Piney Grove Middle School
8th Grade Savannah Adventure
May 10-12, 2017
It isn’t long before we depart on our three day Savannah Adventure. The purpose of this letter is to help you make preparations for our trip. Please read and follow these instructions carefully.
Medications
- If you are sending any medications, prescription or OTC, you must complete a separate Forsyth County Medication form for each medication. For example, if you are sending ADHD meds, Clartin, and an Antibiotic, you will need 3 copies of the Forsyth County Medication form.
- Medications and the Forsyth County Formare due to the clinic by 4:00pm on Friday May 5, 2016.
- You do not need to send Tylenol, Advil, Tums or Benadryl. We will have these medications and can administer them as long as you have signed the permission form to do so.
Time and Place of Departure
On Wednesday, May 10th, we’ll leave from the school early before the regular school day begins. Please have your child at the school no later than 6:00 AM so we can depart on schedule. We will depart from the back parking lot. The buses will depart around 6:45am. Please do not park in the bus lane right up next to the building, and do not block the turn in front of the gym. You may park in the lot, or you may park along the road parallel to the lot or in the bus lane parallel to the lot.
When students arrive, they need to come inside the building, find their chaperone’s assigned classroom, and sign in with that chaperone. They will have theirluggage checked and complete their boarding pass. Boys will check-in on the 7th grade hallway and girls on the 8th grade hallway. Once luggage has been checked, students can board the buses, but may not leave the buses once they board. The building will be very crowded with students and their luggage, so we encourage parents to wait outside or to drop off their student and leave.
To Contact Your Student During the Trip
Please limit phone calls to those of an urgent nature. We encourage students to bring cell phones, with the understanding of when it is okay to use them and when it is not. All BYOT rules will remain in effect during the Savannah trip.
In an emergency, if you need to call us: If it is during school hours, call the school office at678-965-5010. After school hours ONLY you may call or text 706-344-9195.
The Girls are at Springhill Suites 912-629-7777. The Boys are at Country Inn and Suites 912-920-3200
Remind Me TEXTS – If you would like to get daily textupdates from Ms. Gibsonduring the trip, then please text @savparentsto 81010 for the Parent Texts. You may also text @sav17kids to 81010 for the Student Textsthat will be shared at various points during the trip.
Returning Home
We will arrive back at the school between5:00 and 6:00 PM in the back lot, depending on traffic. Please be waiting for your child when we return. At this point, all buses will return to the back lot; if we make a change, we will notify you through text messages.
Stay close to a phone in the afternoon. We will have students call home when we are close.
Savannah AdventurePacking List
SACK LUNCH FOR DAY 1
All students must pack a sack lunch in a brown bag or disposable bag for the first day. This lunch needs to be packed in their book bag for the bus. Don’t bring anything that needs to be heated. Wrap drinks in foil and they will stay cold.
SNACKS and BEVERAGES
Crackers, chips, and healthy snacks can help satisfy between meal appetites, but please do not load up on candy or junk food.
Beverages and Food on the buses…
Allowed: water, soft drinks and sports drinks in plastic bottles with screw top lids, healthy snacks and crackers.
Not Allowed: coffee, gum, no peanuts, sunflower seeds or nuts in shells, chocolate candy, or dairy products (ice cream, milk, milkshakes, yogurt, and chocolate milk),
Energy drinks are not allowed at any time while on the trip.
When we stop for meals, eat at the location. NO FOOD OR DRINK LEFTOVERS FROM MEALS CAN BE TAKEN ON THE BUSES.
PACKING GUIDELINES
Everyone is allowed one suitcase to be stored underneath the bus and one carry on piece (a backpack) to keep things you want to have with you all the time.
What to Pack in Your Suitcase:
1 comfortable outfit per day—Check the Weather Channel for the forecast and pack accordingly. School dress code applies!
An extra pair of comfortable tennis shoes (in case one pair gets wet).
Hotel appropriate pajamas
Other personal items
Plastic bag for damp clothes
Extra snacks and drinks for at the hotel
What to Pack in Your backpack:
Refillable water bottle, with a closeable pull up top or squirt top.
FlipFlops, especially the second day when we go to the beach.
Electronic games, iPods and similar devices may be brought with the understanding that we will not be responsible for damaged or missing items. All electronic devices must have headphones. Games that require being connected to a television (Xbox, Ps4, etc.) may not be brought because the hotel does not allow it. ALL BYOT RULES APPLY ON THE SAVANNAH TRIP.
Umbrella or Poncho (Remember the tours continue rain or shine!)
Light jacket or sweatshirt. Dress in layers. The mornings are cool; the bus is cool. The days are HOT!
Cell Phone – only allowed to use at certain times.
Sunscreen /Bug Spray (You can buy a combo products that work great!)
Books, magazines, and other reading material (not required)
Journal, Diary, or Notebook and pens and pencils (not required)
Camera and extra memory cards/batteries. Avoid sending valuable cameras.
Chargers for electronic devices. Make sure your devices are charged overnight, as there will be no opportunity to charge them during the day. Portable chargers are highly recommended.
Extra change for the vending machines at the hotel and rest stops if you want to buy a drink or snack.
Spending Money - The recommended amount of money to bring is $50.00. Be sure to include some change and ones for vending machines and video games at the arcade.
Piney Grove Middle School
8th Grade Savannah Trip
Information on Medications
No medication will be allowed to remain with the student on the Savannah Field Trip unless it is an emergency medication (inhaler or EpiPen) or the medication has been approved by the nurse. Please contact our school nursewith any questions or concerns 678-965-5010 ext.381527 or Ms. Gibson at
Types of Medications:
Prescription Medications must be brought to the clinic in the original prescription bottle by parents. A Forsyth County medication form will need to be completed and signed by parents. This form is attached to the packet or you can email Mrs. Wood for another copy. Medication in Ziploc bags that are NOT in original containers will not be accepted.
Non-Prescription Medications, such as Claritin and Allegra, must be brought to the clinic by parents in the original bottle or box. A Forsyth County medication form will need to be completed and signed by parents. This is the same form you would use prescription medications and a copy is attached or you can email Mrs. Wood for another copy. Medication in Ziploc bags that are NOT in original containers will not be accepted.
Homeopathic Medicationsare not FDA approved and will not be given on the Savannah Field Trip per Forsyth County Policy.
Vitamins should only be given during the field trip if absolutely necessary.
Directions for Sending Medications
- Gather all medications in their original packages.
- Put all medications, which are in their original packages, in the one zip lock bag.
- Label the bag with your student’s name and chaperone’s name.
- Fill out one Forsyth County Medication form for every medication you are sending. For example – If you are sending 4 medications, you will need 4 forms. You only need these forms for medications you are sending, not Tylenol, Tums, Ibuprofen or Benadryl.
- Put all your Forsyth County medical forms in the bag with your student’s medications.
- Bring the medications to the clinic prior to the trip.
- Medication Deadlinewill be Friday May 5, 2017. Organizing medication for this trip takes hours to complete. Medications brought the morning of the trip will be given to the student the next day. Please plan accordingly.
***Suitcases and bags will be checked the morning of the Savannah Trip. If any medications are found, they will be removed. All medications must come through the clinic prior to the day of the fieldtrip.***All students requiring medical care plans must have them completed and signed by their physician and turned in to the nurse before the trip.
Piney Grove Middle School
Savannah Trip Medical Form
Student Name:
Chaperone: Bus #
Parent name: / Parent name:Phone numbers:
Home ______
Work ______
Other ______/ Phone numbers:
Home______
Work______
Other______
Medications on the trip
Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Tums, and Benadryl will be provided on the trip, so you do not need to provide these medications for your child. Generic medications may be substituted for the medications listed. Directions on the bottle will be followed unless otherwise specified. These medications will only be given if needed.
*Check the medications your student is allowed to receive on the trip
Tylenol Extra Strength 500mg (tablets) _____
Ibuprofen 200mg (tablets) ______
Benadryl 25mg (tablets) ______
Tums (chewable)______
I am giving the teacher permission to give the above medications if needed for my child during the Savannah field trip.
Parent/Guardian Signature: ______Date______
Emergency Situation
In the event of an emergency, Piney Grove Middle School has my permission to transport my child to the nearest health care facility by a staff member's car or emergency medical services if necessary. The health care facility has permission to treat my child as deemed necessary. Fees for ambulance transportation and medical services will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian signed below, even if it is not covered by my insurance program.
Parent/Guardian Signature: ______Date______
Health Insurance Company______Policy Number______
Group Number______Provider Phone______
Trip Coordinator – Ms. Staci Gibson
678-965-5010 ex 382250