1. Washington DC Trip Overview

2. The DC trip is a long standing tradition at OMS. Have you ever been there before? Miss Nickell has been on this trip 11 times. I have seen DC many other times on my own because my dad owns a restaurant outside of DC. It is a beautiful city, I like to think of it like a “second home ”.

3. Our chaperones are teachers from O’Neill who are “professionals” at this job! We will be going February 13-16 (President’s Day), students do not miss school. We leave Friday right after school! Suitcases need to be here in the morning & will be securely stored that day. This trip is NOT a District 58 function. I ask that no trip business be conducted through the OMS office, except to call me and leave a message, but e-mail is faster & easier.

4. Students must be able to “manage their independence successfully”. This trip can only be successful if our students behave appropriately. We have historically stayed in Hyatt or Doubletree hotels. We ask that students be respectful to the other people who are staying in the hotel. Student to teacher ratio is 15 to 1.

5. The longest period of time that the students are not directly supervised by chaperones is + / - one hour. We are never far from them, and they will know where we are. The biggest rule in DC and on this trip is to NEVER GO ANYWHERE ALONE. Even if we are waiting for the plane at O’Hare and a student has to use the bathroom, it is mandatory that all students take a buddy, even in the hotel. We should always see you in pairs. Chaperones are constantly taking role and we do not roll away unless everyone is safely back on the bus.

6. There are other people are in the hotel, but we typically have a floor / area of hotel to ourselves. Security guard is hired for the student’s protection. They are in charge of watching students after we have “tucked them in” for the night. They are hired from 11:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M to keep away people who do not belong to our group. The guards are there to alert chaperones if there is an emergency. Yes, we tape you in! Tape does not hold you in, but it lets us know all of the students are in safely in their room. In the event of an emergency, students should call the chaperone first to alert us. Then alert the guard.

7. Trip is all-inclusive, includes air fare, hotel, all meals, dinner cruise, and group photo at the Capitol, and security guards. We ask at the end of the trip we ask that students donate a few dollars to tip our drivers. Please send all money to the tour company. Trip does not include the trip insurance. Trip insurance is a big help if you decide at the last minute you do not want to / cannot go.

8. We have had several instances where students have been too ill to go or have broken a bone the night before the trip, it has come in handy. Enrollment is based on a “first come first serve” basis. Students may enroll up to the end of January, if there is space available.

9. Occupancy is based on 4 students to a room. Roommate sign up will begin in early December. Be sure of who you want to room with. Sometimes middle school friendships last, sometimes they do not. If friends cannot room together, we will all be on the same bus. That is where we spend a majority of our time.

10. Students have a certain degree of freedom on the trip. However, chaperones are always closely monitoring behavior. We expect that students will report back to the bus at the time we set. Having a working watch / cell phone is a necessity on this trip. We are looking forward to a great trip this year!

11. AND NOW ON WITH THE SHOW!!!

13. The National Archives

14. The Capitol Building

15. The Supreme Court

16. Air & Space Museum

17. The Natural History Museum

18. American History Museum

19. Holocaust Museum

21. News Museum

22. Pentagon City Mall

23. Union Station

24. World War II Memorial

25. Einstein Statue

26. The National Cathedral

27. Thomas Jefferson Memorial

28. The Lincoln Memorial

29. Iwo Jima Memorial

30. The White House

31. National Harbor

32. Old Town Alexandria

33. Robert E. Lee Home

34. Ford’s Theater

35. Peterson House

36. Custis-Lee Mansion

37. Arlington National Cemetery

38. John F. Kennedy Gravesite

39. Changing of the Guard

40. Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial

41. Washington Monument

42. The Mall

43. Vietnam War Memorial

44. Vietnam Nurses Memorial

45. Korean War Memorial

46. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

47. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

48. German Embassy Embassy Row

49. The Library of Congress

50. We are going to...

51. EVENING CRUISE ON THE POTOMAC DINNER, DJ & DANCING!

52. DO YOU WANT TO GO ON THE TRIP? 1) TALK TO MOM AND DAD. 2)SHOW THEM THE HANDOUTS & PRICING INFORMATION 3)THE POWERPOINT IS ON MISS NICKELL’S WEBSITE (UNDER WASHINGTON DC) SO PARENTS CAN VIEW THE POWERPOINT. 4)IF MOM AND DAD HAVE QUESTIONS, TELL THEM TO EMAIL MISS NICKELL 5)THERE WILL BE A MEETING ON WED. MAY 14 AT 7:00 IN THE CAFETERIA FOR PARENTS & STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GOING ON THE TRIP.

53. THE END QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS?