A Decade of International Education
The 2025–2026 school year marked another exciting chapter for the Shore Regional High School International Program and an especially meaningful one as 2026 celebrates the program’s 10-year anniversary.
Since its founding in 2016, the Shore International Program has welcomed more than 50 exchange students from around the world while creating opportunities for Shore students to study, travel, and connect globally. Over the past decade, the program has become an important part of Shore’s identity, helping students develop cultural awareness, language skills, confidence, and lifelong international friendships.
Our 2025–2026 Exchange Students
This year, Shore proudly hosted 10 exchange students representing seven countries. Full-year students Bruno from Spain, Edgar from France, and Nina from Switzerland became deeply involved in school life throughout the year. They were joined by semester students Candela and Marius from Spain, Benedetta from Italy, Gustavo from Brazil, Daria from Russia, Sarah from Switzerland, and Garance from Germany.
From classrooms and athletics to clubs, club activities, field trips, and everyday moments with friends and host families, these students became an important part of the Shore community while sharing their own cultures and perspectives with others.
Shore Students Going Global
The program also celebrated another successful year as a CIEE Global Navigator school. Several Shore students earned scholarships for summer study abroad experiences around the world.
This year’s scholarship recipients include:
• Jemma Harris — Engineering & Music Production in Edinburgh
• Luke Bray — Engineering & Aerospace in Toulouse
• Alice Sorochan — Culinary Arts & Culture in Kyoto
• Aili Simonson — Spanish Language & Culture in Alicante
These students will spend part of their summer immersed in new languages, cultures, and academic experiences while representing Shore abroad. We also look forward to welcoming them back in the fall of 2026 for future Global Gab presentations, where they will share their experiences, adventures, and cultural discoveries with the Shore community.
Global Gab Highlights
One of the true highlights of the year was the continued success of Shore’s popular “Global Gab” speaker series, which brings students together to learn about world cultures, languages, travel, and international experiences directly from guest speakers, exchange students, and Shore students who have traveled abroad.
This year’s Global Gabs gave students the opportunity to explore different parts of the world without ever leaving Shore. Special presentations featured CIEE study abroad opportunities, as well as student-led cultural presentations on Brazil by Gustavo, Spain by Marius and Candela, Italy by Benedetta, and Russia by Daria. Through photos, stories, traditions, food, language, and personal experiences, students were able to gain authentic insight into cultures from around the globe.
The final Global Gab of the year, scheduled for June 12, will feature presentations by Bruno, Edgar, Nina, Sarah, and Garance as they reflect on their countries, cultures, and experiences studying at Shore. Guests will also enjoy a variety of global treats and snacks connected to the students’ home countries. These events continue to be a favorite tradition within the Shore International Program and an important reminder that global learning can happen right here in our own school community.
French Sister School Exchange Returns
As the Shore International Program enters its second decade, discussions and planning are currently underway for what would be our third French sister school exchange with Institution Sainte-Geneviève near Paris during the 2026–2027 school year.
If approved, students would have the opportunity to host French students here in Monmouth County and later travel to France to attend school, stay with host families, and experience authentic French culture firsthand. In addition to creating lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories, participation in an international exchange is an outstanding addition to college applications and résumés, highlighting independence, leadership, adaptability, and global awareness.
Many former participants describe the exchange as one of the best and most meaningful parts of their entire high school experience.
Stay tuned for future updates and details about how students may be able to participate in this incredible opportunity.
Thank You to Our Host Families
The Shore International Program would not be possible without the incredible generosity of our host families and the kindness of Shore students and staff members who welcome international students into the community.
Special thanks go out to this year’s host families: the Wallace family, the Firrito family, and the Madison family, all from Oceanport, the McGowan family of Tinton Falls, the Seise family of Monmouth Beach, the DaSilva family and the Simonson of West Long Branch, the Cavadas family of Middletown, and the Moreira family of Long Branch.
These families opened their homes and hearts to our international students and helped make Shore feel like a second home. We also thank the many Shore students who went out of their way to include exchange students in everyday activities, clubs, events, and friendships throughout the year.
Become a Host Family
The Shore International Program is currently recruiting new host families for future exchange students.
Families who host receive ongoing support as well as a monthly stipend of approximately $1,300+, while gaining the unique opportunity to build lifelong international connections and bring the world into their homes.
As Shore celebrates 10 years of international education, the program continues to demonstrate that some of the most meaningful learning experiences happen when students step beyond their own cultures and connect with the wider world.
Contact International Program Coordinator Alice Ennis Simonson at [email protected] with interest.
