Student Exchanges
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Student Exchanges Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Rationale ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 How Do Students Qualify and Apply ........................................................................................................................... 3 Student Profile Sheet .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Section A .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Section B .................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Rules for Exchanges ................................................................................................................................................... 10 Information for Outgoing Exchange Students ............................................................................................................ 16 Academic Issues ......................................................................................................................................................... 17 Exchange Student Work Organizer ............................................................................................................................ 18 Round Square School Directory ................................................................................................................................. 19 Previous STS Exchanges with Round Square Schools ............................................................................................... 22 Introduction There is no better way to build an international understanding than to immerse oneself in the culture of another country. This package is designed to provide you and your parents with as many details as possible about the exchange program at STS so that you can decide whether or not you are interested in applying. This information will also be very important to the student and family of those students selected for the Exchange Program. Rationale Creating internationally minded students is essential in today’s world. Programs such as Model UN and IB help to foster this understanding and fit very well with STS’s mission statement. Student exchanges also fill this role nicely, enabling students to study history, language and culture in another country. Students often feel empowered from their experiences and take a leadership role in the school upon their return. Students returning back to STS share their experiences in a variety of ways with the STS community. As internationalization increasingly becomes the focus of many academic and business opportunities, it is appropriate to offer secondary students a chance to develop their independence and self-esteem. Students who undertake a cultural exchange develop such skills as decision-making, adaptability and an increased awareness of another culture. As well, such an experience fosters a global perspective. All aspects of the International Exchange Program enhance leadership skills and experience has shown that the students reflect on their time on exchange as a highlight of their STS career. Exchange applications must be handed in to Ms. Caines by Friday, March 22, 2019. The length of the exchange is generally 6-8 weeks. We run exchanges with both boarding and non-boarding Round Square schools. You must read through all of the following information and make sure the Exchange Program is for you and for your parents. If it is, follow the steps outlined in the following pages to apply for the Program. Page 2 of 23 How Do Students Qualify and Apply Student exchanges occur during the Grade 10 year. A student must be maintaining a minimum Honours average standing in all academic subjects in Grade 9 to apply for the program. If a student’s overall average falls below an MYP level 5-6 at any time before the exchange, this may endanger participation in the program. In addition to academic standing, we look for positive, independent, flexible and self-assured students will contribute to and participate in all aspects of the exchange program. Students should have demonstrated sound organizational skills so that STS will be confident that they can manage the increased academic demands of being on exchange. It is also important that only students who will be positive ambassadors for STS and Canada are chosen to participate in an exchange. We will be looking for students who have made positive contributions to a wide variety of activities at STS. In order to apply, students must hand in to Ms. Caines, no later than March 22, 2019 all of the following: A one-page letter (Times New Roman, font size 11) addressing the following points: . why the student is interested in the Exchange Program . what qualities the student possesses that make them a good candidate for the Exchange Program Student Profile Sheet (Pages 4 – 8) Rules for Exchange form; signed (Page 10) Host Parent Form (Pages 11 – 14) After March 22, 2019, Ms. Caines will interview all of the candidates. The selection process is not a science. The following will be taken into account in the selection of students. overall academic standing in core subjects . current participation in school and out of school activities . length of time at STS . strength of character and ability to be an ambassador of STS . leadership abilities . content of student profile sheet and host parent form We will be in contact with each of the applicant’s advisors and may talk to their individual teachers. Successful applicants will be notified of their acceptance in the program in April. At this time, successful students will be asked to submit a list of their top three choices of the selected Round Square schools to exchange with. Every attempt will be made to secure an exchange at one of these schools for the student but please be aware that this may not be possible. If we are not successful in securing an exchange at one of the selected schools, we will begin to look for alternatives. Please note that finding appropriate schools sometimes takes time and may not be finalized for several months. Please be patient. (Exchanges are still being finalized for this current year.) Page 3 of 23 Student Profile Sheet Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School RR 2 Okotoks, AB T1S 1A2 Canada Phone: 403–938–4431 Fax: 403-938-8343 If you are selected to participate in the Exchange Program, this application will be forwarded to your exchange partner to provide information about you. Recent Photo _________________________________________ Name of student Please ensure that you complete the following pages with a pen and that your writing/printing is very legible as these forms need to be faxed to prospective schools. Page 4 of 23 Section A (Application should be printed with black pen for ease of photocopy and fax.) Name: __________________________________________ Date of Birth: ________________________ Country of Birth: _________________________________ City of Birth: ________________________ Nationality: _____________________________________ Current Grade: ___________________ Home Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ( ) ______________________________ Fax: ( ) ____________________________ Email Address: ___________________________________ Languages spoken at home: _______________________________________________ Religion: (optional) Do you practice a religion whose observances or diets need to be considered? Please explain: ________________________________________________________________________________________ Father’s name:___________________________________ Occupation:________________________________________________________________ Phone: (Work) ( )_______________________ Fax: ( ) ____________________ Home Address: (if different to student) ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Phone: (Home) ( )______________________________________ Email Address:__________________________________ Cell Number: ( )_____________________ Mother’s Name: ___________________________________ Occupation: ______________________________________________________________________ Phone: (Work) ( ) _______________________ Fax: ( ) ________________________ Home Address: (if different to student) __________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: (Home) ( )__________________________________ Email Address:________________________________ Cell Number: ( ) _______________________ Page 5 of 23 Section B School Subjects and results (As an alternative, you may choose to attach copies of your two most recent academic report cards.) School subjects Number of years Results Results Studied in the last 2 years studied Year___________ Latest__________