Banbury Crossroads
Independent School

Foreign Students: Concomitant with the growing importance of the English language, especially in the sciences and world commerce, is the growing popularity among overseas junior and senior high school aged students to attend a North American high school for a full school year or semester. Spending 5 or 10 months with a Canadian host family while attending our school is a unique and challenging experience. It builds knowledge, tolerance, wisdom and character strength. Banbury Crossroads takes great care in matching all foreign students with specially selected host families, and in providing individualized instruction suitable to their language and academic needs. Our Banburystay accommodations with active and welcoming host families are first class. Each Banburystay is visited personally and carefully selected to ensure that the students will be happy and comfortable during their stay, and that reasonable transportation to our school is available. We understand how important it is for the students to feel at Banbury and to be treated as part of the family. Each student has a private room with a desk, and regular meals. They also have access to laundry facilities, telephone, and television. Usually, most of our host families have a computer with e-mail access. We ask all students to provide as much information as possible in the Banburystay Application Form so that we can find the best family possible. Regular monthly evaluation reports are completed by the Banburystay Coordinator and sent to the natural parents. In this way, we are able to monitor and influence the quality of the Banburystay and educational experience. If unforeseen circumstances create an uncomfortable Banburystay situation, we find a different and more suitable family for the student. Procedures: Tuition Fees: All parents or guardians registering a student at the school must sign our Registration Form indicating their acceptance of the terms of payment and of the fee schedule calculated for that particular student. It is important to emphasize that Tuition fees are not refunded when students withdraw from the school and the signing party is responsible for the full year's tuition. Registration Fees for new foreign students are $350.00 per student, regardless of date of entry. Registration Fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. Yearly Fees for academic instruction for the 2006-2007 School Term are $11,500.00. Post-dated cheques and lump sum payments are the usual methods of payment. Extra fees may be levied to cover agent fees. A discount of 5% is offered for payment of the full year's tuition upon registration, as long as that registration is received by September 30th of each year. If the monthly payment schedule is chosen, fees for registrations received before July 1st of each year are divided into twelve equal payments. In these cases, payments are made by post-dated cheques dated the last day of each month, beginning on June 30th, and ending on May 31st. All payments for registrations received during the summer months, (between July 1st and September 30th) may have the yearly fee divided into 12, 11 or 10 equal payments, whichever is more convenient for the parent and/or the school. Tuition Fees may be reduced when a family has more than one child attending the school. This policy holds only for immediate family members that is, brothers and sisters. The rates are as follows: First child:   Full fare Second and subsequent children:   20% reduction Field trips are crucial to the integrated approach Banbury Crossroads takes to the learning process. It allows children first-hand experience with their community and with activities not available within school walls. Many of our field trips involve admission fees charged by the institutions that offer tours. Most field trip fees have been included in with tuition fees. The only ones that carry an extra fee are for major, out-of-town trips, or optional courses and excursions. Physical Education Fees are levied for students who are taking this course. This fee helps to cover the significant costs incurred by our regular visits to gymnasiums and sports facilities throughout the city, where we engage in activities such as wall-climbing, roller-skating, golfing, archery, gymnastics, dance, squash, swimming, etc. The only fees that will be extra to this payment are for optional outings, such as ski trips, horseback riding, canoe or camping trips, etc. Book Fees are mandatory. Book fees are handled differently for Elementary students than for Junior and Senior High students. Elementary students have more consistent needs, and costs are more easily predicted. Junior and Senior High students, however, have a wide variety of needs dependent upon the number and type of courses they are taking, both basic and complementary. Therefore, Elementary students are charged a flat fee of $200.00 per year per child, and $175.00 for children from pre-school through ECS. Junior and Senior High students, on the other hand, pay for their own modules and texts. Some textbooks may be rented from the school for a fee, or bought second-hand from previous students. To facilitate the process of ordering books at the beginning of each year, or upon enrollment mid-way through the school term, we require a book deposit of $300.00 from each student in Junior and Senior High. NSF cheques are charged a service fee of $50.00. In addition, if the 12-month or 10-month payment plan is used, and payment is not made on the required date each month, the school may refuse to accept the child until all payments are received. Banburystay fees are as follows: Banburystay Placement and Coordinator's Fee: $500.00 for 5 months, or $900.00 for 10 months Banburystay per month: $650.00 Airport Reception provided if requested free of charge The Role of the Banburystay Coordinator During a Banburystay, a student will be assigned to a Banburystay Coordinator. This is the person who found your host family, and will be your advisor during your Banburystay program. A Banburystay Coordinator is there to help the student when concerns or confusions arise. The HC will be the link between the Banbury and our school. The HC will also write monthly reports outlining the student's progress both within the Banburystay situation and within the school environment. The HC is also responsible for finding alternate accommodation should the first Banburystay situation prove inadequate. Student Resonsibilities to School and Community: Students are responsible for avoiding the possession, purchase or use of illegal drugs or alcohol. Students must abide by the laws of Canada. Students are obliged to avoid the use or purchase of firearms. Students must always be aware of their responsibility as exchange students and make a determined effort to represent their country I a positive manner. Students must be respectful and follow school expectations, attend school daily, and complete school assignments. Students must show respect for their host families, and act as a member of the family by following family expectations and helping voluntarily with family chores. Students making international phone calls to their families and friends are financially responsible for such calls. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all bills are paid before leaving the program. Students must have medical insurance for the time of study. Students are responsible to avoid such dangerous activities as hang-gliding, sky-diving, and bungee-jumping. Students are responsible for any damage they cause to their host family's Banbury and to school property. They must repair or replace damaged items. Students are not obliged to attend the church chosen by their host families. Students cannot change host families at will. Any problems should be addressed with the Banburystay Coordinator. The Laws in North America Drugs The possession, sale or use of illegal drugs is considered a serious crime in Canada. The person violating drug laws will be tried, and in most cases, jailed. Alcohol The legal drinking age in Canada varies from 18 to 21. In Alberta, it is 18. It is illegal to possess or to drink alcohol, to be in drinking establishments, or to be in a group of minors in the possession of alcohol, even if you are not drinking yourself. You can be arrested for this. Tobacco It is illegal to buy tobacco products if you are under the age of 18. By implication, smoking under the age of 18 is discouraged in our society. Shoplifting Stealing something from a store is a serious violation of the law in Canada. Shoplifters are arrested, fined and punished. Driving a Motor Vehicle It is illegal to drive without a valid driver's license and valid insurance. Statutory Rape People aged 18 or older who have sexual relations with minors (16 or under) may be guilty of statutory rape even if both parties were willing participants. If the legal authorities press charges, a person convicted of statutory rape can go to jail.