Waukee 7th Grade D.C. Trip

Spring Break 2016 March 12-15

When will the trip take place?

• Depart- Saturday, March 12th (early morning)

• Return- Tuesday, March 15th (late evening arrival)

• Trip is a total of 4 days & 3 nights

Who may participate?• Any student in 7th grade at WMS or SMS

during the 2015-2016 school year.

• Parents may accompany students if space is available.

What is the cost?

• Student Price (Quad Occupancy)=– $1498 before May 22– $1598 after May 22

• Parent Price (Double Occupancy)=– $1738 before May 22

-- $1838 after May 22

• Deposit of only $49 secures your spot.

• Trip Insurance= $159

What is included in theprice of the trip?

• The trip is all-inclusive• All meals with choice of food• Teacher chaperones, 1:10 ratio• Hotel security assigned to our group• Excellent hotel accommodations• Deluxe sight-seeing bus• Round trip airfare (charter) and transfers• Guided site-seeing with a Course Leader• World Strides Staff/24 hour service• All taxes, tips• All admissions• Personal, accident, & dental insurance• Panoramic group color photo in front of Capitol

Crystal City Marriott

Students enjoying our hotel breakfast buffet

Dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe

Superior Tours Charter Bus

Will students need additional money above the price of the

tour?• How much spending money is sent with students

(if any) is determined by you.• All necessities are covered in the price of the trip.• Students will only need extra money if they wish

to purchase souvenirs, items from vending machines at the hotel, etc…

Girls by busWe LOVE D.C.

Why are you telling me about this trip nearly a

year in advance?• To give parents the opportunity to begin

making plans well in advance.

• Many families require students to pay for a portion of their own trip. Students can use the upcoming summer vacation to begin earning money!

• Payment plan

• Scholarship Money

What places will we visit?

• Our trip will consist of nearly 4 full days of sightseeing and 3 overnights.

• We will leave the hotel at approximately 8 a.m. and return about 8:30-9:00 p.m. We will stay busy!

• A list of specific sites, with links, is provided on my website

• https://blogs.waukeeschools.org/dctrip/

•The White House•The U.S. Capitol•Smithsonian Museums•U.S. Holocaust Museum•Arlington National Cemetery•Lincoln Memorial•Vietnam Memorial•Korean Memorial•FDR Memorial

•Jefferson Memorial•MLK Memorial•Washington Monument•Mt. Vernon•National Archives•Ford’s Theater•Iwo Jima Memorial•Pentagon 9/11 Memorial•WWII Memorial

Some of the places we will visit…

Lincoln MemorialLincoln Memorial

Vietnam Veterans MemorialVietnam Veterans Memorial

Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

The United States Capitol

A perfect day at Mt. Vernon!

Wreath Laying Ceremony

Wreath Laying Ceremony

Waukee Wreath at Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers

Sample itinerary in your packets

Safety & Security

Night Security• We employ night chaperones

to ensure the safety & security of the students. Night chaperones monitor hotel hallways from late evening to early morning, so teachers & parents can rest peacefully knowing that the students are safe throughout the night.

Doctors on Call• WorldStrides has an

exclusive partnership with The George Washington University Depapartment of Emergency Medicine, allowing for 24-hour in-hotel emergency care to all our traveling students, parents, and teachers.

1-800-999-4542

Tour Central• Staff at the Tour Central

offices in Washington, D.C. are available 24 hours a day via phone while we are traveling. These trained professionals are prepared to answer your questions and handle emergencies that may arise at any time.

WorldStrides Lanyards

• All students are given a WorldStrides name tag to wear while traveling. The back of the tag contains the Tour Central phone number, giving every student quick access to a WorldStrides employee in the unlikely event that he/ she is separated from the group.

Color Groups• Our large group is divided into smaller color

groups of approximately 10-14 travelers.• The “go-to” teacher for all of your child’s needs

while traveling • Shepherds students through the sites• Does room check at night, and makes sure

students are awake in the morning• Distributes lunch money• Helps you with medications students may take.• Provides TLC • Will begin meeting with their groups in January

Is this trip “like school”?

Educational• Excellent real-world

connections to both 7th and 8th grade social studies classes

• A certified course-leader for each bus

• Guided site-seeing with “discoveries” at each location

• Safe environment to practice independence

AND Fun!• Choice of roommates

• Chance to bond and make new friends

• Itinerary is geared toward a 7th grade attention span and interest level

• Social opportunities embedded in the itinerary (pool, ghost tour, private museum rental…)

Educational

AND

Fun!

Discovery for Credit

Middle Schoolers cannot receive credit in our district, but can take the class for enrichment-World Strides is fully accredited-Upon completion of the course, student will receive official transcript-Great practice for online courses- FREE, 6 mos to complete

What are the next steps?Soon…• Visit my website for more

info to help with your decision

• $49 deposit to reserve spot and set up payment plan

• FLAG Scholarship?

• Gift of Education?

• Fundraising? (Need parent volunteers)

In the Fall…• Monthly newsletters (email)

• Choose roommates

• Medical Releases/Behavior Contracts

• Pre-Travel Meeting in February

• Final Itinerary/Flight Details

https://blogs.waukeeschools.org/dctrip/