Dear Putney Families,

Among the notable silver linings emerging from the challenges of the Covid years has been the flexibility, openness, and the generous hospitality of many Putney families who saved the day for students from overseas who could not return home.

As we continue to rebuild a strong and diverse international student body on campus, we also need to continue building the network of Putney families, especially those within driving distance, to support students from far away. The benefits of having varied perspectives and backgrounds in the classroom and community are extraordinary: friendships with someone raised in another country and culture is a great gift. Most international students hope for for a broader personal experience: a chance to share their stories, (your?) home-cooking, and others’ cultures and traditions. 

Putney’s students this year come to us from China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ukraine.

Historically, Putney families have hosted international students over short and long vacation breaks when dorms are closed.  They have invited international students to join them for holidays, family trips, or simple one-night sleepovers.  Some families can provide repeated homestays and local support for a student who becomes, nearly, a member of the family. Others can offer a one-time stay to fill an urgent need.  We know now of pressing needs for particular students in the coming year, and are actively seeking hosts for some of for Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, and March Break.  Is your family interested in and able to support Putney’s international students for one of these vacations?

Here a brief questionnaire for your family to offer this kind of hospitality.  We hope you will take some time to discuss this opportunity with your family and reply to our questions after the October vacation.

If you have any questions, please contact one or both of us.

Sincerely,

Libby Holmes (lholmes@putneyschool.org)  & Marie Derouault (mderouault@putneyschool.org)

International Student Office