Reciprocal Individual Exchange Program 2017/2018

Nancy-Metz Educational Authority, France and Foothills School Division, Canada

Objectives:

The goal of this individual supervised international exchange program is to give an opportunity for students to deepen their knowledge of the partner country as well as to familiarize themselves with the culture and the daily life. The formula of an individual student immersion experience fosters independence, self-confidence and the development of key intercultural competencies.

The supervisory component of the program guarantees for the student an acceptance into the school of his or her partner, an integration into the courses, and monitoring during the duration of the exchange.

Admission Criteria:

The program is specifically designed for autonomous and motivated students who are currently enrolled in a French course within their school and speak a basic level of French (A1 minimum and working towards an A2 level). They must also be capable to adapt to a new environment in which they are willing to be integrated.

Grade Level:

Nancy-Metz Academy (Region of Lorraine) / Maximum of 20 studentsentering Grade 11 in September, 2017
Foothills School Division (South of Calgary) / Maximum of 20 students entering Grade 10 or 11 in September, 2017

Duration of Exchange:

Students will spend four consecutive weeks with the family and in the school establishment. Dates are variable by one or two days according to the booking of the flights.

Nancy-Metz Students / Hosted in Canada from October 7th to November 4th, 2017
Foothills School Division Students / Hosted in France from March 10th to April 7th , 2018

Application Date and Twinning Timeline:

  1. Information will be distributed to administrators and French teachers in early February, 2017.
  2. Interested students will complete the application form and submit it to FSD French Servicesby April 1st, 2017.
  3. Partnering of the students will be complete in May, 2017.
  4. Notification of partnering will be done through e-mail. Students will be invited to contact their partners in order to develop an acquaintance before the exchange.
  5. A parent/student/school exchange coordinator information meeting will be held in May, 2017.
  6. Terms and Conditions:
  • The dates of the exchange are unchangeable.
  • Participating students will reside in the home of their exchange family and will attend the school of their exchange partner. Course selection will be decided upon by the school for students coming from France to Canada.
  • Exchange coordinators cannot be held responsible for adaptation difficulties that could occur between the students and families. A change of host family is not possible except in exceptional cases. Advance departure for personal reasons will not be the responsibility of the Foothills school Division and coordinators.

Costs:

  • The cost for Canadian students for the 2017-2018year is approximately $2000. This includes a return flight, the train to the Nancy-Metz region and a chaperone both ways.
  • Families who have enrolled their son or daughter will be notified when to reserve the flight prior to leaving. Flights are usually reserved in December for a March departure and the cost approximately $1500.
  • A $500 deposit (refundable only if the school board cancels international travel to France) must be submitted to the FSD French Services at the same time as the following application form. This fee covers the cost of the chaperone and the train to Nancy.
  • Costs also include pocket money while away. Otherwise, meals are provided by the host family.
  • The group must travel together the entire time.

Partner School Commitment:

Each partner school will:

ensure quality control over selected candidates for departing on the exchange and hosting a student.

ensure the integration of the exchange student into the region and the active participation in school activities and events.

appoint a teacher or administrator to oversee the exchange. As such, the educator will be the person communicating with the families, the teachers in question and FSD. He or she will ensure that the student candidates will benefit from the exchange and that the families are well aware of what it implies:

  • Four week exchange in an overseas school (absence from classes for three weeks and a plan to catch up upon return or before leaving.)
  • Hosting of a partner for four weeks in their home and school.
  • Students will be asked to have their host teacher complete a report card attesting to their school attendance and participation during the exchange.

Parent Commitment:

  1. Hosting parents are committed to integrating the exchange partner into their family life, to ease access to cultural events in the community and contribute to helping improve the student’s linguistic and cultural competencies by talking to him or her in English. The parents assume the entire responsibility of the student while he or she is living with them.
  1. A withdrawal from the program can only occur in exceptional circumstances. In such a case, the families are required to inform both organizing institutions and the schools in question to explain the reasons. Advance departure for personal reasons will be the assumed responsibility of the student in question.
  1. The established dates for the exchange are a priority.

Student Commitment:

The student commits to:

  • Accepting the proposed partner, making contact before the exchange and ensuringthat the hosting happens in the best conditions possible.
  • Respecting the rules and regulations in place in the partnering country.
  • Adhering to the codes of conduct in the school and host family.
  • Integrating as best as possible to the course work in the school (writing, homework).

Commitment of Foothills School Division:

The institutions responsible for organizing this exchange are:

the Foothills School Division

the «Rectorat de l’académie de Nancy-Metz par l’intermédiaire de la DAREIC»

Their mission is to give students in the two partnering regions the possibility to attend school in another region and provide corresponding host students. They are available to provide complimentary information and answer questions about the nature of the program but they are not committed contractually with the participants of the program.

FSD and the DAREIC cannot be held responsible for possible disagreements between the student and the host family, regardless of the nature. In case of difficulties, the first contact to be made is with the school, who will then contact the coordinators, if need be. A host family change can only be made in exceptional circumstances and for serious and justifiable reasons.

Insurance:

Students must have proof of medical insurance for out of country travel. Please attach a copy of the insurance to this application form.

Passports/Notary Approval for Travel/Criminal Record Check:

Students must have a Canadian passport that is not within six months of expiring.

Canadian students must also have the declaration of legal responsibilities signed by a lawyer or notary.

Canadian families must submit a criminal record check for all household members over the age of 18.

All above documents must be submitted before September 30, 2017.

APPLICATION FORM

Submit by May 1st, 2017

The following questionnaire is designed specifically to define the profile of the candidate as close as possible in order to select an exchange partner that responds best to his or herexpectations:

The candidate must carefully complete the form and send:

one paper copy to the:

Foothills School Division

120 – 5th Avenue S.W.

High River, Alberta

T1V 1M7

one electronic copy to:

Recent Picture

SCHOOL ATTENDING: ______

CANDIDATE

First and last name: ______

Date and place of birth: ______

Sex:Female Male

Nationality: ______

Address: ______

______

Home phone number: ______

Cell number: ______

Parent cell number: ______

Student e-mail address: ______

Parent E-mail address: ______

Parents or Legal Guardians

First and last name of parents: ______

Father’s profession: ______

Mother’s professsion: ______

Candidate State of Health

Does the candidate have any health concerns? ______

______

Does the candidate take medication? Specify.______

______

Does he or she have allergies? Specify.______

______

I certify that I have identified all medical concerns of my child to the exchange coordinator.

Name and address of Health Insurance Provider: ______

______

Candidate’s Alberta Health Insurance Number: ______

Your Family

Describe your family environment! I live with: ______

Do you have indoor animals? Yes No

If yes, what kind? ______

Are there indoor animals that you cannot live withwhen in France? ______

______

Living Conditions

Where to do you live?

Apartment House Country City

Will your exchange partner have his or her own room? Yes No

If not, where will he or she sleep? ______

Are there any food requirements? (vegetarian, gluten-free?)______

______

Does anyone in your family smoke? Yes No

Does smoking occur inside the home? Yes No

Would you be willing to stay with a family where indoor smoking is permitted?

Yes No

Exchange Partner

Desired exchange partner: Female Male No Difference

Would you accept an exchange partner of the opposite sex if it was the only solution?

Yes No

What personality qualities would be prefer in your exchange partner? ______

______

Personality and Areas of Interest

Are you: Open/Exuberant? or Reserved?

List three adjectives that describe you:

1.______2.______3.______

Areas of Interest:

Sports:______

Hobbies/Past-times:______

Music:______

Computer-Internet:______

Other:______

Letter of presentation to your exchange partner

Write a letter to your future exchange partner in which you talk about yourself and describe yourself. Also, give reasons why you have applied to do this exchange and attach a few pictures. (Example: yourself, your family, your friends, your house and your school)

Have you already spent time away from your family? Yes No

Where? ______

How long? ______

School Establishment

Name and address of school: ______

______

Phone number: ______

E-mail address: ______

Your grade: ______

Last French classes taken: ______

I agree to:

Accept the exchange partner proposed to me and will ensure that his or her stay with my family and in my school takes place in the best possible conditions.

Contact my partner through e-mail or social media before the exchange takes place.

Respect all rules and regulations put forth by the partnering country and within the school, written or non-written.

Diligently learn everything taught to me in the school environment to the best of my ability.

Do all work required by the teachers to the best of my ability.

Participate in organized school activities.

Behave as a respectful and responsible towards my host family.

Signature ______Date______

*Remember to attach a copy of your insurance for out of country travel.

RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN A FRENCH SCHOOL

AND A CANADIAN SCHOOL

Student’s Given Name and Surname: ______

Name of school: ______

Address: ______Phone:______

Name of principal: ______Phone:______

School e-mail address: ______

Opinion of the student’s language teacher:

1. Knowledge of the French language: ______

2. Do you think the student will easily adapt to new learning situations: ______

______

Principal’s opinion:

(Student’s determination to learning, maturity level etc…)

Very favourable Favourable Reserved Unfavourable

______

______

______

  • The student will attend the school of the French exchange partner (college or lycée).
  • The student will receive a school report stating his/her regular attendance to classes at the end of the exchange and his participation in classroom activities.

I agree to accept in my school the exchange student from the beginning of October to the beginning of November. Our student will in return attend the school of his French partner from March to April. This is a reciprocal exchange and no school fees are assessed to the visiting students.

A school report and/or certificate will be issued at the end of the stay and given to the French visiting student.

The French and Canadian students are under the responsibility of their parents (transfer of parental rights). All exchange students have:

  1. Medical and Civil Liability insurance
  2. Medical Repatriation insurance

School stamp/seal:

Date______

CUSTODIANSHIP DECLARATION – (PARENT/GUARDIAN)

(To be signed/witnessed by a Lawyer, a Notary Public or a Commissioner of Oaths)

CANADIAN STUDENT INFORMATION
SURNAME
GIVEN NAME / CITIZENSHIP / DATE OF BIRTH (D/M/Y) / SEX
 M  F
CANADIAN PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION
SURNAME
GIVEN NAME / TELEPHONE HOME
TELEPHONE WORK
CURRENT ADDRESS
EXCHANGE PARTNER’S GUARDIANSHIP INFORMATION
SURNAME
GIVEN NAME / TELEPHONE HOME
TELEPHONE WORK
CURRENT ADDRESS

I, ______(name of parent/guardian), solemnly declare that I am the parent or legal guardian of the Student. While the Student is participating on the exchange, he/she will be in the Custodian’s care. I have granted my authorization and adequate arrangements have been made for the Custodian to act in place of me in times of emergency, such as when medical attention or intervention is required, and also for day-to-day care and supervision of the Student.

The Custodian will be legally responsible for the student for the period of his/her exchange from:

……………………………. (date of departure) to ………………………….. (date of return).

Signature of parent/guardian: ______Date: ______

WITNESS SEAL AND SIGNATURE
Sworn before me at: ______(city)
In the province of ______(province/territory) ______(country)
This ______day of ______(month) ______year.
Signature and seal of witness:______

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