Collingwood School International Exchange Programme 2013-2014 Barbara Thureau Coordinator of Exchanges Collingwood School 70 Morven Dr. West Vancouver, BC V7S 1B2 Telephone: 604-925-3331 Ex. 3013 Fax: 604-925-3862 Email: [email protected] Website: www. collingwood.org 1 International Exchange - The Selection Process Who Can Apply? Students who will be in Grade 9 or Grade 10 during the 2013-2014 school year. Students who are passing BOTH their Service and Athletics requirements Students who demonstrate excellent citizenship and will be good ambassadors of Collingwood Students who achieve at least a B average on their December 2012 report card . Students who would benefit from the exchange experience, but may not meet academic criteria, must provide reasons why they should be considered ie: extra tutorials have been arranged, tutor in place or permission from the Head of School ( Middle or Senior) We are looking for positive, independent, flexible and self-assured students who will contribute to and participate in, all aspects of life at their exchange school. What Schools Do We Exchange With? Most Round Square schools (www.roundsquare.org) have an exchange program. The following is a list of schools with whom we are most likely to exchange this coming year including some non-Round Square partners: School Country Website Ascham Australia Ascham.nsw.edu.au Ballarat Australia bgs.vic.edu.au Billanook Australia billanook.vic.edu.au Birklehof Germany birkleof.de Bridgehouse South Africa Bridgehouse.org.za Bunbury Cathedral Australia bcgs.wa.edu.au Cobham Hall England cobhamhall.com Gordonstoun Scotland gordonstoun.org.uk Ivanhoe Grammar Australia igs.vic.edu.au Knox Grammar Australia knox.nsw.edu.au Markham College Peru Markham.edu.pe Mejiro Girls Japan mejiro.ac.jp Mowbray Australia mowbray.vic.edu.au Pymble Ladies College Australia Pymble.nsw.edu.au Scotch Oakburn College Australia Soc.tas.edu.au Stanford Lake College South Africa stanfordlakecollege.co.za Southport School Australia tss.qld.edu.au St. Cyprians South Africa Stcyprians.co.za St. Hildas Australia Sthildas.qld.edu.au St. Mary’s South Africa Stmary.co.za St. Stithians South Africa stithian.com Trinity Grammar Australia trinity.nsw.edu.au Wanganui Collegiate New Zealand wanganui.collegiate.school.nz Westminster Australia Westminster.sa.edu.au Windermere St. Anne’s England wsaschool.com How to Apply? 2 Attached is a form to be completed by interested students and their parents. Please submit the form to Ms Barbara Thureau or by December 15, 2012. It will be necessary to interview applicants before a final choice is made. Most exchange participants will be confirmed by April 2013. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Barbara Thureau at 604-925-3331 Ex. 3013 or via email [email protected]. Collingwood School International Exchange Program Application FROM: ____________________________________________ Name of Student ADVISOR: __________________________________________ 1. Why do you want to participate in an international exchange? Be as specific as possible. 2. Research exchange school possibilities. Select up to three destinations and provide reasons why you have made each of these choices. 3 3. Please talk about your wish to exchange with your parents and then list the three main points of your discussion. ( this could be hopes or concerns) 4. Please choose a friend who knows you well and ask them to write a paragraph describing why you should be selected to participate in an exchange. 5. Please check the following items you can provide. (Please note: Not all exchange school situations will provide the same for you.) 1. Own bedroom in your home __________ 2. Closet/drawers to store student’s belongings _________ 3. Easy access to a washroom ___________ 4. Weekend activities/sightseeing ___________ Participant’s Signature: _____________________________________________ 4 Parent’s Signature: _______________________________________________ 5 The Student’s Responsibilities Academic Expectations Each student must be in good academic standing. Each student must be fully engaged in his or her studies with excellent attendance record. Students will inform their teachers if accepted as an exchange candidate and complete a subject worksheet. Students will take their Math, Science and Language course work to be completed while away. Students in grade ten will need to be mindful of provincial examination requirements. Application Forms Candidates will be interviewed and those who are successful will receive an application package that must be fully completed. This profile will be shared with the exchange school and host family. Behaviour Expectations Exchange students are expected to behave as model students adhering to the rules and expectations of the host school, and the family values of the host family must be respected. During the exchange, the student is the responsibility of the Head of the host school. The Head reserves the right to cancel the exchange if the student does not comply with the school’s rules and expectations, and the student will be sent home at his or her parents’ expense. Clothing Exchange students will wear their No. 1 Collingwood uniform when appropriate and otherwise adhere to the dress code of the adopted school (students may be asked to wear their own Collingwood #2 uniform.) 6 Gifts It is suggested that exchange students take a gift for their host family and a couple of small presents for new friends. Passport and Visa Each student must travel with a valid passport and secure a tourist or student visa. The process varies from country to country, but inevitably involves presenting the tourist or student visa, an official letter of acceptance from the host school, and a passport, to immigration officials of the country to which the student is traveling. In some cases, medical documents and/or Letter of Travel Consent are required. 7 The Parents’ Responsibilities Tuition Parents pay normal tuition and fees; there are no additional fees paid to Exchange schools. Incidental Expenses Parents must agree to pay for any incidental expenses billed by the adopted school like lost textbooks, and provide pocket money for their son or daughter. Parents may be asked to provide up to $500 refundable deposit to the exchange school to be used in case of emergency or unforeseen expense. This policy varies according to individual schools. Letter of Acceptance Collingwood School requests an official Letter of Acceptance from the host school and forwards it to the parents for students to carry while they travel. Travel Parents are responsible for making all travel arrangements and must inform Collingwood of the flight itinerary. Parents must complete a Letter of Travel Consent that the student will carry as he or she travels which includes: parents’ authorization to travel, the destination, the length of stay, the host’s address and phone number, and each parent’s signature. Homestay Parents must agree to host the incoming exchange student providing room and board, transportation and as many cultural experiences as possible. If the host family is unable to reciprocate the homestay portion of your child’s exchange or if a reciprocal exchange is not available, parents will be required to pay room and board expenses in order to host the incoming student If the exchange is not reciprocated, a fee may be charged by the Ministry of Education. Criminal Records Check 8 Parents will provide a Criminal Records Check completed by their local law enforcement agency. Passport Parents must agree to obtain and pay for any cost associated with obtaining a Canadian passport. Application for a Canadian passport should be made immediately. It is recommended that you contact the authorities directly regarding the expiry date of a current passport – in some cases a passport must not expire until a specified amount of time after a student returns to Canada. Tourist and/or Student Visa Parents must agree to pay for any cost associated with procuring a tourist or student visa. In most cases Collingwood students going on a “cultural exchange” (i.e. not earning any course credits) and traveling on Canadian passports may require: o A student visa for India o A student visa for France or Germany (if stay exceeds 12 weeks) o A student visa for Australia (if stay exceeds 12 weeks) o A student visa for New Zealand o A tourist visa for Thailand o A visitor’s visa for South Africa, and a request for a Multiple Entry visa to travel to neighbouring countries on school trips) o An I-20 form for the United States The duration of exchange periods do not exceed 12 weeks; therefore, only a tourist visa is necessary in most countries; this requires much less red tape than a student visa. However, visa requirements change fairly regularly, and the Coordinator of Student Exchanges will work closely with parents during the application process. Health and Travel Insurance This is essential. Parents are asked to arrange coverage before the student departs on exchange. Australian schools now require that medical insurance be purchased through them. Parents are asked to arrange their child’s inoculations and prescriptions directly with their family doctor. Parents will complete the Medical form included in the application package. It will be forwarded to the host school prior to the exchange student’s arrival for retention on file, during his or her stay. 9 The Schools’ Responsibilities There is no exchange of money between schools. Students pay normal tuition and fees at their own school. Schools may provide an official Letter of Acceptance for the exchange student. Each school facilitates the provision of room and board, either in residence or at the home of a host family. Each school provides, as best it can, a course of study that fits the needs of the exchange student. Special attention is paid to the cumulative subjects (i.e. Math, Science, and Languages) that the exchange student will be continuing at his or her home school.