Saint Mary's College High School

El Salvador Immersion Program 2011 - 2012

 

Student Contract & Parents' Release Form

 

Please read the following information carefully.  By signing this form (student and parent must initialize after each point and sign at the end) you are agreeing to the terms and conditions contained herein. This form must be turned in by October 20, 2011.

 

Terms and Conditions

 

Saint Mary's College High School (SMCHS) - El Salvador Immersion Program (The Program) gives students an opportunity to explore the complex issues of peace and justice through faith-based experiential learning.  Students will examine and experience faith, justice, community, simplicity and culture through visiting sacred sites honoring the struggle for justice within El Salvador, live with families in Guarjila, Chalatenango (yet to be assigned), and examine personal and systematic causes of poverty and obstacles to peace and justice.  Students are expected to participate fully in all aspects of the Program and to abide by the guidelines laid out in this document.

 

1.  Each student is expected to apply for and obtain a passport before January 15, 2012.  Passport costs are not included in the Program fees. _____/______ 

 

2. The Program is a voluntary, extracurricular activity based on the principles of faith, justice, community, simplicity and culture. It is not for those whose first priority is entertainment or shopping, etc.  It is understood that the student will be with the group on its tour and not independently traveling except when the group is free to do so.  It is understood that the student will be living with people of another culture and/or economic level.  It is understood that whenever possible, the student will be traveling, living and eating as they do. _____/______

 

3. The base level cost of the Program is $1400.00. This amount will be divided into three payments to the school and two payments to the Tamarindo Foundation. This covers all group expenses (excluding those mentioned in this contract) and a portion of the Tamarindo group fee of $3000.00 (subject to change depending on John Guiliano). The group is responsible for fundraising to meet the remainder of this amount. In order to reduce our fundraising burden, families are invited to pay over the base level amount when making out checks to SMCHS.  Please specify how much (if any) over the base level you will be contributing here $ _________.  The first payment, to the Tamarindo Foundation Inc, of $250.00 is due November 8, 2011. The second payment, to the Tamarindo Foundation Inc, of $250.00 is due on December 7, 2011. The third payment of $300.00 to SMCHS is due on January 1, 2012. The fourth payment, to SMCHS, of $300.00 is due on February 1, 2012. The final payment of $300.00 to SMCHS is due March 1, 2012. The business office will bill families for the SMCHS payments and will accept payment by mail. The Tamarindo payments must be given directly to the program directors. By signing this contract, students and their families commit to participating in the program and meeting all financial deadlines. (See clause 17 of this contract regarding cancellation of participation and refunds.) _____/______

 

4. Students will be housed in groups of two or three with a Salvadoran family during the stay in Guarjila, Chalatenango, El Salvador. All students will eat meals together in Guarjila with the Program Directors at a local restaurant. While in San Salvador or other towns, the group will stay in local motels or private residences and eat together at these sites and also at local restaurants. _____/_____

 

5. The Program Directors will make the full trip itinerary available as soon as it has been confirmed with the Tamarindo Director, John Guiliano. The Program Directors and Tamarindo Director reserve the right to make alterations in the itinerary which they consider to be in the best interest of the students, or in response to unforeseen circumstances. Students will accept any necessary changes and will not hold SMCHS, its agents, employees and/or volunteers liable if such changes are made. ______/_____

 

6. During both the Guarjila home stay and the traveling portions of the Program, students are expected to be considerate of others and to treat the property of others with respect. If a student damages the property of another, he or she, or his/her parents, will be liable to pay for the damage and/or reimburse SMCHS if SMCHS has paid for the damage. ______/______

 

7. If the student misses a plane, train, bus or other mode of transportation, SMCHS cannot be responsible for additional costs the student incurs.  The student will be responsible for the cost of another ticket or mode of transportation. If the student does not have the necessary funds with him/her, the student's parents/guardians are responsible for costs the student incurs.  Any bills during the trip may be added to the studentÕs school bill for tuition and other fees and the same rules on withholding transcripts and report cards against outstanding bills will apply here as well. ____/_____

 

8. If a student does anything that is illegal, that threatens the safety of another person, or that interferes with the successful operation of the Program, (i.e. drinking alcohol, being sexually active), the Program Director has absolute discretion to remove the student from the Program and send him/her home at the parents' expense.  Curfews must be respected and unruly behavior will not be tolerated. In the event that a student is sent home for misbehavior, the unused portion of the Program will not be reimbursed.  Alcohol and/or drug use, without a prescription, is forbidden and illegal. If a student possesses and/or uses alcohol and/or non-prescription, illegal drugs, it will constitute grounds to terminate that studentÕs participation in the activity without refund. If the activity takes place at a remote location and the student is terminated because of alcohol and/or illegal drug possession or use, then the studentÕs parent(s) may be liable for costs of transporting the student home. ______/______

 

9. All rules and policies outlined in the Student-Parent Handbook are expected to be followed at all times while participating in this Immersion experience. ______/______

10. In case emergency medical attention is needed, the student's parents/guardians permit the Program Directors or a doctor to make whatever decisions are necessary. If it is possible, the Program Directors will contact the student's parents immediately. If it is not possible to do so, the Program Directors will obtain for the student whatever medical intervention is considered necessary. The student's parents/guardians agree to pay any and all charges incurred on presentation of receipts. In case the student's family doctor or specialist does not agree with a medical decision, the student's parents will not hold SMCHS, its agents, employees and/or volunteers nor the Tamarindo Foundation Inc., its agents and/or volunteers liable for the decisions made or for the care provided. _____/______

 

11. It is the parent/guardianÕs responsibility to make sure that the studentÕs health form (currently on file in the RegistrarÕs Office) is up to date. Copies of the studentÕs health form will be taken on the trip to provide important information about medical history/conditions. Students with allergies or other chronic conditions must be provided with enough medication to take with them, and also with the name of required medications and doses. (This is in case the student loses the medication or uses it more rapidly than anticipated.) A photocopy of prescriptions is required. _____/______

12. Participation in this co-curricular activity is voluntary. SMCHS, its agents, employees, and/or volunteers as well as the Tamarindo Foundation Inc., its agents, employees, and/or volunteers will not be held liable for any injury, accident, or anything that happens to a student while participating in a sport and/or co-curricular activity. This includes such activities as amusement park rides, scuba-diving, skiing, ice skating, surfing and any other sport or co-curricular activity the student might attempt. ______/_____

13. In the event that a student returns home early because of illness, injury, homesickness, or violation of agreement, the parents/guardians agree to pay any and all charges incurred. There will be no refund for the unused portion of the Program. ______/______

 

14. There will be no refunds and SMCHS, its agents, employees and/or volunteers as well as the Tamarindo Foundation Inc., its agents, employees, and/or volunteers will not be held liable in the case of natural disaster or man-made disaster in the country where the student will be visiting or elsewhere in the world during the program. _____/____

 

15. SMCHS, its agents, employees and volunteers as well as the Tamarindo Foundation Inc., its agents, employees, and/or volunteers will not be held liable for any damage, loss, injury, delay or inconvenience caused by any company, organization, agent, person, or persons providing facilities or services in connection with the Program, including without limitation airlines, bus companies, railways, ferry operators, hotels and schools. ______/______

 

16. SMCHS, its agents, employees and volunteers as well as the Tamarindo Foundation Inc., its agents, employees, and/or volunteers will not be held liable for any damage, loss, or injury to persons or property, including without limitation: baggage, personal effects, money, passports, tickets, or travel documents, nor for events beyond their control, including without limitation: acts of God, weather, strikes, war, imprisonment, government restrictions, or death. There will be no refunds and SMCHS, its agents, employees and volunteers will not be held liable in case of terrorist activity, armed conflict, or any political event, in the country or city the students will visit or anywhere else in the world.    ______/______

17. Cancellation terms: If a student withdraws from the group on or before January 15, 2012, all deposits will be refunded except any irrevocable expenditures (for example, the airline ticket purchased if it is non-refundable or the hotel room reservation if it is already made and depends upon double occupancy and an alternate student is not available, or any portion of the Program whose cost depends on a fixed number of students that would be damaged by his or her withdrawal).  If a student withdraws from the Program after January 15, 2012, he or she will receive no refund. _____/______

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have read carefully the terms and conditions contained herein. I understand the nature of the Program and the expectations and responsibilities it entails. I believe the student signing below is sufficiently mature and responsible to attend this program. I understand and accept the disclaimers regarding liability, and I agree to all terms regarding payments, cancellations, medical interventions, behavioral expectations, participation and activities. I waive any and all claims against St. Mary's College High School, its employees, agents and volunteers, as well as the Tamarindo Foundation Inc., its agents, employees, and/or volunteers for any injury, accident, and/or damages which might result from this program.  My signature below demonstrates my acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Program contract outlined above.

 

 

 

STUDENT NAME:                                                                                                                                                   

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STUDENT SIGNATURE:                                                                                    DATE:                                           

 

 

 

PARENT NAME:                                                                                                                                                    

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PARENT SIGNATURE:                                                                                       DATE:                                           

 

 

ADDRESS:                                                                                                                                                                 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                 

 

TELEPHONE:                                                                                                                                                             

 

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