Program Contract/Policies

SENDING

I. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1. To show responsibility throughout the school year in both school and community activities. Students who violate school policies or who demonstrate irresponsible behavior in the course of the school year (whether or not this occurs during a TIE-sponsored activity) may be withdrawn from the TIE program.

2. To maintain good attendance, a passing grade (C) in all courses and a 2.5 GPA.

3. To be enrolled for credit at the required level in the required world language of the country to be visited.

4. To attend all orientation sessions. Parents are required to attend the initial, final orientations as well as the Welcome and Farewell Socials. Students will be given the dates of the meetings well in advance, and failure to attend for reasons other than a medical emergency will result in the student's being put on probation. Students will be withdrawn from the program for a second absence.

5. To prepare in a timely fashion an American project about some aspect of life or culture in Vermont or the United States. The project must be presented for approval at the specified time at SBHS and subsequently presented several times to classes or groups in the host country.

6. To report punctually to ALL meetings and activities (i.e. project completion and presentation) at SBHS and in the foreign country and to attend and to participate in classes at the foreign school.

7. To follow the policies of both the foreign school and the foreign host family. Note that students will be required to dress more formally than is the case at SBHS.

II. POLICIES

1. General Conduct

The TIE program allows South Burlington students to experience the foreign country both in school and in non-school settings. In contrast to most SBHS field trips, the students often are not under the direct supervision of the faculty chaperone(s). During the homestay experience, for example, foreign host parents assume responsibility for monitoring appropriate behavior. This includes expectations for student conduct outside the home where students will be with peers in unchaperoned situations, i.e. while shopping, meeting with friends, or exploring the host city. Thus the program requires that student participants be able to conduct themselves appropriately, with or without adult supervision, and that parents are confident of their son's/daughter's ability to do so. The TIE Coordinator, SBHS principal and trip chaperones reserve the right to terminate any student's participation in the program should s/he ignore a reasonable directive by the chaperone(s), coordinator or principal or should the student's behavior cause significant problems for the chaperones or for the program.

2. Housing

Students live with host families while attending our partner schools. They are expected to abide by the rules and expectations of that family. It is particularly important that they keep their families informed about their plans and whereabouts. If traveling and staying in hotels or youth hostels, students must remain in their assigned rooms after curfew.

3. Personal Expectations

Students are required to dress appropriately for various occasions; these will be discussed by the trip chaperones. Substantially altering one's appearance, e.g. body piercing, tattoos, hair dying, etc., is not permitted while abroad and may lead to a student's being returned to Vermont. Also, headphones and their associated electronic devices may not be used while on group tours or during the school day at the host school.

4. Alcohol

At no time do the representatives of South Burlington High School advocate the consumption of alcohol. Students may not consume alcohol while in transit to or from the host country or during any South Burlington field trip within the country. If they do so, they will be subject to the consequences as outlined in the School District Drug and Alcohol Policy and will be sent back to the U.S.

In France, Spain & Germany consumption of alcohol is legal among teenagers and trip chaperones are not in a position to monitor student behavior when students are not together as a group. Parents should note that students will often be away from the school group in the company of their host families and/or peers. Students will be expected to conduct themselves in a responsible manner. If they choose to consume alcohol in the company of their host families, they must do so in moderation.. Parents of TIE student participants must feel confident that their son/daughter has the maturity to abide by parental expectations, the expectations of SBHS and the foreign school, and those of the host families.

5. Other Drugs

The possession, purchase, sale or use of other drugs including marijuana at any time during the exchange program here or abroad is strictly prohibited. Students involved in the possession, purchase, sale or use of other drugs or drug paraphernalia at any time during the program will be withdrawn from the program and returned home.

6. Automobiles, Motorbikes, or Motor Scooters

Students may not operate an automobile or other motorized vehicles including mopeds or motorcycles while participating in the program abroad.

7. Withdrawal from TIE prior to departure

Students may withdraw from the program at any time. The principal or his designee may terminate a student's participation in the program if the student has failed to abide by the program requirements and policies or the student's behavior has caused significant problems. Students will be provided due process prior to any disciplinary action.

8. Required Withdrawal while abroad

Violation of the School District Drug and Alcohol Policy or the TIE program Requirements and Policies will result in disciplinary action as outlined by those policies. In cases where a student appears to have violated the policy while abroad, s/he will be given the opportunity for an informal hearing with the trip chaperone(s) who will inform the student of the charges, explain the evidence, give the student an opportunity to tell his/her side of the incident, and explain the consequences. The chaperones will decide if the student has violated TIE policy and, if so, the student's parent(s) will be notified by telephone as soon as is practical with regard to the nature of the offense and the consequences. If a student is to be sent home and the parent(s) cannot be reached, contact will be made with the alternate person listed on the emergency medical form or an appropriate school official. Students sent home will travel unaccompanied by a chaperone to an international airport in the Northeast. The parent or legal guardian accepts the liability for the safety of the student in transit and agrees to reimburse TIE for the cost of the transportation. Further disciplinary action, including but not limited to suspension and substance abuse counseling, will take place in accordance with School District policy. Students and parents should note that suspension from school also can have an impact on student participation in athletics and co-curricular activities. Also, some college applications ask if a student has ever been suspended from high school.

9. Refunds

A student who withdraws or is required to withdraw from the TIE program before departure from the United States will receive a refund equal to the money actually paid to the program less: the initial nonrefundable $500 deposit and money already committed to travel agencies, hotels, airlines, etc. which is nonrefundable to the program.. No refund will be made for participation in fundraising activities. A student who withdraws or is required to withdraw from the TIE program after departure from the United States will receive no refund.

HOSTING

I. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1. To host a foreign student unless an exception has been authorized by the TIE coordinator at the time of application.

2. To treat the foreign student as a member of the family, subject to the same opportunities and responsibilities that this implies.

3. To provide transportation to all exchange activities. Carpooling with other host families is encouraged.

4. To provide the foreign student with room and board during the exchange including, on school days, money to purchase lunch in the school cafeteria.

5. To show the foreign student our community by traveling to areas of interest, inviting the foreign student to a parent's place of employment if appropriate, and by introducing the student to neighbors and friends.

6. NO SLEEPOVERS. The hosted student must sleep at the host family’s residence every night of the exchange.

7. To attend all program activities. Parents are welcome to participate in any of the activities but specifically are required to attend the night orientation meetings. Also, families are required to welcome the foreign students at school when they arrive and to attend the farewell banquet.

8. To notify the TIE coordinator if a foreign student requires medical attention.

POLICIES

1. Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs

Throughout the hosting program, neither the South Burlington students nor the foreign students shall serve or be served alcoholic beverages. Consistent with school district policy, TIE prohibits the use/abuse of tobacco, alcohol and drugs of any form throughout the hosting program. A “violation” includes: “Any drug or alcohol related incident which occurs during the activity and includes the purchase, use, possession, being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, dealing in alcohol or other drugs and the possession of devices specifically or reasonably associated with alcohol or drug use, the refusal of a student to ‘cooperate fully’ as set forth in IV A.2 of the SBSD Policy, or any other specific drug or alcohol related action(s) that, in the best judgment of school personnel who are familiar with the student’s normal behavior, impairs the normal functioning of the student.” The hosting portion of the TIE program is considered to be an extended school field trip even when the students are not attending a TIE activity.

Violation of this policy at any time while hosting a foreign student will result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to suspension and substance abuse counseling in accordance with School District policy. Students and parents should note that suspension from school can have an impact on student participation in athletics and co-curricular activities. Violation of the policy will also result in the foreign student's being placed with an alternate family and the South Burlington student's withdrawal from the TIE program.

2. Transportation

The foreign student may not drive an automobile or other motorized vehicle while in the United States. SBHS students who have recently received their driver's license should not be permitted to transport exchange students. Students also may not undertake longer trips, i.e. to Montreal, unless their parents drive and chaperone.

3. Family Activities

If a host family plans to take the foreign student in a private aircraft or to undertake any other activity which is commonly thought to involve a greater-than-normal degree of risk, this should be made known in advance to the TIE coordinator so that the necessary permission might be obtained from the foreign students’ parents.

4. Parties

All parties and smaller gatherings involving foreign students must be restricted to TIE participants chaperoned (with parents present) homes, as all participants have agreed to abide by the TIE rules and policies.

5. Jobs

Students participating in the hosting program have an obligation to spend time with their exchange students and to participate in the hosting activities. Therefore, students who normally have a job are asked to work as little as possible while hosting and they are expected to arrange for time off with their employers well in advance of the hosting program.

6. Adult Supervision & Homes

A hosting parent must be home in the evening with the hosted and the hosting students. These foreign hosted students are to be housed in one home for the duration of their stay at SBHS.

Student Pledge

I have read and understand the TIE program requirements, policies, and conditions with regard to participation and withdrawal from the program. I agree to meet all the program requirements and to abide by the policies. Some very important policies I will abide by are:

I will attend ALL orientation meetings.
I will maintain good attendance, a grade of at least a C in all courses and a 2.5 GPA.
I will check my Outlook email often to be sure I am aware of any information pertaining to TIE.
I will complete my TIE presentation in a timely manner.
I will communicate with the TIE coordinator and/or chaperones when I have a question or concern.
I will abide by the alcohol and drug policy as outlined in this document.

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Date

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Student Signature Student name (print)

Parent/Guardian

I have read and understand the TIE program requirements, policies, and conditions with regard to my student’s participation and withdrawal from the program. I understand that the TIE coordinator will consult with school administrators, guidance personnel, and the school nurse with respect to behavioral and/or health issues related to TIE students that my student’s participation in the program may be terminated at such time as the TIE Coordinator, SBHS principal or chaperones feel that his/her behavior and/or health make further participation in the program inadvisable, that I will reimburse the exchange program for expenses incurred if it is necessary to return my student from abroad and I accept liability for his/her traveling alone.