Student Exchange Program

This program is available to students of the York Region District School Board (YRDSB).

It is offered by other Ontario school boards to their students through International Student Exchange - Ontario (ISE-Ontario). Check with ISE-Ontario to see which school boards offer these exchanges.

In a student exchange an international student attends a school in YRDSB, generally the student's home school, and becomes an integral part of the family unit. The YRDSB student, in return, attends the partner's school abroad and experiences life in his/her family.

International exchanges have been a strong tradition in York Region over the last thirty years. YRDSB coordinates one of the largest student exchange programs in Canada. Over 100 YRDSB students participate in international student exchanges on an annual basis.

Grades 8, 10 and 11 students in the Exchange Program:

• enjoy the experience of a lifetime
• have fun
• travel, explore, meet new people
• make new friends
• improve their foreign language skills

Exchange Options

(Please note: applications must be submitted in the previous school year.)
Grades 10 & 11 students	three month exchanges with France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Switzerland* two month exchange with Belgium* two month summer exchanges with Quebec, France and Spain
Grade 8 students	two month elementary exchange with France* 2 month summer exchanges with Quebec, France and Spain* (Grades 7 and 8)

 

• offered through International Student Exchange—Ontario (ISE—Ontario), a registered not-for-profit organization that works in collaboration with long standing exchange partners in Europe and Quebec.

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Timing of Exchanges

• Students from French language destinations of Belgium, France and Switzerland (French cantons) arrive in the 2nd week of August and leave approximately mid-October (Belgium, Switzerland) and the beginning of November (France secondary).
• International language destinations of Germany, Spain, and Italy (Italian) arrive the 3rd and 4th week of August and depart in November.
• YRDSB students leave for their international destinations the middle to third week of February.

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Application Requirements

All YRDSB students interested in a student exchange must apply through their home school. Grade 7/8 French teachers receive information about the program in early November. Secondary school Language Department Heads receive information in October.

• Students:
  • complete a Request/Recommendation Form with recommendations from four current or former teachers (a letter of recommendation may also be solicited from an employer, coach, cleric/religious leader
  • complete the full application form
  • participate with their parents in the interview process
  • commit to completing course work related to the semester’s credits from the home school
• Visit the ISE-Ontario web site for appropriate program fees, application procedures and other relevant information.

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Timelines

Applications	Applications to participate in the following school year exchange must be received by YRLC no later than mid-February
Interviews	All students and their parents are interviewed in January and February
Matches	ISE—Ontario makes every effort to find suitable matches for applicants.
Board Presentation	Early in the Fall, YRDSB students introduce their partners to Trustees of YRDSB. The presentation offers trustees an opportunity to meet exchange students from other countries and demonstrates the Board’s high regard for the value of diverse learning experiences
Student Exchange Luncheon	The luncheon is held in October to acknowledge students on exchange in YRDSB
Return Visits	Elementary - February to April Secondary - February to May

• Partners of immersion students of some immersion schools attend English schools, rather than their partner's immersion school.