Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Pre-Trip Information



2013 Oakview Eighth Grade Washington, D.C. Trip

Basic Information                                

·         Brightspark Travel’s Phone Number: (877) 545-0070

·         Bus: Lakefront Lines

·         Hotel: Hampton Inn – College Park, MD
§  Student check-in on 2/16 at 10:30 P.M.
§  Student check-out on 2/18 at 8:30 A.M.

·         Expenses: All meals are included; however, snacks and souvenirs are the                    responsibility of individual students. 


·         Itinerary: See attachment        

Parent Responsibilities
·         Make sure the attached medical form is completed by Monday, February 11.

·         If students will be brining medicine on the trip, a medication form must be turned in with the medicine. One of the teacher chaperones will be in charge of dispensing medication.

·         Please check the list of supplies and make sure your son or daughter has everything he or she may need.

·         Make sure your son or daughter is to the school no earlier than 8:15 P.M. Friday evening and no later than 8:35 P.M. The bus will leave Oakview at 9:00 P.M.

·         Students will be picked up from Oakview between 7:00 A.M. and 8:00 A.M. on Tuesday, February 19. We’ll make phone calls when we’re an hour away from school.









Student Responsibilities

·         Needed items: One suitcase and one carry-on piece of luggage.
o    Included in the suitcase (this will not be accessible until we get to the hotel):
§  Clothing appropriate for all types of weather varying from 30 - 60 degrees (no kidding). Four days of clothing (with varying layers) are necessary. The school dress code also applies.
§  Nicer outfit for the dinner theater Sunday evening. Again, school dress code applies.
§  Comfortable shoes
§  Toiletry items (shampoo, toothbrush, rubber ducky, etc…)
o    Included in the carry-on bag:
§  Camera
§  Spending money ($50 - $100 should be more than enough.)
§  Cards, I-Pods with headphones, books, etc…
§  Movies (DVDs) for the bus (G or PG rated)
§  Cell phones (see “cell phone etiquette”)
§  Snacks and pop in consumable portions (pop should be in plastic bottles)
§  Small pillow and blanket for sleeping on the bus.

·         Expectations
o    Appropriate noise level in all places
o    Get plenty of rest prior to and on the trip.
o    Must stay with your group or chaperone at all times. Nobody should ever be on their own at any time. While at food courts or using the restrooms, travel in small groups.
o    Must always be on time for all events (Rule of thumb…If you’re on time, you’re late.)
o    Must be completely quiet and attentive when someone is addressing the group.
o    Treat everyone and all property (ie. Bus, hotel buildings, etc…) on the trip with respect. This includes keeping the bus clean at all times.
o    Obey all rules of every place that we visit.
o    Make every effort to remain positive over the course of the trip despite the fact that you will become sleep deprived.
o    *See cell phone policy

·         Consequences
o    Loss of evening privileges
o    Reassignment of bus seat
o    Reassignment of hotel room
o    For incidents of possession of alcohol, illegal narcotics, or weapons, students will be sent home immediately at their parents’ expense.


*Cell phone policy: Cell phones are a wonderful amenity and most of us wouldn’t know what to do without ours. Student being able to have them on the D.C. trip is convenient in many instances; however, it is sometimes very difficult to resist the temptation to use our phones when we’re supposed to be paying attention to something else. Many of the things we’re seeing are one time opportunities so we can’t afford to be texting or playing games when we should be listening. If students cannot resist this temptation on their own it might become necessary to collect all cell phones while we’re touring and give them back when we’re finished. I have been coordinating this trip since before cell phones were common-place and my students survived just fine. If parents need to contact their child while we’re touring, call the Travel Adventures main number (on the front) and they can get a hold of us quickly. Thank you for your understanding.




FINAL ITINERARY
All sites confirmed








ITINERARY
OAKVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL
WASHINGTON, DC







February 15 - 19, 2013









DAY 1 - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2013
GROUP
TIME
ACTIVITY

12:00 AM

ALL
8:30 PM
Arrive at Oakview MS (917 Lake George, Oakland Twp, MI  49363) for Check-In

9:00 PM
Depart for WDC to begin your tour!

11:59 PM
Rest stops Overnight


DAY 2 - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2013
GROUP
TIME
ACTIVITY

12:00 AM

ALL
7:30 AM
Breakfast-Allowance Provided

9:30 AM
WWII Memorial - Meet your Step on guide here for a Tour of Memorials and Arlington National Cemetery

9:45 AM
FDR Memorial

10:00 AM
IWO JIMA/Jefferson/Kennedy Center

12:15 PM
Lunch: Ronald Reagan Building

1:30 PM
Vietnam/Lincoln/Korean/Einstein

4:15 PM
Arlington National Cemetery - This most hallowed burial ground is America's premier military cemetery where those who have served our nation are laid to rest with dignity and honor.  Over 4 million visitors each year witness the Changing of the Guard at The Tomb of the Unknowns and pay their respects at gravesides and memorials.

5:00 PM
Step-On Guide departs group

6:15 PM
Toby's Dinner Theatre - Columbia, MD - Enjoy a buffet-style dinner while taking in this dynamic experience of Broadway musicals in the round.

9:15 PM
Hampton Inn - Md - College Park - Room

10:00 PM
Check in at your hotel: Hampton Inn, College Park

10:30 PM
Overnight security on duty











DAY 3 - SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2013
GROUP
TIME
ACTIVITY

12:00 AM

ALL
7:30 AM
Enjoy a Hot Breakfast at your hotel.

8:30 AM
Depart for sightseeing

10:00 AM
Ford's Theatre/Petersen House - Ford's Theatre is the site of the assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865.  The Ford’s Theatre Society works to present the Theatre’s nearly one million visitors each year with a high quality historic and cultural experience.  Its work is what makes this vibrant historic site an important tool for promoting the ideals of leadership, humanity and wisdom espoused by Abraham Lincoln.  The Petersen House is where Lincoln was taken after he was shot.

11:45 AM
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - This museum serves as America's national institution for the study of the Holocaust and memorializes the millions of people murdered.  It hopes to broaden understanding of the history of the Holocaust.

12:45 PM
Lunch-Allowance Provided

1:30 PM
National Air and Space Museum - The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, is home to the original Wright 1903 flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, the Apollo 11 command module, a lunar rock sample, and more.

3:00 PM
National Museum of Natural History - This Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC explores cultures of Africa, Mammalian ancestors, dinosaurs, and gems.

4:00 PM
National Museum of American History - This Smithsonian Museum's collection of Americana includes the original Star-Spangled Banner, Abraham Lincoln's top hat, and Dorothy's ruby slippers.  Exhibits portray our wars, Presidents, and First Ladies.

7:00 PM
Moonlight Cruise (Saturday) -Boarding at Pier 4, Water Street at 7pm for a 7:30pm cruise.   Enjoy a delicious dinner as you cruise down the Potomac River on the beautiful Spirit of Washington.  After dinner, you can relax and watch the view or dance to top hits spun by a DJ.  This is sure to be the highlight of your trip to Washington, DC.

11:00 PM
Return to hotel
DAY 4 - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2013
GROUP
TIME
ACTIVITY

12:00 AM

ALL
7:30 AM
Enjoy a Hot Breakfast at your hotel.

8:30 AM
Depart for sightseeing

11:15 AM
Washington National Cathedral - The Washington National Cathedral in DC is the sixth largest Cathedral in the world and is the second largest Cathedral in the United States.  It is considered a Gothic masterpiece.

11:30 AM
White House Photo Stop - See where the President lives and works.  This icon of America has been the home of all the Presidents since John Adams.

12:30 PM
Lunch-Allowance Provided

2:00 PM
Group Photo - You will receive your own copy of a panoramic photograph of your group in front of the U.S. Capitol as a souvenir keepsake from the trip.

2:40 PM
U.S. Capitol Tour

4:30 PM
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration - See the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence, and be witness to our nation's most treasured documents.

6:30 PM
Dinner voucher: The Food Court at Fashion Centre at Pentagon City will provide many options for your meal in this world-class shopping experience where avenues of fashions and boulevards of style await.  The sky lit Food Court features international specialties from the familiar to the exotic.

8:30 PM
Depart for Home.
DAY 5 - TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2013
GROUP
TIME
ACTIVITY

12:00 AM

ALL
4:00 AM
Rest Stop Enroute

7:15 AM
Arrive at Oakview MS- Welcome Home!
































                                                                                                           

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