WELCOME AUGUST 2015
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COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE <strong>WELCOME</strong>S YOU<br />
As you prepare to arrive in Hamilton either as a parent or a student, we hope that this will be a time<br />
of growth and success for the student and for the parents that this would be a very fruitful and<br />
rewarding experience when you share in every transformational moment of your child/children’s life<br />
spent at Columbia International College.<br />
• August <strong>2015</strong> Semester begins with residence check-in August 8 to 14,<br />
<strong>2015</strong><br />
• Specific Orientation & Registration date has been scheduled for each<br />
student. Refer to the date on the Letter of Acceptance. Parents’<br />
participation is recommended.<br />
Parents are always encouraged to attend the orientation program. It is recommended that parents<br />
remain in Hamilton up until when they have met with the guidance counselors and their children<br />
have chosen subject. If possible a day after classes have begun. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime to<br />
meet, interact and get acquainted with staff that will be working with parents and students on this<br />
journey. Vital connection for continuous communication is established at this point. Information about<br />
expectations is shared.<br />
• Classes begin August 17, <strong>2015</strong><br />
- All students take diagnostic placement assessment in English and Mathematics. Additional Physics,<br />
Chemistry and Biology diagnostic placement assessment has been designed for students who wish to<br />
enter into Engineering, Medicine and Science programs in the University<br />
- Assessment is to enable guidance counselors place students at the right level of academic ability<br />
and be able to formulate a study plan for each individual student<br />
- Parents must join in the subject selection with the student and guidance counselors<br />
- A very informative and rewarding experience a parent would not want to miss<br />
- Students arriving from outside of North America must arrive in Hamilton well before the beginning<br />
of orientation. This allows them to overcome time differences and jet lag before orientation begins.<br />
- Adequate arrival information must be given to the school one week prior to arrival, to enable all<br />
necessary residence, airport pick up and hotel arrangements (if parents request) to be confirmed.<br />
o FINAL COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTS<br />
*Important! May I remind all parents to send updates of all transcripts that are still<br />
pending. Transcripts pending would be as follows:<br />
- Just completed S.S.S 3, provide recent mock examination results<br />
- Just completed Year/Grade 11, provide recent I.G.C.S.E or G.C.E mock examination results or G.11<br />
final term<br />
- Just completed any other level and beginning studies at Columbia International College in August<br />
2014, we will require the final term report of recent level completed<br />
- Final external examination results if available<br />
- Any student whose transcripts sent in is incomplete is required to provide complete transcripts<br />
ASAP<br />
- *All updated Transcripts from Grade 7 right through to Grade 11 and or 12 must be sent<br />
before July 28, <strong>2015</strong>*<br />
- Transcripts must be scanned and sent to me immediately.
o ARRIVAL- IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS<br />
Bring the following in your hand luggage<br />
• Passports<br />
• Package with Letter of acceptance, receipt for payment and all documents sent<br />
from Columbia International College<br />
• All documents received from admissions by email<br />
Port of Entry<br />
• Port of entry is Pearson International Airport in the city of Toronto<br />
• Health Insurance has already been purchased (check invoice and payment receipt)<br />
• Study Permit will be issued at the port of entry<br />
• *Parents are required to complete and send back to school as soon as possible the<br />
‘Status of Student Visa Notification and ‘Arrival Notification & Pre-Arranged Airport<br />
Pick Up Request’ forms attached*<br />
• Emails must be sent to admissions copied myself as soon as study permit approval<br />
is obtained and when flight schedules confirmed*<br />
If student(s) is (are) arriving on their own or with parents<br />
• Notify staff of flight schedule with completed appropriate forms attached. Send an email to<br />
ALL these addresses admissions02@cic-TotalCare.com, airport.pickup@cic-TotalCare.com,<br />
mzieman@columbiainternationalcollege.com, avrabie@columbiainternationalcollege.com,<br />
sjones@columbiainternationalcollege.com, that airport pick up is required from the school.<br />
Kindly copy me on all emails.<br />
• If you do not require airport pick up indicate this on the form<br />
PAUSE!<br />
VISIT THIS WEBSITE FOR IMPORTANT VIDEO INFORMATION ABOUT THE<br />
SCHOOL<br />
www.cic-TotalCare.com/welcome<br />
o POCKET MONEY & OPENING BANK ACCOUNTS:<br />
Suggestion to parents:<br />
• Suggested pocket money could be between CND$150 and CND$ 250 a month<br />
• This could be used in purchasing and replenishing of personal items such as toiletries, beauty<br />
and hair products, hair dressing/grooming, items for projects, occasional optional movies,<br />
eating out etc<br />
• However the amount to be given as pocket money still remains the parents’ decision<br />
*The school will disburse pocket money to students if parents choose to deposit or<br />
transfer money to the school<br />
• Pocket money disbursement forms are available with the accounting department<br />
• Parents can still choose to have their children keep all the money in their own<br />
bank accounts<br />
• Students will open bank accounts with local banks<br />
• Students do not need to have immediate cash to open accounts with the banks
Opening of bank accounts can be done when students arrive in Hamilton. Some banks may allow<br />
parents to open their personal accounts as well, however this is not consistent and it is not<br />
guaranteed. Use of banking facilities assists students to familiarize themselves with the Canadian<br />
banking system. Parents can easily wire money into the children’s account<br />
• At the school the accounting department can only issue cheques when disbursing pocket<br />
money or refunds<br />
• Students deposit the cheques in to their bank accounts<br />
• Students can use debit cards to purchase almost anything in shops<br />
• Students are encouraged to deposit large sums of money in the bank. Keep only a<br />
limited small amount of money $20 in the wallet to avoid great loss<br />
o LAPTOPS:<br />
It is advisable that students have their own laptops and if necessary their own printers (personal<br />
choice)<br />
• Assignments, presentations and projects are part of the course requirement for every subject<br />
• Most assignments must be typed and printed out. (Assignments make up part of the final<br />
marks. It is important that teachers are able to read written work to give marks accordingly.<br />
Hand written work could be illegible)<br />
• Use of the computer labs in school is possible during the day until 5:00pm when school closes<br />
• If assignments should be done in the residences, student would require their own laptop<br />
• Cost of laptop in Canada is from CND$700 and up<br />
• Parents can choose any brand of lap top to purchased for the student<br />
• Suggestion: purchase laptops that would be useful for basic academic needs<br />
o INTERNET:<br />
-Internet connectivity available in the all residences and school<br />
-Students provide their own laptop<br />
TEXT BOOKS & STATIONARY: (Cost Not Included in the Invoice)<br />
o<br />
-After the diagnostic placement assessment students are placed on the appropriate level when<br />
choosing subjects<br />
-Textbooks will be purchased after subjects have been chosen<br />
-Textbooks for one semester of 4 subjects will cost between CND$350 and CND$400.<br />
-Stationary for lessons, projects and presentations, can be purchased in stationary shops in the city<br />
of Hamilton<br />
-List of relevant stationery is attached. Suggestion: purchase items during orientation in Canada to<br />
confirm one has the appropriate items indicated<br />
-Cost is between CND$75 and CND$150 per semester
o CLOTHING:<br />
-During the summer months it could be extremely hot<br />
-Students’ wear their own clothing after school and at weekends<br />
-Parents should make provision for purchase of warm clothing in the winter months usually at the<br />
beginning of November<br />
-It would be more appropriate to purchase warm clothing in Canada in view of the uniqueness of the<br />
weather<br />
o STUDENTS MEDICAL RECORDS<br />
If your Child/Children has/have medical condition(s) that require constant and regular<br />
medical attention, kindly bring along comprehensive Doctors medical report/records<br />
covering the condition(s) and instructions on how the condition(s) is/are or could be<br />
managed. You will meet with the medical staff to discuss assistance that could be<br />
provided by the school or otherwise<br />
o ACCOMODATION IN HAMILTON for PARENTS<br />
Parents can contact hotels directly for reservations or make the request through the<br />
school. Kindly send all hotel requests to admissions02@cic-TotalCare.com,<br />
avrabie@columbiainternationalcollege.com, sjones@columbiainternationalcollege.com,<br />
admissions02@cic-TotalCare.com and copy me.<br />
Mandatory Requirement for all hotels and Mohawk Residence to confirm accommodation:<br />
- Credit card type<br />
- Credit card number<br />
- Name on Credit card<br />
- Expiry Date<br />
Note:<br />
Parents who wish to use the Mohawk Residence facilities should note that they would<br />
have to make personal contacts with the Mohawk Residence. The school is unable to<br />
make reservations on behalf of parents at the Mohawk residence.<br />
MOHAWK RESIDENCE ACCOMMODATION<br />
* See attached document