FRENCH STUDENT EXCHANGE
TO THE PARENTS OF
SUNSET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
FIFTH GRADE FRENCH I.S.PROGRAM STUDENTS
Fifth Grade Student Exchange Trip to Strasbourg, France.
June 11h – June 25th, 2008
This is the cumulating school year at Sunset, in which your child may finally become involved in the French Student Exchange Program. This program had been put on hold for reasons dictated by Miami Dade County and we are very happy to offer it to Sunset Elementary School’s students again.
The parents, FIPA and Sunset Elementary School are looking forward to fulfill the children’s highest expectations.
We want you to know that involvement in the French Program is both a privilege and a challenge to be valued. The Exchange Program requires a commitment on the part of the child to maintain a sound academic standing in school and a commitment on the part of the parents to complete all obligations as set forth in the guidelines. It includes but is not limited to responsibly paying costs (financial aid may be available), carefully completing all required forms, meeting all deadlines and performing required duties towards the good execution of this exchange.
You will find that participation in the Exchange program and sharing this milestone experience for your children provides a deep sense of community with fellow participants, the families of your children’s classmates. Expect many pleasant discoveries in how diverse, warm and delightful French International Studies families can be.
We are looking forward to working with you at creating a successful and unforgettable ’08 Exchange.
The French Student Exchange Committee:
Bertrand Lecocq (305) 772-7042 bzaga@bellsouth.net
Hélène Salaün (305) 527-0173 hsalaun@hotmail.com
Juanita Concha (305) 778 1254
Student Exchange Trip to Strasbourg, France.
June 11h – June 25th, 2008
GENERAL GUIDELINES
FRENCH STUDENT EXCHANGE
PROGRAM: 5th grade students will go to France to stay in a paired French student’s home, attend school with that student and visit his/her city, during a two-week trip to France in June 2008. Sunset Elementary School students will visit Paris on their way back to Miami. It was too short notice to establish a return trip this school year. We are looking forward to reinstate it next school-year when, in turn, French students will be received by the parents of Sunset Elementary School or/and Carver Middle School’s students
AVAILABILITY: To 5th grade students from Sunset Elementary School in good academic standing. Parents are to become FIPA members, as this Association is the one, which coordinates and provides funding for the Exchange Program.
Number of Students and Chaperones: From Previous experience, we have set a limit of twenty (20) students with two to three chaperones, who would travel to France.
PARENTS do not go to France: Parents of American students, who are participating in the exchange, will not be permitted to accompany their children. The exchange is for students only, and is designed as a step forward to adulthood while providing them with the experience of French family life and schooling. Teachers and representatives from Sunset Elementary School will be assisting all of the children should any problem arise, and will contact you about problems if necessary.
STUDENT OBLIGATIONS: Students participating in the French Student Exchange Program are expected to maintain a sound academic standing and good behavior. The final decision on student participation will be at the Principal discretion.
COSTS AND ARRANGEMENTS: Flight arrangements and costs will be taken care of by FIPA. Local arrangements and costs incurred during the exchange will be taken care of by FIPA and hosting school. Each student and chaperone will only need to bring money for souvenirs, snacks, movies…
One thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) per student are to be paid in full by the student’s parents in full prior to June 1, 2008. Financial Aid may be available; see below. This $1,500 will be deposited into FIPA’s Exchange Account and will be used to pay that student’s airfare and share of the following expenses incurred by FIPA: field trips and activities planned for the visiting students and chaperones, the total trip cost of a French teacher, and miscellaneous expenses. Surplus funds, if any, can be redistributed to all paying participants upon written request or can be donated for FIPA to rest in Exchange Program Account for future exchange; in which case donation becomes tax-deductible. Any debit balance incurred by the Exchange will be paid for from FIPA’s General Operating Account. Payment schedule is as follows:
- $530 prior to February 27th, 2008
- $500 prior to April 10, 2008
- $470 prior to June 1st, 2008
Payment should be made to FIPA and remitted to one of the Committee members:
Bertrand Lecocq (305) 772-7042 bzaga@bellsouth.net
Hélène Salaün (305) 527-0173 hsalaun@hotmail.com
Juanita Concha (305) 778 1254
REFUNDS: Refunds will be considered upon written request from the parents based upon the understanding that the designated student will be losing a space in the exchange program. Such requests must be signed by both parents: Requests received prior to February 27th, 2008 will be refunded in the amount of moneys paid prior to that date minus $60. Requests received prior to April 10th, 2008 will be refunded in the amount of moneys paid prior to that date minus $280. Requests received prior to June 1st, 2008 will be refunded in the amount of moneys paid prior to that date minus $500 (subject to modifications as we are still negotiating terms with airline). Later request for refunds will be made based on FIPA’s Exchange Committee and the Board of Directors; note that this decision will be based upon the available airfare refund. Request for greater refunds for scholarship students will be based on FIPA’s Exchange Committee’s decision. All request for refunds have to be supported by a letter of justification.
FINANCIAL AID: may be provided to those: completing the Application for Financial Assistance, and providing requested supporting documentation; and in consideration of academic standing, recommendation of teachers. Assistance will be partially paid from FIPA’s General Operating Account, which comprises our fundraising and membership funds, and partially paid from FIPA’s Exchange Account. A maximum of $1.000 per school year is provided by FIPA, for Exchange scholarship. Should the school Principal determine that further financial assistance is necessary, they may request that FIPA makes additional financial assistance available.
SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS: This is our children’s Exchange Program. Do not hesitate to direct all suggestions and comments to:
Bertrand Lecocq (305) 772-7042 bzaga@bellsouth.net
Hélène Salaün (305) 527-0173 hsalaun@hotmail.com
Juanita Concha (305) 778 1254
- Exchange ITINERAY 2008
- About the city of STRASBOURG
- Application
- Chaperone information
- Travel tips
Sunset Elementary Student Exchange (2008)
It is with great pleasure that FIPA announces the opportunity of a Student Exchange Program for our 5th graders this school year.
Details are still being finalized in order for the project to take off. At this time, two schools are interested in a full Student Exchange Program. One school is in Nice, in the south of France, the other is in Strasbourg, Alsace.
If approved by the Miami-Dade school board, our Sunset students will travel to France on March 26th , 2008 and return to Miami on April 9th, 2008. The trip would take place after FCAT exams and our students would only miss three (3) days of school. Sunset Principal, Dr Saria, is very supportive of our project. SIPA and GIPA have submitted their own project as well.
The French students would travel to Miami in February 2008.
Should the school board deny approval for US based students to travel during the school year, the French students would still come to Miami in February and the Sunset students would depart to visit France the week following the end of the school year (June 5th).
Typically, on a full student exchange program between two schools, each student of one school is matched with a “pal” “correspondent” of the other school. The student welcomes his/her correspondent in his/her home for the duration of his/her visit, and vice-versa.
The purpose of the trip is to promote a cultural exchange as well as a pedagogic exchange. The students attend each other’s classes during their stay. They go on field trips organized by the hosting school to visit museum, local attractions and cultural events.
Some of the lasting rewards, the exchange students gain are stronger confidence and self-esteem, often developing lifelong friendships and coming back with a broaden perspective of the world.
Time is of the essence, as the “package” has to be finalized no later than December 14th , 2007.
We need to hear rapidly from all parents interested in having their 5th grade child participate in this student exchange. Cost to the student is estimated at $ 1,500. Only when we have a final count of participants will we have an exact figure. The Sunset students will stay with the family of their correspondent in France. The major cost will be the airfare and a two-night stay in Paris on the way back to Miami in order to visit the French capital.
If interested, please send us an email at: fipa@fipamiami.org
Or leave us a message at: (786) 837-6347
***
Miami-Dade County Public Schools' (M-DCPS) French Section of the International Studies Program exists pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding between the school system and the French government. The Program has dual accreditation, both by the State of Florida Department of Education and by the French Ministry of Education. In order to meet the requirements of the French Educational System, specific subjects must be taught in French in both elementary and secondary schools. The subjects, which include French language, history, geography, mathematics and humanities, must be taught by native speaking French teachers, who have been accredited and licensed to teach by the French Ministry of Education. The teachers must use French books and French teaching methods.
The French International Studies Program was established in 1987 under the encouragement of Florida Governor Bob Graham, following a meeting of the Southern Governors Conference. The Program received Presidential recognition on two occasions: First, from President George Bush, and subsequently from President Bill Clinton, who personally visited the sixth through eighth grade students at George Washington Carver Middle School. During his visit, President Clinton held out the George Washington Carver Middle School students as "Role Models for the Nation." The Program also received recognition on "60 Minutes."
M-DCPS' International Studies Program is unique in the United States because it requires complete immersion in one of three foreign languages and cultural programs, French, German or Spanish. The Program commences in first grade and continues through fifth grade at Sunset Elementary. It continues at George Washington Carver Middle School from the sixth through eighth grades. The Program concludes at International Studies Charter High School (ISCH), which house ninth through twelfth graders. Students in the Program spend half of each school day meeting the educational requirements mandated by Florida law, while the other half is spent meeting the educational requirements established by the governments of France, Germany and Spain. Each of these foreign governments is directly involved in the Program's educational process.
The French Section of the International Studies Program is inspected annually by representatives of the French Ministry of Education in order to verify that the Program meets the requirements of the French Educational System. These inspections include verification of student progress, aptitude of the teachers, facilities at each participating school, textbooks and other issues of concern.
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