STUDENT GUIDELINES FOR LONG TERM HOMESTAY
1. Accommodation
Room: A private room for each student, room size minimum 8 ft x
10 ft with a window to an exterior wall, closet, fire exit and smoke detector. A Student may request a telephone jack for a telephone and installation of the internet. Adequate heat, light and ventilation will be provided.
Furniture: Bed & bedding, dresser, desk with chair, desk lamp, wastebasket, laundry hamper and a closet.
Bathroom: Easy access with a locking door.
Laundry: Facilities available to the student.
Meals: Breakfast: Self-serve milk, cereal, toast, eggs etc.
Lunch: Packed lunch for school
Dinner: Nutritious hot meal with Family.
An evening meal will be prepared and left if the family is occasionally not home or if the student arrives home late from school. This applies to Students over 12 years of age.
Snacks: Will be available when desired.
Weekends: Flexible to both parties. If the Family will not be home for a meal, a prepared meal will be left for the student to eat. As well, the Student may go out with friends and dine outside of the home, always informing the family when he/she will not be home.
Activities: The Family will make every effort to include the Student in the Family’s activities and the Student is encouraged to participate in order to improve their English level and enjoy their homestay experience. The Student will pay for any extra activity not involving the Family.
RATES - Samantha Daniels Consulting will provide you with your rate :
Placement Fee: A fee is payable by the student to Samantha Daniels Consulting in advance, to secure a homestay family. SDC will provide support to the student and parents/Custodian to ensure a successful homestay experience. Placements are guaranteed for three months. Contact SDC regarding the current placement fee.
Homestay Fees: Monthly homestay fees range from $950 - $1200 per month for a Canadian homestay and are dependant on the age and independence level of the student (adults, high school or middle school students) and the requested requirements made by the student or their parents Please inquire regarding other homestay rates. (We have Korean, Japanese, Chinese, German, French and Spanish speaking host families) The first months’ homestay fee will be collected from the student or their agent and then paid by Samantha Daniels Consulting to the Host family. Thereafter, the student may pay the host family UNLESS the student or their parents request assistance in handling the monthly payments to the host family. Driving the student to and from school, music lessons, swimming, tutoring, etc. can be negotiated and the fees are dependent on the amount of driving required. Most families are willing to assist the student in attending their various activities. HOMESTAY FEES MUST BE PAID ON TIME – A $15.00 per day late fee can be charged to students who do not pay their homestay fees when due.
Security Deposit: The student may be required to pay a deposit of ½ of their monthly homestay fee which is held by Samantha Daniels Consulting to cover any careless or intentional damage to the homestay family property and any outstanding internet bills or long distance charges. This sum is returned to the student once they have given one month’s notice to vacate the homestay family home and paid any outstanding bills. Refunds are at semester end.
Airport Pickup: Airport Greeting can be arranged for a fee.
Homestay policies and guidelines are subject to change without prior notice.
FEES A bank draft can be sent directly to the company in Canada at the above address or CAN BE WIRED directly to the bank account for
Samantha Daniels Consulting INC at
TD Canada Trust, Como Lake Shopping Centre, 1980C Como Lake Avenue,
Coquitlam, British Columbia V3J 3R3 Bank Number 004, Transit Number 90760, Account Number 5216870 Routing Code No. TDOMCATTTOR
Please specify the name of the student on the bank draft. |Please do not use “direct deposit”. Please do not wire the funds to the School District.
CUSTODIAN:
All students are required to have an English speaking Canadian Custodian, age 25 years or older who will provide a Custodianship form to their particular School District. The Custodian’s role is very important. They are often responsible for assisting the student, communicating with the homestay coordinator and homestay family, and the student’s parents, sometimes discussions with teachers as well as the International Education Department of their particular school district. As well, the custodian can assist with renewing the student’s Student Visa through Citizenship & Immigration, assisting them with their banking needs and arranging medical appointments which may be necessary. Notarized forms will be obtained by the custodian from the parents and the custodian will provide a notarized form to the parents. The fee for this service can be discussed with Samantha Daniels Consulting. We recommend the Custodian be separate from the homestay family in order to act as an advocate for the student and to communicate as an intermediary with the homestay family to ensure a successful transition for the student. Should the student decide to change homestays they will not have to deal with changing their custodian.
Samantha Daniels Consulting will require an executed copy of each of the Custodianship Forms to provide to the host family.
2. Expectations of Homestay Students:
As a Homestay student, it is important that you do the following.
Orientation When you first move into your homestay, unpack your belongings and get yourself organized. Familiarize yourself with your new home after unpacking and ask your homestay parents to show you where things are kept in the kitchen and bathroom. It is also wise to ask your Homestay Family to take you for a walk in your new neighbourhood pointing out the differences in the houses, where the bus stops are and the outside appearance of your home to familiarize you with your new neighbourhood.
Safety The Family should know where you are at all times. Therefore, the Student should always ask permission the day before if they will be absent for a meal and give the Family the name, phone number and address of where they will be. Always phone the Family if you will be later than the time arranged so the Family does not worry.
Emergencies Obtain your Homestay Family’s name, address and contact phone numbers to carry with you at all times. Also, always provide your Family with your friend’s names and telephone numbers.
Family Absences If the Family will be away from home during your stay, the Family will make arrangements to ensure a responsible adult is left in charge to perform the expectations in this document. The Homestay Coordinator must be advised.
Communication The Student must contact the HomeStay Coordinator immediately if difficulties arise. The Coordinator will work with the Student, the Student’s Custodian and the Family to resolve any issues that may arise.
Chores/Duties: As a homestay Student you are responsible to keep your bedroom clean, wash your laundry weekly and to share in general chores shared by Family members (for example, setting the dinner table, clean-up after eating). A Host family is not your maid.
Bedtime You will be expected to follow the Canadian custom to go to bed and turn your lights out when the Family goes to sleep. This is usually 10:00 or 11:00 pm. Going to bed reasonably early will help you be successful in getting up in the morning and prevent you from being too tired for school.
School In Canada, children are expected to attend all classes at school on
Attendance time, each day, unless they are sick. If you are sick, the school counsellor must be contacted and notified you will be absent. If the school is not contacted by the Host Family the school will contact the Host Family to ask where you are.
Friends Always ask your Homestay Family for permission before you bring a friend over for a visit. This is good manners. Although your Family may wish to provide food for your friend, they may not have enough food prepared if you do not ask permission. As well, you should provide your Homestay Family with your friend’s name, address and phone numbers so they can contact you in the case of an emergency.
Toiletries The Student is responsible for supplying their personal items such as shampoo/ toothbrush/toothpaste/specialty soaps and cosmetics.
Telephone The family telephone is not to be used by yourself or your friends on a regular basis. It is preferable that the student have his/her own private cell phone which they are responsible for.
Internet If the student wishes to use a computer they are expected to have their own computer and if they wish internet service, most host families have either wireless or wired internet in their home and this is included in the homestay rate. However, you are not allowed to download movies and use up all the band width for the homestay as there will be an additional charge.
3. Expectations of Host Family:
· Maintain contact with the Student’s Custodian if there are any problems. Refer any attendance or academic problems to the Student’s Custodian.
· Advise the student how to walk to school or provide a bus schedule for travel to/from school, teaching student how to take the bus to ensure the student attends school on time.
· The Custodian or Homestay Family is to monitor the Student’s academic performance by reviewing report cards and attending parent/teacher interviews, if needed. The Homestay Family will assist the Custodian should the school contact the Homestay Family directly.
· Sleepovers should be permitted on weekends only and only after permission is obtained by the Student and confirming phone calls between both families have taken place.
· Obtain names and telephone numbers of the Student’s friends and take an interest in their activities.
· Provide the student with a key to the house.
· Speak only English when the Student is present, and encourage the student to also speak only English in your family's presence
· Assist the Student in obtaining a Canadian doctor or dentist they feel comfortable with. Your Homestay Coordinator may provide you with a list of referrals, if needed.
· Respect religious/non-religious beliefs and practices of student.
· Invite the student to join in family activities to help your student to adjust to Canadian culture.
· Maintain the Homestay fee at the rate agreed as noted above.
· Treat the student with respect and tolerance.
· Contact the Homestay Coordinator if difficulties arise and work with the Coordinator and Custodian towards resolving problem issues
· Inform the Homestay Coordinator if they or the student plan to be away from the home during the student's Homestay period, or if their family numbers change
· Ensure that all family members refrain from physical demonstrations of affection towards, or intimate conversations with the student.
3. Rent Payment
Rent period is usually from the first to the last calendar day of each month. Rent is due on the first day of the month. A daily rate of $30-$35 may be charged for a portion of a month (e.g. - when a student enters or leaves the Homestay program mid-month). During vacation times, students are expected to pay 50% of their nightly Homestay rent if they will be away for two weeks or more in one month, and if their room and belongings are being held for them. PLEASE PAY YOUR HOMESTAY FEES ON TIME – A $15.00 per day late fee can be charged to students who do not pay on time. See Vacation below
4. Moving
It is preferable that students do not move during the school term. However, if the student does decide to move, he/she must give one month’s notice in advance of the move, including the reason for moving. The notice must be given to the Homestay Co-ordinator and the Host Family (although the Homestay Co-ordinator can advise the host family). Should less than one month’s notice be given, the Student will be required to pay a security deposit of ½ month’s rent prior to the Homestay Co-ordinator securing a new host family. See Cancellation below.
5. Vacation
Some students return home during school breaks. Students may pay 50% of the nightly Homestay fees for the nights they are away if away two (2) weeks or more in one month and if their room and belongings are held for them in the home. If the Homestay Family will be away from the home on vacation, the Homestay Coordinator must be advised. Arrangements should be made to ensure a responsible adult, with a criminal record check completed, and agreed to by the Homestay Coordinator is left in charge.
6. House Rules
We recommend to the host family that house rules be written clearly, discussed with and given to the student in order to ensure a mutual understanding of meal times, bedtimes, laundry schedules, deadline times for incoming phone calls in the evening, time limits for bathroom use, room housekeeping and other household chores shared by the family. Consequences in advance for non-compliance should be discussed with the Custodian and the student.