Homestay Handbook Please Print This Page and Post on Your Fridge
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School District #8 (Kootenay Lake) International Program Homestay Handbook https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQNqhFOLAEal69iB15DzZoWRaPFisUr mv-6ioQt9MA6cYycUs6NUX1WB_v7gXH8nWFhlbyy9sXyGmL_/pub Table of Contents INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION 2 SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION 2 HOST FAMILY GENERAL INFORMATION 3 WHY INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS COME TO BC 3 REASONS CANADIANS PROVIDE HOMESTAY 3 HOST FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES - PROVISIONS 3,4 WHAT DO STUDENTS PAY FOR? 4 EXPENSES INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM COVERS 5 CHALLENGES TO ANTICIPATE 5 HOUSE RULES 5,6 FOOD 6,7 ILLNESS & EMERGENCY 7,8 PREPARING FOR ARRIVAL 8,9 THE FIRST FEW DAYS 9 WHEN TO CONTACT INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM STAFF 10 RESPITE (ARRANGING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO WATCH STUDENT OVERNIGHT) 10 EMERGENCY - CONTACT US 10 TRAVEL OUT OF THE DISTRICT 10 INFORM THE PROGRAM WHEN... 10 STUDENT ACTIVITIES 10,11 SUPPORTING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING 11 ORIENTATION, FOLLOW UP AND FEEDBACK 11,12 REMUNERATION Q’S 12 CHANGING HOST FAMILY 12 TRANSPORTATION INCL. SCHOOL BUS 12, 13 SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS 13 STUDENT EMPLOYMENT 13, 14 STUDENT DRIVING 14 STUDENT EXPENSES 14,15 HOMESTAY EXPENSES 14,15 HOMESTAY CLAIMS - RECEIPTS 14, 15 HOMESTAY PAYMENTS 15 STUDENT ACCESS TO CANADIAN MONEY 15 DEVELOPING INTERCULTURAL SKILL SET 15 HOMEWARD BOUND (PRIOR TO DEPARTURE WHEN RETURNING HOME) 15,16 APPENDIX - FORMS 17 + 1 Homestay Handbook Please print this page and post on your fridge: International Program Staff Contact Information NAME POSITION PHONE E-MAIL Jann Schmidt Administrator 250-551-4702 [email protected] Michele Le Program 250-505-7015 [email protected] Lievre Coordinator Kathi Knapik Homestay Teacher 250-505-6848 [email protected] Manager Tanis Bourchier LVR Program [email protected] Assistant Website: http://international.sd8.bc.ca Homestay Social Media: Twitter Kathi Homestay Kootenay Lake & Facebook Kathi Kootenay Lake Homestay Contractor Information NAME CELL E-MAIL Ingrid Savard - Nelson 250-354-8865 [email protected] Adrianna Wright - 250-469-4449 [email protected] Creston Kathi Knapik - (short 250-505-6848 [email protected] term) Nelson School Information (fill in according to student placement) NAME & POSITION PHONE E-MAIL Admin Counsellor Other School Bus (family must register online; fill in according to student placement) Time of Day Bus # and Name pickup/dropoff locations morning after school 2 Homestay Handbook Host Family General Information This handbook addresses the broad range of topics relevant to new homestay parents. Reach out to experienced homestay parents and IP staff, too. Information from the Homestay Visit and Orientation and the “Host Family Agreement” apply. (ie. student safety and well being is of paramount importance. Keep vehicle maintained, vehicle insurance, house insurance, change batteries in smoke detectors, etc. ). 1. Why do international students come to British Columbia? ● a desire to be global citizens, making meaningful and purposeful connections with Canadians, to learn about Canadian culture ● for an extensive English language learning experience, to become more fluent, leading to greater opportunities in their future ● sometimes, to graduate in a BC high school and receive a BC Dogwood Certificate ● sometimes, to pursue university in North America. ● to pursue more artistic and holistic learning opportunities ● to be taught by teachers who engage students in student-centered, innovative, and creative learning experiences Talk to your student about his/her reasons for coming here. Help the student to set aligned academic and language goals. Help the student to set a plan for achievement. 2. What are some reasons Canadians provide Homestay experiences? ● to learn more about another culture and develop their intercultural mind- and skill-set. ● to give their own children intercultural learning opportunities. Homestay payments are intended to finance the extra costs associated with hosting. Payments are NOT income for the Homestay parent! 3. What am I (homestay parent) expected to provide? You are expected to be a kind, welcoming, nurturing and fair parent. This means providing as you would for your own family and includes: ● Greeting the student at the airport; seeing the student off for their return flight home (if expenses are incurred, there is a procedure for reimbursement). This is an important requirement! Please don’t expect Homestay Contractors to do this for you! ● (usually) private bedroom with a bed, desk, window, lamp and closet/dresser. ● three nutritious meals a day, incl. snacks as required ● a quiet, adequately lit and heated study space ● shower or bathing facilities, incl. hot water and soap/shampoo ● laundry facilities and support (ie. teach student to use machines) ● emotional support if the student suffers from homesickness, difficulties with school or friends, etc. 3 Homestay Handbook ● academic support: help with homework where possible, communication with teachers and IP school contacts, attendance at parent-teacher-student conferences, etc. ● inclusion of the student in family outings, trips to restaurants, special occasions, recreational activities ● access to the common living areas of the house ● Canadian culture exposure and education ● opportunities for student to talk, listen and learn English in the home ● Access to wifi for the student (this may be limited to a certain amount of time per day) Early on, discuss expectations; yours and the student’s. Reach mutual agreement about the amount of interaction between the student and the family and the kinds of activities in which you will participate together. Discuss this regularly as situations change. Expect some adjustment. The student is in a new home, communicating in a new language, in a new country. Be patient and listen carefully, to minimize student and homestay stress. 4. What kinds of things should the students pay for themselves? ● clothes ● school supplies ● special preference toiletries ● long distance phone calls if using family phone ● their own cell phone and plan ● medicines and medications ● dental work (ie. pre-existing problem, orthodontics) ● haircuts or other personal services ● personal entertainment and expenses away from host family ● costs associated with participation in school sponsored activities (ie. grad events, school dances, extra-curricular sports, clubs or music trips (other than those specific to the international program). ● stamps, stationary, books, magazines, online memberships, CD’s, posters, etc. ● costs related to student visas and airplane tickets Please discuss the above list with your student before the student incurs the expense. 5. What kind of expenses does the program cover? Included in the fees (paid by the student to the program) are the following: ● school course fees, incl. resources like textbooks. ● monthly activities arranged by the International Program staff. Please discuss course selections and bring any concerns to school and IP contacts. Sometimes, online courses are NOT included. 4 Homestay Handbook 6. What challenges should I be aware of? Students may suffer for the first few weeks or more: ● culture shock: Some people experience this when they are suddenly immersed in a culture different from their own. “Culture” is largely unwritten and incl. patterns of behavior that govern people. Culture shock develops when basic assumptions about life and familiar ways of behaving are no longer appropriate or useful. Be understanding. Your student is struggling with new things: language, climate, community, new or different customs, food, home, family, friends, emotional behaviours and expressions, and more. Be aware - you may also experience some culture shock! ● jet lag: Most students have traveled through several time zones to reach the area. The effects of jet lag may last up to two weeks and include sleeping problems, drowsiness at the wrong time of day, loss of appetite, general fatigue and disorientation. ● homesickness: Many students have left their family, friends and pets for the first time. Natural feelings of homesickness may be exacerbated by culture shock. ● loneliness: Students may feel very alone in this new situation. They may feel like outsiders in the community, school, or home. Limited ability to communicate in English may contribute to their feelings of isolation. ● teenage mood swings: Developmentally, teenagers experience and react to physical and mental changes in a ‘typically’ teenage way. At times you may find yourself on the emotional roller coaster so familiar to parents of teens! All of the above may be exhibited in a variety of ways: quiet, unresponsive, withdrawn behavior; crying spells; isolation from the family; long periods alone in the bedroom; lack of appetite; despondent behavior; moodiness, incl. depression, anger, anxiety, lethargy. Sometimes, the comfort of familiar food (ie. rice for breakfast) will go a long way in easing discomfort. If symptoms don’t resolve over a couple weeks, please let your homestay contractor and school counsellor know as soon as possible, so that appropriate mental health supports can be put in place for the student. 7. What kinds of rules apply to the host family and to the student? It is reasonable to expect the student to follow age-appropriate family rules. However, it’s suggested that rules are introduced gradually to ease student stress and improve understanding. The student may have a different level of freedom at home. Consider: A. Establish