Exchange+Programs

**//1:30 PM-3:00 PM //**

 * //Activities are planned and implemented for the school community to promote global awareness and appreciation. //**
 * //Conversation: What are the goals/priorities? What can we share? //**

From Forest Ridge (Audrey Threlkeld) FAQ’s for Families Hosting Exchange Students Students coming on exchange to Forest Ridge should know the following: They should come with health insurance and some type of identification to that effect It would be very helpful to have a notarized letter from the student’s parents giving either Mrs. Threlkeld or the host parents permission to seek medical care for her if the need should arise. We do not recommend that exchange students try to travel outside the U.S. [even though we are close to Canada] as I don’t know what the visa requirements are and the student could have difficulty re-entering the U.S.Important forms to be completed upon student’s arrival: 1, student honor code; 2, parent honor code; and 3, general field trip waiver. We will provide a loaner laptop and a school email address for each exchange student; however, if an exchange student does have her own laptop, she would probably be more comfortable using that.An exchange student may open a lunch account when she arrives and any money left in it would be returned to her. She may also pay cash for food service purchases.If a student wears a uniform at her home school, we expect her to wear that uniform here. If her home school doesn’t require a uniform, we recommend that she bring a couple of pairs of light brown pants w. her and a couple of white or dark green polos. She’ll probably want to buy a FR sweatshirt as a souvenir, so she could wear that M-Th; and of course she’ll have free dress on Fridays. In general if the exchange student wants to bring her lunch from home, the host family should make sure there are options for her; but if she wants to buy lunch, she’ll need to pay for that herself.If the host sister rides the bus to school, the exchange student will need to buy a bus pass; but if they walk or carpool, there won’t be that expense.If exchange students want to participate in co-curricular activities that have a fee- dances, ski school, outdoor ed outings- they are responsible for that expense. Playing on a school sports team or participating in drama does not involve an expense, and exchange students are welcome to participate in those activities. We don’t suggest a specific amount as spending money as that varies so widely from girl to girl. We do expect exchange students to pay for their own personal toiletries, etc. And if the family expects their daughter to call home, then she would need to purchase an international calling card or add that option to her cell phone. Now that families can communicate via Skype, we expect there would be little need for actual phone calls. Exchange students are not permitted to drive while they are with us, even if they have a valid driver’s license.Exchange students are expected to behave as members of their host families. That means joining the family for meals and helping clean up as well keeping their own bedrooms and bathrooms clean. If family members are responsible for doing their own laundry, then host parents need to show exchange students how to use the washer & dryer. Homework- while some exchange students will have work to complete for their home school, most are expected to do assignments for their Forest Ridge classes.Church attendance- this varies widely. Exchange students should be invited but not forced to attend church with the host family. Occasionally an exchange student will want to attend a different church than her host family attends; and in that situation, it would be helpful for the host family to arrange for her to go with another family. The primary goal of exchange is for the student to experience a culture different from her own. Ideally she will immerse herself completely; and in the case of international exchange students, that includes speaking English and interacting with FR students rather than spending a lot of time with another student who happens to be from the same school. However, it is normal for exchange students, particularly those for whom English in not their first language, to want to spend some time alone, in their rooms, either “decompressing” or emailing/Skyping family & friends. Clear communication is key to successful host family stays. Be direct with exchange students about your family expectations and routines, particularly in terms of being invited to another student’s home, inviting students to your home, arranging transportation for social activities, etc.

Meeting Minutes 9/30/11
 * introductions
 * interested in faculty exchange
 * how to incorporate exchange students into school better
 * domestic and international exchange interest - some schools do one or the other, some both
 * former exchange participants (as students)
 * how to educate host families
 * reciprocal exchange
 * how to engage families to host students
 * eighth grade academic exchange domestic, high school international (some domestic) participants - opportunities to continue and grow
 * some financial aid available
 * this year's goal - 60% of 10th grade to participate (last year 50% did)
 * domestic exchange: is the program dying? How important is it? what can we do to make it better
 * host families are an issue - some have several families willing to host (midwest); others have the opposite problem with finding host families
 * program taking off?
 * have students share experience with classmates - sells the program - many students want the experience of visiting another part of the country
 * some students want to go where it is more sexy (like NYC) - keep curriculum tight - keep expectations high (NYC) to discourage those who are just there to be in the city
 * student expectations not always realistic
 * Canadian schools wonderful to work with
 * Australia (international) - long tradition of exchange - strict about what they report back - school, sacred heart family and cultural exchange - not tourist time - stress importance that the fact it is different is good, not superior - work with students beforehand - occurs in set time periods - 4 weeks long enough - 3 set periods of exchange - go to same classes as host student - can go on field trips with other classes and be in other grade level classes
 * issue - fear of lost class time
 * send students during sophomore year(less impact in that year) for 6-10 weeks - science and math more impacted and therefore tutored before they go in those subjects - classes (lessons, homework) posted on Noodle
 * students have teachers sign form and have a plan as to how they will complete work while they are gone - responsible for keeping up with their work
 * actively participate in visiting school but must keep up with work at home and expected to take test, exams
 * experience counterbalances possible drop in grade
 * put a free into the exchange student's schedule
 * international exchange so valuable, how to make the choice between to go or not to go on exchange?
 * if teachers buy into the program, o do they accommodate students?
 * domestic vs international
 * domestic important - huge country and important to understand different parts of our country
 * cultural immersion/ full immersion - sacred heart village - live in a small village, learn language, etc. and bring experience back to own school or home stays
 * middle school - do in nearby community (?)
 * support
 * success related to person coordinating - at network level, is there a resource that provides schools involved and contact - go to Sofie.org then go to schools - site updated? yes, new every year - can be changes upon request - list serve establish
 * not all school have exchange coordinators
 * one network person who coordinates exchange? - no, done by each individual school
 * is there an annotated list of when schools do exchanges?
 * goal - to contribute/provide information that can appear on Sofie.org
 * how many school shave the coordinator piece be part of their job description? i.e.allocate resources for the position?
 * how does tuition work?
 * pay at your own school - reciprocal exchange
 * some costs for students may be the host family responsibility (?)
 * could we share best practices? forms, etc.
 * what about financial aid for students? - reciprocal exchange not always possible; situations might be different - single families, different living situations (neighborhoods, monetary) - these cases should be cleared with exchange coordinator so everyone knows what to expect
 * what kinds of questions to have on application forms that would clarify these issues
 * committee of 8 that approve student for exchange
 * host family background check
 * visit to host family home? no, because it is assumed being a SH family, not thought necessary
 * equity
 * dealt with exchange where getting visas necessary?
 * yes - school can register as SEVIS
 * host family challenges
 * if go to parent association on regular basis, may be easier to find a host family
 * also engage former host families
 * finding kids that may benefit most, then convince families - eblast not very successful - personal connection works best
 * good idea to have a network exchange for coordinators? if so, go back to heads and try to have this included into the budget
 * list serve/forum to help with exchange process
 * email list of coordinators
 * how to keep students engaged when exchange happens over their break
 * do students need to be fluent in foreign language to participate? - not necessary but helpful
 * visit programs at other schools to build relationships
 * good programs:
 * France
 * Nantes - Sabine DuVignaux - echanges.sacre-coeur@perevie.com
 * Chatenay-Malabry: Diane Lafayette: diane.lafayette@free.fr
 * Madrid, Barcelona - Teresa Raventos: t.raventos@sagriatcorsarria.com
 * Rome - Monica Sarale: priami.diege@tiscali.it (private email)
 * Austria (Vienna) - Reinhard Hallwirth: reinhard.hallwirth@sacre-coeur.at
 * teacher exchange**
 * Taiwan has program if teacher is certified
 * Australia - 4 week block in July (during sacred heart celebration) - looking at 2/year - hoping to formalize - specialist teacher-in-residence (team teaching) hope it to be a reciprocal program
 * while there is a huge interest, what has prevented it?
 * don't know how to go about it
 * how to connect
 * one teacher set it up one-on-one with Uganda - need to go beyond this
 * what schools are doing this?
 * reciprocal exchanges? questions about finding host families for exchange teachers
 * logistics can cause problems - how do you cover for teacher's absent
 * use Fulbright model - begin domestically first, then expand globally
 * teachers interested at this point are paying their own air fare
 * what network schools already have programs in place (if any) - good to be able to access this information (part of professional development?)
 * coordinate with retired SH teachers to cover for teacher on exchange one possibility
 * many of our breaks are different - arrange exchange at this time

Forms from 91st Street (Barbara Pachetti)

International Exchange Application Medical Form-International