1. Grade 8 Challenge Loughborough Public School
Sevec Exchange 2015
Grade 8 Challenge
Loughborough Public School

2. What is SEVEC?
The Society of Educational Visits and Exchanges in Canada (SEVEC) has been organizing exchanges for over 75 years.
These exchanges have involved over students.
SEVEC’s mission is:
To create, promote and facilitate enriching educational opportunities for youth within Canada for the development of mutual respect and understanding through programs of exploration in language, culture, and community.

3. Loughborough and SEVEC
Loughborough and SEVEC have partnered in previous years and had very successful experiences.
Spruce Grove, Alberta
The Pas, Manitoba
Warburg, Alberta – 2012
Calgary, Alberta – 2010
Cranbrook, British Columbia – 2009
Sunnyside, PEI – 2007
Kelowna, British Columbia – 2005
Austin, Manitoba

4. What is an exchange?
Students are paired with another student from a different community somewhere in Canada.
Trips are arranged and each student visits the other student’s community.
They stay in each other’s home and learn about the culture, lifestyle and community that the “twin” lives in.

5. Why an exchange?
We view an exchange as a learning opportunity like no other.
Students can experience other cultures and geographic regions.
Students put skills into practice – independence, self reliance, problem solving, responsibility, collaboration, communication ….
Work outside their comfort zone!

6. Where are we going?
We have been partnered with the Crystal Park Elementary School, Grand Prairie, Alberta.
Where is Grand Prairie, Alberta

7. Grand Prairie, Alberta So what is Grand Prairie like?
Grand Prairie Tourism Video

8. What are the dates of the exchange?
Loughborough students travel to Spruce Grove, Alberta from TBA
Students from Grand Prairie, Alberta will visit here from TBA

9. What is the cost?
The cost of the flight is covered by the Ministry of Canadian Heritage.
The cost of all events in Alberta will be paid by the students of Grand Prairie
Loughborough students will pay for all events while our twins are here.
The expected cost will be in the $500-$600 range per student.
Installment # $50.00 (due last week)
Installment # $ (due by Friday, Jan. 22)
Installment # $ (due by Friday, April 1)
Installment # TBA – based on venue costs)

10. What safety precautions are in place?
Prior to the Exchange –
-reference checks/home visits
-twinning based on interest surveys
-detailed planning
During the Exchange:
– each student will be provided with
emergency contact numbers for the trip organizers
- code words
- morning check-ins (daily jokes)

11. Contact with Twin Family
Once the twinning process is complete we expect students to be in contact with their assigned twin.
The first contact will be planned at school.
Students may use social media to communicate with their twin after that point.
We strongly recommend that parents/guardians are in contact with twin the parent/guardians.

12. Concerns About Billeting
We understand that staying at a “stranger’s” house and having “strangers” stay in your home can be intimidating.
We will take a flexible problem solving approach to any billeting issues.
Travel distances, accommodations, sudden illnesses, etc. can impact the success of the exchange and might be reasons to make adjustments.
Please talk to me with any concerns that you might have.

13. Flight Arrangements
Completed by Uniglobe Travel – this is arranged by our exchange coordinator at SEVEC.
Health Insurance can be purchased through Uniglobe – we can access a group rate
Details will be finalized by November.
More information will be shared once details are finalized.
Cancellation once tickets are issued will result in participants incurring the cost of the ticket

14. A Typical Day During the Exchange
We will plan a variety of excursions during the 6 day period. A possible day might look like this:
7:00 Students arrive at LPS and depart of Ottawa
9: visit the Parliament Buildings
10:00 -attend Question Period – meet MP from each riding
11:00 -visit the National Art Gallery
12:30 -have lunch along the Rideau Canal
1:30 -visit Canadian War Museum
3: visit ropes course at Camp Fortune
5: supper at Rideau Centre and shopping
9: return to Loughborough

15. What’s Next? Documents submitted to trip organizer.
Waivers sent to SEVEC.
Conference call arranged to complete twinning process.
Contact made with twins and twin families.
Detailed itinerary finalized for twin visit.
Flight details finalized.

16. Questions mccradym@limestone.on.ca
Slide show notes can be downloaded from my school website:
Mr. McCrady's Class Website
Or contact me at the school.