SCHS Über-Tour 2014 SWITZERLAND/GERMANY TRIP APRIL 15– APRIL 25, 2014

MEETING OCTOBER 16, 2013

COUNTDOWN

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182 DAYS UNTIL Über-Tour 2014!!!

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AGENDA

ÜBER- TOUR and AND SCHOOL WEBSITE TEXTING FOR EMERGENCIES PASSPORTS VISA APPLICATION FORMS (MEDICAL/BEHVIOUR/ETC.) CURRENCY/CREDIT CARDS/DEBIT CARDS TRAVEL IMMUNIZATIONS ALLERGIES PERSONAL FIRST AID KITS CONVERTERS TIMELINE TIP MONEY RULES/REGULATIONS/PRACTICAL ADVICE BALANCE OF FEES CHAPERONE LIST INFORMATION REMINDERS/QUESTIONS

SCHOOL WEBSITE

IF ANY OF YOU NEED INFORMATION FROM ANY OF THESE SLIDES TONIGHT, THIS POWERPOINT WILL BE ON OUR WEBSITE. PLEASE VISIT: http://uber-tour2014.weebly.com

(password – travel) OR http://springhs.rockyview.ab.ca/

THE CHAPERONES

MR. SAWCHUK MR. CARDER - TRIP LEADER/SCIENCE/MODEL UN - MATH (and PHYSICS) MR. STELKIC MRS. STELKIC - MATH/EUROPEAN IMMIGRANT - RVS TEACHER/MR. STELKIC’S CHAPERONE

TEXTING FOR EMERGENCIES

 FOR THIS TRIP WE WILL NOT HAVE A TELEPHONE CHAIN CHART. I WILL SEND A GROUP TEXT IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES. THIS WAY YOU WILL NOT RELY ON ANYONE ELSE BUT ME, MR. SAWCHUK, TO DIRECTLY CONTACT YOU.

 WE WILL CREATE THE TEXT LIST TONIGHT. COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE OUT YOUR CELL PHONES AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTION THAT I WILL GIVE YOU.

 I WILL CHECK TONIGHT WHETHER OR NOT THIS WORKS.

ENTER THIS INTO YOUR PHONE:

PASSPORTS

 I AM ASSUMING YOU ’ VE ALEADY APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED YOUR UPDATED PASSPORT (must be valid for 6 months after our return). IF YOU HAVEN ’ T, GET TWO PASSPORT PHOTOS SIGNED BY A GUARANTOR AND FILL OUT THE APPLICATION ITSELF (WHICH YOU CAN GET ONLINE). APPLY EITHER IN PERSON OR MAIL YOUR FORM IN. HOWEVER THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE SOON!!!

 WE ASKED THAT YOU BRING 3 PHOTOCOPIES OF YOUR PASSPORT TONIGHT, IF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN, WE NEED THIS ASAP. IF YOU LOSE YOUR PASSPORT WHILE ON THE TRIP, IT IS NOT EASY TO REPLACE QUICKLY. IT IS EASIER TO REPLACE IF WE HAVE A PHOTOCOPY.  THE CHAPERONES WILL TAKE IN ALL OF THE PHOTOCOPIED DOCUMENTS AT THE END OF THE EVENING

CANADIANS NEED NOT APPLY THERE ARE NO VISAS REQUIRED TO TOUR SWITZERLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY OR AUSTRIA.

CURRENCY

 PARTICIPANTS NEED TO PURCHASE SWISS FRANCS AND EUROS. AS OF OCTOBER 14 TH , THE CURRENT EXCHANGE RATES WERE:  0.88 SWISS FRANCS PER CANADIAN DOLLAR.   0.71 EUROS PER CANADIAN DOLLAR THE TRAVEL AGENCY SUGGESTS APPROXIMATELY 300 EURO PER DAY SPENDING MONEY, WHICH AMOUNTS TO $420 CDN. $500 WILL GET YOU 356 EURO. REMEMBER: WE WILL BE SPLITTING OUR TRIP BETWEEN GERMANY AND SWITZERLAND (~ 5 DAYS IN EACH), SO YOU WILL NEED BOTH CURRENCIES. 

NOTE FROM THE TOUR COMPANY:

Discretionary cash should be brought in small denominations-$20 bills —as it can be difficult to get change for larger bills, even from banks.

CREDIT CARDS/DEBIT CARDS



TIP FROM TOUR COMPANY:

Please do not send students on tour with only CASH. All students should have some cash on-hand and access to other cash in the form of Debit Cards. Most North American Debit cards work at any ABM, ATM and Credit Cards work at most restaurants and stores.

CREDIT CARDS:

 A SUGGESTION IS THAT TRIP PARTICIPANTS SHOULD POSSESS THEIR OWN VISA OR MASTERCARD WITH A DISCUSSED LIMIT BETWEEN STUDENT AND PARENT. CREDIT CARD LIMITS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED BUT WE RECOMMEND A MAXIMUM OF A $500.00 CREDIT LIMIT . STUDENTS CAN EITHER GET THEIR OWN CARD OR OBTAIN A SUPPLEMENTARY CARD (IN THEIR NAME) FROM THEIR PARENTS ’ ACCOUNT.

OR….

DEBIT CARDS:

 STUDENTS CAN ALSO OBTAIN DEBIT CARDS FOR THEIR USE IN EUROPE. CHECK WITH THE BANK TO ENSURE THAT THEY WILL WORK IN THERE– TELL THEM SPECIFICALLY THAT WE ARE GOING TO EUROPE.

IN ORDER FOR THIS TO WORK PROPERLY THE PIN # CAN ONLY BE 4 DIGITS LONG! DEBIT MACHINES ARE GENERALLY AVAILABLE IN THE MAJOR CENTERS BUT STUDENTS MUST UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE ALMOST ALWAYS ON A TIGHT SCHEDULE AND THEREFORE, WE WON ’ T BE ABLE TO STOP ALL THE TIME.

ALLERGIES

 WE, AND EVOLVE TOURS, NEED TO KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY KNOWN FOOD ALLERGIES. WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A PARTICIPANT CHECKLIST THIS EVENING WHICH ASKS YOU, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO LIST ANY ALLERGIES ALONG WITH OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION, PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS (INCLUDING THEIR GENERIC NAME – NEEDED TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR). YOU NEED TO FIND OUT THE GENERIC INFORMATION AND NAME OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT YOU TAKE.

 PLEASE TRY TO COMPLETE THIS TONIGHT. 

EVOLVE TOURS asks that you bring 3 EpiPens; one to be kept with student, one with the Tour Director and one to be kept in the medical kit. Please label EpiPens with the student ’s name.

TRAVEL IMMUNIZATIONS

ACCORDING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA THESE ARE THE SUGGESTED IMMUNIZATIONS FOR TRAVEL TO SWITZERLAND, GERMANY, FRANCE AND AUSTRIA: 

UP TO DATE ROUTINE IMMUNIZATIONS

IMMUNIZATIONS TO CONSIDER:

 HEP A/HEP B – TWINREX  INFLUENZA  MEASLES  TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS SPEAK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT ANY OTHERS, OR GO TO A TRAVEL CLINIC.

PERSONAL FIRST AID

CHAPERONES WILL ALL CARRY A FIRST AID KIT BUT WE ALSO SUGGEST THAT STUDENTS HAVE THEIR OWN KITS WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE:

    PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION   TUMS   ADVIL/TYLENOL/ASPIRIN   BAND AIDS IMODIUM GRAVOL REHYDRATION CRYSTALS/POWDER SORE THROAT LOZENGES (HALLS) COLD MEDICATION SUNSCREEN AND ALOE VERA FOR BURNS  BENADRYL  POLYSPORIN  PINK-EYE DROPS

CONVERTERS

 TRIP PARTICIPANTS WHO PLAN ON USING ELECTRIC APPLIANCES SUCH AS HAIR DRYERS, ELECTRIC SHAVERS, CURLING IRONS ETC. NEED TO OBTAIN A CONVERTER. IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET AN ADAPTER KIT – NOT SIMPLY THE ATTACHMENT

THAT WILL WORK IN INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES.

REMEMBER THAT GERMANY AND SWITZERLAND HAVE 230 V PLUG-INS, WHICH ARE TWICE THAT OF CANADA!!

 J CONVERTERS FOR SWITZERLAND ARE: TYPE C AND  CONVERTERS FOR GERMANY ARE: TYPES C AND F

 TYPE C:  TYPE F:  TYPE J:

TIMELINE

 WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHEN?

 CONFIRMED TOURS/DATES: 15 WEEKS PRIOR  FLIGHT ITINERARY: 6 – 9 WEEKS PRIOR  HOTELS: 6 – 9 WEEKS PRIOR  AIRLINE TICKETS: 1 – 2 WEEKS PRIOR  11 WEEKS PRIOR, TRIP NEEDS TO BE PAID IN FULL (JANUARY 20, 2014!).

TIP MONEY

 YOUR DOWNPAYMENT HAD SOME MONEY TO COVER TIP FEES. THIS IS USED TO PAY PEOPLE SUCH AS OUR TOUR DIRECTORS AND BUS DRIVERS, AS WELL AS FOR BUS TICKETS, MUSEUM AND GALLERY ENTRANCES AND ANY INCIDENTALS ON THE TRIP AS/IF THEY ARRIVE.

 YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID INTO THIS AND DO NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IT.



RULES/REGULATIONS

MR. SAWCHUK, IN CONJUNCTION WITH EVOLVE PERSONNEL AND THE CHAPERONES, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY AND REPUTATION OF THIS GROUP. ACCORDINGLY, ANYTHING THAT ANYONE DOES TO JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OR REPUTATION OF THE GROUP WILL BE TAKEN EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY. IF THE STUDENT ’ S ACTIONS JEOPORDIZE THEIR OWN LIVES, OTHERS ’ LIVES, TEACHERS ’ CAREERS AND/OR FUTURE TRIPS I SEE THIS AS SERIOUS.

 TYPICALLY, IF A STUDENT ’ S CONDUCT NECESSITATES PUNITIVE ACTION ON OUR BEHALF, THEY JUST BECOME OUR

BEST FRIEND!!

THEY WILL COMPLETE THE REST OF THE TOUR AT OUR SIDE, NOT BESIDE FRIENDS, THEY WILL EAT THEIR MEALS WITH US, SPECIAL ROOMING ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE SO THAT THEY ARE NOT IN THE SAME ROOM AS THEIR FRIENDS, ETC.  PLEASE NOTE THAT, IF AT ANYTIME, A STUDENT ’ S CONDUCT REQUIRES THEM TO BE SENT HOME DURING THE TRIP, THAT WILL BE AT THE

SOLE COST TO THEIR PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S

). PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE SAFETY AND INTEGRITY OF OUR GROUP IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY  SINCE THIS IS A SCHOOL TRIP, ALL SCHOOL RULES AND POLICIES APPLY WITH REGARD TO STUDENT BEHAVIOUR.

BALANCE OF FEES

 IF NEEDED PLEASE CHECKING WITH ME FOR THE BALANCE OF YOUR PAYMENTS DUE. THE SCHEDULE IS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.  UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE CHANGE IN SCHEDULE, WE WILL BE REQUIRED TO CHARGE THE FULL $4000 FOR THE TRIP, AFTERALL. THIS IS TO COVER THE EXTRA SUB COSTS.

 BY THIS POINT, MOST OF YOU HAVE PAID $1500. THE REST OF THE BALANCE IS DUE AS SCHEDULED:  NOVEMBER 15: $1200  JANUARY 15: $1300

AND….Now what you

’

ve been waiting for!!!



HERE ARE THE CHAPERONE ASSIGNMENTS!



ONCE THE HOTELS ARE FINALIZED, WE WILL POST THE ROOM ASSIGNMENTS. THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS PER ROOM WILL VARY BASED ON THE LOCATION!

CHAPERONE LISTS

CHAPERONE: MR. SAWCHUK MACOLM GUNN PARKER TOWNES DANIEL JACOBS DYLAN O’SHEA NICK BONINE JASON FOSTER JACK GARDINER

CHAPERONE LISTS

CHAPERONE: MR. CARDER DANA O’SHEA SYDNEY MONTIETH JENNY MCFADYEN HEATHER LAWSON KELLY MOORE ALEKS RUDOLF ROBBIE BUCKINGHAM

CHAPERONE LISTS

CHAPERONE: MRS. STELKIC RACHEL LUNDBERG JASMINE GARLAND KAYLA BREHON NICOLE BECKER MEGAN BELFORD KATE CLEMENTS

ROOMING/CHAPERONE LISTS

CHAPERONE: MR. STELKIC ALEC THOMPSON BLAKE JOHNSON STU GARDNER EGAN HAMILL GRAEME LEITCH COLE YOUNG

REMINDERS

 PLEASE STAY AND FILL OUT ALL FORMS TONIGHT!!!!

 PLEASE HAND IN YOUR PHOTOCOPIES OF PASSPORTS.

 HAVE YOU BEEN RECEIVING OUR EMAILS??? DO WE HAVE YOUR VALID EMAIL ADDRESS???

 CAN YOU GET ONTO THE UBER-TOUR WEBSITE?

 IMPORTANT: PLEASE MAKE 1 COPY EACH OF THE STUDENT’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND HEALTH CARD AND TURN IT IN TO THE APPROPRIATE CHAPERONE AS SOON AS YOU CAN.

QUESTIONS??

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KEEP COUNTING THE DAYS, WE ARE GETTING CLOSER!!!



QUESTIONS??

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FORMS

PLEASE FIND YOUR CHILD ’ S CHAPERONE AND HAND IN ALL FORMS AND PHOTOCOPIES /OR SIGN ALL OF THE FORMS TONIGHT AND HAND INTO THE CHAPERONE.  THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING!