Office of International Education Newsletter ISSUE 5, FEBRUARY 2020
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The goal is to encourage international students to get involved, engaged, and to work as a team.
Dear Partner Agents, For an organization to maintain healthy international student enrollment, strengthening retention is just as important as recruiting new students. This year, the Office of International Education (OIE) introduced an initiative which includes new leadership opportunities for our international students. These include an International Marketing Assistant Team, International Leadership Team, International Mentor Team, and International Photographers. Click here for the brief description of each opportunity. The goal is to encourage international students to get involved, engaged, and to work as a team. It also helps students gain new leadership skills. The OIE staff meets with each new team weekly or bi-weekly to facilitate activities and projects.
We are excited to hear feedback about the early success of our efforts especially from our international students. Here are some of the comments that students have shared: · I feel engaged and a sense of belonging. · I see myself as a valuable asset to the school: contributing ideas, skills, and talent, and making positive changes. · I am gaining real life career and leadership experiences. · This connects me to other students, to the school, and to the community beyond the school. Sincerely, Mariko Fujiwara Director, Office of International Education
ENGAGING STUDENTS
Students leading the international student monthly lunch meeting
One-to-one peer mentoring
Students emcee the international student Christmas party
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International student leaders meet after school for their planning meeting
2020-2021 SCHOOL FEES International Student Tuition
$33,000
Housing
$11,500
Enrollment Fee
$550
Capital Building Fee
$500
INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS
FEB
15
Priority Deadline for Applications: February 15 for August enrollment which begins August 17, 2020. Accepting 40 students | Ages 14-17 | Grades 9-11 Homestay and dormitory arrival for new students begins Saturday, August 15, 2020.
APPLY NOW
2020-2021 ENROLLMENT PROCESS FOR RETURNING STUDENTS Mid-February 2020
Enrollment information will be given to international students and their agents
March 1, 2020
First payment due: $1,050 (non-refundable) confirms enrollment Note: Enrollment Fee $550 + Capital Building Fee $500
May 15, 2020
Balance statement is generated
June 1, 2020
Full payment is due
If you have any questions or concerns about payments, please contact Mr. Rommel Buenafe, Director of Finance, at buenafe@kennedyhs.org. IMPORTANT! Housing placement priority will be given to the students who pay the enrollment fee by March 1, 2020.
ALUMNI PROFILE
IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR FALL/AUGUST Housing Arrival for New Students August 15 Orientation Starts - August 17, 9am No School - August 24 (Staff/Faculty retreat)
We are always delighted to see the faces of alumni. Recently, Lancer graduate Kai Nagai ’19 returned to campus. He was back in Seattle for a visit. This spring, he will start his undergraduate study majoring in global political science and economics at Waseda University, which is one of the top universities in Japan. Read the full story here.
Orientation Continues - August 25-28 - New students and welcome returning students Dorm opens for returning students on Saturday, August 22
ADMISSIONS AND PLACEMENT TEST Read here to learn more about KITE, our admissions and placement test. A step-by-step guide: When to give the practice KITE test: • If the student does not have a TOEFL/English score • If the student has a TOEFL or equivalent test score below 42 • If you are unsure of the student’s English skills and need to determine their level When to give the main KITE test: Online application and instructions found here Admissions Fact Sheet contains application timeline, deadlines, criteria, and other details 1. Complete the online application 2. Pay the $250 application fee 3. Automated confirmation email will be generated 4. International Admission Team will email the agent, family and/or Country Coordinator about needed paperwork 5. After all paperwork submitted, applicant will receive an email confirmation and invitation for a Skype admissions interview 6. International admissions team will email the agent, and/or Country Coordinator the KITE Main Flight Test user name and password 7. KITE test administered 8. Test score available to our office immediately after test is completed 9. International Admission Team will schedule Skype admissions interview with qualified applicants 10. Results announced
Click here to submit application
MAY
31
IMPORTANT FORMS AFTER ENROLLMENT A physical form must be signed and dated by a physician, state that the student is ‘cleared for all sports without restriction,’ and include parent/ guardian authorization for medical treatment. Students should make an appointment in their home country prior to arrival. If students are interested in sports, email INT@kennedyhs.org to complete registration. Forms due May 31, 2020. Immunization forms - English - Chinese - Vietnamese Physical Form
IMPORTANT 2019-2020 DATES Easter Break - Starts April 10 after 3pm - Return start date is April 20 at 8am International Senior Dinner - May 27 at 6pm Family members are also welcome! Please RSVP by March 1, 2020. Email name of participants to Mariko Fujiwara at FujiwaraM@kennedyhs.org Graduation - May 28, 2020 Year End - June 5, 2020 after 3pm
ADMINISTERING THE KITE PRACTICE TEST Testers copy and paste this URL into internet browser: https://testflight.takekite.com/register/kennedy8547 Students are anonymous users when taking this practice assessment. There is no record of their results, aside from the final screen displayed when the assessment is complete. The student should take a screen shot or photo of the final screen and capture the information in order to share the results. An example screenshot of the results page:
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION We welcomed six new students and their family members in January. They traveled from China, Japan and Vietnam to participate in a week-long orientation program. Back row L-R: Raymond X., Kien D., Dylan P. Front row L-R: Kyrie N., Hitomi T., Regina H. International students got a taste of Tacoma during a downtown tour of the Museum of Glass and the LeMay - America’s Car Museum.
CONFIRM YOUR PLACEMENT AND GET YOUR VISA Accepted students will receive an enrollment packet with supplemental documents to be completed by the student. To reserve the student’s placement at Kennedy Catholic, the tuition deposit of $2,050 USD must be received by the deadline indicated. Upon processing of the enrollment documents and the tuition deposit, students will be issued their I-20 form. APR • Students must apply for an F-1 visa with the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
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• Students can apply 120 days prior (April 20, 2020) to the program start date (August 17, 2020). • Students will not be allowed to enter the U.S. more than 30 days (July 19, 2020) before the start date • Before making an appointment for an interview at the U.S. consular office, accepted students should pay their SEVIS fee online. The wait time for an interview varies from country to country. Check the U.S. State Department website to learn more about preparing the visa application. • Students will then complete an interview to demonstrate their ties to their home country, ability to pay for their education, and seriousness as a student. • Once the visa application has been approved, the remaining balance of tuition and fees will be due at a date indicated by Kennedy Catholic prior to student’s arrival.
BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE For the 2020-2021 school year, Kennedy Catholic will be adopting a 1:1 BYOD program. BYOD is the acronym for Bring Your Own Device. WHAT IS NEW: All students will be required to have a device the meets a minimum set of requirements/ specifications. The program will include a financial model that will ensure universal access for all students. Our goal is to teach the mindful use of technology in our community that prepares for college and career life. Families will be responsible to purchase or provide a laptop for their student based on the minimum required specifications. It is our plan to offer devices at discount rates through our vendor partnership. Families should also be able to off-set costs with electronic book options – but hard copies of books will still be available and acceptable. Thank you for your patience as we roll-out these plans.
Device Type
Windows
Mac
Operating System
Windows 10 or newer
OSX 10.8 or newer
Minimum Screen Size
11in
11in
Minimum Ram
4GB
4GB
Minimum Hard Drive Capacity
64GB Recommended: 256GB or more
64GB Recommended: 256GB or more
Minimum Battery Life
6 hours
6 hours
Anti-Virus
Windows Defender (built in)
Built-in default OSX security acceptable
Recommended Additions
Multi-year (3) warranty Accidental damage coverage Potective Case Headphones Keyboard (if Surface)
Multi-year (3) warranty Accidental damage coverage Potective Case Headphones Keyboard (if Surface)