Aspen Sister Cities

Middle School

Student Exchange Programs

Regarding traveling exchanges:

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We are subject to international restrictions and entry requirements, restrictions in our Sister Cities and Aspen Sister Cities policies and procedures. We follow current CDC guidelines/recommendations for Covid and/or other health related issues as they arise.

Purpose

• To create cultural awareness and educate students about the global world
• To experience world languages
• To build friendships and family connections
• To promote leadership, citizenship, responsibility and teamwork
• To teach life skills
• To exchange ideas and perspectives
• To develop long lasting relationships

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The Aspen Sister Cities Mission:

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Our mission is to share ideas and cultures through the international exchange of students and community members from Aspen and the greater Roaring Fork Valley. We support the Sister Cities International mission statement of promoting peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation- one individual, one community at a time.

What opportunities are available?

Middle School

• ASIA - Shimukappu, Japan (for any student)
• EUROPE - Abetone, Italy (for any student) or Chamonix, France (ideally for students taking French)
• SOUTH AMERICA - Bariloche, Argentina (ideally for students taking Spanish)

High School

Depending on timing of hosting and travel incoming 9th-12th grade students may apply

• Queenstown, New Zealand
• Garmisch, Germany
• Chamonix, France

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Who qualifies?

• For the Middle School Program, any 7th grade student currently enrolled at Aspen Country Day School, Aspen Community School, or Aspen Middle School who seeks to experience a new culture
• Students who can make a year long commitment to both host and travel during the program. Financial penalties will apply if you do not complete both hosting and travel during the student exchange cycle.
• Any student who does not receive a failing overall class grade and who is considered worthy of the experience based on faculty recommendations, interviews and community input
• Students who have visited or lived in a country where he/she wants to go may receive lower priority in application process. You may want to choose a different country.
• Students who qualify and have limited international travel experience will be prioritized in the final selection.
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Who should apply?

• Families who have a sense of adventure and students who are positive and can commit for the full year of the student exchange program
• Families who have the time and availability to support the program. For travel, Europe trips for Aspen students will happen over Spring Break and the other exchanges happen in October.
• Students who have spent time away from their families without incident and who feel comfortable staying with people they don’t know, who may not speak English or may be of a different economic background than you.

Who should apply?

Past participants have shared that those students who can consistently demonstrate the following qualities have successful and rewarding experiences:

• Committed to the entire program
• Enthusiastic about meeting people
• Flexible with schedule changes
• Independent to travel without family
• Open-minded to new and different ideas
• Behavior and relationships are positive
• Resourceful with varied activities
• Respectful to other students and adults

Commitment: Are you…

• willing to host, supervise and care for a student in your home for approximately 2 weeks?
• able to give up after school and weekend activities, practices, rehearsals, etc. so that you can spend time with your host student?
• and your family willing to plan and sponsor after school and weekend activities for your guest student?
• and your family able to be home for the entire 2 weeks while your host student is in Aspen?
• prepared to travel to another country for 2 weeks and stay with an international student who may be a different gender, may have a different personality from yours or may be interested in things you are not?

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If you can answer “YES!” to these questions please apply for the Aspen Sister Cities middle school student exchange program.

Requirements

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• Application link online, see AMS webpage/Student Life/Activities/AMS Sister Cities Program
• Informational Research Essay - Due with application
• Interview with student and parents
• Written Question responses - will be scheduled
• One year commitment for the duration of the exchange
• Fundraising for hosting - Summer Ducky Derby duck earnings of $450 or more, participate in Ducky Derby festival in August (Aspen Sister Cities dress code applies here since we are working with the public)
• Any Ducky Derby monies earned over $450 will be refunded or credited to the student as follows (student/program)
• $451-$1000 @50/50, $1001-$2000@60/40, $2001-$3000 @70/30, $3001-$4000@80/20-over $4000 donation to ASC

Requirements

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• Within 2 weeks of acceptance, the deposit of $400, $100 membership fee, and a copy of the student’s passport or birth certificate are due to Middle School Aspen Sister Cities front office mailbox. No exceptions. (Jon Bender ACDS, Satya Leidner ACS)
• Balance due of program fees are collected approximately six months prior to group travel (payment plans are available).
• Student contribution of $350 to family student program fee (in addition to program $450+ Ducky Derby earnings)
• 1-year $100 family membership to Aspen Sister Cities (payable upon acceptance at aspensistercities.com . Select the Membership tab)
• Program fee approximately up to $3,600 ($3100 + $400 deposit and $100 ASC Membership fee)
• Student Passport must be valid and not expire until after 6 months of the trip return date.

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Requirements

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• Willingness to host, plan family activities and supervise a student in your home for 10-12 days (weekday activities coordinated by Sister Cities but parents may be asked to volunteer to support some activities).
• Mandatory attendance at after school student preparation classes and parent/student planning meetings
• Strong positive character and family commitment to the year long ASC Student Exchange Program (classes, preparation meetings, full exchange, etc.)
• Flexibility and understanding that we are working with our international Sister Cities on dates and timelines
• Once accepted into the student exchange program and as a parent volunteer hosting a visiting student, all adults living in the hosting household will need to follow the Aspen School District parent volunteer fingerprinting and background check process. This is done through the Aspen School District Office.

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Interview Process

• All students who submit a complete application packet (online application, research essay) are granted an interview - rank your choices from the 3 cities offered
• Interviews are conducted and scored with rubrics by ASC Board or interested community members familiar with ASC and are held in late afternoon or evenings. Interviews are held virtually. One parent need to participate for the last 5 minutes of the 15-20 minute interview.
• ASC sends a recommendation form to all middle school teachers in each school
• Written responses are scheduled and conducted at Aspen Middle School or supervised in a virtual setting. They are scored blind and identified by a number Teachers who are scoring do not know who has written the responses.
• All Scores (Interview, Written responses, and Recommendations) are tallied and ranked according to the student choice of prioritized cities
• Impartial selection committee makes final student choices based on score ranking and available student slots in ASC hosting cities

During travel:

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• There are at least two chaperones on each exchange. At least one, if not both, have prior travel experiences with Aspen Sister Cities student exchanges.
• School staff members apply to become chaperones and we sometimes have Sister Cities members or community members participate as chaperones as well.
• Chaperones have phone service set up in the host country and contact information for all families in case of emergency.
• They are there to support safe travel and support students throughout the exchange.
• Chaperones communicate regularly with Aspen Sister Cities Student and City Coordinators.

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During travel:

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• Students follow a formal Sister Cities dress code (i.e. no hats indoors, inappropriate logos, bare leggings, shorts unless for sporting events, revealing clothing, cleavage, bare midriff/shoulders, ripped jeans). Regular jeans are fine. Students should wear appropriate attire for relevant events or cultural experiences, school visits, etc.
• ASC has a no-electronics policy while students are traveling (phones, computers, tablets, etc.). Host families/siblings and chaperones will have electronics available as needed.
• We have had highly successful exchanges with this policy and students frequently report positive feedback of being without such items during travel.
• $1000 fee will be charged for violating the policy

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Hosting:

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• Plan to host another student in your home (usually a 1-to-1 exchange but occasionally one group has more students so sometimes students are doubled up or shared)
• The student needs to have their own bed (not the couch, sleeping pad) but does not need to have a separate room. Your child may need to sleep on couch, etc.
• Students are generally matched with students of the same gender and age. Depending on the numbers of students for each group, this is not guaranteed. Students are generally the same age but may be slightly older or younger.
• The cost of Sister Cities scheduled activities is covered by the Program Fee. Families are responsible for providing meals and paying costs of extra weekend activities or those that are planned after school. When families host our students, the same applies. The expectation is that they are treated as another family member in your home.

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Student Matches

Your student match:

• May not be the same age or gender as you
• Could be someone that is very different than you
• May be proficient or limited with English language skills
• Might have a different family structure than yours
• Is sometimes shared with families here or in the other city

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When making student matches the committee considers allergies, interests and family dynamics. Changes in homestays are only made if there is a health or safety issue. City and Student Coordinators make homestay changes only when absolutely necessary.

Aspen Sister Cities’ expectation is to get to know others in order to realize our similarities, value our differences, make new friends and foster relationships.

FEES

Program Fee = approximately $3,600

• Scholarships available-forms at Middle School office or online
• scholarship request and forms must be submitted upon acceptance to the program, not during the application process. Scholarship Request application is online at the AMS website/Student Life/Activities/AMS Sister Cities Program). Print and submit with required documents
• ASC will work with families if program feeis an issue (payment plans are available)
• Students are expected to earn $350 of the Program Fee themselves (chores, babysitting, mowing lawns, etc.)
• Program Fees include travel insurance, taxes, incidentals, most transportation and lodging costs, chaperone expenses
• $400 non-refundable Program Fee deposit and $100 ASC 1-year Membership Fee paid at aspensistercities.com

ASC Trip Fee and Ducky Derby Fundraising

Trip Fee

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Duck Derby Earnings

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Total Program Fee and ASC membership is currently $3,600

Deposit

$400-

and $100 Sister City membership

Remaining Program Fee -roughly- $3100.

Student is to earn $350 of the program fee.

Minimum

Program Fee DD Earnings

$450 - includes 20% of total earnings to Rotary

Earnings over the $450 DD

minimum requirement are shared with the program costs

% student earnings over the required $450 is credited or refunded toward trip fee is based on a sliding scale

Ducky Derby Earnings

Any funds a student has earned over the $450 required program donation are credited or refunded to the program fee as follows:

• $451-1000 50% to program and 50% to student fee
• $1001-2000 40% to program and 60% to student fee
• $2001-3000 30% to program and 70% to student fee
• $3001-4000+ 20% to program and 80% to student fee

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Some students have earned their entire student program fee plus spending money through the Rotary Club of Aspen’s Ducky Derby fundraising event. Please note that Rotary does take 20% of the earning to cover their costs.

Program General Schedule

• Online Application deadline- December - this is a competitive process!
• Interviews (oral & written questions) - January
• Acceptance/non-acceptance decisions mailed home - January or February
• First organizational meeting- varies (Bariloche in March and other groups in late spring, fall or early winter)
• Ducky Derby online/paper fundraising- june/July/August - based on Rotary Club of Aspen timeline
• Ducky Derby Festival- 1^st Saturday in August

Program Schedule (cont.)

Shimukappu/Tomamu, Japan

• Travel to Japan during fall break in October - may miss Halloween due to available dates
• Japanese guests come to Aspen in early January- just after winter break
• Cultural emphasis

** program fee due May 1

Bariloche, Argentina

• Groups visit us in early or mid April** (of 7th grade year)
• Our students travel during fall break in October (8th grade year) - may miss Halloween due to available dates
• Spanish language development and leadership emphasis

** program fee due May 1

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Program Schedule (cont.)

Abetone, Italy - odd numbered years

• Italian students will visit Aspen in late January/early February and students will travel to Italy in late March/early April (prior to and during Spring break)
• Cultural and art emphasis

** program fee due Nov. 1

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Chamonix, France - Even numbered years

• French students will visit Aspen in late January/early February, and our students go to Chamonix in late March/early April (prior to and during spring break)
• French language development and environmental stewardship

**program fee due Nov. 1

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Please visit our Asian, European and South American

Sister Cities continued in this slide presentation.

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Bariloche, Argentina

South American�Student Exchange

Where is it?

Patagonia

Borders Chile

The Place:

Nahuel Huapi Lake

Cerro Catedral

THE FOOD!

Empanadas

Chocolate

Asado

The Education

The Schools:

Woodville

San Patricio

Capraro

The Friendships

Travel as a group

The Adventure

Have fun!

An international experience you will never forget!

Shimukappu/Tomamu, Japan

Asian

Student Exchange

Why would I want to go to Japan??

Shimukappu

To experience a completely different culture

To try completely different food!

To practice the language

and experience the culture

To watch… join in…

Try new things and learn!

To make new friends!

To have fun!

Why not??

You will have a unique and unforgettable experience!

***If you are interested in the SHIMUKAPPU, Japan exchange, please note that due to decreasing populations in the area, we anticipate only 2-3 Japanese students being able to participate in the exchange. We will supplement additional spots with adults from the Shimukappu community in Japan in order be able to maintain the exchange and have additional Aspen students participate. We did this successfully for the most recent exchange cycle.

Chamonix, France

European

Student Exchange

(Odd years only)

Chamonix Student Exchange

(alternating years w/Abetone)

The Ultimate French Experience!

Learn how to travel

Make New Friends

Learn the language

Experience New Places

AND…

Be a part of an incredible experience

How?

Applications and information are online at the Aspen Middle School web page/Student Life:

• Activities
• AMS Sister Cities Program
• Application
• Informational Research Essay
• Written Response Process (January)
• Interview to be scheduled - everyone who completes application process is granted an interview for their 1st prioritized city (Jan./Feb.)

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Thank you for your time and interest in the Aspen Sister Cities student exchange program.

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We look forward to getting to know you better.

https://www.aspensistercities.com

Please contact Sarah Graber at sgraber@aspenk12.net for further questions.

Abetone, Italy

European

Student Exchange

(Even years only)

Abetone Student Exchange

(alternating years w/Chamonix)

Compliments of Manuela Tonarelli

The Ultimate Italian Experience!

Compliments of Jill Sheeley

Visit a world class European ski resort

Compliments of Jill Sheeley

and the famous city of Florence

www.flickr.com

Compliments of Jill Sheeley

Learn about art and architecture

Visit the Italian schools

Compliments of Jill Sheeley

Compliments of Manuela Tonarelli

Enjoy the food

Compliments of Jill Sheeley

AND…

Help us strengthen Sister Cities relationship

Compliments of Jill Sheeley