guandi villagefilestore.wab.edu/es_china_studies_info_2015.pdfaccommodation: we will be staying in 5...

Western Academy of Beijing

GRADE 5 CHINA STUDIES TRIP

Parent Information Booklet

Updated August 5, 2015

Guandi Village Wednesday, September 9, - Friday, September 11, 2015





DEPARTURE: Students need to meet at WAB at 8:30 am on Wednesday September 9, 2015 in the ES Atrium. Buses will depart WAB ES by 9:00 am. RETURN: The buses will return to WAB (front entrance to ES) at approximately 2:00 pm on Friday, September 11th, 2015. Parents may pick students up from the front entrance on arrival. Students who need to ride the WAB 3:30 pm bus home will be supervised in the Founder’s Theatre.

ACCOMMODATION: We will be staying in 5 Farmer Hotels in the Guandi Village. TRANSPORT: WAB buses will transport students to the Guandi Village and surrounding sites. COST: All camp costs will be covered by WAB – including accommodation, activities, transport and meals. TRIP LEADERS: Dennis Deng (China Studies Department) Kate Arseneault (Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher) Wenjing Wang (WAB China Studies Director) STAFF: (10 STAFF) Leah Ittner (Grade 5 Homeroom teacher) Mike Sullivan (Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher) Ryan Moran (Grade 5 Homeroom teacher) Jennifer Brown (Grade 5 Support Teacher) Cat Blas (Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher) Sheilah Curtis (Grade 5 Support Teacher) Dylan Meikle (ES Counselor) Justine Smyth (Assistant Principal) Grace Wang (Grade 5 Teacher Assistant) Christine Zhang (Grade 5 Teacher Assistant) Karin Nystrom (ES School Nurse) Two Grade 5 single subject teachers will be added to this list shortly.





ES Reception (office hours): (85) 59865588 Camp Contact: Casey Cosgray 138 1090 4584 Communication: Staff will have a mobile phone and will make contact with the school on a daily basis and in the case of an emergency. Email updates will be sent daily. PROPOSED ITINERARY – subject to change Day 1: Wednesday, September 9 Arrival at School (8:30 am) – gather in Atrium Bus leaves WAB at 9:00 am Snack and Lunch provided by students National Park activities and walk Guandi Village Tour Dinner in the Farmer Hotels Evening Activity Program (Bonfire or Cultural Performance) Day 2: Thursday, September 10 Breakfast in the Farmer Hotels Honguo Temple hike and activities Lunch at Temple- packed lunch provided by camp Dinner in the Farmer Hotels Evening Activity Program (Bonfire or Cultural Performance) Day 3: Friday, September 11 Breakfast in the Farmer Hotels Guandi Village Activities Lunch at a Farmer Hotels Bus travel back to WAB (approximately 2 pm) Students can go home with parents at 2 pm or are able to take normal 3:30 pm bus

home





THE AIMS OF THE CAMP: ● To broaden the students' experience of China and to improve the students’

understanding and awareness of Chinese culture, geography and history. ● To enhance the school curriculum, in particular our Units of Inquiry, by providing

opportunities to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to a ‘real’ situation; ● To foster a sense of community living and sharing; ● To foster both teacher-student and student-student relationships, providing an

opportunity for sharing, companionship, and support in an environment different from daily school life;

● To encourage confidence and self-reliance, especially with the more challenging activities offered;

● To create and nurture a love of outdoor life and outdoor activities and to develop the necessary skills to enjoy such activities;

● To develop responsibility in preparing for one’s own requirements; ● Staff will endeavour to ensure that each student has fun, is happy and feels the

enjoyment that comes from exploring new environments, being involved in new activities and being part of a grade level group.

SAFETY: The safety of the students on the field trips is of paramount importance and the activities and staffing are designed to ensure this. All staff are trained in first aid and will bring the appropriate first aid equipment with them. If students are not abiding by the rules or endanger the safety of themselves or others, they will be sent home at the expense of the parents. CAMP REGULATIONS:

● Normal school rules and expectations apply: ● Respect Yourself ● Respect Others ● Respect the Environment ● Students must not leave the hotel area or tourist sites alone or without the permission of

a staff member. ● Every student is responsible for their immediate environment; they must keep it tidy and

must not damage any of the surroundings. ● Students must not enter anybody else’s hotel room before breakfast or after dark.

Students may only enter another room at other times if invited by all the students staying within.

FOOD: All students must pack a healthy snack, a packed lunch, and a water bottle for the first day. Chinese style food will be available for most meals. However, western options will be available for breakfast and snack. For safety reasons, please do not bring glass bottles.





HEALTH INFORMATION/MEDICATIONS: Please ensure that we have updated medical information. A personalized form will be sent home with your child and . Any medication that students require must be labeled, put in a bag with clear instructions and given to the camp nurse on the morning of the camp. This applies to over the counter medications as well. A medication form must also accompany the medications. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: All students will need to bring their current passport for the trip. Homeroom teachers will collect these on Wednesday morning prior to leaving for Guandi village and they will look after the passports whilst on the trip. In addition WAB should already have a copy of your current Visa and Medical Insurance information. If your child's passport is with the Visa office please bring the official receipt to show the passport is with the government to process the visa. DIGITAL CAMERAS As we will be visiting a number of picturesque places students may wish to bring a digital camera (no iphones or camera phones). These are not compulsory and staff takes no responsibility for the loss or damage of cameras. No other electronic devices will be permitted. MOBILE PHONES Students are asked NOT to bring mobile phones on the trip. Phones will distract them from the activities, impact on their social interaction and considerably reduce the positive benefits of this trip. All camp leaders will carry phones and will be in regular contact with the school. STUDENT PREPARATION: As far as possible, each student should pack his/her own bag for the trip. Parents should make a final check to ensure that their child has packed all the required items. A detailed checklist of what is required, and what is not, is included below. While this list below may appear long for a 3-day trip, experience on previous trips has proven all items to be necessary. SPENDING MONEY: All accommodation, travel, activities and meals are provided by WAB. No money is needed. Souvenir purchases are not permitted. WHAT TO BRING/WHAT NOT TO BRING: We are staying in hotels so bed linens and pillows are NOT required. All items on the ‘what to bring’ list on the next page are essential unless listed otherwise. Most activities will go ahead in the event of rain so please ensure a waterproof jacket (not umbrella) is also packed. WAB POLICY ON STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN CHINA STUDIES FIELD TRIPS: WAB believes this trip is an important part of the student’s learning and has decided to pay for the trip. The trip is not optional. It is an essential part of the WAB curriculum and conforms to the school’s philosophy of “taking full advantage of the culture of the host country”.





WHAT TO BRING- please check each item: Pack all belongings into one strong, labelled backpack. NO SUITCASES PLEASE! • All items should be clearly labelled with the student’s name. • The student is responsible for his/her belongings at all times. TOILETRIES: OTHER: Toothbrush & toothpaste Large backpack (approx. 70 litres) Hair brush / comb Day pack (approx 30 litres) e.g. school bag Soap Large bath towel Anti-bacterial hand wash Washcloth Shampoo Sleeping Bag 3 small packets of tissues Insect repellent Deodorant Flashlight / torch with new batteries Personal hygiene items Camera (no iphones or camera phones) Book/Playing Cards Spare plastic bags for dirty clothing CLOTHING: Sun screen 4 pairs of socks 4 shirts / t-shirts 1 sweater, sweatshirt or fleece FOOD: 1 waterproof jacket 1 litre water bottle (full) 1 pair of long pants Healthy snack (first day only) 4 pairs of underwear Packed lunch (first day only – disposable) 1 pair of flip flops (optional for

showering)

1 pair of pyjamas 1 sun hat 2 pairs of shoes (suitable for hiking)

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