High Schl Exchange Prgram Guide Preamble: The Whistler Waldrf Schl ffers an exchange prgram that is designed t meet the needs f ur students by prviding an pprtunity fr students t explre new cultures and learning envirnments. Students at this age are lking fr truth in the wrld, meaning in what they are studying and in their cultural identities. It is the first step n the path t becming truly glbal citizens. Living abrad with anther family and attending anther schl requires students t take n new respnsibilities, engage with new cultures and develp new friendships. Timeline It is very imprtant t begin research early in rder t ensure a successful placement and t have enugh time t cmplete any visa and travel arrangements. Students in sme cuntries require several mnths t prepare dcumentatin fr their travel t Canada. Students will need t have their acceptance determined by the visiting schl befre pursuing travel and ther arrangements. Students in grade 9 r 10 wh are interested in an exchange in the subsequent schl year shuld begin their research early in the year. We recmmend that applicatins be submitted t the High Schl Faculty Chair n later than April 30th f the previus schl year. Once apprved by the High Schl Chair the applicatin t the schl f chice shuld be in by March 31st. Students will be eligible fr student exchange travel frm September Easter f their Grade 10 year. Necessary Steps Obtaining Permissin Befre an exchange can be pursued, a student must first secure permissin frm their Class Guardian and High Schl Chair. Students will have a gd attendance recrd and gd standing in all classes, and will have demnstrated independence and initiative in schl in rder t be granted permissin t g n exchange. The final decisin will be made by the High Schl. Parents may appeal the decisin t the Pedaggical Administratr. Apprved April 2016 T be reviewed May 2017
High Schl Exchange Prgram Guide Research The High Schl has a cpy f every request letter that is written by a freign student lking fr an exchange partner. Our students have access t these letters and are encuraged t read thrugh them. Parents can access them thrugh the Exchange Crdinatr. Students shuld lk at finding a gd match in bth the student and family. Students are expected t crrespnd directly with students frm schls f chice t find a gd match. If there is a particular schl that yur child is interested in attending, they shuld cntact that schl directly by email t get mre infrmatin and t determine if there are any students interested in ging n exchange t Whistler. Althugh parents may als wish t crrespnd with ptential exchange families, we recmmend that the students take the initiative in chsing a placement. There is a website that caters t Waldrf students lking fr exchanges: www.waldrfwide.cm Yu can als research lcatins f Waldrf schls thrughut the wrld at the Assciatin f Nrth American Waldrf Schls website: http://www.whywaldrfwrks.rg/05_findaschl/ Submitting applicatins and supprting dcuments Different schls may have different requirements fr acceptance, but mst schls will require the fllwing: a cmpleted applicatin frm a cpy f student s mst recent reprt card a cpy f student s birth certificate and/r passprt. a letter f recmmendatin frm a language teacher It is necessary t inquire with each ptential schl as t their specific applicatin prcess. Sme schls may wish t cnduct a telephne r web interview. Other Relevant Infrmatin Tuitin We ffer tw ways fr students t attend Direct Exchange In a Direct Exchange between tw students frm tw schls, families pay tuitin fr a full year at their hme schl and therefre d nt pay tuitin fees at the exchange schl. The same prcess is reversed when the exchange partner visits ur schl. 2 P a g e
High Schl Exchange Prgram Guide Hmestay Visit In an Exchange Visit there is n exchange partner. Tuitin fee arrangements are n a case by case basis with the hst schl. Whistler Waldrf Schl des nt ffer partial tuitin fr ur wn students wh are n exchange. Visiting students will pay nrmal tuitin fees fr the time f their stay. Hme Teacher Cntact list Main Lessn Teachers Math Teacher English Teacher Scial Studies Teacher French Teacher Class Guardian Advisr Other csts Travel Medical Insurance Fees: Sme schls may have extra fees that are nt cvered by the exchange. This may be fr such things as schl trips, sprts events, language tutring, etc. It is imprtant t ask each schl abut ther ptential fees and expenses Visa fees Passprt All students will require a passprt t travel. Applicatins can be made in persn at a lcal passprt ffice. Medical Insurance Students must ensure that they have adequate medical cverage while they are away. We recmmend that families have a thrugh understanding f their insurance plicy befre the student leaves. Exchange Prgram and Curse Credits Students participating in Exchange are encuraged t participate fully in the curriculum at their hst schl. The ideal is that these students wuld participate with n extra wrk required frm WWS. Hwever, n ccasin it may be necessary that students will have wrk with them required frm cmpletin fr WWS. WWS Teachers will cmmunicate with students remtely t mnitr prgress and 3 P a g e
High Schl Exchange Prgram Guide address questins. Parents will be cpied int this crrespndence. Math and Chemistry are the main curses t be cnsidered fr cmpletin while away. Students may require extra tutring in these areas upn their return. While away, students are required t cmplete a jurnal. Upn their return they will als give a presentatin utlining their travels and experiences t the High Schl. Every effrt shuld be made t ensure the student is nt traveling during cre main lessns. Suggested Lengths f High Schl Exchanges It is recmmended that exchanges are nt t shrt as cultural immersin des nt ccur in just a few weeks. Length f exchange is a minimum f 3 mnths and a maximum f 4 mnths. Any stay that is shrter r lnger requires special apprval frm the High Schl Faculty/Exchange Crdinatr and the Pedaggical Administratr. Exchange Requirements during yur stay and upn return Jurnal Write-up fr Newsletter PwerPint r written presentatin Types f Exchanges Direct Exchange In a direct exchange the students attend schl and live tgether in ne cuntry and then the fllwing term r the next year they g and stay in the ther student s hme. The hmestay family includes the exchange student as part f their family and des nt charge mney fr rm and bard. Hmestay Visit In a hmestay visit, students stay with hmestay families within the schl cmmunity and pay a mnthly fee fr rm and bard. Students may als stay with friends r family in the area. Custdian /guardianship Sme cuntries require that each student has a ntarized dcument stating wh the guardian/custdian is fr that student while they are staying in anther cuntry. This persn wuld be the parent(s) in the hmestay family. 4 P a g e
High Schl Exchange Prgram Guide Student Visa/Study Permit Families need t inquire at the lcal cnsulate f the exchange cuntry t determine whether a Student Visa/Study Permit is required. Sme cuntries d nt require a study permit if students are visiting fr a perid f six mnths r less. If a study permit is required, yu will need t allw adequate time in rder t have it prcessed. There is usually a fee invlved and it must be btained utside f the cuntry yu are wishing t visit. 5 P a g e