Applications Here!

Student Selection & Application Process

Student & Parent Applications HERE

Please read the Student Selection Process before applying.

Application Form
Word &PDF formats

You can fill out the application on the computer and submit via email: [email protected]
or turn it in at the Schoenbar Middle School or Ketchikan Charter School office (school staff are not responsible for reviewing applications for completeness or accuracy)

REFERENCES
Three (3) References, at least one teacher that has taught the student

INFORMATION ABOUT THE
PROGRAM AND COMMITMENT NEEDED

HISTORY: The Ketchikan-Kanayama Exchange program started in 1986, beginning with teacher exchanges and annual exchanges of students in 1987. The exchange started as part of a school district program, and then the Ketchikan-Kanayama Exchange Association was formed in 1989 to administer the program. It is a non-profit organization run totally by volunteers dedicated to keeping the program running well. Funding from the school district and the borough is minimal, and covers only expenses for the teacher exchange and some of the expenses incurred during the Kanayama student visit. The first visit from Kanayama delegates (the Mayor and Superintendent, etc.) to Ketchikan to decide whether or not to start an exchange, took place in November 1986. Ketchikan delegates (Ketchikan’s Mayor and Superintendent) then visited Kanayama in March 1987 for the first time. Following that, Christa Bruce and family went over, and the Ketchikan and Kanayama students first visited each other.

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT: For those selected for the exchange this is a trip of a lifetime but travel to and within Japan is expensive.  For this reason, you need to be fully aware of the financial and time commitment involved.  Students selected for the exchange their families must be able to commit to a base monetary amount of $2500 (This does not include spending money for while in Japan). This money is used to help cover airfare, train tickets, meals, and any necessary overnight stays for the basic trip to Kanayama, Japan. The monetary commitment is broken down into 4 monthly commitments of $625 due in December, January, February and March in order to complete travel plans and ticket purchases.

FUND-RAISING: The total budget anticipated for travel is approximately $65,000 with slightly over half from your personal commitment. The extra money needed to meet this goal covers gifts for school and city officials and any additional travel within Japan that the group may do following their stay in Kanayama. Students selected and their families are expected to help with fundraising. Activities in the past have included making and selling pizzas, gift wrapping in December, and organizing and conducting a raffle. Fundraising activities start soon after the group is selected in October.

Families are responsible for filling time slots for gift wrapping and unsold raffle tickets.

Fall & Spring Raffle Sales
All required raffle tickets MUST be sold. Your family will be responsible for the balance of unsold tickets @ $10 each

Gift Wrapping in December
Each family will need to commit to approximately 20 hours of gift wrapping at Tongass. ALL families MUST participate in gift wrapping.

We want you to be fully aware of the time commitment that may be required of you in meeting fundraising goals. Any funds remaining in the total budget upon completion of the travel will revert to the exchange program to help cover costs and ensure its future continuation and viability, and there will be no refunds upon trip completion.

TIME COMMITMENT: In addition to the time involved in fund-raising, parents must also commit to helping with the various committees involved in trip logistics: Fundraising, Publicity & Gifts, and Performance. Again, this requires commitment on your part.

We hope that we haven’t scared you off by highlighting what is expected of you. The Kanayama experience is truly unique, and though the student may be the only one traveling, the work involved prior to the trip can be enriching for both student and parents and often strengthens family bonds. We would encourage you to support your child in his or her quest of becoming part of the exchange group for the upcoming year.

Student Exchange Selection Process & Criteria
Ketchikan, Alaska – Kanayama, Japan
Two-to-Three Week Visit in June

The Ketchikan-Kanayama Exchange Association is working on the plans and details to once again exchange students and adults with our Sister City of Kanayama / Gero City, Japan. This program has been an enriching and pleasurable experience for all participants in the past. It is an honor to be selected as a part of the exchange.

Students in the 8th grade (Schoenbar Middle School, Ketchikan Charter School, Fast Track and Home School) and their chaperones will be given the opportunity to live with host families, visit the schools and other points of interest in Kanayama area and Gero city, Japan, in June after the current school year ends. This two-to-three week visit is made possible through the friendship and commitments developed between the *sister cities of Ketchikan and Kanayama in Gero City, and is supported by the families of the participants.

We will select up to fifteen students selected for the exchange program. Applications are due November 14th at 5pm.

Selection of students will be made from applications submitted to the Ketchikan•Gero•Kanayama Exchange Association by the selection committee and is based on the following:
STEP 1 - Application Process

Submit completed application
Have three(3) references submitted.
If you have a parent that lives out of town, please make sure a permission form is turned in from that parent.
All forms are completed and submitted.

STEP 2 - Review of Applicants

Selection Committee will review all applications.
If an application is complete the committee will: Review applications, grades and references.
The committee may ask other teachers about the applicant as well.
The committee will then determine when they will hold interviews and call potential exchange candidates to set up interviews.
If an application is incomplete, the applicant will not receive an interview.

STEP 3 - The Interview

You will interview with a committee of 3-5 board members and the current Japanese teacher.
Interview will last 20-30 minutes.
Please be early. If you are late we may need to re-schedule your interview.
If you do not show up - we will assume that you are no longer interested in applying.
Please wait for the person ahead of you to finish.
Bring at least one parent with you.

At the interview the committee will share some of the background of the exchange and expectations of the exchange with you. You will be asked questions. You and your parents will have an opportunity to ask questions of the committee.

STEP 4 - Group Selection

The committee will discuss each applicant.
How each applicant would or would not fit with the group.
The committee may select up to 15 students and up to four (4) chaperones.

STEP 5 – Notification

The committee will phone each applicant within three days of the last interview regarding acceptance or not to the exchange.

STEP 6 - What's Next?

A student-parent-chaperone-board meeting will be set up to start the year.

Students who are chosen to participate are expected:
To maintain:

C (2.0) grade point average in order to travel.
No F’s in order to travel.
A PowerSchool grades will be checked regularly. This will show that you are still in good standings with grades.
Failure to meet grade requirements will automatically disqualify a student from traveling. Obtaining a refund from the airlines will be the sole responsibility of the student and his/her family. (Be aware that there are NO REFUNDS of monies once the tickets have been purchased.)

NOTE: These eligibility requirements are consistent with school district travel policy. The grade requirement, however, is more stringent.

To be respectful of others, honest and responsible, to interact with other students and adults, and to be a team member.
To participate in all fundraising events.
To be on time and prepared for all activities
To participate in Japanese school.
Attendance is mandatory to learn what you need to know to succeed in Japan.
You must write a self-introduction speech and learn it in Japanese.
You must learn and join the group performance (songs/dances/skits)
To participate in all activities scheduled during the time in March when the Kanayama students are in Ketchikan.
To respect and communicate with chaperones and leaders.
The chaperones are the primary contact.
If you will be absent from any activity or need to leave early, pre-arrange with the chaperones prior to the date of the event.
In Japan you will be given an opportunity to live with Japanese students and their families.
You will visit the schools in Kanayama and tour other points of interest in and around Gero & Kanayama, Japan.

Student Applications

Applications must be complete with the following:
*Student Application
*Three non-familial adult references including at least one teacher that has taught the student.

Completed applications can be emailed to:
[email protected] OR
turned into the Schoenbar Middle School or Ketchikan Charter School offices

Student Application (Word)

STUDENT APPLICATION (PDF)

Student Evaluations (online form)