Chaperone Application

Chaperone Selection & Application Process

Chaperone
Applications HERE

Please read the Chaperone Selection Process before applying.

Application Form
Word & PDF formats

You can fill out the application on the computer and submit via email: info@ketchikankangerokanayama.org
Turned into the Schoenbar Middle School or Ketchikan Charter School offices

REFERENCES
Four (4) References (one employer & three personal) submitted online

References (Online Form)

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 $1800 (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 $450 due in November, 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.

Exchange Application Process & Criteria - Chaperone
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 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 four adult chaperones for the exchange program. If possible we would like one of the applicants to be a school district employee. Applications must be postmarked, electronically submitted, or turned in to Schoenbar Middle School by October 31st of the current year. To be considered, a completed application and four recommendation forms must be submitted by the due date.
Selection of chaperones 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 four (4) references submitted. One employer and three personal reference.

STEP 2 - Review of Applicants

Selection Committee will review all applications after October 31st.
If an application is incomplete, the applicant will not receive an interview.
If an application is complete the committee will: Review applications and references.
The committee will then determine when they will hold interviews and call potential exchange candidates to set up interviews.

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.

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 will have an opportunity to ask questions of the committee.

STEP 4 - Chaperone Selection

The committee will discuss each applicant.
The committee may select up to four (4) chaperones.

STEP 5 – Notification

The selected travel group will be posted on this website the week following interviews.

STEP 6 - What's Next?

The KGK executive board will hold a chaperone only meeting to go over expectations prior to the first whole group meeting that includes the students and families.
A student-parent-chaperone-board meeting will be set up to start the year.

What is expected of chaperones?

The Ketchikan-Gero Exchange Association expects the chaperones of the exchange group to be ideal role models by exhibiting exemplary behavior and cooperation with students, parents, communities, and schools both in Ketchikan and Japan
Be engaged in and participate in all planning and fundraising events organized by the exchange group and committees, host communities, and host families.
Be fully committed to the program organized by Ketchikan-Gero Exchange Association, submit to their decisions regarding the exchange, and understand that your chaperone duties are the primary reason for going to Japan. Display leadership qualities.
Be organized and able to work in cooperation with other chaperones, parents, students, exchange board members, and community businesses and host organizations.
Be neat and clean in personal hygiene, in good health, and properly dressed during activities scheduled both by the program and by host organizations. Participate with students at Japanese school to learn the history, culture, and language of Japan.
Be flexible in the Japanese environment and accepting of cultural differences, and fully comply with all Japanese laws, and all rules and customs of the host family with whom you are placed.
Be willing to participate in all activities set for the visiting Japanese exchange group, including housing a Japanese visitor, if needed.
Be respectful, mature, courteous, and exhibit conduct appropriate as a role model for young adolescents.
Be on time for all scheduled activities. If you are running late, please contact another chaperone and let them know.
Refrain from drinking and engaging in other inappropriate activities while in the presence of the students and while actively acting in the role of chaperone.
Refrain from drinking in excess when with host families or at other activities held solely for group adults while students are in the care of their respective host families.
Be willing to take responsibility for the students while traveling in a foreign country.
Be aware of your actions when you are with and away from the group.
Refrain from speaking against your co-chaperones or any of the students, before, during, and after your travel.
Refrain from using inappropriate language towards your co-chaperones or any of the students.
Upon return, be willing to share your personal experiences with Ketchikan Borough Assembly, Ketchikan School Board and the Ketchikan-Gero Exchange Association.
Be willing to refrain from inappropriate or unwanted touching at all times.
To communicate with students and parents. Suggestions: set up an email list of parents and students to send emails reminding when fundraising events are taking place, Japanese school events, practices, etc.
To be in charge of a small group of students while traveling. These students will check in and out with you during the trip.
You will help oversee all students in the group
Chaperones will be the primary contact from/to parents and the board as your group prepares for travel.
Participate on a committee. You do not have to be the committee head, just a part of it and help organize your trip.

Head Chaperone ~ appointed by the Ketchikan•Gero•Kanayama Board. All the above duties and

You are the primary contact person while in Japan
You will present the gifts and thank you to the leaders in Japan
You will have one extra speech to give to the Mayor in Gero City
You will thank the dignitaries in your farewell speech.

Chaperone Applications

Applications must be complete with the following:
*Student Application
*Five recommendations (3 teachers and 2 adults not related to the applicant)

Completed applications can be emailed to:
info@ketchikangerokanayama.org OR
Turned into the Schoenbar Middle School or Ketchikan Charter School offices

Chaperone Application (Word)

Chaperone Application (PDF)

Chaperone Evaluations (Online Form)