Local families needed for short-term student homestays in St. Marys and Stratford

Host parents Kristin DeBrabandere and Alyson Dunseith with their international student, Andrea, in Pamplona, Spain.

By Alex Hunt

Local families in St. Marys and Stratford are needed to host international students, offering a unique cultural exchange and helping keep school programs alive.

St. Marys District Collegiate and Vocational Institute (DCVI) is currently accepting host families within St. Marys and Stratford to accommodate international students from September to December during the first school semester.

Deanna Pearce, area homestay coordinator at St. Marys DCVI, said there are currently five spots each that need to be filled within the St. Marys and Stratford communities. Host families will receive a monthly stipend of $825 to cover daily necessities, while students use their own spending money for personal expenses.

“Participating as a host family helps keep these programs running, having international students attend school to keep school programming open,” said Pearce. “We are looking for families who are welcoming, loving and open to learning about a new culture. The student is not a guest; it’s their home, too.”

Pearce said placement opportunities allow a community to grow in new cultural avenues, with many families forming lifeline bonds with their student. Students are encouraged to join clubs and sports teams through school and take part in community events.

“I check in with the students and families once a month and we sit down and ask a series of questions to see how they’re doing; they can reach me any time by email, phone call or social media,” said Pearce. “Most host families really enjoy the experience and continue to keep in touch with their students after the placement ends.”

To avoid potential placement conflict, host families and their students have opportunities to communicate before finalizing a living accommodation to ensure interests and personalities complement each other. However, if an unresolved conflict develops, the student will be transferred to another home.

“During the application process, the area homestay coordinator meets with host families face to face to explain how the program works and answer any questions they may have,” said Pearce. “Families are also provided with a ‘Guide to Being a Host Parent’ guidebook that was developed by the Avon Maitland International Education Department.

“The support doesn’t stop there though. Once the student arrives, the host family is supported 24/7 for emergencies and there are monthly check-ins with the area homestay coordinator,” said Pearce.

Potential host families are required to have the following accommodations before a student is placed in their home. Students are required to have their own bedroom and a shared bathroom is acceptable. Anyone within the home who is over 18 years old must go through a police check, which is reimbursed by the school board. Single parents are also acceptable as hosts for international students.

Families interested in sharing their home with an international student can contact Pearce at deanna.pearce@ed.amdsb.ca or call at 226-921-1869.