Student Reflections

Here are links to projects that students completed after the trip.
Cote's Prezi
Hayden's PowerPoint
Ryan's Glog

Collage Assignment

Here is a link to the collage assignment expectations

Pictures and reflections

We are home from our trip, exhauted, educated and elated. Well done everyone.
Check out the pictures taken by Ms. Scrimgeour and Mr. Robert. They don't mind if you use them in your collages.
Washington DC June 2010 - Carol - Picasa Web Albums

Preparing for the train

Valid Photo Identification Required for Adults

Amtrak customers 18 years of age and older must produce valid photo identification when:
Obtaining, exchanging or refunding tickets
Storing baggage at stations
Checking baggage
Sending Amtrak Express shipments
Onboard trains, in response to a request by an Amtrak employee

Please note that unaccompanied children 15 and older must also produce valid photo ID when purchasing tickets.

Motion Sickness

What I have read is that if you are prone to motion sickness you can get motion sickness on the train but not as likely as a boat or plane.

What to bring to Washington, D.C.

You may bring 2 carry-on bags of no more than 50 pounds each – one should be a backpack that you can use as we tour the city, the other should be carry-on size and easy to roll or carry.

Bring the following for the train:

·       One sweatshirt or sweater

·       Book or magazine to read, electronic games, music, writing utensils

·       Wallet with personal identification card.

·       Lunch

·       Snack

·       Dinner

There is a snack car, but it may not meet your needs. It provides carryout style food service, featuring soup and salad, pizza, sandwiches and other snacks and beverages. We will not provide funds for food on the train to D.C.

·       You might also choose to bring: cards, sketchbook, travel games, cell phone and charger

On the train, seats recline and have reading lights, but there are very few outlets to charge your electronic devices.

Pack the following in a small suitcase with wheels (you will be taking it on the Metro and walking a couple of blocks with it):

·       Comfortable, light-weight, appropriate clothing for touring the city (shorts or skirt, short-sleeved/sleeveless shirts) – 2 day’s worth

·       One pair of long pants

·       One rain jacket

·       One pair of sneakers

·       Underwear, toiletries (deodorant, toothbrush, comb or hairbrush, etc.) You might bring one toothpaste, sunscreen and shampoo for the group

·       Sunglasses

·       Comfortable clothing for the train home.

You might also choose to bring:

·       Comfortable, supportive sandals (flip-flops are not recommended for touring the city)

·       Cap

·       Food for snacking

First letter - about budgeting

I'm posting the letter that we sent out in the fall just in case you need this for reference.

Dear Families of Harbor Eighth Graders,

The school board has given approval for our 8^th grade field trip to Washington, D.C. The dates will be June 1-4, 2010.

Students will be charged $350 and chaperones $150. In addition, students should be sent with $80 for food and spending money, to be spent only if needed. (I anticipate that food will be covered by the $350, but it may not cover everything.) We know the cost of the trip is high and scholarship money is available to any family for whom the full price is a hardship.  I will begin to collect payments.  The first is a $50 deposit due on December 15^th with a  monthly installment of $60 due on 15^th of  January, February, March, April and May.

We will be traveling via Amtrak. We will be staying at the Days Inn Hotel, Washington D.C. rooming in groups of three students and one adult. Each room has two full beds, so there will be some doubling up or sleeping bags.

Students are not required to attend, and those who do will be expected to complete academic tasks connected to the trip.

In order to make this trip work, we need 7 parent chaperones. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are able to chaperone. Parent chaperones will be responsible for three students each. Parents, you will probably enjoy this trip as much or better than your children.

Please email or call me if you expect to send your child. Please email me if you would like to chaperone.

Debra McConnell

Itinerary

ITINERARY

Tuesday June 1st
8:00 a.m. Arrive at Amtrak station in Essex Junction
9:00 a.m. Departure of Train # 55
10:30pm Arrive in Washington DC Union Station, travel by Metro to our hotel
11:00 p.m. Check in and settle in rooms.
11:30 p.m. Lights out and quiet in rooms.

Wednesday June 2nd
7:00 a.m. Rise and shine, breakfast in neighborhood by Individual Groups.
8:30 a.m. LARGE GROUP meet by the Metro Station for our trip by Metro to the Capitol. We may stop by Senator Leahy’s office if time.
9:40 a.m. Arrive at Capitol for security check
10:10 a.m. Scheduled LARGE GROUP tour of The U.S. Capitol.
12:00 a.m. Individual groups depart for lunch and Smithsonian museums
8:30 p.m. Walking tour of lighted monuments.
10:00 p.m. Lights out and quiet in rooms.

Wednesday June 3rd
7:00 a.m. Breakfast in hotel neighborhood by Individual Groups.
8:30 a.m. LARGE GROUP meet by the Metro Station for our trip by Metro to Arlington Cemetary, Holocaust Museum, Fords Theater, National Archives and/or the White House.
4:00 p.mm. LARGE GROUP meet by the front entrance to the zoo
7:00 p.m. Individual Groups plan dinner and evening activities.
11:00 p.m. Lights out and quiet in rooms.

Friday June 4th
6:00 a.m. Rise and shine. Pack snacks and meals for the train ride home..
6:30 a.m. Meet outside Metro Station for our trip to Union Station
7:15 Arrive at Union Station to board Amtrak train #56
8:10 a.m. Train Departs
8:45 p.m. Train Arrives in Essex Junction