HOMESTAY INFORMATIONHAMILTON BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL

Start as you mean to continue with regard to family rules and expectations.

The success of the overseas fee paying students’ programme is dependant upon the quality of the care the students receive from their homestay family. It is most important that families are hosting students for the right reasons, and that they are prepared to be as caring, tolerant and involved as the boy’s own parents would be.

However, we are here to act as a support to families, (both Homestay and off shore), and the students. As we all know, teenagers are unpredictable, thoughtless and vulnerable at times but if we all keep in contact regularly, small problems can be resolved before they become big issues!

Homestay families are paid a generous fee each week and we expect families to have unlimited wifi so that the feepaying student has unlimited access during the hours set by the school and your family.

Students are expected to pay for expenses such as bus fares, and entertainment over and above normal family outings. A retainer fee of $50 per week during mid year school holidays is payable, if the student is away during this time.

Please contact the International Centre if there are any concerns or you would like advice or guidance. Please see our contact details at the end.

HOMESTAY FAMILIES ARE TO:

• Provide the student with his own bedroom, bed, linen towels, electric blanket or heater, desk and wardrobe. Also breakfast, school lunch and dinner every day.

• Include him in family outings and occasions, and make him feel a part of the family.

• Attend to the student’s laundry and ironing.

• Take him to the doctor or hospital. All students have private medical/ travel insurance arranged through the school. Anglesea Clinic has details of our overseas students’ insurance policies in their computer, so the student will not be required to pay any money.

• Make arrangements for your student to get to/from school each day by bus, bike or car.

• Assist him to get to all school sports and activities.

• Ensure that the rules regarding no alcohol, no smoking, no drugs, no driving and no weapons, are obeyed at all times.

• Ensure he attends school every day and make sure that he has a note from his Homestay family explaining any absences. Please ring the school office 853 0440, if your student is away from school for any reason.

RULES AND REMINDERS

• Students are not to drink alcohol or kava; not permitted to smoke, or to travel in a car with a young driver. The school must be informed if these rules are breached.

• If your student wishes to visit a friend after school, or to stay away for the night, Homestay parents must confirm the suitability of these arrangements. They should also have the address and phone number of where he is. This is most important. Homestay parents must know where their student is at all times.

OUR EXPECTATIONS OF THE HOMESTAY FAMILY

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• Students are not permitted to own or drive a car. They can only travel in a car with their Homestay families or with people approved of by the Homestay. (This rule is for their own safety and must be respected by all overseas students).

• Many overseas students keep very late hours. This affects their attendance and progress at school. Please ensure that the suggested bed time of 10.30pm is adhered to.

• Many students communicate with friends and family late at night via their technology. Please ensure that our 10pm curfew is enforced. One hour of using technology for entertainment on a school day is our recommendation, as per our Student Homestay contract.

• Payment of Homestay fees will be handled by the school administration. They will be paid two weeks in advance.

• Food is an important factor in how well and how quickly an overseas student will settle. Ask him about the foods that he likes or dislikes. Encourage him to show you how to cook a favourite meal. Keep a good supply of after school snacks, such as 2 minute noodles, muesli bars, and fruit, in the pantry. There are a number of good Asian supermarkets in the city. Please try to provide a variation for lunches twice a week that may include left over meals (eg fried rice).

• The student is expected to make his bed and tidy his room each day; to put his washing out and to help with small tasks such as clearing the dinner table, or drying the dishes. If you have concerns about your student not getting up on time in the morning, or if he is leaving his room in a mess, please contact us and we will speak to him.

• Please monitor your student’s personal hygiene and ensure that he showers each day and washes his hands after going to the toilet.

• Some students experience homesickness or culture shock after being here for 3 or 4 months. This is entirely normal.

• Preparing a special meal, celebrating his birthday, going to watch his soccer/rugby game, taking him to the beach, the movies, the museum or an inexpensive activity are all little acts of kindness which will help him to feel a member of your family.

Please contact Ann Halpin if you think that your student is unhappy, withdrawn or unwell. Often they will be shy about acknowledging this, but unless we deal with his unhappiness, problems can escalate.

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Thank you so much for your willingness to take on this most important role, and please remember that we are here to support both students and their families. Our International Student Administrator Ann Halpin will be phoning and visiting our Homestay families throughout the year. If you have a concern about your student, please phone me or Ann at anytime. Tonia Heeps Ann HalpinDirector of International Students International Student Administrator

Phone 07 853 0434 Phone 07 853 0440 ext 2467Mobile 027 211 6914 Mobile 021 0270 3985

Thank you for your support.

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