International Students
HomeStays
Our homestay administrator is Mrs Leonie Burke. She meets new students at the airport and arranges homestay accommodation as required. She is also available at the College everyday and assists with any matters related to the accommodation of international students.
Accommodation is arranged with a local New Zealand family. A questionnaire is sent to the student before her arrival in New Zealand, so that her needs can best be provided for. Homestay families are expectd to treat the international student as a family member and to involve themselves in all aspects of her general welfare.
Homestay accommodation will cost NZ$200.00, with all food and laundry included. The college also charges NZ$400.00 per year to each student for administration of the homestay.
For further information about Homestays click Here.
Homestay policy
All students under 18 years of age must live in accommodation approved by the college, either with a designated caregiver, arranged by the student's family or in a school homestay.
Approval will be given to students who have spent at least 6 months in New Zealand and are over 18 years of age sharing a flat with other students only if the parents request this in writing on the student's behalf and if a letter stating that the school is no longer responsible for the student outside of school hours is provided by the parents. Flatting is not advised as it can have an adverse effect on language acquisition and study habits.
The college believes that students must have a safe place to stay where a responsible adult can ensure that they have the nutrition, care and support that they need to settle successfully into a new culture and educational system. All accommodation will be checked and visited at least twice per year.
The Homestay Programme
When a student requests a homestay a questionnaire will be sent. We will try to find the most appropriate homestay for each student.
Wellington East Girls College employs a Homestay Administrator who will arrange a Homestay, meet the student at the Airport and take her to her new home. She will also visit the homestay twice per year.
All homes are carefully selected where possible within the local area of the school or within easy reach of the school. Students usually take a school bus to school, which brings them to the school gates, or they may live within walking distance. School buses come to the college at the end of the school day to return students to their suburbs.
A homestay will provide the student with her own fully furnished room, three meals a day and laundry facilities. The Homestay Coordinator will discuss the homestay arrangements and expectations with the student and the homestay family and will ask each to sign the Homestay Contract. Homestay funds are required to be administered through the school if the student is in a college homestay. The school does not charge for this service. The $400 homestay administration fee is to cover placement, a move to a new homestay should this be necessary, and homestay supervision for the year. This must also be paid by all students under 18 years of age who are living with a designated caregiver, as the college is legally obliged to supervise the homestay even though it is a close friend or relative of the family.
Should students go away for term holidays board payments will be reduced to a half-payment, that is $100 per week. In the case of the student returning to the home country for the long summer holidays no board payment will be made. However the student may wish to make a private arrangement for storage of her belongings with the homestay.
If the student is not happy in the home she should inform the Homestay Administrator or the Director of International Students and after a period of no more than three weeks a new placement will be found for her. Students will be moved urgently if necessary.
Homestay families require at least two weeks advance notice if a student is going to leave, and are entitled to receive full payment for this period of time. Students may not change homestay more than once in any one year except under exceptional circumstances, and may be charged for the second move as considerable time and expense is involved in arranging and transferring a student to a new homestay.
The families of students under 18 years of age housed with a caregiver, who must be a close friend or relative, selected by the parents, are required to sign a disclaimer stating that they wish their daughter to reside with the selected person(s).
A homestay is a good way for an international student to have a real New Zealand experience and improve her English in a supportive environment.
Your host family will expect you to fit in with them and become part of the family. If there are children who have various tasks (eg washing the dishes once or twice a week) you will be expected to join in and take a turn also. (See Homestay Contract)
Your host family will set your ground rules for you, for example the times you must be home etc (See Homestay Contract)
If your Homestay family has young children you may enjoy playing games with them or talking to them. This is a good opportunity to practise your English.
You will be given a Homestay guide for International Students with detailed information when you arrive in New Zealand.
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