TORRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL 8 TH GRADE TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C. MAY 21, 2019 MAY 24, 2019
Meeting Agenda Part One: Company Information Part Two: Trip Information Part Three: Behavior Guidelines Part Four: Questions & Answers www.worldstrides.org Trip ID# 158326
https://player.vimeo.com/video/180642488 www.worldstrides.org Trip ID# 158326
Washington DC is a Privilege not a Right and it is Optional! Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
Students are asked to register by October 5, 2018 - HOWEVER All students must be registered by 2/28/2019. Students who don t go to DC have to be in school. Activities will focus on DC and its history. Students who don t go on the DC Trip will be able to sign up for a 1-day trip to NYC. Students going to DC will not be expected to make-up work unless they are in the High School Algebra class.
ALTERNATE TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY Students who don t go on the DC Trip will have the opportunity to go to NYC instead. This alternate trip may be held on Wed. 5/22/2019. It will leave around 7:00 am and return around 7:30 pm. Students will visit the USS Intrepid, Battery Park, 9-11 Memorial. Approximate cost is $70. More information will be provided in March 2019.
WASHINGTON DC TRIP Travel via chartered buses (ex. Peter Pan) Mr. Lafreniere available by phone the entire trip. There will be one teacher chaperone per bus that is not responsible for a group. They will be the bus leader and be able to respond to any issue. www.worldstrides.org Trip ID# 158326
WASHINGTON DC TRIP This trip is open to ALL students. If someone feels there is a circumstance that would make it difficult for your child to go please speak to us before you decide they can t go. www.worldstrides.org Trip ID# 158326
Students must follow the dress code and the Code of Conduct. Our hotel floors are watched overnight by Security dedicated to our group. They are awake, & provide nightly reports. 4 students to a room - each of the same gender. Rooms are checked each night and tape put on the outside of the doors to ensure students safety and that nobody escapes. Groups are 10 students with 1 chaperone. Groups can be mixed gender & don t have to be the people you room with. www.worldstrides.org Trip ID# 158326
Students/Chaperones wear very brightly colored t-shirts each day of the tour so we stand out. Names will be on the back of the shirt. These t-shirts are included in the price of the trip. www.worldstrides.org Trip ID# 158326
T-SHIRTS ARE ORDERED THROUGH A LOCAL COMPANY AND YOU WILL GET THEM ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE TRIP. DO NOT ORDER T-SHIRTS FROM WORLDSTRIDES DURING REGISTRATION THOSE COST EXTRA. T-SHIRTS ARE ADULT SIZES PLEASE BE SURE TO CONSIDER THAT WHEN ORDERING A SIZE ON THE SCHOOL PERMISSION FORM. www.worldstrides.org Trip ID# 158326
Proposed Itinerary (Subject to Change) Monuments & Memorials Smithsonian Museums including the new African American History and Culture Museum Mount Vernon Arlington National Cemetery Capital Hill (possible meet and greet with one of our Congressman) National Archives, Library of Congress, Supreme Court Kennedy Center Holocaust Museum Major League Baseball Game White House Picture opportunity Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
COST OF THE TOUR $879 for Quad Occupancy this includes a non-refundable initial deposit of $99 due at the time of registration. Signing up now means you have about 7 months to pay the trip off and that works out to about $112 a month. THERE IS AN OPTIONAL TRIP INSURANCE FOR AN ADDITIONAL $115. (full refund program or FRP).
COST OF THE TOUR Standard features of this all-inclusive tour are: Round trip Transportation Aboard Premium Climate Controlled, Restroomand Video-Equipped Buses Excellent Hotel (3 nights) with overnight Supervision Complete Lectured Sightseeing with Course Leaders and Field Journals Online educational resources with the high school credit option (pending BOE approval) Meals from Lunch on Day 1 through Dinner on Day 4 Staff/24 Hour Service/Emergency Support All Taxes and Insurance Coverage Adult Chaperone for Every 10 Students All Admissions Group photo in front of the Capital Building Four T-Shirts that all students and chaperones will wear DOES NOT INCLUDE GRATUITY FOR TOUR GUIDES www.worldstrides.org Trip ID# 158326
1 ST PAYMENT OF $99 IS DUE AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION 2 ways to register 1. Online registration is preferred @ www.worldstrides.org. Use Trip I.D. 158326 to pay by credit card. 2. Register through the mail by sending a check for the amount of the initial deposit (payable to WorldStrides) or Visa/MasterCard/Discover along with the completed registration form to WorldStrides. www.worldstrides.org Trip ID# 158326
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Trip can be paid off at any time. 3 options for payments: 1. EZPay automatically have payments deducted from your checking account. 2. Paper Free Billing receive your invoice electronically and submit payment via mail or online using a credit card or checking account. 3. Echeck- draft payments directly from any checking account at any time. NEVER A FEE FOR ANY OF THESE TYPES OF PAYMENT If you notice additional fees being added to your trip please contact Mr. Lafreniere ASAP Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
Statements are sent 21 days prior to their due dates. NO LATE OR HANDLING FEES $35 fee for returned checks. Final payment due 75 days prior to departure. If you are not paid in full by this date: A $60 late payment fee is assessed No personal or business checks are accepted only cashier s checks, money order or credit cards You can be placed on a waitlist and your space is no longer guaranteed. Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
ALL MONEY and REGISTRATIONS NEED TO BE SENT DIRECTLY TO WORLDSTRIDES. THE SCHOOL WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY MONEY (CASH OR OTHERWISE) or REGISTRATION FORMS. All students participating in the trip must complete a School Permission form and turn it in to Mr. Fritch. Deadline for School Permission slips is 3/30/19 (no exceptions). Permission slips won t be distributed until 2/28/19. www.worldstrides.org Trip ID# 158326
Full Refund Program (FRP) The FRP option provides the opportunity to cancel the tour at any time, for any reason, and receive a full refund less the cost of the protection ($115) and the initial deposit of $99 deposit. If you do not purchase the FRP you are then bound by the cancellation policy of Worldstrides. Full terms and Conditions can be found at www.worldstrides.org/tripterms Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
ALL CANCELLATIONS MUST BE IN WRITING TO WorldStrides easiest to send an email to Mr. L. first. Participants have 7 calendar days after receipt of their first invoice/written confirmation to withdraw consent, cancel and receive a full refund, in which WorldStrides will issue a refund within 7 days. If the trip is cancelled for any reason and the cancellation letter is postmarked more than 75 days prior to departure, all monies less 25% of the base trip cost will be refunded. 45-74 days prior to departure all monies less 50% of the base trip cost and 44 days or less no money will be refunded. 10% reinstatement fee is assessed to accounts that are reinstated after the final payment due date.
WORLDSTRIDES GIFT OF EDUCATION Great for Birthdays and Holidays or those who live far away and can t participate in local fundraising efforts SEND AN E-CARD - Allows you to send an electronic card to friends and family asking them to contribute directly to your trip through Worldstrides. SHARE ON FACEBOOK Share a secure link on Facebook that links directly to your Worldstrides account. Mail a letter Download and customize a letter you can send through the mail. Gives instructions on how to put money toward your trip.
Students who participated in the Yankee Candle fundraiser during the Fall of 6 th grade and the Jimmy s Grinder Sale during the Spring of 6 th Grade and 7 th Grade have that money still to use for any school activity that has a fee associated with it, including the DC Trip. Forms were sent out before the end of school last year and will be sent out again in October. You must designate how you want that money to be used using the form.
No fundraising money will be sent to Worldstrides until the end of Nov or start of Dec. 2018, which means that initial deposits are the responsibility of the family. Several fundraisers will take place for Washington DC students ONLY prior to the final invoice these could be individual fundraisers or group fundraisers students will know ahead of time how the fundraiser will benefit them.
Fundraisers that will benefit the whole group (not individual fundraisers) will only be distributed to students that participate in or attend the event. There will be attendance taken for each fundraiser.
September 6 October 10 th :Yankee Candle Fundraiser (all grades) November December: Jimmy s Store Grinder Sale (only students registered for the DC Trip) November December: Lightbulb fundraiser (all grades) Early Spring: Jimmy s Store Grinder Sale (6 th and 7 th graders; Community Service for 8 th Graders) Other fundraisers may come up throughout the year and will be publicized as they are.
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION YEAR LONG 6 th Grade and National Junior Honor Society may also collect Box Tops for their respective activities. Box Tops turned into the DC Club from 7 th and 8 th graders will individually earn the profits and can be used for any school activity in 7 th and 8 th Grade. Box Tops must not be expiring and MUST be taped to collection sheets (no glue or staples). Be sure to include your name and grade on each sheet. Box Top deadline dates late October and then Late February. Box Tops submitted without a student s name attached to them are applied to the DC Scholarship Fund.
Fundraising money sent in to Worldstrides will be credited directly to your account. Fundraising money will not automatically lower your scheduled payment amounts. Overpayment will be credited back to you after at least 30 days of your last payment. You can always see what your balance is through the website. www.worldstrides.org Trip ID# 158326
The FLAG (Future Leaders of American Government) Scholarship Program offers $2 million in travel assistance to thousands of families across the country each year. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Application to this Scholarship needs to be completed within 45 days of registering for the trip by calling 1-800-468-5899. You will need to follow the phone call up with sending in your latest tax forms. FLAG Scholarship awards are based on family income and total cost of the trip. Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT EVERYONE APPLY FOR THE FLAG SCHOLARSHIP AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION. IT IS FREE MONEY TO HELP DEFRAY THE COST OF THE TRIP. THERE IS NO LIMIT TO HOW MUCH MONEY TORRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL CAN BE AWARDED!!!!!! Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
IF YOU ARE TOLD YOU QUALIFY FOR FLAG SCHOLARSHIP MONEY THROUGH WORLDSTRIDES FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK THEY SEND YOU IMMEDIATELY AND SEND IT IN. MONEY GOES FAST. Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
THERE IS SOME SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP MONEY AVAILABLE. No full scholarships will be awarded! However, there are many opportunities to help families pay for the trip. Please talk to Mr. Lafreniere before you decide you can t go because you can t afford it. SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS WILL NOT BE AWARDED UNLESS FAMILIES FOLLOW ALL THE PROCEDURES MENTIONED ON THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FORM. Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
SCHOOL BASED SCHOLARSHIPS ARE GIVEN BASED ON AN INDIVIDUAL S NEED AND AMOUNT OF FUNDRAISING MONEY EARNED. FAMILIES SHOULD FILL OUT THE REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FORM THAT IS IN THE PARENT PACKET. INCOMPLETE FORMS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED! Deadline for applying for financial assistance from the school is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
FAMILIES WHO ARE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP MONEY MUST HAVE APPLIED TO THE FLAG SCHOLARSHIP, PAY THE $115 FOR THE FRP AND PARTICIPATE FULLY IN ALL FUNDRAISERS. Scholarship money is not awarded till after all fundraisers are completed (end of February). Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
Please get in touch with Mr. Lafreniere if you have any connections to anyone or any business that may be interested in hosting a fundraiser for this trip or if you know of anyone that may want to sponsor a student or make a charitable donation to the trip. Any parents that are able and willing to be in charge of, coordinate or volunteer for any fundraising idea please email me. Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
MEDICATIONS ON THE TRIP Any student who must or may have to take ANY medication during the trip (over the counter or prescription) MUST have a separate form for each medication, signed by a doctor no exceptions. Medication forms are included in the packet you got tonight and extras can be obtained through the school nurse or online. Forms can be changed up till the day of the trip. The sooner these forms are in the better. www.worldstrides.org Trip ID# 158326
BEHAVIOR, GRADES, AND ATTENDANCE WILL BE MONITORED AS THREE SEPARATE ENTITIES YET ALL THREE ENTITIES NEED TO BE MET TO PARTICIPATE IN CELEBRATORY FUNCTIONS AND/OR FIELD TRIPS. Eligibility to attend the Washington DC Trip will be decided based on the first 2 trimesters. Date TBD.
1. Students must have kept at least 65 Viking Points out of the 100 given each term. (130 points total for Trimester 1 and 2). 2. Students could not be failing more than 2 classes for the year come the end of the 2 nd trimester. 3. Students must be in compliance with the district attendance policy come the end of the 2 nd trimester. (No more than 10 unexcused absences any absence must have a note submitted to the main office within 10 days of the absence to be considered excused.) Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
For every 10 paid students 1 chaperone goes for free. 8 th grade teachers are given the 1 st chance to be a chaperone. Remaining complimentary chaperones are picked via lottery from parents who sent in a request form. Request forms are included in the packet you got this evening. Chaperone request forms must be turned in by 10/8/2018 and turned into Mr. Fritch. Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
Chaperone choices will be made at the start of October 2018. Any parent wanting to pay to go on the trip must notify Mr. Lafreniere before the Thanksgiving Break. No parents will be considered for the trip after the Thanksgiving Break due to the time involved in getting a background check completed. Tuesday May 21, 2019 Friday May 24, 2019
NO PARENT CHAPERONE CAN REGISTER WITH WORLDSTRIDES UNITL THEY ARE CLEARED TO DO SO BY THE SCHOOL. A BACKGROUND CHECK MUST BE COMPLETED AND RESULTS GIVEN TO THE SCHOOL BEFORE ANYTHING CAN BE DONE TO REGISTER PARENTS.
Parents can forego the lottery process and pay to go on the trip. If you would like to do this please email me ASAP so we can get the process started. Remember the Thanksgiving Break Deadline. All parent chaperones must apply to be a school volunteer by getting fingerprinted and passing a background check before being allowed to register. All chaperones are in a double occupancy hotel room and the cost of the trip is greater.
EMAIL: Jlafreniere@Torrington.org MCFritch@Torrington.org FACEBOOK (contact Mr. L. to be added to the page). TORRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL WEBSITE Under for students and events and activities WORLDSTRIDE S WEBSITE (www.worldstrides.org) PHONE (MYSELF OR WORLDSTRIDES)
ANY QUESTIONS