2015 Novi Middle School Washington D.C. Trip

Goals of the Trip This trip will… Bring history alive for students, increasing their appreciation and understanding of the past. Develop students’ interpersonal skills as they “live together” for more than three days. Enable students to grow individually in assuming responsibility for themselves.

Trip Behavior Our “On the Trip” Behavior Contract will be in effect throughout the trip. Any major violations, as determined by the trip coordinator, will result in the student being flown home on the next available flight at the parents’ expense.

Electronics Cell phones, iPods, etc. may only be used at specified times, such as: On the bus when we are NOT touring –When we are touring in DC, students will not be texting/tweeting/etc…or they will risk losing their phone for the rest of the trip. In the hotel room to call home As a camera Exceptions will be made for other emergency situations. Worldstrides, Novi Schools, and the chaperones are NOT responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

Hotel Rooms Doubletree Crystal City in Alexandria, VA Strict curfew/quiet time No outside phone line No movies No room service No wake up calls

Hotel Etiquette Please discuss hotel etiquette with your children… Do NOT leave valuables in the room. Quiet time/respect for other hotel guests. Security personnel on each floor. Leave the room the way you found it.

Packing List Only 1 piece of luggage per student 1 carry-on (DC backpack--label it!!!) Prepare for the weather (especially Day 1) Blanket and/or pillow for the bus? Spending money Swimsuit, towel, lock, and plastic bag Students do not have to swim. Snacks for the bus ride? Please no peanut products, cans, or glass bottles. Please avoid foods that are smelly or messy.

Medication If you currently have meds at school… a 4-day supply will be brought with us and kept by your child’s chaperone. If your child requires meds that are usually given at home… you need to fill out a form, get a doctor signature, AND deliver the meds to Mrs. Loeffler-Park (attendance office) before Wednesday, 10/28.

Medication Forms requiring a doctor signature Light Blue Form = Prescription meds or over– the-counter meds not provided by the school Yellow Form (both sides) = Self-possessed meds (inhaler) TURN IN TONIGHT (both sides)… Purple Form (front) = Emergency med. release Purple Form (back) = Non-prescription meds –Form was passed out as you came in –Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Tums, Benadryl, Dramamine, Claritin –Provided by the school After the Trip All meds will be returned to your child when we return Sunday morning, unless they are usually kept at school.

Clothing D.C. Shirts/Sweatshirts (label them) Novi Spirit Wear Comfortable shoes (not flip-flops!) –2 pairs? School Dress Code –No hats

Emergency Numbers All contact and hotel information was/will be sent to you. Worldstrides For Emergency Use Only! Account Manager: Allie Belgiovine

Safety Kids will remain in chaperoned groups at most sites. Wristbands – Worldstrides emergency wristband must be worn at all times. Students will wear DC Wear and/or Novi Spirit wear.

Dangers of Traveling Please caution your children about the dangers of traveling: Homeless people and/or beggars Street vendors and performers Security at the sites is not a joke!

$ Spending Money $ What you send will likely be spent. Discuss for whom souvenirs should be bought. Money for… Snacks Souvenirs Forgotten necessities

Bus Chartered buses Licensed drivers Seating for kids by gender Appropriate bus behavior Please go easy on the Halloween candy!

Day 1 - Thursday* Meet Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. --Drive through the night Breakfast Arlington National Cemetery Iwo Jima Memorial 9/11 Memorial Lunch Newseum Dinner Jefferson Memorial Lincoln Memorial Korean Memorial Hotel in D.C. *Trip itinerary subject to change

Day 2--Friday Breakfast Tour the Capitol Supreme Court Library of Congress Lunch National Archives Ford’s Theater Petersen House Dinner Recreation Center swimming, basketball, wallyball

Day 3 - Saturday Breakfast White House Photo-Stop FDR, Vietnam, WWII, and MLK Memorials Lunch Washington Monument Smithsonian Complex including the American History, Natural History, and Air & Space Museums Dinner Drive home through the night

Day 4 - Sunday Return home on 11/8 –Scheduled for 6:30 a.m. return –We will have kids call home when we are about 30 minutes from Novi *All meals included *Tax and tips included

School Work Students are responsible for missed work as determined by their teachers Please have kids in school on Monday!!!

After Tonight’s Meeting 1)Medication Forms --Please return purple form tonight---BOTH SIDES --3 types of forms you can complete --Need to be returned to attendance office w/ meds & doctor signature by 10/28 2) Clothing --lines by size and/or gender --put your name in them! --SWAP Friday morning—must be both items! 3)Luggage Tags, Backpacks, & Guide Books --tags color-coded by bus number