Hosting Responsibilities

For families that host our German guests when they visit Kitchener:

• Meals: Please provide all meals, including a bag lunch when required.
• Transportation: Please provide transportation to and from school. Every attempt will be made to have students back at Rockway by 3:30 p.m., to minimize waiting. Transportation will also be required on those days when longer excursions will necessitate pick-up well after school dismissal times. (Please refer to schedule.)
• Accommodations: Please provide a room (separate if possible) during the 8-9 days of the exchange. (Please see itinerary for travel details.)
• Internet access: Please offer computer access for e-mailing purposes only.
• Telephone: It is not expected that host families assume costs of long distance service; however, if you are in a position to offer that to your host student, that would be a kind gesture. Phone cards can easily be purchased at minimal cost to the guest partner.
• Host Family Weekends: One weekend is designated as a Host Family Weekend, to encourage interaction with the Canadian family. Students have often organized group activities during these times.
• Silver Lake Mennonite Camp: Please provide your guest with a sleeping bag and pillow for this trip. Canadian students will accompany their guests to SLMC. This has traditionally proven to be a good opportunity for relationship-building between Canadian and German students. The cost will be approximately $40.00 for accommodation and food. The German students will pay their own costs.
• Farewell Meal: Approximate cost per student: $18.00. The meal for the Weierhof students is paid by the Weierhof chaperone(s).
• Classes: Other than the two-day excursion to Silver Lake, Rockway hosting students are expected to attend all regular classes, to minimize disruption of their academic studies.