ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – From Zimbabwe to Albuquerque. A mother and her five children moved to New Mexico, and as you can imagine, there was culture shock, a language barrier, and a lot of changes to adapt to. That's why starting next year, Albuquerque Public Schools will open International Hi gh School to help refugee and immigrant families. Story continues below Investigation: DWI cases Albuquerque officers and paralegal made disappear Crime: Santa Fe Police identify man who was killed in hit-and-run Don't Miss: Rio Rancho to review plans to redevelop old country club golf course "She says she's happy the way she came here in USA with her kids," said Chantal Kwizera, translating for her mother, Christine Kwizera. Christine Kwizera is from Burundi. She spent 20 years at a refugee camp in Zimbabwe which is a typical wait to get accepted to resettle in the U.S. In 2023, her dream of bringing her five kids to America finally came true. "Because she lived in a camp in Zimbabwe for too long, and it was not easy for her, sometimes, like we don't have food to eat," said Chantal Kwizera. Chantal Kwizera is a 17-year-old Highland High School student and is enjoying new experiences, like her first school assembly. "I just loved the way they beat the drums. It's new for me. I never seen something like that," said Kwizera. The move did come with plenty of challenges, from new foods to how she dressed. "They're like, what are you wearing, like the why? Like, you should just wear pants, like others, like Americans do, but you know, they don't understand you. They don't know the history," said Kwizera. "Everything is different, like school, life. I was born in a village, so it's different," said Kwizera. Another student expressed the difficulties, "I have my hijab on and they talk about me because I'm different." APS Refugee & Newcomer Support Program Manager Antonio Baca said many of the students have a lot of catching up to do while trying to learn English. "And so we see a lot of families coming up from Mexico, Central and South America, but also refugee families coming from the Middle East, Central Africa, Central and East Africa, and Central Asia," said Baca. He continued, "Due to being forcibly displaced and due to war and violence in their home countries, they may have missed years of school, or maybe they've even never been to school before." Refugee case manager Mohammad Ismail steps in to help families, along with a team of specialists and teachers helping in the classroom. "The education system is totally different, and what the families are going through is hard and challenging," said Ismail. With hundreds of refugee and immigrant students scattered at different schools throughout the city, APS noticed that students and families were struggling. To help, the school board voted in December as part of a right-sizing plan to turn Coronado Elementary School downtown into an International High School, where support will be located in one place and students will be surrounded by others who speak their language. "Students are going to be seen as strengths and assets and be celebrated for all the differences that they bring. And having students with 20 different languages coming together and learning English and learning core academics prepare them for their future," said Principal Justin Trager, APS International High School. "If students want to go to college, we will get them the language, be able to read, write, and speak, as well as the academics, to meet their dreams and why they came here," said Trager. Ismail, an Afghan immigrant who has been in their shoes, said the school will help in many ways. "Celebrate their culture, celebrate their language, religious events, cultural events, celebrate their heritage, and that those nuances will also boost the confidence in our students, and our students will look to one another. They will learn from one another, and they will support one another in the classroom or at the school," said Ismail. APS has started enrolling freshmen, which means Chantal's sister will attend. In two years, they have learned English, and Chantal pointed out she is an "A" student. "We didn't speak English. But now we speak a little bit of English. and that bring joy, all of that stuff...Brings joy to her," said Chantel, speaking of her mother. The school will also include a welcome center with multilingual staff to help parents. APS is expecting 80 to 100 students to enroll in the first freshman class. To register, click this link. ...read more read less