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I’m a part of the Student Exchange . . . Now what?

Welcome to the 2015-2016

Ketchikan – Gero & Kanayama Exchange Program. 


This is the 29th year of the Exchange and we are glad that you are a part of our exchange.  Hopefully this booklet will answer many questions that you have about the exchange as you prepare to travel to Japan

Board meets first Monday of the month 5:30pm @ Jeremiah’s

History of the Ketchikan • Gero • Kanayama Exchange 
           
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.
What is expected of me?

  • I will be on time.
  • I will be an active participant.
  • I will write a self-introduction speech and learn it in Japanese.
  • I will learn and join the group performance (songs/dances/skits).
  • I will use polite language and refrain from using inappropriate language.
  • I will be respectful of others, honest and responsible.
  • I will interact with other students and adults and show that I am a team member.
  • I will not put down Japanese food, culture or language, or other’s efforts to speak Japanese & English.
  • I will sit straight in class and at meals.
  • I will not wear jewelry, make-up or nail polish.
  • I will leave my laptop at home and not take them with me on the trip.
  • I will wear socks and will remove my outdoor shoes at homes and schools.
  • I will wear appropriate indoor shoes for school and in homes.
  • I will not eat candy, snacks, or chew gum on school grounds in Japan.
  • I will not groom myself in public.
  • I will follow ALL rules and directions given by teachers, chaperones and adults. 
  • I will not leave the group without a buddy and without permission from a chaperone.
  • I want to learn and have fun!
  • I will conduct myself honorably to avoid embarrassing my housing family, my group, and myself.
  • I will refrain from putting down or teasing others.
  • I will participate in all activities scheduled during the time the group from Kanayama is in Ketchikan.
Japanese School

Japanese school starts in January meeting every other week on Sundays 1:00 – 3:30

Japanese school AFTER spring break every week on Sundays 1:00 – 3:30.  
Time may be longer when working on performance. 

This time is used to build group unity, write and practice speeches, performance practice. 

Japanese school is required. 

Attendance of students is necessary only three (3) unexcused absences allowed then you will be cut from the exchange.

Academic Workshop required – All traveling students will be in Japanese Academic Workshop Spring Semester before travel.  


Participation is VERY important. 

  Chaperones WILL keep record of student participation in Japanese School and Fundraising activities.

COMMITTEES . . .

Every Chaperone and Parent needs to be a part of a committee to make this trip a success.  The chaperones are not the head of the committee they are part of committees to keep connection with the parents and the student group.

Committees can meet on Sundays when the students meet or at another time of their choice. 

Committees do not need to meet every week. Each committee can decide what is the best for it to meet.

The chaperones do not have to be at all committee meetings, but need to be kept in the loop as to what is taking place. 



COMMUNICATION is very important!!

 

Fundraising

1 (Gift Wrap) - 
2 (Gift Wrap) - 
3 (Gift Wrap)-
4 (Fall Raffle) - 
5 (Fall Raffle) -
6 (Spring Raffle) 
7 (Spring Raffle) 
8 (Japan dance) 
9 (4th of July Parade) 

 

Publicity 
1 (Thank You’s to paper) ____________
2 (Posters around town) - 
3 (Posters around town) - 

Performance 
1 
2 

Fundraising:  Takes 100% from everyone

Everyone in the group is expected to help with all fundraising, whether you like to or not.  This is your trip and you need to raise the funds for your travel.  You can always hold other fundraisers beyond the already planned ones as you prepare for your travel.  You want to raise more funds than your estimated travel to cover any unexpected expenses and it is a good idea to leave some funds for the next year as they start their fundraising.



Fundraising Committees • • •

Gift Wrapping –

Contact Person - 1. _______________________ 
Schedule Person - 2. _______________________
Telephone Person - 3. _______________________

The month of December we provide gift wrapping services at Tongass Trading Dock Store and Mens & Women’s Store.  Tongass provides the paper and supplies we provide the manpower. 

We must cover ALL shifts.  Students are NOT to work without an adult.

Late October – Contact Tongass to let them know who the contact person is for the group and see if they have the dates for our group yet.

November – Talk to Tongass to get dates & times they want us; meet with the travel group and sign up people to work.  Tentative dates and hours on next page based on previous years.  Every family will need to provide approximately 20 hours of gift-wrapping service.

December – work shifts wrapping gifts.  Remember to smile and thank people. 

 

Contact Person – The main contact between the exchange and Tongass.  Must be able to be contacted during the day and go in to cover a shift is necessary.

Schedule Person – The person who will put the schedule together for families, get it out to families and assemble the notebook for the store.

Telephone Person – This person will phone all families the night before their shift to remind them that they have a shift the next day.

 

You will receive more detailed information on this activity at a student-parent-board meeting in November.

Raffle – Fall Raffle & Spring Raffle

FALL - 1. ________________________ 2. _________________________

SPRING - 3. ________________________ 4. _________________________

 
FALL RAFFLE

·      We will print 750 raffle tickets to sell (50 tickets per student traveling) October – November

o   Each student must sell 50 tickets by the Sunday before the drawing. 

o   Each family is responsible for 50 tickets and turning in $500 at the end of the raffle.  Tickets not sold families will be responsible for the difference.

o   All prizes for this raffle are cash.

·      Work with the Kanayama Board treasurer to organize the raffle.

 

SPRING RAFFLE

·      We will print 1500 raffle tickets to sell (100 tickets per student traveling) January - March. 

o   Each student must sell 100 tickets by the Sunday before the drawing. 

o   Each family is responsible for 100 tickets and turning in $1,000 at the end of the raffle.  Tickets not sold families will be responsible for the difference.

o   The grand prize is an Alaska Airlines tickets for two anywhere that they fly.

o   This committee will need to solicit prizes for drawing. 

§  You only need about 10 prizes from around town.  In the past there have been flightseeing trips, fishing, D-1 Rock, shopping at A&P, etc. 

·      Work with the Kanayama Board treasurer to organize the raffle.



Japan Dance & Bake Sale

1. _________________________

(Dance when Gero-Kanayama students in town.  Parents make cookies to sell.  Plus water.)  Have the kids make posters before Spring Break advertising the dance that they will hang around the school.   
  The group gets the proceeds from the dance and bake sale.  This is not a large fundraiser, it is more of a service providing a snack for students for a nominal fee.
Fourth of July Parade – 
1. _________________________ 
Contact the Chamber of Commerce in May and get an application for the parade entry. Walking group. When asked for a Chamber Member support enter: Robert Boyle, KGBSD. Pick up the banners from Schoenbar before the end of the school year.   
  ALL Students and Chaperones are expected to participate in the parade.  

This is a way to thank the community for all the support they have given us through the year.  If you will not be in town on the Fourth please let someone know in advance.  If you are back to work, please arrange for the time off for the parade.  
When walking in the parade wear your t-shirts and carry the banners so that the community will recognize you.


Publicity

1. (Thank You’s to paper) ____________

2. (Posters around town) _____________ 
  3. (Posters around town) _____________   

  Thank You’s to the paper after fundraising events thanking the community for their support.  Also thank you cards to businesses that donated items or a service.


Posters Around Town – Advertising the Raffle and other activities that the group may be doing where notice around town is needed.


Performance –

 

1. _________________________ 2. _________________________


Begin work in January. Work on one routine.

Work with the students for some ideas that they would like.

 

Other Links to Information from Packet:

Travel Outline
Group Visit
Rules of Conduct
Packing List
Ketchikan•Gero•Kanayama Since 1986