Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2010 | Page 11

About The New Homestay Program
TA’s boarding program continues to grow and have a positive impact on the school community, and there’s a
new homestay option in 2010-11. Today there are 13 international students living with 10 families in the area,
providing young people from across the globe with the opportunity to immerse themselves in English and learn
more about what it’s like to live in Maine. Some of the families include Thornton faculty or staff while others
have day students who grew up in the area and are active in the student ambassador program. The purpose of
a homestay is not just to provide a place for an international student to live but to create enriching learning
opportunities for everyone, hopefully forging lifelong relationships along the way. “Saco is a very good place
to live and we have a good place to go to school, so it’s perfect,” said Ziwei Wang ’12, one of the homestay
students. Above: TA homestay families broke bread together at school in October. Below at left: TA teacher
Jon Sylvester, background, and Tin Tim Tsui ’13 of Shanghai, China, went fishing at Boothbay Harbor’s Juniper
Point Dock with Sylvester’s wife Jodi Thomas, also a teacher at Thornton, and their son Henry. Below middle:
Christine Felser ’03, center, is a homestay parent to Rie Li ’12 of Zhongshan, China, at her right, and Tammy Qiu
’13 of Beijing, China, at her left. Below right: Bill Wang ’13 of Shanghai, China, visited Portland Head Light with
homestay parents Jade Elliott, TA’s Homestay Coordinator, and TA teacher Alden Hudson.

TA Alumni: Fill Us In! Keep in touch with Thornton and your fellow alumni by filling out this form
and returning it by mail or e-mail.
First Name Maiden Name Thornton Academy
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Saco, ME 04072-1565
Address
Ph: 207-602-4456
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E-mail: Lisa.Morin@
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Postscripts

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