1. Grade 8 SEVEC Exchange Trip Prince Philip School 2009-2010 Society for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Canada

2. SEVEC Youth Exchanges Canada Over the last 70 years, SEVEC has brought together more than 300,000 young Canadians through exchanges, visits, and forums. As an educational, charitable organization with an emphasis on unique learning opportunities, their number one priority is to provide safe, effective and value-added programming for youth aged 12- 17, their families, educators, and community leaders. Since 1936, they have been encouraging youth to...exchange, explore and experience!

3. SEVEC “Learning by doing!” SEVEC is about opening doors and creating opportunities. They are believers in learning by doing. Their goal is simple: they reach out to young Canadians and open the door to the world of opportunities around them.

4. SEVEC Objectives: Enhance knowledge and understanding of Canada among participants. Connect Canadians with one another. Develop a sense of Canadian identity and attachment to Canada by helping youth appreciate both the diversity and the shared aspects of the Canadian experience.

5. Cost: Students need only pay $40 to cover the costs of airfare and accommodations for the traveling portion of the exchange trip. As well, event fees and costs of activities would be covered by the host school. Students would only require spending money for the trip. Prince Philip School and students would be responsible for fund-raising to cover the cost of the activities and events during the hosting portion of the exchange. These fund-raising efforts would be completed throughout the school year involving a wide variety of events, raffles, sales, deliveries, drives, etc.

6. Curriculum Connections: Language Arts ▪ social, cultural and historical focus, exploring relationships with others, community, culture, customs, other ways of knowing, national events and issues and the history of humanity ▪ personal identity ▪ journal reflection upon experiences Mathematics ▪ students will be active participants in the financial planning and fund-raising of the exchange. Science ▪ activities and “field trips” while on exchange will determine specific science curriculum (ex. Water Systems on Earth – Niagara Falls, Rideau Canal) Social Studies ▪ culture and citizenship Technology ▪ students would communicate with partner school students utilizing a wide variety of technological means (i.e. blogs, wikis, collaborative projects, skype teleconferencing, email. etc.) Physical Education ▪ students will be involved in a wide variety of active pursuits.

7. Curriculum Connections: Students will complete classroom assignments prior to the exchange to ensure students do not fall behind or any curriculum gaps exist. Students will complete assignments from all subject areas. Time will also be given to further plan, discuss and prepare for the exchange.

8. Timeline: May 2010 – Prince Philip participants travel for five day exchange trip. Later in May/June 2010 – Partner school participants travel to Saskatoon for five day exchange trip.

9. Supervision: Accompanying Prince Philip Students will be: Teachers Administration (i.e. Principal) Educational Assistants (as needed) Parent Chaperones As well, there will be similar supervision provided by our partner school.

10. Accommodations: Participants will be billeted during the SEVEC exchange. On the traveling end of the exchange, students would stay with a host family. When hosting, student families would billet a student from our partner school. Safety is of utmost importance to Exchanges Canada. Host families are thoroughly screened. SEVEC checks the references of all potential host families and may visit homes to ensure a safe environment for all participants.

11. Feedback from past SEVEC exchange participants… Youth Participants: "This exchange has been a great opportunity to meet new people and learn about other places in the country. It has given lasting friendships and been very enjoyable.“ "I learned a lot more in one week of activities than I have in 3 years of Social Studies. Also I gained the friendships of many students from across Canada, which is very valuable to me!“ "I was able to learn so much about the different people that make up our country. Most of my learning came from the participants... The main reason I believe this program is so important is because it has given us a sense of unity. We have all been able to work together despite our differences and have learned the importance of diversity in our country."

12. Feedback from past SEVEC exchange participants… Parents/Guardians: "This experience opened his eyes to the multicultural side of Canada. He feels connected to the other side of Canada.“ "My son's participation in the exchange allowed him to see another aspect of education - not always in the classroom... My son has much greater interest in culture and in Canada.“ "This has been a life-altering experience for my child. She has said that it was one of the best experiences of her life, and she is so glad she was given the opportunity to attend. She came home a ‘different person' - full of confidence; very happy and it was as though she had completed her first step towards independence."

13. Feedback from past SEVEC exchange participants… Teachers/Organizers: "I feel these young students have learned how to work together on projects. They have gained pride in their culture by studying it and sharing it with others. They have learned to appreciate differences in culture. “ “The exchange was a life-altering experience for everyone involved. It changed the views and the lives of the students involved. It allowed them to see and experience another culture, language, and life inside their own country. It is indeed one experience they will cherish for all time." -Robert, a Saskatchewan teacher "The youth deepened their commitment to Canada, and I believe they strongly felt the importance of being involved in their community."

14. For more information….. Visit these websites for further information: www.echanges.gc.ca www.sevec.ca/en