One for One Exchange Information Meeting
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Highland Seconday ~ Multi Purpose Room
6:30 pm ~ 8:30 pm
DaysHoursMinutesSecondsInformation Meeting
About
The Comox Valley International Student Program offers ‘One for One’ (reciprocal exchange) opportunities to grade 9-12 students. It is your opportunity to study abroad during high school and receive graduation credits at the same time. The One for One Exchange Program began in 2007 and has had students from Comox Valley Schools study abroad every year since.
How it Works
- You apply to the Comox Valley International Student Program to study abroad for 1 semester or 1 school year (Application 1)
- Your parents apply to host your reciprical exchange partner (Application 2)
- International students from sister schools apply to the Comox Valley International Student Program
- You are matched with an international student from a foreign country
- You live in the international student’s home and the international student lives in your home
There is lots of planning that goes into the One for One Exchange and the Comox Valley International Student Program supports you through the entire process.
France
- Attend College Lycee prive Saint Joseph, in La Pommeraye, France; Or attend Mongazon, in Angers, France
- 1.5 hours from Angers, France / 3 hours from Paris, France
- Focus on French language and cultural experience
- Live with a French speaking homestay family with your own bedroom
- Two week vacations in October, December, February and April.
- 1 semester (first or second) and full year study periods
- Arrival airport is Nantes Atlantique Airport
Germany
“My exchange to Berlin has been action packed and full of new experiences. I learned so many new things about Germany. Experiencing a culture first hand presents new challenges, but it also brought new and crazy experiences into my life. I am very glad that I was able to learn about Germany in a way that is true and authentic and create new memories that will last forever!”
Japan
- Attend Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School
- Stay with a homestay family or in the schools dorms
- Population 1 million in Sendai
- Capital city of Miyagi Prefecture (Northern Japan) and know as “the city of trees”
- Access to entire country through world renown bullet train system
Spain
- Attend Instituto Pintor Antonio Lopez, in Tres Cantos, Spain, just 20 minutes north of Madrid.
- New student orientation in Madrid with international students from around the world
- Focus on Spanish language and cultural experience
- Live with a Spanish speaking homestay family with your own bedroom
- 1 semester (first or second) and full year study periods
- Arrival airport is Madrid-Barajas Airport
Application Process
Students apply online here while Parents apply online to Host here. Both applicaitons are required by December annually to allow time for program staff to match sucessful applicants with an overseas exchange partner in the following school year. Prepare the following documents before starting the online application.
Student
- Letter of Reference – from a teacher, principal or vice principal
- Letter of Reference – from a community member (non-family)
- Passport – colour copy of your passport photo page
- Letter of Intent – explain why you wish to study abroad and your long term goals
- Outbound Student Agreement – signed by student and parent
Parent
- References – have a reference letter from a non-family member ready for upload in PDF format (5mb or less). A phone number for a second character reference is also required.
- Photos – have a JPEG (5mb or less) image ready of the outside of your home, the student room, and your family.
Parents will also need to provide the following:
- Exchange Host Agreement – will be sent to parents for signing after applicaion is received
- Driver’s Abstracts – driving records, also called a driver’s abstract, are required for all household members who will drive the exchange partner student. Email abstracts to international@sd71.bc.ca.
- Criminal Record Checks – a current criminal record check for all household members age 19 and older. This includes any adult who subsequently takes up residence in your household.To obtain your CRC and submit it to the CVISP follow these steps:
- Go to the BC Government Ministry of Justice website https://justice.gov.bc.ca/criminalrecordcheck
- Read the instructions provided at this website
- Enter the access code 3PMYSBDFL2 where prompted
- Enter the characters shown and requested
- Click “Request a New Criminal Record Check” if you have never requested one before, or click “Share the result of a Completed Criminal Record Check” if you have requested one before.
- Your CRC will then be automatically sent to a CVISP program worker for processing.
**Should you be asked to have a more in depth check completed, including fingerprints, you will need to complete this process at your own cost.
Exchange Fee
The One for One Exchange Program administrative fee is $1500. It includes:
- information and orientation meetings
- private meeting with each family
- processing of all paperwork required by sister schools and/or partners
- processing letters of reference
- provision of documents required for Visa processing
- medical insurance support (monthly cost borne by student)
- sister school relationship through annual visit and student check in by CVISP staff
- analysis of school work and awarding of appropriate equivalency credit upon return to Comox Valley Schools
- pickup at local airport
- room and board with your host family
