From The Capricorn Coast Mirror

YEPPOON State High School's International Student Program has welcomed another intake of foreign students, with three new, local families joining the program for second semester by providing the students with a place to stay.

International homestay co-ordinator Melanie Blade said Yeppoon SHS was one of only a few regional high schools to earn Education Queensland's "international school" status, allowing it to enrol fee-paying foreign students for up to a year.

The students are hosted by local families during their stays, which can range from three to 12 months.

"It's the families that make this program such a success," Ms Blade said. "These families open their homes and hearts to the international students.

"We appreciate their contribution, which keeps the Yeppoon SHS international program running and makes it so successful and rewarding," she said.

Nine students from Germany and one from Norway enrolled in first term this year. Three departed at Easter, with the remaining seven returning home at the end of second term last month.

Ms Blade said 11 new international students were enrolling this month.

The changeover in host families came after two previous homestay providers had decided to take a break.

She said the three families entering the program were Tanya and Michael Champion, Kylie and Michael Judd and Judy and Charlie Roberts.

Tanya Champion is employed at Yeppoon SHS, her husband at Jellinbah mine and they have two children.

Ms Blade said the Champion family had welcomed their student, Annika, on July 12. In preparation, they had repainted and decorated her room.

"The school offers a great program and I can't wait to meet Annika," Ms Champion said.

Kylie and Michael Judd also have two children and their overseas student, Daniella, arrived on July 6.

"I think it's a good thing for the school and the community and we are enjoying the cultural exchange," Ms Judd said.

Judy and Charlie Roberts have eight children but only two remain at home.

Ms Blade said the Roberts had previously provided homestay for many years in another community and wanted to continue their international student experiences in Yeppoon. Their overseas student, Jannis, who arrived on July 12, is their 19th - an achievement Ms Blade described as "amazing".

"The remaining students are staying for between three and 12 months and will be hosted by more of our lovely, experienced families," she said.

"All our families are such open and friendly people."

For the current intake, they are: Michelle and Quinton Williams; Karlene and Michael Pass; Natasha and Simon Oldham; Maria and Leslie Kriel; Connie Galloway; Jo Downey; Donna Dicker; and Michael Weldon and Liz Bauer.

She said the school was grateful to the new, continuing and retiring homestay families for participating in the ISP.

"Our international students generally choose Yeppoon because it is a small, welcoming community.

"It gives them an opportunity to feel part of the community, rather than being just another international student in a large city."

She said many local students did not have much "international experience" in their day-to-day lives because of Yeppoon's geographical location.

"Many of our students have not travelled outside Queensland, let alone to an overseas country, and Yeppoon does not get the influx of international tourists evident in the capital cities and places like Cairns and the Gold Coast."

The presence of overseas students meant the ISP was "invaluable" to Yeppoon SHS community.