1. Washington, DC June 6 – 9, 2017

2. Day One - Tuesday, June 6th
6:00am Departure (Wilmington Plaza) Breakfast stop enroute.
11:45am Lunch enroute ($10 stipend)
5:00-9:00pm Camden Yards, Pirates vs Orioles
Dinner will be a $15 voucher that can be
used with any food vendor within the park.
10:00pm Check in at Washington Dulles Crown Plaza

3. Day Two – Wednesday, June 7th
6:30-7:30am Full course breakfast buffet at hotel.
8:30-11:30am Tour of the National Zoo.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is part of the Smithsonian Institution,
the world's larges museum and research complex. Founded in 1889,
the Zoo sits on 163 acres and is home to more than 1500 animals
across 300 different species.
12:00-1:00pm Ronald Reagan Center (Voucher)
12:00-1:00pm Ronald Reagan Building (voucher)

4. Day Two - continued 1-3:30pm Tour of the Arlington National Cemetery
A tour guide will meet each bus to provide an overview of Arlington’s history
and then accompany each group as they view many historic sites within ANC.
After the tour, each bus will visit the Iwo Jima Memorial and
drive by the Air Force Memorial.
4-5pm WW II Memorial
6:30-10pm Dinner/Dance on the “Odyssey”
10:45pm Arrive back at Crowne Plaza

5. Day Three – Thursday, June 8th
6:30-7:30am Full course breakfast buffet at hotel.
8:30-11am Newseum
The Newseum is a dynamic, engaging and interactive museum of news
that allows visitors to experience the stories of yesterday and today
through the eyes of the journalists that originally witnessed them.
12-1pm Capitol Center Cafeteria (Voucher)
12:00-1:00pm Ronald Reagan Building (voucher)

6. Day Three - continued 1-6pm Holocaust Museum & Smithsonian Museums
Before or after their Holocaust tour time, groups will tour the
Smithsonian Museums: Air & Space, Natural History, Native American, etc.
6-7pm Dinner at the Ronald Reagan Building
7-10pm Walking illuminated tour of the Memorials
From the Lincoln Memorial, we will embark on 4 mile walking tour of the
Vietnam Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Nurses War Memorial,
Martin Luther King Memorial, Franklin D Roosevelt Memorial,
around the Tidal Basin, culminating at the Jefferson Memorial.
10:45pm Return to the Crowne Plaza

7. Day Four - Friday, June 9th
6:15-7:30am Full course breakfast buffet at hotel.
10-11:30am United States Naval Academy
This educational tour with a USNA guide allows students
to learn about the USNA as it relates to US/World history.
11:30am Depart for Wilmington.
Lunch (box lunch provided by the USNA Drydock Restaurant)
Dinner ($10 stipend) – Danbury Mall, CT
11:30pm Approximate arrival time home! (WMS)

8. Eligibility Requirements
As of October 12th, any student receiving an Outside Suspension (OSS) or Inside Suspension (ISS) will be removed from the list of students eligible to attend the trip.
As of October 12th, any student receiving a total of THREE office detentions and/or teacher sessions for disciplinary reasons will be removed from the list of students eligible to attend the trip.
If either of the above incidents occur during the course of the school year, further payments will not be accepted and the student’s name will be removed from the field trip list.

9. Eligibility Requirements (con’t)
As of October 12th,, students who are absent more than seven (7) times, or tardy more than five (5) times, without a doctor’s note will not be eligible.

10. Eligibility Requirements (con’t)
Students must be passing the eighth grade as of March 31st (end of 3rd quarter).
Students who are failing one or more subjects after the 3rd quarter report card must show a willingness to improve grades by remaining after school regularly for extra help. Homework should be up to date in all subjects for all students.
Any student that fails gym as a result of not changing for class will be removed from the trip.

11. Appeal Process
In the event that a student is not eligible to attend the trip for discipline reasons, an appeal may be made between April 3-7th, Any parent/guardian who would like to implement the appeal process should contact Mrs. Gerade directly. Each appeal will be reviewed on an individual basis.
All appeals must be received in writing by Administration and addressed to Mrs. Gerade by April 7th.

12. Please remember. Attending this trip is a privilege, not a right
Please remember... Attending this trip is a privilege, not a right. How you conduct yourself over the course of this school year dictates whether or not you earn the privilege of attending.

13. Price of Trip = $650.00 This includes: All meals Admission tickets
Lodging
Transportation
WMS t-shirt

14. Important Payment Dates
Price of Trip is $650.00
Payment #1 Friday, October 28th $150 NON-REFUNDABLE
Payment #2 Thursday, December 1st $125
Payment #3 Tuesday, January 3rd $125
Payment #4 Wednesday, February 1st $125
Payment #5 Wednesday, March 1st $125
Refund Policy:
Deposit of $150 is NON-REFUNDABLE
After Friday, January 27th, only 50% of monies paid will be refunded.
After Friday, March 31st, 0% of monies paid will be refunded. The only exception to this policy would be if there is a doctor’s note confirming the reason for withdrawal. The deposit is still NON-REFUNDABLE.
All payments made AFTER March 31st must be made in cash.

15. Town of Wilmington - WMS
Checks should be made out to:
Town of Wilmington - WMS
Please include your student’s name on the memo line of every check you submit so that it is credited to the right account.
If you have twins, it is fine to send in one check covering both children.
You are welcome to pay in full at any point during the year! 

16. Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need any extra money?

17. Only money needed would be for souvenirs and $5 to tip the hotel maid at end of the week.
Trip cost covers all ticketed events and food money.
Food stipends passed out before each meal to insure each student’s money lasts the week.

18. Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need any extra money?
What kind of security measures are taken during the trip and at the hotel?

19. Qualified chaperones.
Hotel information with each student.
Nighttime security patrolling the hallways.
No use of pool at hotel.

20. Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need any extra money?
What kind of security measures are taken during the trip and at the hotel?
Are there nurses on the trip?

21. 2 experienced school nurses are available both on the bus and at the hotel for morning and nighttime check-ins for the students.

22. Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need any extra money?
What kind of security measures are taken during the trip and at the hotel?
Are there nurses on the trip?
What is the procedure for financial aid requests?

23. Friday, October 28th All requests are due in writing
to Mrs. Simmons no later than
Friday, October 28th
The following criteria will be considered by the Financial Aid committee when determining if partial assistance or an individual payment plan is available:
Written letter
Free or reduced lunch
Sudden or recent family hardship

24. If these 2 steps are not done by
If you are applying for Financial Aid, you MUST still complete TWO steps necessary to be considered registered for the trip.
These are:
1. Complete the online registration.
2. Pass in your completed permission slip to your HR teacher.
If these 2 steps are not done by
Friday, October 28th, you are NOT registered for
the trip and will be put on the waiting list.

25. Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need any extra money?
What kind of security measures are taken during the trip and at the hotel?
Are there nurses on the trip?
What is the procedure for financial aid requests?
How are hotel rooms chosen?

26. From April 10th – 14th, students will pass in their roommate request slips.
Students “pairs” will be grouped with another pair together to form quads.
Please note: payments must be current to be eligible to sign up for a room.
Please remember:
The cost of the trip is based on 4 students per room. Any group signing up as a TRIO will be charged an additional fee of $50 per person, which must be paid in full with room request.

27. Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need any extra money?
What kind of security measures are taken during the trip and at the hotel?
Are there nurses on the trip?
What is the procedure for financial aid requests?
How are hotel rooms chosen?
What is the policy concerning cell phones during the trip?

28. Students are encouraged to have their cell phones on them at all times.
During guided tours and solemn events, cell phones are not to be turned on or displayed.

29. Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need any extra money?
What kind of security measures are taken during the trip and at the hotel?
Are there nurses on the trip?
What is the procedure for financial aid requests?
How are hotel rooms chosen?
What is the policy concerning cell phones during the trip?
Can my child brings snacks along on the trip?

30. Guidelines concerning snacks:
Use common sense!
Students may only have water on the bus.
No homemade snacks.
No “energy” drinks may be in hotel rooms or purchased at lunch/dinner stops.

31. Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need any extra money?
What kind of security measures are taken during the trip and at the hotel?
Are there nurses on the trip?
What is the procedure for financial aid requests?
How are the hotel rooms chosen?
What is the policy concerning cell phones during the trip?
Can my child bring snacks along on the trip?
My child has food allergies, where will you be eating?
What important dates do I need to be aware of?

32. Important Registration Dates
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28th – Deadline for Financial Aid requests to be submitted in writing to Mrs. Simmons.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28th – Deadline for Registration. To be considered REGISTERED, you MUST have completed the following 3 items:
Online registration. (Link can be found at
Permission slip turned into HR teacher.
Deposit of $150 turned into HR teacher (NON-REFUNDABLE) or Financial Aid request submitted in writing to Mrs. Simmons.
PLEASE NOTE:
Any student that misses the 10/28 deadline will be waitlisted.
The only exception would be new students enrolled after 10/28/16

33. Important Medical Dates
FRIDAY, MAY 5th – Deadline for turning in all medication forms into Nurses Office.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24th – All medications are due in Nurses office.
Medications MUST be labeled.
Placed in a clear plastic bag
Be in their original packing*
*Being aware of this now will give you time to save a labeled medication container to send in for the trip.
PLEASE NOTE:
Medication forms must be signed by a doctor
if there is no current signature on file in school.
This INCLUDES any medications for motion-sickness.

34. TUESDAY, MAY 16th Spring Parent Meeting If you attended the November
meeting, the Spring meeting,
while recommended,
is optional.

35. Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need any extra money?
What kind of security measures are taken during the trip and at the hotel?
Are there nurses on the trip?
What is the procedure for financial aid requests?
How are hotel rooms chosen?
What is the policy concerning cell phones during the trip?
Can my child bring snacks along on the trip?
My child has food allergies, where will you be eating?

36. List of food places Breakfasts: Donna’s Donuts & Crowne Plaza Hotel
Lunches:
Paramus Park Mall, NJ
Capitol Center Cafeteria, Washington, DC
Ronald Reagan Building, Washington, DC
Box lunch from Drydock Restaurant, USNA
Dinners:
Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD
Union Station, Washington, DC
“Odyssey” dinner cruise
Danbury Mall, Danbury, CT

37. Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need any extra money?
What kind of security measures are taken during the trip and at the hotel?
Are there nurses on the trip?
What is the procedure for financial aid requests?
How are hotel rooms chosen?
What is the policy concerning cell phones during the trip?
Can my child bring snacks along on the trip?
My child has food allergies, where will you be eating?
My child has expressed reluctance to go on this trip, should I push him/her to go?

38. You need to have an honest dialog with your child
You need to have an honest dialog with your child. While the trip is open to every student, it is not always the right choice for every student.
If your child encounters behavioral or well-being issues, it is the responsibility of the parent to make arrangements to come collect their child.
From start to finish, each day lasts approximately 15 hours. Once we leave the hotel in the morning, we don’t return until later that evening.

39. All of tonight’s information can be accessed on the WMS website. www
All of tonight’s information can be accessed on the WMS website.
Please check the website before ing or calling with any questions. Replies will not be sent for 2-3 days.