February 5, 2015
Dear seventh and eighth grade parents,
As you know from Ms. Connor’s message, we are moving the Boston trip to February 24-26, 2015. We are grateful for your support in making this change. Please carefully read, sign, and keep all relevant paper work as quickly as possible. Please remember that emails do not suffice for overnight trips, and we need a completed set of permission slips in order for your child to attend.
This annual overnight trip is intended to allow students to experience firsthand the cultural and historical richness of one of our nation’s greatest cities. Year after year, we see the experience fosters unity and friendship among the students, and it is a special opportunity to spend time with beloved teachers outside of the traditional classroom setting.
The trip will be chaperoned by a total of 14 chaperones, including Ms. Connor, Paul Paronich, our school’s facilities manager and former NYPD staff member.
Please read the following information for important details about the trip:
Departure: Please be sure to drop your child off at school no later than 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday morning. We will not be able to wait for late arrivals.
Illness: In case of illness, please make sure that your child is fever- or symptom-free for at least 24 hours before sending him or her on Tuesday morning. The trip is set up to include a lot of walking and long days, and while missing it due to a cold or virus would be disappointing, it would be the right decision for your child and for the group. Students who cannot keep up with the itinerary would need to be picked up early by a parent.
Meals: All meals will be provided on this trip at local restaurants or food courts. We will have snacks on the bus. Students should not bring any other food or drinks, besides a water bottle.
Spending Money: Please do not send your child with more than $50 in spending money for souvenirs and gifts.
Dress Code: Boston in February can be brisk! Please make sure that your child packs warm clothes and appropriate footwear and outerwear. Clothing should be clean, inoffensive, and appropriate for a school trip. Yankees hats should probably stay at home!
Medication: If your child is on any medication, please put it in a Ziploc bag labeled with his or her name and instructions for administering it. This bag should be delivered to me on the morning of departure. We need to administer all medicine, both over-the-counter and prescription. Families should also be sure to send in a working EpiPen if their child keeps one at home.
Electronics: Electronics, including phones, iPods, and digital cameras are not permitted on this trip. Please respect that these rules have been devised with your child’s best interest in mind. The school will purchase a disposable camera for every student, and each student will be responsible for the possession and maintenance of the camera on the trip, as well as development of the film. Cameras will be collected each night.
Contact Information: If you need to contact our group while we are on the trip, please call Kat Thompson on her cell phone: (631) 379-3114. We will be staying at the SpringHill Suites Marriott Boston and the number is (978) 353-5000.
Return: The group should return to school by approximately 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 26. We will send an email when we depart, and we will call the front desk with frequent updates about the traffic. When we return, we will follow the same dismissal protocols that we normally do.
Permission Slip: Please fill out the following information by Monday, February 9:
- The consent forms sent home by Ms. Philips last week. Much of the information has already been filled out. Both the student and the parent need to sign this form.
- The permission slip attached to this letter. Both the student and the parent need to sign this form
- The Code of Conduct attached to this letter. Both the student and the parent need to sign this form.
Please keep the first two pages of this letter for your reference while we are on the trip. As soon as the itinerary is finalized, we will send that to you in a separate communication.
It should be a very special trip. Please give me a call at (212) 932-1980 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Anne D. Rabbino
Upper Division Director
Please return this permission slip by Monday,February 9, 2015.
I give my child, ______, permission to go to Boston, MA, and to participate in all approved activities from February 24 to February 26, 2015.
Additionally (please initial each item):
_____My child will arrive at school by 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24.
_____My child will have no more than $50 in spending money for the trip.
_____My child will bring appropriate and seasonal clothing for the trip, including comfortable walking shoes.
_____ My child’s medication will be delivered to Ms. Rabbino on the morning of departure in a zip-lock bag clearly labeled with my child’s name and instructions for administering the medication. Please also indicate this information ahead of time.
Name of medication (if applicable): ______
Dosage information (e.g. morning versus night, food versus no food).
______
______
_____I understand electronic devices, including e-readers and cameras, are not permitted on this trip.
_____I understand that cell phones are not permitted on the trip. If I need to contact the group, I can call Kat Thompson at (631) 379-3114.
_____I understand that violation of school policies can result in disciplinary action for my child.
_____I understand that I must review and sign the School’s Field Trip Code of Conduct in addition to this permission slip.
Please sign and date below:
______
Student’s signature Date
______
Parent or Guardian’s signature Date