INTRODUCTION

 If you are reading this page you are giving consideration to your child spending a year in High School in Ireland. For many parents, the main aim of a year in Ireland is for their child to gain fluency in the English language. For others it is to give them a life experience to enable them grow and develop as an independent, confident young person. So, what is Waterford High School Experience and how can I support your child on this journey?

 I am Joanne van Mierlo, a native of Waterford. My formal education is that of high school teacher but, as what often happens, life took me down a slightly different path. A six month temporary job developed into a 14 year career as a youth worker, enabling and supporting young people to reach their full potential and take an active part in their own personal development.

After this I moved to The Netherlands for 8 years with my husband for his work and while there attended Dutch language classes and sat B2 level exams so I have also experienced what your child will experience when they come to Ireland in terms of finding ways to integrate socially and learn a language.

I returned to Ireland in 2018 and have worked for the past 3 years as student guardian with a well established English Language School here in Waterford. Now that they are closing due to retirement, I have decided to take everything that I have learned there and offer a small and personal Academic School Programme.

 I will be working with host families that I have known for a number of years, who have experience with students living in a different country and who know the challenges they may face. Together we will listen to and support students when there are challenges to be overcome and celebrate their achievements.

 I have also built a relationship with local schools and the staff there who have been very supportive of the international students to whom I have been guardian in the past.

 The programme that I offer has a built in activity programme. The reason for this is that, in order for me to support your child to the best of my ability, I must get to know them, and it is only through spending time together in these informal settings that we can really get to know each other. These activities act as a team building tool, helping to develop friendships and will also give your child a cultural and social experience while here in Ireland.

 I strongly recommend that a student stays for the full academic year. I have seen students come for the first term only and thought to myself, they have done the difficult part… adjusting to life without their family and friends, getting to know a host family, fitting in in a new school, making new friends, learning the language and then they are going home when they are just starting to become comfortable speaking English and their experience here is only getting started.

 I look forward to meeting your child and supporting them in this exciting phase of their lives. I will do my best to guide and support them during their time in Waterford and hope that their Waterford High School Experience will be a year to remember !