Picasa Album - ECT 2012 - Day 1

Hi,

Check out this Picasa album - ECT 2012 - Day 1.

https://picasaweb.google.com/115123181846550358255/ECT2012Day1

About half of the photos are done being uploaded. Will try to upload 50-75 pics per day during the trip.

After the trip, will upload over 1,000 pics taken by me and my wife.

Tiring day today. Kids' rooms went quiet FAST tonight. :) More adventures tomorrow!

Memorials at Night

Dinner!

Checking out the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights

"1776" about to start in Ford's Theatre

Souvenir Shopping

Lunch now. Up next, "1776" at Ford's Theatre!

Getting ready for Capitol tour

Tour has begun! - Lafayette Square

Breakfast in Virginia

Landed safely at 5:54am local time.

Futuristic cabin! Ready to take off!

Waiting to board at Gate 31A

See the full gallery on Posterous

Checking in at Virgin America

Off the freeway at Century Blvd; will be at the airport in 5 minutes

East Coast Trip - Last e-mail

My final message before we travel is simple:  please remind your child to listen.  This is such an exciting trip, with so much to see, do, and experience.  The number one way your child can make the most of the trip is to listen.

Listen to our tour guide and the park rangers as they describe all the wonderful things we’re seeing.  Listen to your buddy when he or she expresses the need for a restroom break.  Listen to your chaperone when he or she tells you what time to meet back up for our next activity.  Listen to Mr. Ippolito when he tells you what your boundaries are and where you need to be to stay safe.

Take your child close one more time before we depart and remind them to make good choices.   We have strong systems and policies in place to protect our kids, we have experienced educators with watchful eyes, but the person with the greatest power to keep your child safe is YOUR CHILD.

I’ll see you at Rio Norte tomorrow evening by 5:30 p.m.

RVI

East Coast Trip – Second-to-last e-mail

Just a couple of quick things for kids and parents:

Wear your blue USA shirt tomorrow.  If you forget it, I have a couple extras, but it may not be your size, so it’s best just to wear your own. We will be wearing this shirt for over 24 hours before we arrive at our first hotel. For this reason, I STRONGLY urge that you take a shower when you get home from school tomorrow so you’re at your freshest when we fly out ESPECIALLY if you have PE and you’re doing the River Hawk Walk tomorrow.  We’ll all be grateful that everyone is fresh and clean when we have to share an airplane and a bus together.

Do a final packing check.  Batteries and chargers are the most frequently forgotten-at-home accessories on this trip.  Go through your whole packing list and check and double check.  I already have mine laid out on “The Table.” :-)

Let’s keep in touch. Once the trip begins, I will no longer be sending out these regular broadcast e-mails to parents (you may get just one or two, or maybe not).  Instead, I will be posting regular updates on the blog, Twitter, and Facebook.   Check from work, check from home, my goal is to post a trip update every 4-6 hours (probably more than that).  These links are great to share with family and friends (grandmas love my blog!).  There are a number of ways to follow the “Ipp Trip”:

Blog – http://www.ipptrip.com
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/IppTrip
“Like” our trip on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/IppTrip

Check the weather lately?  If you've been watching the weather (forecast links to our destinations are available on my blog), you’ll see some very typical East Coast weather for early spring: cold and rain. Be prepared for this weather. I strongly suggest caps and gloves. Weather forecasts can change, too, so be prepared for warmer weather just in case. Layer.

I said "second-to-last" e-mail because I imagine there will be one final one late tonight.  See you tomorrow in the Rio Norte front parking lot by 5:30 p.m.! Remember to park under the solar panels and NOT in the red zone. Thanks so much!

RVI

The foldable Medication Form

Finally the "Foldable Medication Authorization Form" is complete! You can download it HERE:

http://rippolito.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/52309290/ECT%20Medication%20Authorization%20Foldable%20Form.pdf

And then I will also make hard copies and provide them for students at tomorrow's meeting.

This is the form you will fill out, fold, and then put in the quart-size bag along with whatever meds you are sending with your child. Then you will give that quart-sized bag to one of the four teachers on Friday evening when you check-in, as follows:

If your chaperone is MR IPPOLITO, give your meds to MR IPPOLITO.
If your chaperone is MRS IPPOLITO, give your meds to MRS IPPOLITO.
If your chaperone is MR SHERIDAN, give your meds to MR SHERIDAN.
If your chaperone is MRS ASPLUND, give your meds to MRS ASPLUND.

If your chaperone is MR MCNAIR, give your meds to MR IPPOLITO.
If your chaperone is MRS UHL, give your meds to MRS IPPOLITO.

If your parent is going on the trip, your parent can keep your meds. :)

East Coast Trip - Request for information

Dear parent/guardian,

Would you do me a big favor, take just a couple minutes, and fill out this quick online form?

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHFvOV9LaWFpQl9FQXhWY2VqaFRCSFE6MQ

I already have all your contact and emergency information on the yellow form you turned in at the Pre-Departure Meeting. However, this form will put all the MOST important family contact information all in one spreadsheet for me. So if I do need to contact you, it saves time and helps me reach you faster if you fill out this simple, secure online form.

Thanks so much for your help!

Mr. Ippolito

East Coast Trip - Meds

One more thing--

My very wise wife has indicated to me that it might help to provide more guidance on packing medication. To that end, TOMORROW I will create and send out a foldable form that you can fold and insert into your quart-size baggie to make managing medications easier for parents and for chaperones.

Be looking for that tomorrow!

Cheers,

Mr. Ippolito

East Coast Trip – Getting packed ready for the airport

We are just THREE days away from our big trip, and the first adventure we will all face together is getting through airport security.  However, with some advanced planning and smart decisions, we can all make it through quickly and easily.  Here are some tips:

Photo ID – Sometimes the airport checks IDs on our kids, and other times they don’t, but I don’t take any chances. Therefore, I ask that ALL students give me your photo ID Thursday at 2:00pm at one final meeting. I keep all the IDs together in one binder sorted alphabetically to make it easy for check-in. The ticketing agents love this and are usually extra-nice to us as a result. If you will need your ID to use a debit or credit card, just let me know and I will give it to your during the trip. Just keep it safe and prepare to give it back to me before the flight home. All adults will definitely need government-issued photo ID.

Reduce your metal – Try to wear as little metal as possible to the airport.  Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and even clothing with metal accessories attached to them always have the potential to set off the system (metal-rimmed eyeglasses are OK). Boys, if you’re into those big skater belt buckles (those “Famous Stars and Straps” buckles were really popular a couple years ago), leave them at home.  Finally, any other objects (watch, camera, cell phone, iPod, coins) that could activate the metal detector should be placed in your backpack. Take some time BEFORE we get to the airport to do this, so you’re not scrambling at the last minute. The only things that should be in your hand or in your pockets as you walk through security should be your boarding pass.  You MUST have this with you when you walk through security.

Measure up – I’ve already told you that your checked suitcase should be no heavier than 45 pounds. The airlines set 50 pounds as the absolute maximum, but you’re probably going to bring back more than you went out with, so leave yourself some room.

Smart shoes – The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) will require you to take off your shoes and place them in a bin to be scanned. Make sure to wear shoes that are easy to take off and put on (no double or triple knots in your laces), but keep in mind these are probably the same shoes you will wear throughout much of our first day on tour.

Sweatshirts, jackets, and hoodies – If your outer layer is one that can be easily shed (zip-up hoodie or jacket), be prepared. TSA may ask you to remove it, place it in a bin, and run it through the scanner. If it’s a pull-over sweater or sweatshirt, they generally will let you leave it on. I actually recommend that whatever warm coat you’re bringing on the trip you actually wear to the airport and DON’T pack it. It’s one less bulky item to pack in your suitcase and it could double as a pillow or a blanket on the plane.

Quart-size bags – If you’re toting tons of electronics with you (iPod, iPod charger, cell phone, cell phone charger, headphones) all in your backpack, it may look like you’re carrying some sort of explosive triggering device. Make your life and the life of your TSA screener easier by grouping these items into quart-size storage bags. I’m partial to the quart-size freezer bags because they’re a little sturdier. If the TSA screener has to open your bag, it will be easy for him to see you have nothing suspicious. Plus, it will be easier for you to find your stuff later without cords getting all tangled up.

Avoid liquids in carry-on – In the TSA 3-1-1 guide (available on http://ipptrip.com), it talks about the rule for bringing liquids in your carry-on. I’m not bringing ANY liquids in my carry-on luggage (my backpack). All my hair gel, toothpaste, shampoo, acne cream (OK, well I don’t use this any more, but you might), goes into my toiletry bag in my checked luggage. Why do you need hair gel or deodorant on the airplane? These guidelines are mostly geared to overnight travelers who pack everything into their carry-on, and that’s not us. Ooh, and I have one more tip for you. You know you can’t bring bottled water through airport security, right? But, Mr. Ippolito has been bugging you (and will continue to bug you) about staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water, right? Try this: pack an EMPTY water bottle in your carry-on bag. Once we get through security and we’re just hanging out in the terminal waiting to board the plane, go fill up your bottle at the drinking fountain. This can be one of those fancy refillable bottles, or simply an empty Aquafina bottle.

There are tons of other prohibited items that I'm not going into, but most of these are common sense. Here's a good rule: if it's not allowed at school, it's probably not allowed on a plane. Please ask Mr. Ippolito if you are unclear about what is prohibited and what is not.

“The Table” – When it comes to personal travel, I am a very inefficient packer. For some items, I pack way more than I need. For other items, I don’t pack enough or don’t pack it at all. Inevitably I forget something, and we end up stopping at Target or Walgreen’s or someplace like that to get what I didn’t pack.

We don’t have that luxury next week, which is why I am such a different traveler when I go on the East Coast Trip. My wife laughs at me, but I actually set out a folding table. On “The Table” I place my packing list and then item by item I lay everything out that I need. Deodorant: check. Toothpaste: check. iPod charger: check. Camera battery charger: check.

If you haven’t set up your own version of “The Table” yet, I urge you to consider it. Lay everything out in advance now so you know what you have and what you may still need to get. Places like Walgreen’s are not always easily accessible with the places we’re visiting and the schedule we’re on. Hotel gift shops often sell toothpaste and batteries and memory cards, but it is likely at a significantly higher price.

Our final student meeting will take place THURSDAY, 2:00 to 2:30!  I originally tried to schedule a lunch meeting, but I realized that I have guest speakers this week and I can't get a sub when I have guests in my classroom. We’ll play a quick quiz game that will test students’ knowledge of everything we’ve learned about the trip so far (with prizes!).  Want to “study” for the quiz game?  I will draw from every e-mail I’ve sent out, the pre-departure meeting, the packing lists and tips sheets.  Basically, it’s everything that’s on my blog:  http://ipptrip.com.

Students—The next time I’ll see you is THURSDAY AT 2:00PM
Parents—I’ll see you FRIDAY AT 5:30 PM!

RVI

Updated itinerary now online

Updated itinerary is now online! The one change between this and the paper one you got at the Pre-Departure Meeting is that this one has the correct "roll-out" time for the coach to leave Rio Norte on Friday, March 30. Remember, "roll-out" time is 6:00 p.m., which means you should be at Rio Norte no later than 5:30 p.m.

Download the itinerary here:

http://rippolito.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/51992892/Rio%20Norte%20Itinerary%202012%20-%20updated.pdf

Ask your East Coast Trip question

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East Coast Trip - Gadgets, bag tags, and questions, oh my!

It seems like teenagers and gadgets are inseparable. This can be good, especially when it comes to taking lots of photos of our big East Coast adventure. This can also be a challenge, as we do need to place restrictions on certain types of technology. These restrictions are put in place primarily for the safety of your child, but also so we can be polite and respectful of the people and places we visit.

Cameras – When thinking about what camera to send along with your child, you must consider your budget, your child’s ability to keep track of and take care of a camera, and how much of a picture-taker your child is. You don't want to send your child with a disposable camera if your child loves taking pictures; they'll fill it up by the end of our first day in Washington DC! However, you may feel a bit bamboozled if your child begs for an $800 camera only to find they come home with 20 photos. If you’re still unsure, check out “Mr Ippolito’s Camera Guide” on my blog at http://ipptrip.com.  Also, if your kid isn't a shutterbug, you can take comfort in the fact that both my wife and I are. I will post a few photo updates throughout the day so you can see what we’re doing. In total, my wife and I will take about 1,000 photos (easy!), and I will post them all online when we come home.  Finally, students WILL NOT be able to use the camera feature on their cell phones.  Here’s why . . .

Cell phones – As we see in the world around us, cell phones can be both an amazing tool and an incredible distraction. For teenagers, cell phones are even more of a distraction. On top of that, these teenagers will be with friends, during spring break, in a strange new place away from home. I can’t have us walking through Times Square at night with literally a million people all around us with your child text messaging their friends back home as we cross 42nd Street and –slam!—they become a hood ornament on a taxi cab. That’s the most important reason for restricting cell phone use on our trip:  the safety of your child. The other big reason is just simple courtesy. We are visiting some of our nation’s most honored places: Independence Hall, Arlington National Cemetery, Ford’s Theater, George Washington's grave, and more. It’s just not right to be checking Facebook or playing DrawSomething as we walk through the final resting place of our country’s heroes. Finally, when we’re touring through a city or town, our tour guide will be sharing valuable information with all of us, either about the amazing sites right outside the window, or perhaps information about a meeting time, a meeting place, or lunch arrangements. This is important information you might miss if you’re busy talking or texting. Here’s the bottom line: if your child wanted to spend all of spring break texting or chatting with their friends, you could have saved a lot of money and just have them hang out at the mall for the week.

For all these reasons, we restrict cell phone use. Cell phones may be used (1) in the mornings or evenings while we are in our hotel, (2) at meals, or (3) while we are “in transit” from one major city to the next.  The rest of the time, students are to keep their cell phones silent and put away. If we find your child using his or her cell phone, I will take it away and keep it for the duration of the trip. The only permitted use at that point would be to call home once each evening, and your child would do so in the hotel hallway in the presence of a chaperone. No fun! Finally, please make sure your child has a wristwatch, as the cell phone may not be used as a time-keeping device.

iPods and other devices – You child is allowed to bring an iPod or other MP3 player or a portable gaming system like a NintendoDS. You may use these devices in the hotel or “in transit.” We cannot be responsible for any lost electronic devices, so please allow your child to bring only what you trust they will take care of.

Baggage Tags – At the Pre-Departure Meeting, you got two fluorescent orange baggage tags in your envelope when you checked in. One is to put on your checked suitcase for our flight out, and the other will go on your backpack. Please read the instructions on our Facebook page -- http://www.facebook.com/IppTrip or on our blog -- http://www.IppTrip.com for the best way to fill out these bag tags.

Questions? – We’re less than two weeks away from departure, and you may have questions that come up, but you may want to ask anonymously. Well ask away! I’ve just submitted a “What’s your question?” feature on IppTrip.com. Type in your anonymous question, and Mr. Ippolito will answer it online, usually within 24 hours.

I’m still waiting to confirm one final student meeting (this one will be a lunch meeting) for the week of the trip. As soon as I have that date finalized, I will let you know. At that meeting, we’re going to have a fun quiz to see how much you remember about all the things I’ve told you about how to make the most of our trip. There will be fun prizes for those who can answer correctly!! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Cheers,
Mr. Ippolito

How to fill out your baggage tags

East Coast Trip - Forgot to mention . . .

Hey East Coast Trip families,

First of all, GREAT meeting tonight, and thank you so much for your attention and enthusiasm. I got so excited about the Twitter Fast Follow thing (where you can receive alerts on your cell phone without needing a Twitter account or a smartphone), I forgot to mention a couple things:

1. When you sign up to follow me "FOLLOW IPPTRIP," the first time it will ask you if you want to "Join the Conversation" by setting up a Twitter account. You don't NEED to do that (or anything else, for that matter). You'll know you're getting my alerts if you get a confirmation that says something like "you are now following IppTrip." The great thing about this Twitter Fast Follow system is there is no need to do anything else. No sign up. No account or further action needed. Nothing. Standard text message rates apply, so it's helpful to have unlimited texting.

2. If you get sick of my tweets now, or sometime down the road, you can UNdo the process by UNfollowing me. To do that, simply reply to that same number (40404) with two words: UNFOLLOW IPPTRIP or OFF IPPTRIP. If you started following Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga and Ashton Kutcher and it's all starting to get out of hand and you want to stop it altogether, simply reply to 40404 with the word STOP (you may be asked to confirm with STOP again) and all updates will cease.

If you have a group or organization (youth, school, church, book club, family, whatever) and you think they could benefit from you being able to send out one message that can reach dozens (or hundreds or thousands) via text message for free, then Twitter Fast Follow could be a good solution. In addition to the East Coast Trip, I also use it in my classroom to connect with students and parents to provide homework reminders, quiz and test reminders, and other class announcements. There's an article here from Twitter: http://blog.twitter.com/2010/08/introducing-fast-follow-and-other-sms.html and then I've written an article as well: http://www.ronippolito.com/2011/12/setting-up-twitter-fast-follow-at-your.html

Cheers,

Mr. Ippolito

Staying healthy and Pre-Departure Meeting TOMORROW

Our East Coast Trip will be fun and exciting, but it can be a challenge to stay healthy. Inevitably, heads will ache, tummies will hurt, and eyelids will droop as the trip begins to take its toll on the teenage bodies embarking on this trip (and perhaps on some adult bodies as well). Here are my suggestions for staying healthy:

SLEEP
- I know the switch to Daylight Saving Time has us all a little messed up right now, which really highlights how important sleep is for us. Get plenty of sleep the week leading up to Spring Break.  The last thing we want to experience is fatigue and exhaustion before the trip even begins! If you are well-rested, it will help to counteract the less-than-perfect sleep you may experience when we’re on the red-eye flight out.

EAT HEALTHY, DRINK HEALTHY
Drink lots of water on the trip. Some kids experience headaches around Day 2 or 3 of the trip, and often this can be attributed to dehydration. Unless your child is an athlete in training, the East Coast Trip often has far more physical activity (with all the walking) than your child is used to in an average day. Caffeine and artificial sweeteners both act as diuretics, drawing fluids out of the body faster than necessary. Instead of turning to Dr. Pepper or Diet Coke, encourage your child to drink water both at meals and in-between them. If you really need something sweet to drink, consider lemonade, Sprite, fruit juice or some other non-caffeinated beverage.  If you really must have a Coke or Pepsi with dinner, just have one, and match it with an equal amount of water.

Eat healthy meals. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” In that same spirit, we offer your child a variety of healthy eating options at each meal, but it’s up to your son or daughter to make those good choices. Day 2 or 3 of the trip is also the day that the stomachaches begin. While it’s not the most fun topic to talk about, constipation often is the cause. I encourage students to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and grains to “keep things moving.” And again, staying hydrated with plenty of water also prevents constipation. Finally, don’t blow your souvenir budget on candy and other unhealthy snacks; instead, pack granola bars, trail mix, dried fruit, or other healthy treats in your luggage.

Eat light before the flight. Three years ago we had a student who was a little nervous about flying eat a large meal for dinner, followed by candy throughout the flight. Match this up with a little airsickness plus being a little anxious about the trip and—you guessed it—she threw up just as we were landing (in the seat right next to me, I might add). Stick to a light dinner before we depart, and then pack a little trail mix or some pretzels for the flight.  Breakfast is the first item on our agenda after we land, so you can refuel once we’re back on terra firma. When we land in Washington DC, it’s better to be hungry than be nauseous.

MEDICATION
The only meds that kids are allowed to keep with them are life-saving meds (asthma inhaler, epi-pen, etc). All other medications (prescription or over-the-counter) should be handed to the designated chaperone, along with any written instructions, right before we board the coach to drive down to the airport. If your child is taking meds on a regular schedule, it is his/her responsibility to come to us.

This is an important topic, so medication will be well-covered at our pre-departure meeting tomorrow. If you have any questions about medication, please ask at the meeting, or contact Mr. Ippolito well in advance of our departure. And of course, please indicate any medication or food allergies on that yellow release form you recently received in the mail from USA Student Travel.

AND FINALLY . . .
Please remember our mandatory pre-departure meeting is TOMORROW, Tuesday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m. in the Rio Norte Library. It is mandatory for the student, plus at least one parent/guardian to attend. Please bring the paperwork you received in the mail last week from USA Student Travel, plus $10 cash (optional, but politely requested) for tips for our coach driver and tour guide.