Spending money: Students will be well fed, so there's no need to send money to buy ... If the tour guide is talking, you
What to Pack: * Poncho (umbrellas aren’t allowed) * Tennis shoes, and a second pair of shoes in case of rain * Spending money: Students will be well fed, so there’s no need to send money to buy meals. Aside for lunch on the 1st day, meals are covered on the trip. Souvenir money: Please give an amount that is most appropriate for your student. The student is responsible for holding on to this amount. Possible prices- sweatshirts can be $25-50, t-shirts & hats can be $15-25. * Jeans, leggings, school appropriate shorts, t-shirts, jacket, underwear * Toiletries & Personal Items * A packed lunch for the bus * Drawstring bag for the bus: phone charger, book to read on the bus, snacks Bus Behavior Expectations: * Be respectful to the driver. If he or she asks us to tone down our volume or not to take flash photography, do it. * Be respectful to the tour guide. If the tour guide is talking, you aren’t. No electronics allowed if the tour guide is talking. * Throw all trash away every time you get off of the bus. * Bathrooms are for emergency use only. There’s no guarantee that the bathrooms will be emptied on this trip. * No milk based liquids are allowed on the bus. * The only drinks allowed are drinks with screw top lids. No plastic lids like you get at a fast food restaurant. * You may bring a small bag (drawstring or backpack), snacks, a pillow, and light throw blanket on the bus. Pack your charger and a book/something to do on the bus in your small bag. Your suitcase will go under the bus. * Bring a packed lunch on Monday the 15th for our trip to DC. Rules while touring: * Before leaving the bus, be sure you know the time and place to meet. * Know the bus number so that you recognize your bus
* Take everything with you that you’re going to need. The buses may not be there to go back and get camera, money, etc. * Stay with a buddy; never go off on your own * Arrive at meeting place on time * Be respectful at all times; you represent Weaver Middle School * No running or loud talking while at the memorials and monuments; no climbing on memorials * We will visit the Pentagon Memorial for 9-11, Vietnam Memorial, World War II Memorial. There may be people there who are paying their respects to someone they lost. Be mindful of what those monuments represent to people. * Holocaust Museum: This museum requires silence and respect. Souvenirs and food: * We will visit a souvenir shop that sells Washington DC/FBI/CIA shirts, hats, sweatshirts, etc.; save your money for that. * Some meals will be at food courts in malls; you will be given a meal ticket to purchase food at any of the vendors * In the food court wait patiently in line and clean up after yourself * If we are at a buffet; again good table manners. Don’t put more on your plate than you will eat. Remember there are people behind you in line. You can always get seconds. Hotel Behavior: * Remember that there are other people staying at this hotel. Be quiet in the halls, elevator, and stairs. * No boys in girls’ rooms, no girls in boys’ rooms * Be dressed appropriately when you leave the room. Don’t walk around the hotel in bare feet. * If one of the night guards asks you to be quiet, please be respectful. They will come and get us if there’s a need to talk to you more than once per night. * The hotel provides a phone that is attached to the wall in each room. Do not use those hotel phones. * No use of room service. It’s expensive.
Phones: * We will not be calling home during the day. Parents can expect phone calls in the evening after we finish touring. * Parents should avoid calling during the day because we will be busy and a ringing or buzzing cell phone would be intrusive. Twitter: * Follow us @WeaverDC18 on Twitter * Know your child’s bus number and follow their hashtag. #Bus1, #Bus2, #Bus3, #Bus4, #Bus5, #Bus6, #Bus7 * Please know that teachers will try their best to take and post pictures throughout the day. Sometimes, the pictures are posted at night. Security Checkpoints: * Security is no laughing matter. Do not make jokes or question requests of the guards or police. * Be ready to empty your pockets. Don’t wear big belt buckles or items that have a lot of metal. Final Thoughts * Hygiene discussion: Please remember that we are walking a lot each day. Students should shower each day and wear deodorant each day. * Rooms have 2 double beds and there are 4 students in the rooms. * Dance behavior/expectations: All school rules apply. There is no theme for the dance. It isn’t a formal dance.
* Parent drop off should be no earlier than 6 AM. No one will be here prior to this time. Buses arrive at 6. We will begin loading as soon as they arrive. We will leave at 6:30. **Please note that not following the rules or any general misconduct may result in being sent home early from the trip at the parent’s expense.
