Heart/MASt. Peter-MarianSacred Heart/MA

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ASSUMPTION COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPSAVAILABLE FOR EDUBOSTON STUDENTS

Assumption College, a four-year Catholic liberal arts college located in the beautiful, west side of Worcester, Mass., has an exciting opportunity for EduBoston students. Assumption College (https://www.assumption.edu) is offering scholar-ships between $2,000 and $5,000 for qualified students from EduBoston.

Assumption College provides students an excep-tional liberal arts education:

• Named to the “Best Regional Universities” list in U.S. News & World Report’s “2016 Best Colleges” guide, Assumption is ranked in the top third of approximately 200 regional universities in the north that offer bachelor and master's degrees.

• For the second consecutive year, Assumption College has been named one of the “Best 380 Colleges,” according to The Princeton Review.

• The undergraduate enrollment is approximately 2,100. The student-faculty ratio at is 12 to 1, and the average undergraduate class size is 21 students. These stats mean students get the individualized attention needed to succeed.

• Assumption offers about two dozen partnerships with colleges and universities such as Notre Dame, Duke and Duquesne Law to offer students enhanced educational opportunities.

• Assumption participates in the Colleges of Worcester Consortium. Its students can cross-register at 11 other area colleges and universities for academic credit and participate in campus events at those schools.

• Assumption offers more than 50 places around the world to study, including the college’s new campus in Rome, Italy.

Worcester is centrally located in Massachusetts and nearby other major cities:

• The college’s 185-acre enclosed campus is in a residential section of New England’s second largest city, which is 45 miles from Boston and Providence. Train and bus service allows students to go to these and other major cities as well, including New York City.

• Greater Worcester is a major area for colleges and universities and about 30,000 students living there during the academic year.

Disney's Magic Kingdom Epcot Hollywood Studios Animal Kingdom

Walt Disney World - Orlando, Florida Dates: 12/28/2015 - 01/02/2016 (5 nights, 6 days) (*Dates are subject to change based on the cost of airfare.)Activities included: 4 Day Park Hopping Premium Ticket(Disney's Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom)

$935.00 $800.00 $1,735.00 Based on 2 to a room*Cost of airfare subject to change based on time of payment.

*Land cost includes 4 Day Park Hopping Premium Ticket, breakfast each morning, and ground transportation.

Land Cost Airfare Total Room Occupancy

Disney World

Hotel: Pop Century Resort

February 2015 December 2014 February 2014

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CALIFORNIA TRIPDates: 12/28/2015 - 01/02/2016 (5 nights, 6 days)

ItineraryDay 1: Airport pick-up, hotel check-in, and day trip to Santa MonicaDay 2: Hollywood tour and Universal Studios HollywoodDay 3: SeaWorld San DiegoDay 4: DisneylandDay 5: Downtown LA shopping, Chinatown, and Desert Hills Premium OutletsDay 6: Departure day

2 per room $1,030

Cost Airfare Total CostLand Cost

$1,830 $800

4 per room $890 $1,690 $800

*5 nights at 4 star hotel*Land cost includes all admission fees, breakfast each morning, ground transportation, bilingual tour guide, and tax.

2015 LA Trip

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Company Website: www.eduboston.com

CRMS Website: crms.eduboston.com

EduBoston Photo Gallery: gallery.eduboston.com

Office: 617-254-1117Fax: 617-507-8941

161 Harvard Ave. Suite 13AAllston, MA 02134

General ManagerSean Learysean@eduboston.com

EditorSusan Wesslingmagazine@eduboston.com