Parent
Handbook for
Residence Life
Students
Black Forest
Academy
BFA Office of Residence Life
Revised/Approved April 2015
Black Forest Academy provides a quality, international Christian education that equips its students to influence their world through biblical thought, character, and action.
BFA Parent Handbook for Residence Life Students
Revised/Approved 04|2015 Parent Handbook for ResLife Students Page| 2 BFA Parent Handbook for Residence Life Students
Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION ...... 4 A. Welcome to the BFA Family ...... 4 B. Mission Statement ...... 4 C. Vision Statement ...... 4 D. Boarding Philosophy ...... 4 E. Christian Education at BFA ...... 4 II. BE PREPARED ...... 5 A. Before Your Children Come to BFA ...... 5 B. While Your Children are at BFA ...... 5 C. Get To Know Your Children’s Dorm Parents and Residence Assistants ...... 6 D. When Your Children Come Home for Breaks ...... 6 E. When You Visit Your Children at BFA ...... 7 F. When Your Child is having a Difficult Time in the Dorm ...... 7 III. HEALTH CARE/COUNSELING ...... 8 A. Counseling ...... 8 B. Health Care ...... 8 IV. ACADEMICS ...... 8 V. SPECIAL EVENTS ...... 9 A. Banquets ...... 9 B. Herbstmesse ...... 9 C. Dorm Outing ...... 9 D. German Holidays/Weekends Home ...... 9 E. School Breaks ...... 9 F. Recitals, Concerts, and Drama Productions ...... 10 G. Athletics ...... 10 H. Graduation ...... 10 VI. FINANCES ...... 10 A. Billing ...... 10 B. Insurance ...... 10 C. Other Fees/Costs ...... 11 VII. TRAVEL ...... 11 A. When Your Children Come to BFA ...... 11 B. Travel Penalty Fee ...... 11 C. Transportation of Students for Personal Trips ...... 11 D. Liability Issues ...... 12 E. Getting to Kandern ...... 12 F. Car Rentals ...... 12 G. Driving Directions to BFA ...... 12 H. Driving directions from the airport (Swiss side) to Kandern ...... 12 I. Driving directions to the airport (Swiss side) from Kandern ...... 13 J. Public transportation to and from Kandern ...... 13 VIII. GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED AT BFA ...... 14 IX. APPENDIX – IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION ...... 15
Revised/Approved 04|2015 Parent Handbook for ResLife Students Page| 3 BFA Parent Handbook for Residence Life Students
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Welcome to the BFA Family Welcome to Black Forest Academy’s residence program. Here at BFA, we strive to give your children the best possible care. We want them to succeed academically, socially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Our dorm staff works hard to be well trained and in tune to the needs of your children. This manual is designed to help you understand what life at BFA will be like for your children. It will also help you learn how to interface with BFA’s faculty and staff.
It is not easy to be apart from your children for any amount of time. Having them gone for eight and a half months of the year can be very daunting. We want to make that separation as positive an experience as possible.
One of the biggest issues parents of boarding students face is the feeling that they are losing control of their children. Be encouraged! No matter how long or how short a time your children are at BFA, you are still the most important people in their lives. Your relationship with them and how you have reared them will have far more impact and significance in their lives than anything we can do in our residence program. Even though they are here, you are still their parents and we want to make sure that you are involved in their lives as much as you can be.
B. Mission Statement Black Forest Academy provides a quality, international Christian education that equips its students to influence their world through biblical thought, character, and action.
C. Vision Statement Black Forest Academy’s vision is globally-minded Christians changing their world for Christ.
D. Boarding Philosophy Consistent with Black Forest Academy’s End of strengthening Christian field worker deployment and retention, BFA operates a Boarding program for the primary benefit of Christian families living and serving in different parts of the world.
The Boarding Program operates within Student Life at Black Forest Academy, supporting the purpose, philosophy, goals, objectives, and values of Student Life, and those of Black Forest Academy. Furthermore, the Boarding Program partners with Student Learning in order to support the educational learning goals and objectives for BFA students. In doing so, the Boarding Program supports the mission to provide a quality, international Christian education that equips students to influence their world through biblical thought, character, and action.
BFA’s Boarding Program partners with parents in the education and care of their children, affirming the need for continued parental involvement in the care and training of students in the boarding program. In addition to our Duty of Care, the Boarding Program has a responsibility to create a safe, caring, Christian community for living and learning. Boarding Program staff exercise flexibility and understanding in the individual care of each boarding student’s physical and emotional well-being within the context of a larger dorm community.
Because of the expectation of parents who desire parental oversight of their minor children, the ministry of our staff will be a parental type of ministry. We define a parental type of ministry as responsible care for minors that adjusts appropriately as the child matures, is authoritative in nature involving both relationships and rules, and is intentional in creating a caring, homelike atmosphere.
E. Christian Education at BFA Black Forest Academy is a Christian school. The focus of BFA student learning and student life has a distinct Christian predisposition. In addition to the normal academic curriculum, each student is required to take a Bible classes and attend a weekly chapel. There is a school wide, optional “small groups” program that takes place once a week in the evenings. Students are required to attend a weekly church service and a weekly dorm fellowship. Students are not required to adhere to the Christian faith in order to enter BFA, but they will certainly be made aware of and encouraged to respond to Jesus Christ as they live in the dorms, attend classes, and engage in student life.
Revised/Approved 04|2015 Parent Handbook for ResLife Students Page| 4 BFA Parent Handbook for Residence Life Students
II. BE PREPARED
A successful boarding experience begins with you. Before your children attend boarding school there are some issues that you must settle as a family and as parents. You also need to be prepared for some other things that you have never had to face. What will it be like when my child comes home for a break? What will it be like to visit my child at BFA? What do we have to look forward to upon graduation? These and questions like these will be on your mind from the moment you decide to have your child board at BFA. We hope that this section will help answer them.
A. Before Your Children Come to BFA Since you have chosen to send your children to boarding school we are assuming you are satisfied that boarding school is the best option for your children. We know this was a decision that involved much prayer, thought and time. We have heard many parents tell us they never thought they would ever have their children in a boarding program. However, various extenuating circumstances within their family or their host country have made them realize that educating their children in that situation was not the same as it would have been in their home or passport country. Boarding school becomes an option. Now that you have made the decision, you need to decide how you will prepare your children for their boarding experience. The single most important ingredient for your children’s successful experience in a boarding school will be their relationship to you. No one loves your children as much as you do and there is no one that your children love more than you. If they are confident in your love, then any number of difficulties can come their way and they can weather them because they have a firm foundation in their relationship to you.
Secondly you need to be open and honest with your children about what it will be like at boarding school. You can tell them as much as you know about what BFA is like, but don’t try and tell them how they will feel once they have arrived. Because they are leaving home, moving to a new location, starting a new school, meeting new people, making new friends and possibly studying in a new language, it will be very hard for you or them to predict how they will feel. You don’t want them to feel lied to because they don’t feel what you expected them to feel. Make sure they know they might be homesick, that you will miss them, that they may have a hard time making friends or being accepted by a certain group of students. You also know your children’s tendencies in how they relate to others. If you have concerns, discuss them with your children before they leave for BFA. When you are saying good-bye, don’t be afraid of letting them get emotional or becoming emotional yourself. You certainly don’t want them thinking it’s no big deal for you to be apart for so long a period of time.
Third, take the time to review the entire Student Handbook with your child. You will need to know information concerning things like dress code to help your child shop for appropriate school clothing. It will also help you and your child be prepared for the expectations of living in residence and what is not permitted.
B. While Your Children are at BFA When your children come to BFA as boarding students there will be times when you feel like you are giving up your role in rearing them. You may also feel guilty for “sending” them away. These are normal feelings that come and go while your children are attending boarding school. We want you to know that we are not trying to replace you or take on your role as parents. Although we are co-parenting your children while they are here, you are still their parents. We are your partners. You are still the most important adults in your children’s lives; therefore, it is extremely important for you to keep an active role in their lives. Most importantly keep in consistent communication with your children while they are in the boarding program. There is nothing more disheartening to a child than not to be getting mail, e-mail, or phone calls from the people they love the most.
Once your children have started the school year at BFA you may begin to feel that you have lost contact with them. You may also feel that you are missing major portions of their lives. You are missing a lot of what your children are doing. Therefore it is very important for you and for your children to keep up as much as you can with what is going on in your children’s lives. You will be able to access the school calendar on Sycamore with all the school events on it. Make sure you have your children keep you up to date with the events in which they are participating. If you know they have a game, recital, concert, big test, banquet, big date, or some other important event coming up in their schedule, write or call and give them some encouragement, congratulations, or whatever else might be appropriate. It is also important for you to keep your children aware of what is going on in your lives and ministries.
Revised/Approved 04|2015 Parent Handbook for ResLife Students Page| 5 BFA Parent Handbook for Residence Life Students
When your children first arrive there will most likely be some difficult times of transition and stress. Children will act out in a variety of ways. Most will get homesick at some point during their time at BFA. Some will become overly outgoing and some will be far more shy than usual. Once in a while a child may exhibit anger or disobedience. Most will be a little leery of the new authorities in their lives. Some will warm up to the dorm staff immediately and some won’t feel totally relaxed around them until after Christmas break. When you speak with your children by phone or when they write to you they may sound a bit different than you are used to. Don’t be alarmed. It will take some time for your children to become accustomed to their new situation.
There are special events in your children’s lives that we want to make sure get recognized while they are here in one of our dorms. Birthdays, anniversaries, special dates or special seasons may have a greater significance to your children than to the other children in the dorm. All the dorms have special times to celebrate birthdays and you should feel free to send a gift or come and be a part of the celebration. If you would like your children to have or do something special at any time during the year, make sure you let your children’s dorm parents know so that they can help you set something up for your children. Some parents leave gifts for the dorm parents to give their children later in the year. Some leave money so the dorm parents can purchase something special for their children. It is never wrong to send a package to your children. Encourage your family to also send letters and packages.
There will most likely be times when your child is not happy with what is happening here at school. If you are hearing some things that sound serious please contact the dorm parents as soon as you can. This is especially true of the first semester when they are going through a lot of emotion and transition. It is also important not to speak disparagingly of BFA or BFA staff to your children while they are here. There may be times when you don’t like something about BFA or about the way something was handled. When you talk to your children about these situations try to be as positive as you can even though you may not be in agreement with what is happening. If it involves your children, and these types of things usually do, make sure you listen to their point of view and feelings, but try not to take sides until you have heard the “other side of the story.” This may sound totally logical, but when you are away from your children and they are hurting it is not always easy to be logical. You also need to be aware that when your children are hurting it is not unusual for them to “dump” on you and tell you how bad everything is. This may be true, but before you jump to any conclusions, talk to the dorm staff and find out if they are seeing the same things in your children as they are telling you. You may be the only person(s) with whom your children feel comfortable enough to really express some of the frustrations they are feeling, especially at the beginning of their boarding time. But, again, if you ever have any concerns please contact your children’s dorm parents as soon as you can.
Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Parents in general are usually so concerned about how their children will adapt to boarding that they have forgotten to take care of their own feelings and transitions. Your home, your ministry and your marriage will face some major changes when one or more of your children leave for boarding school. Prepare yourself for this adjustment and face the feelings you have. It is not easy to have your kids away at boarding school and there is nothing wrong, unspiritual, or immature with feelings of loss, sadness, and even grief. Repressing those feelings will only make you feel worse. Discuss them with your spouse and if necessary with your mission’s member care or pastoral care representative.
C. Get To Know Your Children’s Dorm Parents and Residence Assistants In most cases, before school begins, your children’s dorm parents will write to you with a short biography. If you bring your children to BFA at the beginning of the school year, it is very important that you take the time to meet and talk with your children’s dorm parents and residence assistants. It would also be good if you wrote to your children’s dorm parents before your children arrive, introducing yourself and ministry or work. Then, if you do need to talk to them concerning your children later on in the year you will already have some common ground upon which to build. During the school year it is never a mistake to call or write your children’s dorm parents. We would hope that most of these calls would be of a positive nature and we want to encourage you not to wait until there is a problem before you communicate.
D. When Your Children Come Home for Breaks Although it may involve a considerable time and expense, it is essential that you make arrangements for your child to travel to be with you during summer, Christmas and spring breaks every year. Your continuing parental relationship with them is the emotional foundation for their personal wellbeing, educational success, and their ability to transition well into the next phase of
Revised/Approved 04|2015 Parent Handbook for ResLife Students Page| 6 BFA Parent Handbook for Residence Life Students
life. When your children come home for a break make sure you set aside some fairly large portions of time to spend with them. This may mean curtailing your work a bit, but it will be worth it in the long run. Be ready to let them tell you how they are feeling. Make sure you give them the time they need to express themselves fully. Sometimes they may actually feel guilty that they are enjoying school as much as they are. This is not abnormal and you have to remember that all their friends, activities and facilities are at the school. Don’t let this make you feel bad! It most likely means you have done a great job parenting and they are so confident in your love that the separation is not taking away their joy. Also be aware it will take some time for them to adjust to being back in your home when they come back for Christmas, Easter and summer breaks. They have gotten used to a very tight schedule and may be looking for some freedom and some rest. They have also gotten used to being accountable to a schedule instead of a parent. (See also section below under events concerning these breaks.)
E. When You Visit Your Children at BFA When you come to visit your children at BFA there are some things about which you need to be aware. First of all remember your children have not seen you for several weeks or even months. It may take some time to get back into the same relationship you had when you brought them to school. While you are here you may find your children a bit unsure as to whom they should be listening. Be careful to avoid contradicting expectations or schedules with the dorm staff. If you are taking them out of the residence for a meal or a night help your child to remember to take responsibility for their dorm chores during their absence. Remember, too, your children are in the middle of a lot of activity and a fairly intense schedule. It will be hard for you to break into that schedule. You may feel you are intruding into your children’s dorm life. This is normal in many cases, so take some time to set up the “ground rules” for your visit. Will they be staying with you? When is the best time to be with your children at the dorm? Do you want to take them out of school for a day and do something special? (This is expected and encouraged but needs to be cleared with the school and shouldn’t be for more than a day or two per semester.) Are their any special events your children don’t want to miss? If you are feeling excluded, talk to your children about it. They may not even realize it is happening. Do your best to enjoy your visit. If there are concerns in school or in the dorm, deal with those in as concise a manner as possible and don’t make them the focus of the visit. The only time this would not be the case is if your visit was precipitated by a specific problem. We know you want to enjoy your visit, so doing some pre-visit preparation will yield some long lasting results.
It is important that you plan a time to visit with your children’s dorm parents. Parental visits are encouraged. You may feel like you are intruding, but that is not the case. Dorm parents are busy, but visiting with you is a priority. It will help you get a feel for how things are going in the dorm, particularly with your children. Don’t be afraid to express concerns but make sure you encourage them and express gratitude for the huge amount of work and energy it takes to care for these large groups of students.
Please be prepared for the cost of travel to and from the train station or airport as well as meals that you may have in the dorms. See the Travel and Finance sections for more information. Assistance with arranging overnight accommodations in the Kandern area is available through the High School Front Office reception ([email protected]). Dorms do not provide guest room housing.
F. When Your Child is having a Difficult Time in the Dorm Please understand that boarding school is not for everyone. There are students who have issues of a nature that will make boarding school very difficult and some times impossible. Generally when we get an application these things will show up and we will not approve such an application. However there are times when children’s issues don’t become clear until they arrive. We will do all we can to make their time here a success, but once in a while even students and parents with the best of intentions can’t make it work. If you have a feeling that things are not going well with your children, talk to your children’s dorm parents. If your child has been at the school for two to three months and is still having problems, please realize they are probably at the lowest point of the transition curve! Please give them time to adjust. However, after this point, if they are still struggling, feel free to contact the dorm parents.
If you feel the need for further assistance, contact the Residence Life Office. Residence Life leadership and the dorm parents will work together to help your child through whatever issues they are having.
Revised/Approved 04|2015 Parent Handbook for ResLife Students Page| 7 BFA Parent Handbook for Residence Life Students
If your child is experiencing behavioral or disciplinary problems, the dorm staff have been encouraged to communicate regularly before these incidents escalate. Some times it may be difficult to know when they should be contacting you as they will not want to make a major item of some small infractions of the rules. When communicating with you across a language barrier, especially in sensitive situations, dorm staff will often involve a translator.
III. HEALTH CARE/COUNSELING
A. Counseling BFA provides counseling for any students who need it. Counseling can be initiated based on a request from you or a recommendation from BFA staff. There is a Counseling Resource Team that oversees all the counseling that takes place. When it is determined that a child needs counseling only the people directly involved will be made aware of it and the counseling sessions themselves will be kept in strict confidence. No child will receive professional, ongoing counseling without parental permission.
B. Health Care Health Care of the boarding students is taken care of primarily by the dorm parents. There is at least one full time BFA nurse on call during the school day that is also available during evenings for emergencies and consultation. There is 24-hour physician and emergency care in Kandern and doctors do make house calls. Multiple doctors in the Kandern area offer first-rate service to the BFA community. Three hospitals in the area offer excellent medical service. The school organizes orthodontics for any of the students who need it. There are several competent dentists in Kandern.
IV. ACADEMICS
Most of what you need to know about the school’s academic program can be found in the Student Handbook. All students and families are expected to read and be familiar with the Student Handbook before arriving at BFA. From a residence life standpoint, there are some additional things that you will want to know in order to help you understand what it is like to be a student in a BFA dorm.
BFA has rigorous academic standards and expects a lot of its students academically. Two of the biggest ways this shows itself are in the number of papers students are expected to write and the amount of homework students are expected to complete, particularly in grades 11 and 12. Therefore each dorm has an hour and a half study hall each night. For most students, this time will usually be enough to finish homework. However there are times throughout the school year when your children will need to spend more than this amount on their homework or long-term projects. This means that Monday through Thursday nights are generally taken up with studying. Friday through Sunday nights are often filled with activities so students need to find or make time to study on the weekends. Dorm parents and RAs will do all they can to help students with their homework. The teaching staff is also very good at finding time to assist students who need some extra help before, during or after school.
There is also peer pressure to achieve high grades within the school and sometimes in the dorms, depending on the makeup of the dorm. This can be a good thing and some students thrive in this sort of environment. On the other hand it may cause some students to try to achieve to the point of burnout. It is important for you to encourage your children to do their best, but also encourage them to have balance between studies and leisure. We also want you to be aware that most students have a bit of a drop in grades when they first come to BFA, especially when they are in the dorm program where so much of their lives is in transition.
The Discovery Program is designed to help students who have learning issues. Residence life staff will partner with your children’s teachers and Discovery therapists to do all we can to see that your children succeed at BFA.
If your student needs to take a TEFOL test for university admission, you need to plan for this exam during a school break. Your child should not be scheduled for a TEFOL test while at school. If you have any questions, please contact the Guidance Office.
Revised/Approved 04|2015 Parent Handbook for ResLife Students Page| 8 BFA Parent Handbook for Residence Life Students
The school has no requirement as to the type of binder or notebook students brings with them. However it is important to remember that BFA does not use North American standard 8½ X 11 inch paper but rather European standard A4 paper. Binders here come with either two rings or four. Either will work, but the four-ring is more common. If you already live in Europe then you will have no trouble taking care of this. If you are coming from North America, it might be best for you to wait and have your children buy their binders and paper here. There is a stationery store in Kandern that will have most or all of what you need. On the first weekend of the semester many of the dorms will take a trip to nearby shopping locations, where stationery items are a bit cheaper.
V. SPECIAL EVENTS
A. Banquets There are two major banquets held every year. The first is the Christmas banquet for grades 9 to 12 in early December. Your children will be encouraged to dress up at least semi-formally. Your daughters will most likely want to bring a nice dress or gown to wear at the banquet. The second is the Junior/Senior Banquet held in the spring for students in grades 11 and 12. There are some specific guidelines as to what is appropriate as far as neckline and skirt/dress length found in the Student Handbook. It is important for you to help your daughter choose a dress that will fit the guidelines we have here at BFA. It is also important for you to help your boys choose or learn to choose an outfit that will also fit the guidelines of proper banquet dress. There is generally a cost for these banquets. Boys who take dates will usually pay for themselves and their date. Students will often also purchase a corsage or boutonniere.
B. Herbstmesse Herbstmesse is a fair held in Basel each fall. It lasts for two weeks and we choose either a Friday night or a night before a holiday during those weeks to take the students. The students are taken to Basel immediately after school and stay until about 9:00 PM. There are rides, souvenirs, and a variety of food stalls. Students will need their own money if they want to go on any of the rides. The residence program will provide boarding students enough money for their evening meal.
C. Dorm Outing Each dorm is provided funds according to the number of students in that dorm to do something special. Dorms can choose a day outing or possibly an overnight in a youth hostel or retreat center. Some of the activities that have been done are a trip to a paint ball range, a trip to Europa Park, a weekend retreat in France, or a nice dinner out.
D. German Holidays/Weekends Home Germany has a lot of holidays. Even though BFA is not a German school we do not have classes on most German holidays. When this happens, boarding students have a day usually consisting of sleeping in, a late brunch, and generally enjoying rest. Occasionally one of these holidays will fall on a Friday or a Monday. In these cases if you would like your children to come home for the long weekend you can make arrangements with the dorm parents. If you would like to extend the weekend an extra day and your children will miss any classes, you will also need to contact the high school front office. It may also happen that your children will be asked to go to a friend’s home for a weekend. This is fine as long as you are happy with the arrangements, it is not coed, and you have given the dorm parents written or verbal confirmation. All travel expenses will have to be covered by you or your children including trips to the train station or airport. There are only a few weekends when there is not some sort of sporting event or other special event at the school so if you plan a special weekend with your children, make sure you check with dorm staff.
E. School Breaks During breaks in the academic calendar, parents occasionally have requested to have their children stay at a BFA dorm. This is not possible as all dorms are closed during school breaks. These breaks are valuable times for dorm staff to rest and recharge. Please do everything you can to have your children be with you during the breaks. This also applies when your child goes on a spring mission trip. It may feel like a waste of time and money to have your child come home for only one week before or after their mission trip, but we have found that since your children are spending so much time away from you it is extremely important for them to have as much time with you as they can.
Revised/Approved 04|2015 Parent Handbook for ResLife Students Page| 9 BFA Parent Handbook for Residence Life Students
Again, it is also important to remember that the DORMS ARE CLOSED during school breaks. There are also specified days when students are expected to arrive at their dorms after a break and when they are expected to leave before a break. Please pay careful attention to those dates and make sure your children don’t plan to come early or leave late.
On rare occasions, students are asked to come early or stay late for BFA functions (e.g. student council). In those circumstances the BFA staff member in charge will make other arrangements for their accommodation and transportation. Students will not be staying in the dorms for these functions.
F. Recitals, Concerts, and Drama Productions Each semester there are several musical recitals. Most or all of the students taking music lessons will be involved in one or all of them. They generally happen on Friday, Saturday or sometimes Sunday nights. There are also two major concerts during the school year. One happens near the Christmas break and one during the spring semester. In addition there are two major dramatic productions. Check the Sycamore calendar for the dates. If you are planning a visit to your children during the school year and they will be involved in one of these events, it might be a good idea to come when you can attend. These events are on the calendar but it is best to contact the school before you make travel arrangements in case the dates have been changed.
G. Athletics BFA has a number of options for students who like to play team sports. Several events in each sport will be played at BFA so if your children are on one of the teams it might be a good idea to plan a visit to BFA when you can watch your children participate. There is a sports fee for each sport in which your children participate. If you have questions please contact the finance office.
In order to participate in any of the High School sports, your children will need a physical exam. Physical exams are required every year for students participating in the sports program. All sports physicals must take place before students arrive at BFA, and these physicals should be completed during the summer in order to cover students for the entire school year. If your children do not have their physical before they arrive, they will not be permitted to participate in team sports. If you are unsure what the physical should include, please contact the nurses’ office or the athletic department. A physical form is also available on BFA’s website under “Resources for Parents”.
Please Note: If your child is new to BFA, you will be required to complete a physical (using the form referenced above) as an admissions requirement sometime in the two-month period before your child’s arrival at BFA. This will, of course, also satisfy the sports physical requirement.
H. Graduation Graduation is very important to your children. It marks a transition into adulthood that you don’t want to miss. Since there will be parents and families of about 70 students attending graduation it is important that you make your plans early. Some parents will book a hotel or guesthouse room a year in advance! This isn’t quite necessary, but in order to make sure you have a place to stay, make arrangements early. If you would like to book a hotel or a guesthouse contact the high school front office of the school and they will assist you.
It is also important to be aware that because BFA is a boarding school, during the days around graduation your seniors will be very much wanting to spend time with and say good bye to their friends. This may cause you to feel left out and disappointed. Your children don’t love you any less; it is simply that they know they will see you again, but aren’t so sure about their friends.
VI. FINANCES
A. Billing BFA’S finance office will handle all of your billing. Thus, any questions about tuition and fees or other charges to your account should be sent to the finance office ([email protected]).
B. Insurance BFA provides no insurance for your children. They must either be on your own policy or have their own insurance. When your children need professional medical help, the doctor or hospital will bill the school, the school will pay for the services and that bill will be passed on to you. We do not deal directly with your insurance company.
Revised/Approved 04|2015 Parent Handbook for ResLife Students Page| 10 BFA Parent Handbook for Residence Life Students
C. Other Fees/Costs Fees for BFA Online courses Sports fee that each student must pay for each sport they play Mission trips SAT/ACT Senior class trip Junior class history trip Certain other overnight field trips Music lessons Choir Tour Dorm sweatshirt or “T” shirt Allowance / Spending money Banquets (Christmas and Junior/Senior Banquet)
VII. TRAVEL
A. When Your Children Come to BFA When your children travel to BFA at the beginning of their first school year and if you will not be bringing them by car, you should book your flights to Basel (BSL), Frankfurt (FRA), or Zurich (ZRH). If your children fly into Frankfurt or Zurich they will need to take a train to Basel. Both airports (FRA and ZRH) have a train station in the airport with direct trains to Basel. If your children are coming by train or bus it is best if they travel directly to Basel. If they travel from Germany or anywhere in Northern Europe they will want to get off the train at the Badisher Bahnhof in Basel. If they are traveling from Switzerland, France, or anywhere in Southern Europe they will want to get off at the SBB train station in Basel. Rides to and from airports and train stations for students coming and going from school are included in their boarding fees. If you choose to come with your child to drop them off, you can also be picked up free of charge but will need to pay a 15€ per family fee if you need a return trip to the airport or train station. These are accessible by public transportation. Detailed instructions on how to do this are included in this manual in the section “Public Transportation”.
It is recommended that students arrive in September with tentative air travel plans for all holiday destinations already made. Travel arrangements are the responsibility of the parents. At each break in the school year, we must have all of your child’s travel information (both departure and arrival after the break and or corresponding connecting train information) 3 weeks prior to the break so that a coordinated master plan can be made to transport students to and from their residences. If you are driving your student or picking them up from BFA, you must also communicate that information to the Residence Life Office as we will be waiting for your travel information.
Students will not be allowed to remain in the residence during Christmas, Spring Break and summer holidays. In the rare exception when students do not return home, parents must make these arrangements with the host family a minimum of three weeks prior to the break. Reasonable financial compensation must be provided. Students may not stay in local homes unaccompanied by an adult.
B. Travel Penalty Fee Please send all information or questions concerning travel arrangements to [email protected] Failure to submit all of this information (both departure and arrival) three weeks in advance will result in a 50 € penalty fee applied to your child’s student account. The exact date of each deadline will be communicated to you.
C. Transportation of Students for Personal Trips A number of situations arise in which students need to travel to various places in the country or nearby cities for additional education or future plans. Some of these include but are not limited to visa interview for entry into the United States for future education, testing at a US military facility, passport renewal, sporting events, and field trips. The following are the options for taking care of these needs, in order of preference. BFA reserves the right to choose which of the following options will be pursued, but will make every effort to work with parents in choosing the best option for everyone involved.
Revised/Approved 04|2015 Parent Handbook for ResLife Students Page| 11 BFA Parent Handbook for Residence Life Students
If the situation arises where the items must be pursued while the student is attending school, notice should be given to BFA as early as possible so that we can coordinate such things with others who may need the same service. Every effort will be made to first of all arrange for public transportation (i.e. trains, buses, taxis), in order not to tie up school vehicles and staff. Parents are directly responsible for all costs incurred for these trips and services, including the cost of transportation for a chaperone if required.
In cases where travel arrangements are difficult to make, a school vehicle can be used to transport students. The cost of running the vehicle will be shared equally among the group going.
If a BFA staff member or local person wishes to assist in transporting students, they may do so at a rate agreed upon between the parents and the owner of the vehicle; however, a mileage rate which covers more than just gas should be paid for.
D. Liability Issues If a parent makes arrangements to have their child driven in a private vehicle, they must understand that in case of an accident, BFA is not liable for any personal injury their child may incur.
E. Getting to Kandern When you come to visit your child you may want to rent a car. Our dorms are in various villages around Kandern and getting rides back and forth can be a hassle for you and the dorm staff. Having your own vehicle will give you the ability to take your children out for a meal, shopping, or overnight somewhere at your convenience. Another option is public transportation. In the following sections are detailed instructions on how to get to and from Kandern by public transportation. If you would like our dorm staff to pick you up or drop you off from the airport or train station, it will cost 15 € per pick up or drop off (30 € round trip). Please let the dorm know well in advance of your travel plans.
F. Car Rentals The following car rental agencies are available on the Swiss side of the Basel airport. If you arrive by train, you can take a tram and or bus connection to the airport (see section on “Public Transportation”). The telephone numbers provided are for the desk in the Basel Airport, however you may get better rates by booking through your local agent for these companies or online.
Avis: 0041 61 325 28 40 Sixt: 0041 61 325 1540 Europcar: 0041 61 325 29 03 Hertz: 0041 61 325 2780 National & Alamo: 0034 952 057 240
G. Driving Directions to BFA When you come to BFA for the first time it is best and easiest for you to come to the high school campus. Once you arrive at the high school front office we can give you directions to your child’s dorm. If you are coming before or after normal school hours (office hours are 8:30 – 17:00 daily when classes are in session) you can let the Residence Life office know and we will have someone there to meet you. From the German Autobahn route A5 (the major north/south thoroughfare that goes from Northwest Germany all the way into Switzerland crossing the Swiss border at Basel), exit onto A98 toward Rheinfelden/Lörrach. Stay on A98 for several kilometers until you see the sign for Kandern. Take the Kandern exit and at the end of the ramp turn left. Follow that road down about a kilometer until you come to a “T”. You will see a sign for Kandern. Turn right and stay on that road through the towns of Rummingen, Wittlingen, Wollbach, Hammerstein, and then you will enter Kandern. The high school will be on your left just after entering Kandern.
H. Driving directions from the airport (Swiss side) to Kandern Follow the signs to Basel. At the traffic circle, take the second exit. At the next traffic circle take the second exit to Basel (there is no sign at this circle). At the next traffic circle take the second exit and an immediate right onto the Autobahn. You may see a sign that says CH and D. Look for Deutschland sign after you cross the river. Exit to the right and follow Deutschland sign. At the traffic circle, get in the right lane and take the second right. Follow signs to Karlsruhe. It is usually easier if you get in the left lane at the border crossing. After you go through the border control stay on the Autobahn for about 1 km. Take the exit towards Rheinfelden Lörrach (A98). Stay on this road for about 5 KM until you see the exit for Kandern. At the end of the exit ramp take a left
Revised/Approved 04|2015 Parent Handbook for ResLife Students Page| 12 BFA Parent Handbook for Residence Life Students
towards Kandern. This road will wind down over a hill into the village of Rummingen. At the bottom of the hill, at the STOP sign, take a right toward Kandern. This road will take you through Wittlingen, Wollbach, Hammerstein, and into Kandern. The high school will be on your left just after entering Kandern.
I. Driving directions to the airport (Swiss side) from Kandern If you leave from the BFA from parking lot, turn right, heading out of the town of Kandern. You will pass through Hammerstein, Wollbach, Wittlingen, and into the village or Rummingen. In Rummingen you will come to a main intersection on a curve. Turn left following signs to the autobahn (blue signs) and Lörrach. Continue up the hill, approximately 1.3 kilometers, turn left following the blue Autobahn signs to Basel. Follow this Autobahn several kilometers until it splits and then follow signs to Basel. You may find a number of trucks waiting at the border, Get into the far left lane and go around them. You will see a sign to Euro Airport at this point, but DO NOT GO THIS WAY, as it will take you to the French side of the airport, not to where you want to go to return your rental car. Continue on across the Swiss border and take the first exit, which says “Bad Bahnhof.” At the bottom of the ramp turn right and begin to follow the signs pointing you toward the Euro Airport. These signs will take you through the north end of the city to the airport.
J. Public transportation to and from Kandern How to travel to BFA via bus 1) from the Airport: • The trip could take about 1 hour 40 min from/to the airport, about 1 hour from/to Basel. • The bus and tram in Basel (green) run from about 05:00 until 24:00 every day. • Bus 55 from Basel to Kandern runs every hour from 06:00 to 20:00 weekdays, from 7:00 to 19:00 on Saturdays, and from 08:00 to 19:00 on Sundays. • Payment can only be made with Euro coins or Swiss Franc coins. The ticket distributors in Basel do not accept credit cards (only Maestro and the Swiss PostFinance card). • For more information ask the SBB desk at the EuroAirport. At the EuroAirport take Bus 50 “Bahnhof SBB” (Departure every 7-10 min) The bus stop is on the Swiss side. (The airport is divided into two sides, Switzerland and France). Take the bus until the final stop, “Bahnhof SBB”. Continue with the directions below from the Bahnhof SBB below
2) From the Bahhhof SBB (Haupt Bahnhof) At Bahnhof SBB take Bus 30 “Badischer Bahnhof” (departure every 7-10 min) The bus stop is in front of the Burger King. Take the bus until the final stop, “Basel Badischer Bahnhof”. Continue with the directions below from the Basel Badisher Bahnhof.
3) From the Basel Badisher Bahhhof At Basel Badischer Bahnhof take Bus 55 “Kandern” (departure every hour, the bus is usually white and blue). Bus 55 does not appear on the electronic boards; you can see the schedule on a pillar at the bus stop. Get off at the bus stop, “Staiggasse”. • You can travel with a single ticket. Choose “Kandern” as your final destination at the ticket distributor (green) in Basel. • If you are leaving from Kandern you have to buy the ticket from the bus driver.
Revised/Approved 04|2015 Parent Handbook for ResLife Students Page| 13 BFA Parent Handbook for Residence Life Students
VIII. GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED AT BFA
As in any institution there are terms that BFA uses that are unique. These terms are very familiar to the staff and students of BFA, but may not be to you. Below are listed some of these terms that you may see or hear in communication from the school or your children and throughout this manual. If you need any further clarification of these terms feel free to contact the Residence Life Office or the High School Front Office.
ACT – American College Testing - Non-profit organization that offers testing for US college and university entrance; also the name commonly given to the standardized test itself Baden Württemberg – German state in which Kandern is located Badisher Bahnhof – German train station in Basel Budenfest – Late summer, weekend festival in Kandern, mostly food and souvenirs on sale Basel – Second biggest city in Switzerland, closest Swiss city to BFA (45 minutes from Kandern) BFA – Black Forest Academy BFAK – Black Forest Academy Kandern (high school campus) BFAS - Black Forest Academy Sitzenkirch (middle school/grades 5-8) BFCF – Black Forest Christian Fellowship (English speaking church which meets at BFA on Sundays) BSL/MLH – Airport codes for the Basel/Mulhouse airport CRT – Counseling Resource Team DODDS – Department Of Defense Dependents School (sports league in which BFA participates) Dorm Council – Student Residence Council Europa Park – Amusement park about 1 hour from Kandern FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid (financial aid application for university tuition for US citizens) Fasching or Fastnacht – German version of “Carnival” or “Mardi Gras” Freiburg – Larger city in Baden Württemberg about 45 minutes north of Kandern HBR – Haus Bad Riedlingen - boys’ dorm located near the town of Riedlingen Herbst Messe – Fall fair in Basel with rides and food HS – High School (grades 9-12) Jesse – Girls’ dorm located in Kandern Kandern – City in which BFA is located Lörrach – Closest German city to Kandern Maugenhard – Boys’ dorm, located in Kandern in the same building as Palmgarten Palmgarten – Girls’ dorm located in Kandern RA – Residence assistant ResLife – Residence Life Office SAT – Scholastic Aptitude Test, college/university entrance exam usually required for acceptance to US universities SBB – (Pronounced “Ess Bay Bay”) Swiss train station in Basel Sonne – Boys’ dorm located in Kandern St. Louis, France – Home of BSL, the closest airport to BFA Storch – (i.e., Storchenblick) - Girls’ dorm located in the village of Holzen TCK – Third Culture Kid (term applied to a child who has spent a portion of his/her formative years outside his/her passport country/culture) TerraNova – standardized achievement test given to students annually; BFA uses the data to assess student achievement and the test is not used for college or university admission Wittlingen – Girls’ dorm located in the village of Wittlingen
Revised/Approved 04|2015 Parent Handbook for ResLife Students Page| 14 BFA Parent Handbook for Residence Life Students
IX. APPENDIX – IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION
High School Front Office and Reception +49 7626 91610 [email protected]
Residence Life Office +49 7626 916125 [email protected]
Guidance Office +49 7626 916161 [email protected]
Counseling Office +49 7626 916121 [email protected]
Dorms: HBR +49 7626 7707 [email protected] Jesse +49 7626-9748463 [email protected] Maugenhard +49 7626 9161585 [email protected] Palmgarten +49 7626 9161701 [email protected] Sonne +49 7626 9161191 [email protected] Storch +49 7626 971531 [email protected] Wittlingen +49 07621 9396290 [email protected]
Revised/Approved 04|2015 Parent Handbook for ResLife Students Page| 15