Page 8 - Dinuba Sentinel 6-27-19 E-edition

A8 | Thursday, June 27, 2019
Dinuba Library internet
policy meeting tonight
Back Page The Dinuba Sentinel Foreign exchange program
seeks local host families
With three homes already secured, World Link, Inc. is looking to ll two more spots for incoming students
Though some exchange students have already been placed with host families for the coming school year at Dinuba High School, there are still a handful of them who are still waiting for a local host family.
Three students are currently eligible for placement through the international exchange student organization World Link, Inc., while three students have already found local host families. According to World Link Regional Coordinator Michelle Pattillo, the three students placed represent the countries of Kyrgyzstan, Tunisia and Kazakhstan.
Of the three students still eligible for placement, as many as two of them may find themselves attending Dinuba High in the fall. Pattillo said the district allows for five students to be placed at the high school.
Here are the three students still waiting for a host family through the program:
Elisa from Albania
Her interests include music, swimming, and acting. She likes studying languages and speaks English and German. Elisa enjoys volunteering for her mom’s kindergarten class.
She also enjoys playing volleyball and basketball, and jogging. Elisa said she wants to connect her future career to IT or business. She would like to learn to play an instrument and
Sentinel staff report
The community is being invited to a public meeting at the Dinuba Branch of the Tulare County Libraries to hear and give input on a proposed update of the library’s Internet policy on today at 6 p.m.
According to Dinuba’s Branch Manager, Stephanie Buckridge, the library reviews their policy every few years to ensure that it is meeting the community’s needs and complying with the Children’s Internet Protection Act. Based on CIPA, any school or library that receives government funding must use policies and technology that restricts a minor’s access to inappropriate or harmful
materials on the Internet, provide security and safety of minors using chat rooms, email, instant messaging or any other types of online communication, prevent the unauthorized disclosure of a minor’s personal information or unauthorized access, like hacking, by minors.
The public meeting will be held at the Dinuba Branch Library and everyone is invited to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.
Also, the library is currently holding presentations and craft projects throughout the summer. All ages are welcome to attend and the workshops and, like all events at the library, are free to attend.
Dinuba Sentinel, 100 years ago
One of the earliest front page covers in the archives of the Dinuba Sentinel dates back to March of 1919.
Sentinel archives
is ready to become a member of her new American family.
Ana from Romania
Ana describes herself as creative, hardworking, and ambitious. She has competed in Physics experiments, as well as German, and Art competitions. In the future, Ana would like to be a Criminologist.
She enjoys painting, drawing, reading, and writing. She also enjoys playing sports - soccer, basketball, handball, and she used to train in karate. Ana said she is looking forward to attending American football games, joining cheerleading, and trying new sports.
Myriline from Liberia
Myriline loves to learn. She attends school quiz competitions, and especially enjoys studying math. Myriline has been named “Best Student” of her school for the last two years.
She wants to study civil engineering and said she loves
designing buildings and wants to help improve her country’s roads. She also plays basket and kickball, and helps around the house by doing the dishes, sweeping, and doing laundry.
While in the US, Myriline said she wants to learn swimming and tennis, and wants to visit historical and important places.
Hosts volunteer to become an exchange student’s American family for nine months, while the student attends Dinuba High School. The connections built over those nine months, according to Pattillo, last long after the student returns home.
Host Ramon Herevia spoke for his family when he recently shared of the experience, “Hosting Jeren has been a life changing experience. She has enriched our family and is forever our daughter and my children’s older sister.”
Herevia and his family hosted Jeren of Turkmenistan during
the 2018-2019 school year. Jeren said of the experience, “People who I never knew became my family for the rest of my life. Without them my exchange would not be full of
amazing memories.”
Out of 43,000 applications
worldwide, only 900 students are selected to participate in the student exchange program through World Link, Inc. Students earn scholarships through the U.S Department of State and those scholarships pay for medical insurance, school fees and expenses. Students are also provided a monthly allowance for pocket money.
Host families need only provide a bed, meals and a loving home.
If you would like more information about becoming a host family, contact Pattillo at 368-9470. You can also email her at mpattillo13@yahoo.com.
Ramon Herevia, shown here with his family during a trip to the coast, was happy to host Jeren (front center) during the 2018-19 school year. Accoring to Herevia, the experience established an amazing bond with their exhange student and know consider her a forever member of the family.
Photo contributed
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