host and partner families

Each school year, families from our community can get a chance to host or partner with one of our teacher interns. Host families voluntarily provide room and board for half the school year, while partner families provide additional support and connection for the entirety of the school year.

Host Families

In order to host, a family must have a legal bedroom for the intern to stay in. This includes a door, egress window if applicable, a closet, a regular bed (no pull out or futon), and a desk/work table if requested by the intern. Interns do not need to have their own bathroom. Host families can either host in the fall semester from mid-August-mid to mid-January or in the Spring semester from mid-January until one week after the last day of school. 

Partner Families

Partner families are paired with one intern for the entire school year. They are expected to spend time in person with their intern at a minimum once a month. Being a partner family enables you to be closely connected to the Intern Program and create a long-lasting connection with your intern! 

Hosting: Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone be a host family?

Any family connected to our French Immersion program can be a host family! While the majority of our host families have current students in the French immersion program, grandparents of current students have also generously hosted as well as families whose student graduated from the French immersion program. 

What are the house requirements for hosting?

Per our visa sponsor, in order to host a family must have a legal bedroom (with a door, egress window if applicable, a closet, a regular bed, and a desk/work table if requested). Interns do not need to have their own bathroom.

What do families provide? Are families compensated?

Host families provide voluntary room and board. You do not need to have an elaborate family meal every night or to prepare the intern’s lunch every day, but there must be food available for the intern in the fridge and pantry. Families are not compensated financially for hosting. Families are not responsible for costs associated with the intern’s travels, social activities or outings.

How long is the hosting commitment?

Host families can either host in the fall semester from mid-August-mid to mid-January or in the Spring semester from mid-January until one week after the last day of school. 

How are interns matched to host families? Can you request a male/female intern? 

The matching process is very lengthy and detailed and based on exhaustive questionnaires filled out by families and interns. We take into account hosting preferences based on gender, dietary restrictions, allergies, smoking, and much more. We also take into account personalities, preferred activities, activity level, etc. 

Do we have to drive the intern to school and other activities?

Host families help with transportation during orientation week before school starts. Host families often use carpooling options with other families nearby. Once school is in session, interns ride the school bus to/from school. Families are not responsible for driving interns to all activities. Interns can request rides from the community in our Neighborhood Network Facebook Group, walk, ride a bike, take public transportation, use Uber/Lyft, and ask for occasional rides from their partner family.

Who can I contact with questions?

Email Charlotte Taubel interndirector@normandalepto.org