Transcript Farringtons School

Farringtons School
Washington Trip 2014
Mr Curran
Mrs Ody
What is the Educational Value of this trip?
1.
GCSE and IGCE History:
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- The Cold War (Year 10 and 11)
2.
Development of Key Skills (critical thinking, interpretation of sources,
improved sense of chronology, and more)
3.
Social awareness and intercultural development
4.
Group bonding – amongst different Year groups
5.
Fun!
What are the work expectations on the trip?
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Students will listen to guides and gather any information of both interest to
their course and themselves
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Students will be expected to spend 45 minutes per day (before dinner)
writing a journal about the days sights and experiences.
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Don’t forget that the students will have to catch-up with whatever work gets
missed from Thursday & Friday!
Transport & Travel
Travel times:
► Thursday 13th February: EVERYONE meet at Farringtons at 05:45am.
► Flight from Heathrow to Washington Dulles: 11:30am – 2:10pm local
time (8 hour flight) Flight Number: VS21 Virgin Atlantic
► Return Tuesday 18th: Dulles to Heathrow 6:30pm – 7:05am VS22
► Please notify us NOW if you intend to meet your daughter at the
Arrivals gate. We will not wait or leave individuals on their own.
► We estimate being back at Farringtons at 10:45am
► Washington is -5 hours behind UK time.
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Travel to the US has become a lot stricter
Hand luggage might NOT be allowed. Check in the days before the
trip.
If it is, please triple check the contents to make sure we are not
delayed at US customs or at security.
How do I get my VISA?
Visa-free travel is now available to British citizens travelling
to the USA, as long as: ($14 / £9)
► The passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date
of entry.
► The passport is machine readable.
► Travel is for business, pleasure or transit.
► Rules are that
None of you have ever been arrested (even if it did not
lead to conviction)!
► Traveller has not been refused entry or deported from
the US before.
Other nationalities should already have contacted their
embassy and arranged a suitable visa.
Getting my Visa
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Each individual traveller must register online on the site:
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta
This link should take you directly to the official US government
site.
There is a ($14) £9 charge for this service (subject to change).
You will need to provide the required information and obtain
authorisation.
Authorisation is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires.
Please complete this form when you go home tonight.
I would like you to print a copy, and make a note of the
application number.
Only some of the information can be amended at a later date
(such as hotel name and flight number)
More information can be found at:
www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/faqs/faq_esta.html#niv132
Public transport & Coach transfers
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We have a private coach which transfers us from the
airport to the hotel.
Most of our travel around Washington itself will be by foot
or Subway.
How much extra cash should the
students take?
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The bare minimum amount is
US$150 (£100).
This basic amount will only
cover the 4 lunches (based on
10 dollars per lunch), tips,
public transport, entrance to
the Spy Museum and a little
bit for snacks!
However, it does not include
souvenirs or ‘shopping
money’!
A realistic amount would be
US$200 (£150).
The money can take the
form of Cash, or a pre-paid
credit card
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I will take money off students if
they request for safekeeping
Please be aware that the
students will be responsible for
the rest of their own money.
By KS4 our students should be
capable of keeping their money
safe and spending it wisely.
Packing - essentials and suggestions
► Passport
& Visa
► Cash – roughly $200
► Medication
► Day pack
► Mobile phone (&
charger)
► Washbag
► Warm
Clothes
► Hat, gloves & scarf
► Journal and pen
► Glasses/Contact lenses
Mobile
► Students
will be
allowed to keep
mobiles
► However, the
expectation is that on
the walking tour, at
sites, or when they are
being spoken to by
staff, the mobile will
be away.
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course, they can be
used for photographs.
► BE
CAREFUL with who
you text, call, or send
pictures to.
WARNING
http://metro.co.uk/2013/07/11/done-roaming-girl-runs-up3800-bill-using-facebook-on-holiday-3879684/
A dream trip to the Big Apple landed a 14year-old girl in trouble after she racked up a
£3,800 mobile phone bill – just by using
Facebook.
Casey Snook sent updates to her friends as
she visited the Empire State Building, Times
Square and Central Park in New York City.
But she was unaware her photo posts were
running up data roaming charges until her
father’s bank account – which is used to pay
the bill – suddenly went overdrawn.
Her angry mother, Kate, 43, has accused
network provider Orange of ‘extortion’.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article2360254/Schoolgirl-runs-3-800-phone-uploadingpictures-Facebook-holiday-U-S.html
You will need an Adaptor
Where will we stay?
► The
Harrington Hotel
► 436 11th Street, N.W. (corner of 11th & E
Streets, N.W.) Washington, DC 20004-4389
► Tel: (202) 628-8140
What’s the Harrington like?
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The Hotel Harrington is located in the heart of Washington
D.C.'s world famous tourist district. It is just ½ block from
Pennsylvania Avenue, between the Capitol and the White
House.
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We will easily be able to walk to all the sights we want to
see. In addition, the subway system is just two blocks away.
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The hotel has 242 guest rooms, full service restaurant, fast
food restaurant, and a gift shop.
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The well appointed guest rooms offer remote control
television with 78 channels of cable service and private ensuite facilities.
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We do not know the room sizes until we get there; it should
be between 2-4 per room. Everyone should be on the same
floor.
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Harriett's: A family-friendly restaurant where will be served
breakfast and dinner (except on the last night).
Central Washington DC
What will we be doing in Washington?:Subject to Alteration
US Congress & Library of
Congress
National Archives
Experience
Capital Hill is the American version of our Houses of
Parliament; we will have a guided tour o the
building.
Smithsonian Air & Space
Museum
National Museum of
American History
If there is one museum people have heard about
and just one they want to see, it’s the National Air
and Space Museum.
Two walking tours:
(guided)
Covering the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial,
Capitol Hill, Arlington Cemetery, and much more.
The National Archives displays The Constitution, the
Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence.
Goes some way to recounting the lives and
experience s of ordinary American’s by showing the
very stuff of life from Juke boxes to train engines.
Reminders for Parents!
Hand in the Contracts and Student information sheets.
► Pay any remaining costs.
► Check passports are still valid! (Complete ‘ESTA’
tonight)
► Ensure cash is exchanged in advance.
► Help your daughter pack and check her bags (weight
limit is 20kgs).
► Please refrain from contacting students during the
day. Phone time is between 7-8am or 7:30-10pm.
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Enjoy yourselves for 5 days whilst you have a bit of
peace and quiet!
In case of emergencies
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In the unlikely event of an
emergency, the trip leaders will
firstly seek whatever medical
treatment is necessary (hence
the importance of giving us
authorisation to do so).
The trip leader will then phone
the school, who will notify you.
The tour leader will have a
mobile phone which you should
call for further information.
NB: The group will always have
a basic First Aid kit with them at
all times.
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What if the parents have an
emergency?
If the news will potentially upset
your daughter please ensure the
Trip Leader is called (preferably
in advance), as well as the
school.
If your daughter needs to return
early then it is the parents
responsibility to make
arrangements.
Sights around Washington D.C.