Te Puke High School. International Student Programme. Host Family. Information & Guidelines

Transcription

1 Te Puke High School International Student Programme Host Family Information & Guidelines 2016

2 Introduction Thank you for considering hosting one of our international students. Te Puke High School accepts students with a range in age from 13 to 18 years (Year 9 to 13) who generally come to study in New Zealand because their parents have decided that an English language education will be an advantage to them in later life and to experience the NZ culture and environment. We accept students from many countries around the world including Germany, Brazil, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, etc. International students accepted by Te Puke High School are tested on arrival to determine their level of conversational English. While at Te Puke High School international students receive language support and pastoral care assistance to help in adjustment to life in New Zealand, which can be very different to life in their own countries. Te Puke High School has an International Student Department which employs an International Student Manager and an International Homestay Manager who are responsible for all aspects of administration and care concerning international students. The Department liaises closely with homestay parents and students to ensure that both homestay parents and students are given adequate support. The school is required to meet The Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students standards which includes a number of guidelines, one of which is visiting the homestay family twice a year. At least twice during the year the High School will host a homestay evening for those who have chosen to be homestay parents where training and support is given. Te Puke High School is a signatory to the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. New Zealand Ministry of Education s publication Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of International Students sets out the minimum requirements for hosting International Students. (Available on the Ministry of Education s website). This agreement summarises what Te Puke High School requires of host families and also sets out the on-going support provided for host families and their International Students.

3 Homestay / Caregiver Role Check List To Provide appropriate care, supervision and to care for the day-today well-being of the student respecting individual cultural, spiritual and emotional needs To treat an international student as a member of the family and not as a boarder paying for a room ie to care for your student as you would your own child To provide the student with their own bedroom - a warm, comfortable single room with study facilities, including desk, chair and adequate lighting and heating To provide three meals a day (including any takeaways or meals out at the parents expense) and access to snacks To be within walking distance or close to the school bus route for ease of access to Te Puke High School To encourage your student to participate in your family s activities, including chores, family events, sports and family holidays To know where your student is at all times, with whom and to set reasonable rules and curfews at weekends and times to be home after school If travelling by car, it must be in an approved car with a fully licenced approved driver not another student! Recognise the important modelling role the homestay parent/s have for the student, and reflect this in their actions To provide internet broadband access and negotiate reasonable access for internet use To discuss rules and expectations with the student don t assume anything! To organise transport arrangements to and from school To support Te Puke High School in its efforts to provide a safe, secure, happy and educationally valuable experience for all students. To attend parent evenings and international functions

4 Transport Homestay families are responsible for showing their student how to get to and from Te Puke High School. The homestay parent should accompany the child on his/her first day. It may be necessary to accompany the student for the first few days or a week if the student is unsure about how to get to school. Students should not be expected to walk to Te Puke High School alone and should not be given a bicycle to ride until they are familiar with the NZ Road Rules. If there are any issues then please contact the International Department. Heating International students will feel the cold and adequate heating must be provided. Please ask them if they are warm enough and give them more blankets if necessary. Sometimes, depending on the culture of the student, they need to be shown where to sleep in the bed (ie between the sheets). Contact with Parents It s a good idea to make contact with your homestay student s parents. A letter/ introducing yourself and family members and some regular contact about the child throughout the year would be greatly appreciated by the parents. Communication & Internet International students must have access to the internet and should have regular communication with their families. It is desirable that they be permitted one phone call a week and/or and internet access where possible. Payment for phone calls will be by the students the best option for this is a phone calling card if homestays can assist students to arrange this, that would be appreciated. If you have any concerns about your student having too much contact with home and it is preventing them from settling here then please contact the International Department. Homework It is the homestay carer s responsibility to help international students with their homework if required.

5 Holidays & Weekends Away Permitted Travel is with homestay parent/s, natural parent/s, an approved tour company or an organised school trip. International students must fill in a Holiday Trip form and return it to the International Student Department prior to any travel arrangements being finalised. Homestay Parents must confirm any weekend or holiday travel plans which involve any absence from their home/place of residence with the International Student Manager or the International Homestay Manager. It is essential that Te Puke High School has a contact address for this period. Trips & Adventure Activities Approved travel company's organise tours throughout the North and South Island. If your student would like information on these organised tours they can come to the International Student Office. All adventure activities eg bungy jumping or skydiving must have written permission from the students natural parent/s and be signed off by the Director of International Students. Application Process & Homestay Agreement To apply to become a Homestay Family, you must complete an Application Form, Police Vet Check Form and Family Referee form (see back page for details on how to get these). Once you have returned these to the International Department they will be actioned, a police vet check processed and then a homestay visit will be arranged. This is an opportunity to visit your home and discuss any issues that may arise. Once all these requirements have been met and you have been accepted as a homestay family, you will be placed on the homestay family database to wait for a suitable international student to become available. When a suitable student is available for placement, you will be contacted. An International Student Homestay Provider Agreement between the host family and Te Puke High School must be signed before a student can be placed with the family. This outlines expectations of all parties.

6 Student Care & Safety It is the homestay carer s responsibility to care for the international student in a way that ensures they are kept safe from harm and their emotional well-being is nurtured. Homestay families are responsible for their student for the duration of their stay, including school holidays. At all times, it is the homestay carers responsibility to know where their student is, how they can be contacted and who they are spending their time with and how they will travel to/from home safely. A mobile phone number is not adequate as an only means of contact for a student. Homestay carers need to have a physical address for the student s whereabouts. If a student is staying at a friend s place overnight, contact should be made with the host parents beforehand, and homestay carers should consider visiting the host home if at all possible. When your student goes out, please ensure that he/she is carrying their Emergency ID card with the telephone numbers and addresses of both the school and the homestay. Students should have a regular phone card to use in New Zealand telephone boxes. Students must not be left alone in the house overnight for any reason. If this is inconvenient because of an emergency please contact the International Student Department at Te Puke High School or make an arrangement with another homestay family. Medical Insurance All students will have their own medical insurance policy. They will be supplied with an emergency contact number which you may like to take a copy of. For normal doctor s visits students must pay first, keep all original receipts and then make a claim from the Insurance Company. In case of emergency please first call the International Student Manager.

7 Homestay Fees The rate paid to the host family for 2016 is $250 per week. This will be paid weekly in advance by automatic payment to a bank account nominated by the host family which must be in the name of the host family. The responsibility for ensuring payment lies with Te Puke High School. If a student is away travelling for longer than 10 days, the homestay payment will stop during this period. Student Behaviour Homestay carers should expect the same standard of behaviour as would be expected from their own children of a similar age, but make allowances for cultural differences. Host Families will not be expected to comply with any unreasonable requests. If you have any concerns whatsoever, please contact the International Office sooner rather than later. Absolutely NO Alcohol, smoking, drugs, sex, intimate relationships or driving while in NZ Changing Homestays Occasionally the need arises for a student to change homestays due to a number of circumstances. Students may never change homestays without the knowledge of the school and if a change has to be made as much notice as possible will be given. If a student is to be moved the homestay and/or student will be advised of the reason. Language Your student will probably be unfamiliar with New Zealand accents (even if he/she has good English) and colloquial expressions and may take time to adjust. Your student would really appreciate it if you attempt to learn some basic greetings in his/her language. Learning a few phrases of his/her language helps to show respect for their culture and may help them feel more welcome and cared for. Chores Your student should not be expected to do a lot of chores, but should be asked to tidy his/her room and participate in family chores such as setting the table and doing the dishes. The student should be treated as part of the family with the same responsibilities.

8 Where to From Here.. If you have read this information booklet and have any further questions, would like more information or would like to apply to be a host family of one of our International fee-paying students please contact Rebecca Wichmann by: homestay@tepuke.school.nz Phone or Text: Phone: International Department on Extn 296 A Homestay Family Application Pack is what you will need to apply to become a host family this includes an Application Form, Police Vet Forms and Referee Forms. These will need to be completed and returned (by post or ) to the International Student Department. Te Puke High School International Student Team Contact Information Jane Thomas International Student Manager Phone : Extn jane.thomas@tepuke.school.nz Rebecca Wichmann Homestay Manager Cellphone: homestay@tepuke.school.nz rebecca.wichmann@tepuke.school.nz TE PUKE HIGH SCHOOL PO Box 344, Te Puke 3153, NEW ZEALAND T: (07) F: (07) E: tphs@tepuke.school.nz W: Principal: A R Liddle MSc (Hons), MEdM (Hons), Dip Tchg