LETTERS, DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR APPLICATION TO MOUNTAINVIEW

The process for applying to teach at Mountainview involves three basic steps after your initial inquiry. First, there must be acceptance and approval by the Superintendent. Second, we must get approval from three departments of the Indonesian government. Third, you must apply at the closest Indonesian consulate for a semi-permanent (or Temporary Stay) visa. Each of these steps has certain required letters and documents or forms to be completed with your information. The required items are listed below in the approximate order of these steps.

Please supply all of the items listed. An * means that children accompanying the family should be included. It may seem like an unusual amount of material, but it is all important. Incomplete documentation means a delay or a possible rejection during any of the steps. All photocopies asked for must be CLEAR and DARK ENOUGH to be RECOPIED. All documents are copied dozens of times for the various departments and offices through which your papers must pass.

If you do not have a current, valid *passport, you should apply for one immediately. The picture in the passport should be in color and you will need three negatives for each person. It also needs to be a face-on portrait with both ears visible. No side views are acceptable.

STEP ONE (material for school application):

1. Please send your teacher placement file directly to us (if one is available).

2. Please send a résumé or curriculum vitae which includes:
        - information about your education and any teaching certification or license
        - clear photocopies of all transcripts, diplomas and certificates of post-secondary education
        - information about your teaching or student teaching experience with descriptions, dates and supervisors
        - information about your work experience outside of teaching with a brief description and dates.
        **We have a form you may use if you choose.**

3. Please return a completed application for employment which requests:
        - personal data and information about your personal history
        - an explanation of the position you are applying for
        - a list of possible reference contacts (at least five with their addresses and occupations)
        - an essay explaining your philosophy of education
        - an essay explaining your Christian background.

4. We need three Personal Letters of Reference from your church leadership or church members. We also need two Instructional Letters of Reference from those with whom you have worked. At least one work reference must be from an administrator or supervisor. The people who serve as a reference need to write a short letter. All letters must include something about your character, teaching abilities, your ability to work in small groups and your willingness to submit to authority. PLEASE ASK THE PERSON WRITING ABOUT YOUR WORK RELATED REFERENCES NOT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR COMING FOR MINISTRY, BUT SIMPLY TO RECOMMEND YOU THROUGH THE DISCUSSED QUALITIES FOR A TEACHING POSITION HERE. Remember that you will be applying for a teaching visa. Work references will also be reviewed by the Indonesian government and should therefore avoid reference to ministry. These references may be the same people you listed in your application.

5. Please read the Mountainview Statement of Faith, the Staff Covenant and the Memorandum of Understanding. You may sign and return these forms now or you may wait and sign them once you arrive here. The important thing is that you agree to the content of the forms. A Memorandum of Understanding is also required for the teacher’s sending agency if they are affiliated with an organization.

6. *A report of complete and recent (within the last year) physical examinations is required for each person.

7. A report of psychological testing is needed. Because we must function as a team, and because we must know the strengths and weaknesses of our staff, our School Board requires that all prospective teachers get certain psychological testing done at a Christian counseling center. The tests need to be interpreted by a licensed psychologist or psychometrist, and the confidential report needs to be sent directly to us, preferably by fax or e-mail. You will need to sign a release at your interview for the report to be sent to us.

We need to know if a person can work in small groups, submit to authority, contribute to the school as a team member, adapt to a different culture and stand up under pressures such as culture shock. We want healthy individuals, both physically and emotionally. This information should be given to the counseling center in order for them to understand what we need. We also ask that children of six years and up be *interviewed by the counselor to determine how well they are likely to handle the transition. We usually ask for two of the most common tests:

        • Taylor/Johnson Temperament Analysis or PPS
        • Minnesota Multiphasic Inventory or 16PF
        • Sentence Completion
        • Western Psychological Service Drawing Form
        • Other common tests include the WAIS-R, CAQ, Bender-Gestalt, and the Beck Inventory.

7. If you are to be involved in boarding as a family (dorm parents), write a letter explaining:
        - each family member's willingness to be involved in full boarding
        - how do you anticipate your family will adjust to dorm life
        - your philosophy of discipline
        - your experience and expectations regarding living in a multicultural setting



STEP TWO (material needed for visa and work permit):

1. We need clear photocopies of documents pertaining to *birth, marriage or military service.

2. We need the names, addresses and occupations of your parents.

3. We must have a sponsor repatriation letter similar to the example we will send you.
Each teacher must have a letter of repatriation signed by a sending organization or by a friend or family member. The wording of the letter may be modified to indicate financial support instead of salary. If needed, our school does give a stipend and is willing to assist with airfare home in an emergency. However, legally each teacher must have a “guarantee” from someone in their home country, so our school cannot provide this letter. The middle paragraph from the example we provide MUST be in your letter in its present form.

4. We need *clear photocopies of the significant pages of your passport(s). Copy the picture page, the general
information page, and any page that has been stamped by any government.

5. We need a statement from your local police on their letterhead that indicates that you are a citizen in good standing. Keep the original for your application to the consulate later. Send us a photocopy only.

6. We need to know the address of the Indonesian Consulate nearest you.

7. We will need two color negatives of a passport photo (must have a red background and both ears must be visible) to make the various sized photos required in the different departments. Please have three negatives made and send two to us. Keep one negative and a copy of your documents for your own use later. Digital photos are also acceptable now by the government. These can be emailed as attachments if that is easier for you than obtaining and mailing negatives.

8. Also, please give us a list of your and each family member’s: height, weight, hair color, eye color, skin color and shape of nose (normal, pointed or flat). All of this information is needed on forms we fill in before your arrival.


STEP THREE (getting the visa permit in your passport):

1. Once you have received an invitation from the Superintendent to teach at Mountainview, you will need to get an application for a semi-permanent visa (or Temporary Stay Visa) from the Indonesian Consulate nearest you. This should be filled in and all the requested documents on that application should be gathered and organized. However, DO NOT return these forms and documents to the consulate until we have completed the government paperwork here and have the assurance that your entry will be permitted. We will notify you when this has happened. You will need to check on the size of the photos that are required for this application and have photos made from your remaining negative (or digital photo).

2. We will then send you two letters of invitation (one in English and one in Indonesian) asking you to come to teach at Mountainview. These must be included with your application to the consulate.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The school will provide housing for each person or family who arrives to teach. The best arrangements will be made, but they will likely have to be made in advance of the teacher’s arrival. Communications concerning your housing will be made prior to your arrival.

The telephone number in the high school office is 01-62-298-311673 (or 4 instead of 3 for the last digit) and the fax number at the school is 01-62-298-321609. There is usually an English speaker at the office during our school day. We are twelve hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. The fax machine can receive at any time.

Immunization: We recommend that you and your family be immunized for tetanus and typhoid, along will all the regularly required childhood immunizations. Hepatitis A and B vaccinations are also recommended by some physicians.

You must be careful if you mail items to yourself, or if you have someone mail them to you. New items can be taxed at 100% of their value by customs in Indonesia. Gifts or used items need to be so stated by the sender; if you list a value or send an invoice in the same package you will likely be taxed at a high rate. If you are mailing books or printed matter, ask your post office about the rates and restrictions for M-Bags. Use regular mail, not special express or parcel services (DHL, UPS, Federal Express, etc) to reduce cost. These services always have a service fee in Indonesia in addition to the fee paid in the sending country. Airmail usually takes 2 weeks (but can be longer); surface mail usually takes 3 months; M-Bags can take even longer. Rarely, mail is completely lost or some contents disappear. Virtually every package will be opened by customs upon arrival in Indonesia.

Current Mailing Address:       Mountainview
                                        PO Box 142
                                        Salatiga 50711
                                        Jateng, Indonesia

Street Address:                  Mountainview
                                        Jl Nakula Sadewa Raya #55
                                        Salatiga, 50722
                                        Jateng, Indonesia

Thank you for your effort and honesty in completing this process.

Bill Webb
Superintendent
Mountainview International Christian School, INDONESIA