Japanese Students Homestay Program
Our school and community have been invited to join other Catholic schools in the city to host Japanese students through the Global Reach/Seattle Junior Study Abroad Program. The goal of the program is for students and host families to have a fun and enjoyable cultural exchange and make friends with similar-aged children in another country. The students stay with host families and come to school each day. Reviews from the past programs include, “Our students K-8, absolutely loved the experience of getting to know these students and the exchanged students enjoyed how warm and welcoming our students were.” “The experience was rewarding for all.” The visiting children will attend classes with our students and will share lessons about Japanese culture and what middle school students in Japan like to do. The students come from the Tokyo area and will spend a week here, March 23- March 31, 2024.
We are looking for host families this spring. Students will arrive March 23 and return on March 31, Easter Sunday morning. The responsibilities of host families include:
- Provide a private bedroom or a separate bed in a shared room with your child.
- Spend time with the students and do something fun in Seattle, especially on weekends.
- Provide breakfast and dinner; students will come to school every day with your child and St. John would provide lunch here for our guests.
- All adults in the home must be compliant with Archdiocesan Safe Environment policies to qualify.
- Each family will receive a $400 stipend to help offset some of the cost. The host families will get a copy of the Japanese students’ insurance policies.
There are more specific details to come, but if this is an experience you would like to share with your children, please contact Principal O’Leary, boleary@st-johnschool.org, as soon as possible so we can inform Global Reach about St. John’s interest.
