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Phone:631-654-9284
Fax: 631-654-9297
E-mail: vca@vcog.com
Website: www.vcog.com

Victory Christian Academy
1343 Montauk Highway
East Patchogue, NY 11772

FOREIGN STUDENT APPLICATION

Victory Christian Academy Foreign
Student Program

Building Character and Enriching Lives

Partnerships for a Successful Future

Introduction
Thank you for your interest in our student foreign program which was established in 2003 by Pastor and Mrs. Anthony Seaton, principle founders of Victory Church of God and Victory Christian Academy.

Coming from another culture is an experience that is not foreign to Pastor Seaton who journeyed from another country to the United States where he achieved a Master of Science degree in Counseling. With a desire to give back to those who are responsible for the achievements in his life, he and his wife Barbara, who also has a Master of Science degree in Education, ventured to create an avenue by which individuals could achieve similar experiences.

Both mentoring and apprenticeship are required in every sphere of life for the development of character and a successful education. These afford us the opportunity to bring positive change to our lives, schools, communities, nations and world.

The world becomes a smaller, friendlier place when we learn that all people regardless of nationality desire the same basic things: a safe, comfortable environment that allows for a rich and satisfying life for themselves and for their children. This program provides young people with the opportunity to meet people from other lands, to experience their culture and plant seeds for a lifetime of international understanding.

Students who participate in this program find that the exchange places them in life-changing situations which challenge their thinking, expand their educational and personal experiences, and encourage them to take risks and reap the rewards of doing so.
Four facets of the program include CHARACTER, FAMILY, ACADEMICS and ATHLETICS.

CHARACTER
The most vital aspect of the program is Character Development. Character is an issue that does not divide but brings unity which transcends race, religion, age, business, etc.

Developing character on every level deals with the following areas:

    Wisdom - Principles of life:
  • There are significant principles which are essential for successful living.

    Conflicts - Relationships affected by principles
  • When a principle of life is violated or neglected, breakdowns result in basic relationships of life.

    Decisions - Steps to correct violations
  • Breakdowns in life relationships can be traced to violation of principles that can be corrected through clear and logical steps of action that are required to reconstruct thinking and direction.

    Projects - Instruction based on correction
  • Correction may produce an immediate solution, but further guidance of discipline is essential to strengthen and reaffirm the importance of the steps which were taken.



 PARENTS: What can parents do to make the game of soccer more enjoyable for their children and other people's children, too?

1. Be knowledgeable of the game.

2. Encourage fair play at home.

3. Be supportive; making sure the player attends practice and is picked up on time.

4. Attend games.

5. Be positive or quiet at games.

6. Be respectful; expect your own children to be respectful.

7. Focus on good nutrition.

8. Volunteer to help the coach.

9. Become a referee.

10. Play the game of soccer.

11. Be calm and have good manners.

12. Support the coach's and referee's decisions.

13. Encourage communication between coach and parent.

14. Ask your own children to describe his/her role, what new skills have been learned.

15 Watch practices; focus on new strategies.

16. Find soccer videos, watch them with children.

17. Concentrate on praising other people's children during games.

18. Read newspaper articles about older soccer player's successes; provide models for your own children.
FAMILY CONTD.

Both host families and students are provided with guidelines which include their roles and responsibilities. Some of the guidelines are:

HOST FAMILY'S RESPONSIBILITY

  • Treat the student as you would want a member of your family to be treated while living abroad.

  • Ensure that the student is in a safe, respectful, and appropriate environment at all times.

  • Involve the student in chores, responsibilities and activities similar to those of your own family members.

  • Monitor the student's performance at school.

  • Help the student master your language.

  • Encourage the student to meet other young people.

  • Be tolerant of differences and willing to change your own ideas.

EXCHANGE STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY

  • No driving of motor vehicles.

  • No use of drugs or alcohol.

  • Obtaining special permission for travel outside of the local area while on the exchange.

  • No romantic involvement or sexual activity during the exchange.

Other rules students are required to follow; these vary according to local culture, customs and laws. While some rules may seem strict, the student exchange program adopted them as the result of experience, and disregarding them can lead to students being returned home.

ACADEMICS

 It is our goal to guide these students toward acquiring their diplomas with strong concentration on the sciences, after which they would have an opportunity to further their education. We will familiarize ourselves with the foreign country's curriculum and expect that the students will be academically proficient upon their return home.

The students are given a diagnostic assessment and academic proficiencies are recorded. This allows some student placement in standard, small group classes. Other children enter a setting that is more conducive to their learning abilities and academic needs and a customized program is designed to address their educational deficiencies.



ATHLETICS

Athletics is another component of our program with a major concentration on soccer. As members of Long Island Junior Soccer League, Inc. (LIJS) our club is dedicated to the development of the young men and women in our soccer program. We look forward with great anticipation to work with the Minister of Sports, Minister of Education, clubs, coaches and others to give a more detailed description of the program. We are eager to receive their input so as to formulate a tremendous partnership toward the future success of the sport. We are convinced that this program will help in meeting some of the goals and expectations you have for the country, government and its youth.
The NBAA Sports Program was developed to meet the recreational and athletic needs of students, emphasizing safety, participation, and fundamental good sportsmanship. Every program is designed to provide all youth the opportunity to participate, develop fundamental skills and grow in an atmosphere of sportsmanship, citizenship and teamwork.

It is important that students in this program realize that their enrollment into the sports program automatically mandates participation in the Character Achievement Program.

NBAA SPORTS PROGRAM CONTD.
Developing student's skill is primary as well as making it a joyful experience for all involved.

COACHES: What can they do to make the game of soccer more enjoyable for the players and easier for the referee to manage?

1. Understand the rules and regulations of the sports program.

2. Be accepting of the referee's decisions.

3. Remain calm.

4. Do not make loud, offensive remarks.

5. Concentrate on coaching, rather than on the accuracy of referee's decisions.

6. Be a role model of fair play.

7. Be positive; avoid confrontation with any official

8. During games, leave the decisions to the players.

9. Attend coaching classes to learn the most effective ways to conduct practices.

10. Give good guidelines to parents.

11. Set high standards.

12. Be firm with parents at games.

13. Teach skills and fair tactics.

14. Discourage unfair gamesmanship.

15. Communicate with parents often in meetings and social gatherings.

16. Play the game and encourage parents to play and to referee.

17. Referee games.

18. Delegate responsibilities. 		FAMILY

Securing qualified, responsible and willing host families is paramount. Thorough screening of host families is essential. Visiting the host families and interviewing prospective hosts who will exercise appropriate parental responsibility are both part of the selection process.

Some characteristics we look for during the interview:

  • Caring: a good relationship and mutual respect for all members of the family.

  • Variety of interests: curiosity about different activities and places outside the home.

  • Flexible: able to adapt to having someone new in the home.
  • Humor: ability to put a problem or situation into perspective.

  • Patience: willingness to work through common misunderstandings.

Some questions we ask during the interview include:

  • Why are you interested in hosting an exchange student?

  • If your exchange student broke a district or family rule, how would you deal with the situation?

  • Have you ever traveled abroad? If so, what was the most rewarding aspect of your trip? What was the most difficult aspect of the trip?

  • How would you feel about attending an orientation weekend for exchange students or attending the exchange student's activities?

Evaluation criteria we consider when interviewing a host family are:
  • The reason or motivation for hosting a student.
  • Health of family members.
  • Room arrangements.
  • Transportation arrangements.
  • General condition of the home
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