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. The first time you will be able to change your clothes will be Saturday evening when we check into the hotel. Keep in mind, though, that we check in around 5:00 p.m. and have a dinner reservation at 6:00 p.m., so this stop will be literally drop your bags, use the restroom, freshen up, and back out the door. For this reason, I STRONGLY urge that you take a quick 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 in warm weather tomorrow. We’ll all be grateful that everyone is fresh and clean when we have to share 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 might get one or two). 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://ipptrip.blogspot.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 very typical East Coast weather for early spring: cold and rainy. Be prepared for this weather. I strongly suggest caps and gloves. New York looks like it’s going to be mostly just cold. It gets a little soggier from Philly onward.
Finally, a couple of questions from students that I’ve gotten recently:
Q: If I’m not participating in the wreath-laying ceremony, do I still need to dress nice for the ceremony?
A: No, those of us who will be watching don’t need to dress up, but we will still need to dress warm. Only those selected for the ceremony will need to dress up.
Q: Can we change our shoes once we’re off the plane in New York?
A: I recommend you dress on the plane in layers and dress as if you won’t have access to your suitcase until the hotel Saturday evening. While we don’t anticipate any luggage delays, it would be a shame for you to wear flip-flops on the plane only to find you now have to wear them all day in cold and windy New York City.
Q: Can I bring a bathing suit?
A: Sure, but we won’t be going to a swimming pool.
Q: I have a nice pair of jeans for Broadway. Can I wear jeans that instead of a dress?
A: Sure. Wear nice jeans with a sweater or dressy shirt.
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 4:30 p.m.!
I've had a couple parents ask about the proper way to fill out baggage tags, so here is an "encore presentation." :-)
We are just TWO 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 tomorrow at our final lunch 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 the TSA 3-1-1 guide (available on http://ipptrip.blogspot.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 lunch meeting will take place tomorrow! We’ll play a quiz game that will test students’ knowledge of everything we’ve learned about the trip so far. 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.blogspot.com.
Students—The next time I’ll see you is TOMORROW AT LUNCH--bring your student ID!!!
Parents—I’ll see you FRIDAY AT 4:30 PM
RVI
11 days from today, we leave on what could be the greatest adventure of your child’s junior high school career: our East Coast Adventure!
Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 22, at 7:00 p.m., we will have our big Pre-Departure Meeting.
Here are the three things you need to bring to tomorrow’s meeting:
1. Your yellow Emergency Medical Release form (this was sent to you via US mail), completely filled out and signed both front and back. Need another copy? Download it here: http://j.mp/ectrelease 2. The child traveling on the trip along with at least ONE parent or guardian
3. $10 total cash for gratuity/thank you for tour guide ($5) and coach driver ($5). These are, of course, optional, but I politely request this.
This meeting is so exciting because it gives both students and parents the chance to meet the families of the other students going, to meet me (the man to whom you are trusting your baby for six days), to see the final itinerary, and to get some important final tips and instructions.
As we get closer, parents and/or students may have questions. Please feel free to call/text me at (661) 347-4990 with any question you may have, big or small.
See you tomorrow!
RVI
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.
- Freaked out by your sleeping quarters? Get over it. Girls generally don’t have this problem, but boys sometimes get a little freaked out at the prospect of sharing a bed with another guy. If it makes you feel better, this was a very common occurrence for young men who were roommates in the 1800s (it may help you feel more connected to the history we’ll be exploring—even Abraham Lincoln shared a bed with his law partner, William Herndon). By trying silly things like sleeping on the floor, in a chair, or in the bathtub (boys actually do this!), you may feel slightly less weirded-out, but you won’t nearly get the same quality of sleep.
EAT HEALTHY, DRINK HEALTHY
- Drink lots of water. 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, 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, it may be a good idea to pack granola bars, trail mix, dried fruit, or other healthy treats in your luggage.
- Eat light before the flight. Two 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 New York, 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. We will do our best to keep track of who’s taking what, but it really helps if your child (who will be about seven weeks away from being a high schooler) minds his or her own schedule.
This is an important topic, so medication will be well-covered at our pre-departure meeting next Tuesday. 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 your yellow release form you recently received in the mail from USA Student Travel.
Just a quick reminder that our next student lunch meeting is tomorrow, 3/16, in Room D-6. Thanks for your help in getting your child ready for the big trip, and I will look forward to e-mailing you again soon!
Parents of students going on the East Coast trip often ask, “How much money does my child need to bring with them on the trip?” The short answer, technically, is “none.” Your child won’t like me telling you that, but all necessities are covered on the trip. All meals are paid for, drinking fountains are fairly common in most of the places we’re going, all admissions to all museums, events, and attractions are included, so your child doesn’t need to bring any money. Technically.
OK, seriously now. Your child is probably going to want a bottle of water here and there, perhaps an ice cream cone, or a bag of sweets. So he or she may want a little extra spending money for snacks and beverages beyond mealtimes (about $3-$5 per day). Then there are souvenirs. I’ve seen kids buy a couple small tchotchkes for family, and spend little more than $15 on souvenirs for the whole trip. For other kids, if shopping were an Olympic sport, they could medal several times over. You know your child and his/her shopping habits best. Clothing is usually the most expensive item kids buy on this trip, and one sweatshirt in one “I LOVE NY” gift shop can go for $40-50, easy. Overall, average souvenir purchases are about $10-$20 per day.
As many of you may remember from the parent information meeting a few months ago, I do respectfully request a little tip money ($15 total) in advance from each student: $5 for our coach driver, $5 for our tour guide, and $1 per night ($5 total) for housekeeping. Naturally, tipping is optional, but in our country it is customary and a nice courtesy, especially for a job well done. All other tips are included in the cost of the tour. I will collect the coach driver and tour guide tip money ($10) at the Pre-Departure Meeting on March 22. The hotel tip money should be gathered up by the room leader and left in the room at the conclusion of our stay in each hotel. We’ll assign room leaders at one of our upcoming student meetings.
On a related note, parents also ask: “Debit/prepaid card or cash?” There are advantages to both. Depending on the type of card and the issuing bank, parents can control the amount of spending per day and/or add value to the card if needed; this is a good security feature if the card is lost, and is also helpful in limiting teen spending. Talk to your bank now about your options. Cash is accepted everywhere, but once lost is almost certainly gone for good. As for VISA, MasterCard, or American Express gift cards, most of them don’t have a name on them, don’t require ID, and their value could be gone if they’re lost, so be careful with this option. Talk to your child and find out what you think will work best. Finally, don’t bother with travelers’ checks. They might be good for overseas travel, but not many places here in the United States even know what to do with them.
Cheers,
Mr. IppolitoDear East Coast trip family,
In less than two months, we will depart for our big adventure to New York City, Philadelphia, Gettysburg, and Washington, DC. I love historical travel and I'm very excited to see some of our nation’s historical landmarks and greatest treasures. I am especially excited to share these treasures with your son or daughter this April.
As I indicated to many families at the end of last school year, I spent a lot of time from last spring until now NOT communicating with you. This is because I wanted to wait until we were 100% certain of everyone going on our trip. I didn't want to start sending out e-mails, getting kids excited, and signing up roommates while our roster was still in flux. We literally had last-minute roster changes up to and including last week, but the good news is we now know FOR CERTAIN who is going on our exciting adventure, so it's now time for me to let you know about two important dates:
Wednesday, February 23, lunch, my classroom (D-6) – ROOMMATE meeting
This is what so many students have been waiting for! Bring your lunch, and meet everyone who is going on the trip. We have 26 girls going on the trip (five rooms of four; two rooms of three) and 12 boys (exactly three rooms of four). We will start with an icebreaker to get to know everyone, and then we’ll get down to the business of choosing roommates. You bring your lunch; I’ll provide dessert. Please arrive by 11:50 a.m.
Tuesday, March 22, 7:00pm, Rio Norte Library – Pre-Departure Meeting
Organized by USA Student Travel, and hosted by both myself and our tour company rep, this meeting will go over the specifics of the trip. We finally get to see our exact itinerary, hotel and flight information. Now that we know for sure everyone who is going on the trip, our tour company is working hard right now to get us the very best flights and hotels possible. This meeting is MANDATORY for the traveling student and at least one parent/guardian to attend.
Here is my very IMPORTANT request right now: please e-mail me back just to simply say, “Yes, you have the right e-mail address, Mr. Ippolito.” I will be using e-mail quite a bit from this point on, not only to share important trip information with you, but also to share photos and trip updates with parents while we’re back East. It’s very important that I have an e-mail address that your family checks regularly. Also, please let me know if you like to add an additional e-mail address (other parent, child going on trip) to get all this information as well.
If you ever miss one of these e-mails, it gets accidentally deleted, or you wonder if maybe you missed one, you can see an archive of every message on my East Coast Trip website, http://ipptrip.blogspot.com/. In the coming weeks, this website will be full of other great resources, too, including trip photos and real-time trip updates. You can also stay connected to the trip on Twitter and Facebook. You can "Like" our trip page at http://www.facebook.com/IppTrip or follow on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/IppTrip. Finally, you can get updates sent to you as a text message on your cell phone by texting the words follow ipptrip to 40404.
This is a big trip, and you are placing your child into my care for a week. Please feel free to e-mail me at rippolito@gmail.com (this is the e-mail address I check wherever I go) or call or text message me directly at (661) 347-4990 if you ever have any questions about the trip.
Cheers,
Ron Ippolito
We have had an enormous response to our East Coast Adventure. As of August 1, 2010, the trip is full and we have one student on the wait list.
If you would like to place your child on the wait list, please register as you normally would. If space opens up between now and January 2011, you will move from "Wait List" status to "Active" status.
If space doesn't open up, then you will naturally get a full refund of all money you pay into the trip. If you have any questions about the wait list, please feel free to e-mail me at rippolito@gmail.com.
RVI
If you attended our East Coast Trip parent information meeting this past Monday, you saw what an exciting educational opportunity this is! We already have 17 registered travelers, which means that 28 spots remain.
If you were unable to attend the meeting, please check out the PowerPoint I presented. It’s available on my website at http://trippolito.blogspot.com. Then have your child pick up a registration packet from me in my classroom. Included in the packet you will find:
- A green sheet with a sample itinerary on one side and travel insurance information on the other. If you’d like more information on insurance options, I just posted a blog entry about insurance on my website.
- A white sheet with red and blue print. It has pricing information on one side, and the terms and conditions and tear-off registration form on the other side.
- A pre-addressed envelope to send in your registration to USA Student Travel.
- A white Student Agreement Form that includes all the trip rules.
If you are ready to register your child for the trip, here’s what you do:
- Fill out the registration form and place it in the pre-addressed envelope along with a check for $150 payable to USA Student Travel. If you choose to pay with credit card, please note there is a one-time $25 credit card processing fee. Paying this fee one time will enable you to make any or all trip payments with a credit card, and will also enable you to make online payments directly with USA.
- Put a stamp on the envelope and send it in OR have your child give it to me and I’ll put a stamp on it and send it in.
- Read and sign the Student Agreement Form and have your child return this form directly to me. This lets me know you and your child are fully aware of all the trip rules.
NEW!! ONLINE REGISTRATION!!
USA Student Travel has just launched their secure online registration portal. If you don’t even want to bother getting paperwork from me, and you know you want your child on this trip, you can now register online. Log onto http://www.usastudenttravel.com and click on the “Register Now” tab in the top right corner. Your child could be registered in five minutes!
You also still need to fill out and sign my Student Agreement Form, but you can download that here: http://www.rionorteyearbook.com/eastcoast/agreement.pdf. Simply print it, sign it, and give it to me before school gets out June 3.
If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at rippolito@gmail.com or call/text me at (661) 347-4990.
It was great to see everyone at tonight's meeting. We had about 80 students and parents this evening, and we already have four students signed up to join us on the 2011 trip.
If you were unable to make it to tonight's meeting, and you are interested in having your child attend this trip, you need to do two things:
1. Check out the PowerPoint presentation link at the top of this post to see what you missed.
2. Send your son or daughter to my classroom (Room B-7) to get a registration packet. This registration packet will include important information about optional travel insurance, the registration form, and a pre-addressed envelope to mail your registration and deposit. Before sealing your envelope, please note that you have the choice to make payments by check or credit card. If you make any (or all) payments by credit card, there is a one-time credit card processing fee of $25. Once you have sealed that envelope, you can put a stamp on it and put it right in the mail, or give it to your child to give to me, and I'll put a stamp on it and put it in the mail.
If you have any questions, e-mail me at rippolito@gmail.com. I will not have another in-person meeting again until Back-to-School Night in September, and that's only if the trip doesn't fill before that time. Therefore, please contact me as soon as possible if you would like to chat in person.
RVI
Find out about the opportunity of a lifetime: the eighth grade spring break East Coast Trip! We will hold an information meeting for both students and parents for the 2011 trip on Monday, May 17, at 7:00 p.m. in the Rio Norte MPR.
I asked this year's parents, "What advice would you offer parents who are considering whether or not to send their child on this trip in the future?" Here's what some of the parents said:
“Do what you can to make it happen. Travel like this is always an investment in your child's future. They will appreciate it and grow from the experience."
I look forward to seeing you at the Parent Information Meeting. If you have any questions in advance, please contact me at rippolito@gmail.com or call/text me at (661) 347-4990.
This is just a quick final reminder that our Parent/Student Information Meeting for the 2011 East Coast Trip is happening this coming Monday, May 17, at 7:00 p.m. in the Rio Norte MPR. I look forward to seeing you there. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Cheers,
Mr. Ippolito
Posted via email from mrippolito.com In my last e-mail, I suggested you seek out ways to get online donations to help pay for your child's trip. Well, I followed my own advice and after careful research I am pleased to announce that I am partnering with Donor Town Square to provide your friends and family members an opportunity to make secure online donations toward your child’s trip. Donor Town Square specializes in online fundraising for non-profit groups. Best of all, they do this with no up-front cost or monthly fee. They simply charge a percentage (6% for Visa/MC/Discover, 7% for AmEx) on each donation for their service.
In the traditional method of asking for donations for a trip like this, families often mail out a form letter along with a pre-addressed, stamped return envelope to the child’s aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, family friends, etc. Doing it this way, there is the cost for the letter, the envelopes, the stamp to send it out and the stamp for the return, the drive to the post office, and the drive to the bank every time you need to deposit your checks. If you send out 50 letters (for example), at a total cost of $50, and that brings in $500 in total donations, your net return is 90%, and I think those numbers are optimistic.
Now, imagine you sent out an e-mail (which you could also customize to each family member and friend more easily than a letter) asking for a donation online. It costs you nothing up front, you didn't use any paper (go green!), and your net return is now 93-94%. Plus, you didn’t have to fold any letters, lick any envelopes, or do any driving at all. Instead, you spent one evening helping your child craft a thoughtful, sincere e-mail and you clicked “Send.”
I know the economy has had an impact on many families (including my own), and the question I get at every information meeting is, “Will you offer any kind of fundraisers?” I’ve been reluctant in the past because I simply feel like selling cookie dough, or frozen pizzas, or wrapping paper, or candy bars ultimately means a lot of work and time for not a lot of return. I have finally found a fundraiser that I can get excited about and whole-heartedly endorse.
Participation in the online donation program is optional, and again there is no cost at all for families to sign up. I’ll talk more about this--and about all the amazing things we will see and do in our nation’s most treasured places--at our Parent/Student Information Meeting, Monday, May 17, at 7:00 p.m., in the Rio Norte MPR. I look forward to seeing you in nine days!
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