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In This Issue:Advisors’ Angle: Winter Holidays. . . . . . . . . . 3

Introducing: Student Advisor Alena Stewart. . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Keeping Up with NODPrograms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Students Share HolidayPhotos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Tidbits: Super Bowl Fun Facts . . . .4

nod vOICESSt. Paul Preparatory School (SPP) students are teaming up with another local high school and community members to knit for a cause.

SPP’s new Knitting Club is teaming up with Washburn High School’s Knitting Club and the St. Paul, Minn. organization Closely Knit to come together, learn to knit, and donate hats, mittens, and scarves to organizations that distribute warm clothes to homeless people.

SPP students meet every Monday after school with local knitting mentors. Washburn students meet at their school during the week. The two clubs remain in contact as they work toward their common goal of donating winter items to the homeless.

The club’s first meeting attracted only two students, but by the very next meeting, there were five students and three mentors. Club organizers expect it to grow as school starts again after break.

The club has also applied for a grant to help cover costs of materials. For now, materials are donated by members and the SPP community.

KNITTING FOR A CAUSE AT SPP

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Board of DirectorsDr. Frank Tarsitano, PhD – ChairmanMr. Steve Murphy – SecretaryMs. Alice Murphy – TreasurerMr. Gerard AvundoMr. Arnold Franco Mr. Francois Jean HucMs. Hilda Jaffe

Senior Management TeamDr. Frank Tarsitano, PhD – CEO & PresidentMr. Richard Banasikowski, MA – Vice President Mr. Jean Burdin – President, Nacel InternationalMr. Roy S. Nilsson – CFO

Advisory BoardMr. Jean Burdin – President, Nacel InternationalMr. Pierre Coudry – Interclass BrazilMs. Toni Cowles – Retired, Lauder Institute at the Wharton School, UPENNMr. Jaeho Eohm – International Language Forum, KoreaDr. Abraham Ho, DA – Nacel AsiaMs. Marie Jose Huc – CLC

NACEL OPEN DOOR EXECUTIVES

This newsletter is a publication of Nacel Open Door, Inc. For more information on NOD programs and opportunities, please call 800-622-3553, or visit our website at www.nacelopendoor.org.

Newsletter Production Staff: Director of Operations: Rae LenwayDirector of Marketing & Communications: Shannon RauschMarketing Communications Assistant: Karina Rajtar

Nacel Open Door, Inc. (NOD) offers multiple programs

in the United States and abroad to meet a variety of cultural and academic goals for all students.

These programs range in duration from one week to multiple years. The focus of some programs is a complete cultural immersion and exchange, while others are focused more on college preparation.

KEEPING UP WITH NOD PROGRAMSNacel Open Door long-term programs are welcoming new students arriving for the second semester of the academic year. NOD staff hope students and Host Families are adjusting well and that 10-month students enjoyed the holiday season in the United States!

Short Term Program staff are preparing for summer programs, focusing on trying to find placements faster than in years past. NOD is looking forward to a good summer program.

SPP has been bustling with activity as students and staff move into the New Year. Students have been embracing opportunities to visit local city attractions on SPP Nights Out, activities that are planned and chaperoned by SPP staff. Students also continue to get involved in the local community through volunteering in a wide variety of contexts. One example is the new Knitting Club, explained on the previous page.

The school has been furthering college readiness efforts by offering an additional after school program designed to encourage and support students to succeed academically both now and in their college career.

SPP is also proud to announce that Christoph Grunau represented his home country of Germany at the World Youth Chess Championship 2013 in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

St. Paul Preparatory School (SPP)

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Winter holidays are a special time for many American families. It is a wonderful chance for students to be introduced to many American traditions. American families have a wide range of cultural backgrounds and beliefs, so each family may have their own special winter traditions. Encourage students to be involved with their Host Families especially at this time of year.

Students may be surprised at how different each family’s holiday celebrations can be! Some foods and traditions may be new to students, some may be familiar or expected. Trying new things and staying busy can help students manage homesickness.

Similarly, encourage students to think of a favorite winter food or activity to share with their Host Family. Trying a traditional winter or holiday food from a student’s culture helps the family understand their student’s culture and can make the student feel at home.

Although it may be tempting for friends or natural relatives to visit students during their vacation, it’s very important that students spend the holidays with their Host Families. It’s a great way for them to experience culture and bond with their family. Visits from friends or natural family at this time of year can lead to greater struggles with home-sickness and adjustment in the new year.

Students may have questions about what is expected of them during the holidays or school vacations, so remind them to clarify this with their Host Families. They can ask about the family’s plans and what the student’s role will be in family chores or activities during that time. Talking openly about expectations before a big event can help prevent misunderstandings. As always, the Advising Department welcomes any questions or concerns that students or Host Families have about their experiences. We wish you all a joyous holiday season! Feel free to contact us by email at advising@nacelopendoor.org.

ADvISORS’ ANGlE: WINTER HOlIDAYS

MEMORIES

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Nacel Open Door National Office 380 Jackson Street, Suite 200

St. Paul, MN 55101 USA

T: 651-686-0080800-622-3553

F: 651-686-9601www.nacelopendoor.orginfo@nacelopendoor.org

www.facebook.com/NacelOpenDoorInc

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U.S. TIDBITS INTRODUCING...Alena Stewart: International Student Advisor

Alena Stewart has a unique privilege few National Office

staff members have - she gets to interact directly with students and Host Families on a regular basis.

“Getting to know international students and their Host Families is a big highlight of my day,” she says.

As an International Student Advisor for the Academic Year Program, Private School Program, and St. Paul Preparatory School, Alena works with students, Host Families, Foreign Partners, and Local Reps to help build relationships, resolve conflicts and misunderstandings, and guide students’ academic progress.

Alena earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations/Comparative

Religion from the University of British Columbia in Canada. After college, she spent two years living in Turkmenistan as a Peace Corps Volunteer. She worked in youth leadership and educational development. Alena helped students prepare for college entrance exams, scholarships, and exchange programs; and she led summer camps, after- school groups, and leadership activities with students. In addition, she helped set up an English Language Resource Centre for the school, worked with teachers to design materials and lessons that incorporated new teaching methodology, and co-wrote a book based on a Turkmen folk legend.

Alena has been both a host daughter as well as a host sister, giving her useful experience in talking with NOD students, Host Families, and Local Representatives.

Alena can be reached by email at astewart@nacelopendoor.org or at ext. 626.

AMERICAN FUN FACTS

• The 48th annual Super Bowl, the championship football game in the U.S., will be played Sunday, February 2, 2014. It is the 2nd most watched sporting event in the world (after the Soccer Champions League Final).

• Because so many people watch the Super Bowl each year, one 30-second commer-cial aired during the game costs more than $2,800,000.

• Americans eat an average of 1.23 billion chicken wings each Super Bowl Sunday. That would fill about 1,083,333 football fields.

• A standard NFL (National Football League) football weighs between 14-15 ounces.

• Americans watching the Super Bowl eat enough popcorn to fill 4,193,103 footballs.

• 9 of the 10 most watched American television programs of all time were Super Bowl games.

• On average, 48 million Americans order take-out or delivery instead of cooking on Super Bowl Sunday.