Another local school has a visiting teacher in need of a host family – even for just part of the year. This time, the request comes from Pathfinder K-8. Can you help?

Last year Pathfinder K-8 School was able to provide Mandarin instruction for our students. This was done through an exchange proram with the College Board. It has been a great experience for our students and our families. Students have been able to have Mandarin instruction during the school day and an optional afterschool program has also been available. Pathfinder would like to continue this program for the upcoming school year. In order to do this we must find a host family or host families for our teacher.

We are in need of a host family for our teacher, Mingqui Zhang, to stay with starting on August 22nd. Ms. Zhang would stay with the host family for all or part of the 2011-2012 school year. Families could host on a trimester basis. This is a great opportunity to learn about Chinese culture and pick up some Mandarin Chinese, while doing a great service for our schools. Hosting the Guest Teacher is much like hosting an exchange student, families are responsible for providing the teachers with a room of their own, including the teachers in family meals, and providing them access to things like a washer and dryer. The teacher will receive a modest salary through the Chinese Ministry of Education and the Confucius Institute, and will be provided a bus card for transportation.

If you are interested in serving as a host family, or know of someone in West Seattle who would be interested, please have them contact Pathfinder’s Assistant Principal Lisa Clayton at lclayton@seattleschools.org