Student Selection and Application Process
STUDENT APPLICATION
CHAPERONE APPLICATION

Student Application (PDF)

You can submit the application via email: ​

[email protected]

or turn it in at the Schoenbar Middle School office.​

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

​STUDENT APPLICATION CHECKLIST:

Applications must be completed by October 1st at 5pm with the following:

      1.    Student Application

      2.    Three non-familiar adult blind references, including at least one teacher that has taught the student. All reference letters must be blind references, meaning it has to be sealed when given.

Up to fifteen students in the 8th grade are selected (Schoenbar Middle School, Ketchikan Charter School, Fast Track and Home School). They 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.  

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, non-familiar blind references submitted. At least one reference must be a teacher that has taught the student. The references must be sealed.
• 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 a C (2.0) grade point average in order to travel. 
• No F’s in order to travel.
• 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 and 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 must adhere to the code of conduct at all times.
• You will visit the schools in Kanayama and tour other points of interest in and around Gero & Kanayama, Japan.

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