St. John Vianney School  hosts an international program for interested students who are looking to immerse themselves in an English speaking classroom, improve their English language fluency, experience American culture, continue their academic studies and participate in faith formation activities.  We provide an environment that is nuturing and welcoming. We offer support for all our incoming students.   

Students entering the program must meet the following requirements:

Uses functional conversational English which means the student can understand and follow instructions, has the ability to communicate in written and oral forms, and follows basic English grammar conventions.

Applies organizational skills which means the student knows how to organize a student planner keeping track of daily assignments, quizzes and tests.  The student is prepared daily and completes all requirements of study satisfactorily.

Is an independent worker which means the student completes work and turns it in on time.  The student takes the initiative to ask for help when needed from a teacher, host family, or other English speaking students.  
 

SJV Directives for Exchange Students and their Host Family

The Exchange Student’s primary responsibility is to learn to be fluent in English. Activities that encourage this growth are highly recommended. Activities that inhibit this are discouraged, and you should seek the assistance of the classroom teacher and Deacon Banks. Exchange Students should become an integral part of the St. John Vianney Host family and the school community.

Family Vacations

Once the Exchange family and the Host family have been paired together, it is important that one of the first discussions be whether or not the Host family or the Exchange Student family have any family vacations planned, and how you and/or they want to handle those times. If Exchange Students are to be included in Host family vacations that have been planned far in advance, then it is up to the Exchange Student and his/her family to accept the invitation. If they accept the invitation, the cost of the trip is to be considered and the Exchange Student should pay for his/her portion of this trip. If they choose not to attend, or it is not feasible because of reservations for the Exchange Student to attend this family vacation, then arrangements will be made for the Exchange Student to stay with another member of the school community while this vacation is taking place.

Food Costs

The normal food cost is included in the stated Room and Board rate of $800.00/month [this is a set fee between the Host and Exchange Student family; any change to this amount should be approved by school prior to admittance].  Host families may not charge more than this amount unless they have discussed this with the St. John Vianney principal, and have adequate reasons for requesting additional funds.  If the family is going out to dinner, then this is part of the Room and Board. If the Exchange Student chooses to go out to dinner with a different family, or to the movies or other such entertainment as part of their own social invitations [not those of the family] then these costs are borne by the Exchange Student and his/her personal funds. 

Chores

American children often have to do chores or jobs around the home. The Exchange Student is expected to take his/her place in the family and follow the norms of the family.

Communications in Spanish

Exchange Students may have their own cell phone or other devices that connect to the internet, but they are to be in the possession of the host family and only used on a limited basis to contact home or friends at home. Communication with home or with other friends is highly discouraged, especially in the first two months.  Boundaries are required that establish and encourage the student to speak English. Exchange families are spending valuable money to have the student experience American culture and speak English– any time they speak in their native language it is detrimental to learning the language fluently.  We know it is sometimes a hard adjustment, but experience has shown us that the more they are forced to speak in English and not their own language, especially when they first arrive, the easier the transition.  Once two months have passed, depending on the Exchange Student’s involvement and communication, these restrictions can be re-evaluated.

Social Outings

Exchange Students must follow the host family’s decisions on events or activities outside of the home, just as the host family’s own children must. In addition, they are not to associate with only other Exchange Students except on a limited basis. A normal adjustment time is about two months; should an unusual disconnect continue between the Exchange Student and the Host family, you should contact the St. John Vianney principal and have a conference over the concerns. But be patient;  time heals many things. Exchange Students need to be as actively involved as possible and immediately treated as members of the family, not visiting guests.

Homework and Schoolwork

The host family is not to give more or less attention to the Exchange Student with school work than with its own children. The Exchange Student is responsible for going to the teacher or principal to get additional help if needed academically. The Host family’s own son/daughter should help at first, but after a normal ‘break-in’ period, about two months, the Exchange Student should be independent and working the same as the other children, and taking ownership of their grades.

Visits from Home

Visits from Exchange families are not permitted unless prior approval has been discussed with the school. Even Christmas and Easter, as special as they are, are not times to have visits from Exchange families. In addition, Exchange Students are not to visit with their own families on vacations, either in their homeland or in the United States, unless this has been previously discussed with the school. 

Spending Money

Exchange Students should not be spending more than what would be expected in the Host family’s own home, based on their own children’s activities and social life. Granted, if they are buying gifts for family members or souvenirs, these would be exceptions.  Exchange Students should be following the norm of the Host family and their expectations of their own children.

Athletic and Fine Art Activities

Exchange Students are very welcome to participate in the school’s extra-curricular activities. They are provided at no cost, except for certain equipment that may be needed. Programs outside of the school are a decision that the Host family and the Exchange family need to discuss. The costs of these programs are the responsibility of the Exchange family, but the travel to get to them is a great concern for some Host families. This must not put an undue burden on the Host family, and the Host family has the final decision as to whether an Exchange Student can participate in these additional programs.