Saskatchewan-Quebec Six-Month Exchange Program 2006-2007

Through an agreement with the Saskatchewan and Quebec Departments of Education, Saskatchewan grade 11 students are invited to participate in a Saskatchewan-Quebec six month student exchange program (3 months in Saskatchewan and 3 months in Quebec). Similar exchange programs exist between Quebec and six other provinces in Canada.

The 2005-2006 exchange is presently taking place with the participation of 26 students from 18 school divisions and 19 schools.

In order that schools may participate in the program, the Request to Participate form must be completed and returned to the Official Minority Language Office no later than January 31, 2006.

Student application is invited from grade 10 Core French, Immersion and Francophone students. The student exchange will then occur in grade 11. Core French and Immersion students will be twinned on a French-English linguistic basis and francophone students will be twinned on a reciprocal language basis.

Description of the program

This is a reciprocal exchange program. Quebec students live with Saskatchewan families for three months and attend Saskatchewan high schools. Later in the year, students from Saskatchewan live with Quebec families for three months and attend Quebec high schools.

The program is available to Saskatchewan high school students who will be in grade eleven during the exchange year, and are currently studying the French language. Application to participate is made in grade ten and participation will occur in grade eleven.

1.  Objectives of the Program

The program is designed to give the participating students an opportunity to:

• Improve their knowledge of the French language;
• Learn about the French Canadian culture;
• Experience a new school system;
• Experience personal growth in social skills, independence, etc.

2.   General Time-Line of the Program

• Quebec students arrive in Saskatchewan at the beginning of September;
• Quebec students leave Saskatchewan at the end of November or at the beginning of December;
• Saskatchewan students depart for Quebec in late January;
• Saskatchewan students return to Saskatchewan in late April.

3.  Participation

Students who satisfy the criteria may apply for participation provided that:

• The school agrees to participate in the program;
• Students are prepared to make a suitable commitment to the program; and
• Their parents or guardians give their consent.

4.   Criteria for the Selection of Students

• Consent of the school division, the school and the parents or guardians;
• Interest and firm intention on the part of the student and his/her family;
• Ability of the home to provide the incoming exchange student with suitable accommodations and family life;
• A fully satisfactory or superior academic record and suitable participation in and contribution to school life;
• Students must be able to organize their time-table for a three-month absence; and
• Personal qualities which include:
• motivation;
• maturity and sense of responsibility;
• good health;
• sense of humour;
• adaptability;
• openness to another culture.

5. Costs

Saskatchewan Learning will assist with travelling expenses to and from Quebec. The maximum cost to the parents for the air fare ticket will be $300. There should be no additional school expenses in Quebec.

If a participating student insists on returning home before the end of the exchange period, for a reason unacceptable to Saskatchewan Learning (i.e. homesickness, inability to adapt, alcoholic beverages or other intoxicants, or difficulty with the law), the parents will be responsible for any additional travel costs.

Note: Students are responsible for their own spending money during their stay in Quebec.

6. Deadline for Submission of Application

Completed application forms and interview schedules must be submitted to Saskatchewan Learning by March 1st, 2006.

Information for School Divisions: The Saskatchewan-Quebec Exchange Program

1. Saskatchewan Students cannot participate in this program without the consent and approval of the school authorities. The signature of the principal and a program liaison teacher is required on the application form.


2. A school which chooses to participate in this program agrees to:
• Appoint a member of the teaching staff, who is fluent in French, to be the Saskatchewan Liaison Teacher (this individual is usually, but not necessarily, the teacher of French);
• Accept Quebec exchange students within the school for the three month exchange period and to waive school textbook rental fees and other school costs for these students;
• Provide whatever special counselling or assistance the Quebec student may require to adjust to the new school;
• Release the Saskatchewan Liaison Teacher for one day for the mid-term evaluation, all expenses to be borne by the employing School Division.


3. A teacher appointed as a Saskatchewan Liaison Teacher agrees to:
• Advise students about the program;
• Obtain application forms for use by students;
• Accept completed application forms from students;
• Conduct in-home interviews with the PARENTS of student applicants;
• Rank the student applications and send them to Saskatchewan Learning by March 1, 2005.

NOTE:

SASKATCHEWAN LEARNING RELIES HEAVILY UPON CAREFUL SELECTION 0F APPLICANTS BY THE SCHOOL.

• Provide assistance to the host families in understanding and translating information received about the Quebec student;
• Provide counselling and assistance to Quebec exchange students while they are in the school;
• Participate in the mid-term evaluation of the program.

Information for Students and Parents: The Saskatchewan-Quebec Exchange Program

1. Information for students

• Participation in this program requires a major and continuing commitment on the part of the students; (Students not certain of their interest and/or commitment should not apply for this program).
• Application does not ensure participation:
  Not all applicants will be successfully matched. More applications are received than can be used. There will be a screening process, based on the criteria listed. It is very important that application and interview forms be truthfully and carefully completed.
• Students participating in the program must be prepared to respect house rules in their host homes in Quebec in regard to such matters as curfews, smoking limitations, house chores, etc.
• Trouble with the law, especially in regard to the use of alcohol or drugs means immediate termination of the exchange and return home at parental expense.
• Saskatchewan students hosting Quebec students must give high priority to their responsibilities as hosts. If they have part-time work, they must ensure that it does not interfere unduly with this responsibility.
• The selection and matching of Saskatchewan and Quebec students usually occurs in April. After a match is proposed the Saskatchewan student and his/her family are advised of it and are given information about the Quebec student. They are then asked to accept or not accept the match.
• When the proposed match bas been accepted by both sets of students and parents, the two students are expected to contact each other by telephone or letter as soon as convenient after June lst of the year. Since the Quebec student comes to Saskatchewan first, the Saskatchewan student should make the first contact and assure the Quebec student that he/she will be welcomed on arrival in September.

2. Information for Parents

• Participation by a student in this program also requires a major and continuing commitment by his/her parents. It involves the hosting of a Quebec student for three months as well as the acceptance of a three-month absence of your son/daughter.
• To obtain information about the home and to assess the commitment of students and parents, an in-home interview will be conducted by the school liaison teacher.
• It is essential that every member of the family be receptive to the exchange student and be willing to contribute to the success of the exchange.
• There must be space in the home for another adolescent. A separate bedroom is not essential but may be desirable. A separate bed is essential.
• Parents will be requested to meet incoming Quebec students in Regina or Saskatoon and to return them to these points for their departure to Quebec.
• It is hoped that Saskatchewan host families will provide suitable cultural and recreational experiences to Quebec exchange students. This might include some travel within the province. There are no minimum expectations here and individual families should plan to do only what they might wish to do.