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
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
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