It’s hard to believe it’s already May and summer break is just around the corner. As such, I am already gearing up for the eighth grade trip to the East Coast for Spring Break 2011. USA Student Travel and I are sponsoring our Parent Information Night on Monday, May 17, at 7:00 p.m., in the Rio Norte MPR.
At this meeting you’ll hear from me (the teacher coordinator for the trip), our representative from the tour company, and real eighth grade students who just completed their East Coast adventure last month. This will also be your first opportunity to register for the tour (we do have some parents who will bring their checkbook and sign up that night). We’ll answer just about every question you have during the presentation; however, here are some questions parents often ask in advance of the meeting:
Q: Is this meeting for students as well?
A: Definitely. Both parent and student need to be excited about, and committed to, this trip in order for it to be successful. During the part of the meeting where we’re talking about making payments, travel insurance, and other “boring adult stuff,” my current eighth graders will take next year’s eighth graders aside and they’ll have their own special presentation. So, mandatory for students? No. Strongly encouraged? Yes.
Q: Where are you going on the trip?
A: We will visit four major destinations: Washington DC, Gettysburg, Philadelphia, and New York City. We see and do an incredible of amount of historic sites, museums, shows, presentations, and landmarks during our six days.
Q: This trip sounds cool! Are parents allowed to go?
A: Yes, but in limited numbers. I am scheduled right now to have four teachers (including myself) attend the trip. This makes our student-to-teacher ratio about 11:1. In addition, we have a full-time tour guide and coach driver with us at all times, making the student-to-adult ratio closer to 7:1.
However, it is nice to have a few more adults to make that ratio even lower. I typically have no more than three parents attend with us so we can maximize the space available for kids. All parents sign up on a “stand-by” basis (meaning they’re not guaranteed a spot right away). I give preference to parents who have professional experience that can be helpful on the trip (teachers, firefighters, police, EMTs, nurses, etc). Finally, all parents who attend must be “low-maintenance” (I ask the seventh grade teachers) and must be physically able to handle the rigors of the trip. I don’t ask parents to handle discipline or resolve conflicts, but I do expect each parent to be a fully-participating, responsible adult and role model on the trip and in the unlikely event of an emergency, I need cool heads who will help keep our kids safe.
Q: Do parents pay to go?
A: Yes, they do. I reserve the complimentary spaces for my teacher chaperones. Parents pay a higher rate than the students because the student rate is based on quad-occupancy (four to a room) and parents are double-occupancy (two to a room).
Q: How much does the trip cost?
A: I don’t know yet, and won’t know until the night of the presentation when our representative brings all our registration materials. However, I can tell you that the cost of the 2010 tour was $2,155, and it’s natural to expect an annual increase that roughly matches the rate of inflation (typical increase would be between $50 and $75 each year). I can also tell you that the money is not all due at one time. USA Student Travel requires an up-front, non-refundable deposit (typically $150). That deposit reserves your child’s spot on the trip. If the payment schedule is the same as it has been in years past, you will need to pay a minimum of $100 per month, with the final payment due in January.
Q: Wow! That sounds like a lot of money. Seriously?
A: You’re absolutely right; it is a lot of money. That is why before placing your deposit, you need to sit down with your child and determine if he/she is ready for this level of responsibility and freedom. The cost of this trip includes all meals, admissions, air and ground transportation, shows, attractions—everything except snacks and souvenirs and I politely ask for $15 separately so we can tip our tour guide, coach driver, and housekeeping. You could literally send your child with no money at all, and he or she wouldn’t miss a thing. At the meeting, you’ll learn about the entire “bang for your buck” that you get.
Q: Is financial aid or scholarship money available?
A: Because this is neither a school- nor or district-sponsored trip, there are no funding sources available within the school. All money is raised by the students and their families.
Q: What types of fundraising options are available?
A: Again, because this is not a school-sponsored trip, our ability to fundraise on campus is limited. However, I have seen a number of successful approaches for individual fundraising that can significantly reduce a family’s out-of-pocket contribution. Students from past trips have organized neighborhood recycling drives that have raise hundreds of dollars. Many students write a letter or an e-mail to family and friends asking for donations, often in place of what they may have otherwise received for birthday or holiday gifts. There are also a number of online resources available now that enable family and friends to give donations electronically, including PayPal, Google Checkout, and others. You can find out more information by searching for “collect online donations” in any online search. There are also the more “old school” methods by simply going out and babysitting or mowing lawns (those methods of fundraising still work!).
We will discuss these and a number of other topics at the parent meeting on Monday, May 17. I look forward to seeing you there!
Cheers,
Mr. Ippolito
Posted via email from mrippolito.com 
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