BIENVENUE and .. "Bonjour CANADA !!" 

Updated information about our annual field trip to Quebec (2009-2010)  will be posted as soon as  this field trip is pre-approved by the principal and by the Board of Education. Below information pertains to last year's field trip.

Merci !

Mrs Garrity

Find below some useful information for our participants :

STEP  1        (A. S. A. P.  !!!!). Please …..  

v Read CAREFULLY all information (white copies) 

vFill out and return a RESERVATION form (orange copy). Please, make sure to PRINT your e-mail address so that you can be included in the group e-mail correspondence.

  vTurn in $ 100.00 deposit payable to MRMS

 v  OPTIONAL –  include (with your deposit and reservation)  a trip cancellation insurance (check what cost applies)

v  OPTIONAL –include (with your deposit and reservation)   a room supplement (check what cost applies to have a single, double, triple occupancy upgrade)

  v   OPTIONAL but HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Create a folder to collect all information about this field trip!!  Please staple this check list on the front.

STEP 2         (By 10/10 /08)

v  Fill out all the docs requested by the BOE (yellow copy).

v Have a NOTARY PUBLIC sign them.

IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ... PLEASE COMPLETE STEP 2 ASAP AND HAVE YOUR CHILD RETURN THE PAPERS ON MONDAY !!!!

v A complete list of participants is being e-mailed  . All, students and chaperons, need to designate their roomates at the end of the same week.

STEP 3        (By 11/20/08)

_____ Retrieve an original or CERTIFIED COPY of your birth certificate (i.e. it needs to have a raised seal!!).  Regular photocopies are not valid!!

____    Turn in the remaining balance of the field trip.  $$ Collection will occur from 11/17/08 through the 11/20/08. ( Before Thanksgiving holiday)

Remaining balance is $ 505.00 / person . Please make check payable to MRMS .

_____

STEP 4   (By the second week of January. These forms will be distributed after winter break!!)

 _____    Complete forms provided by health room. This is mandatory for all those parents who require Mrs. Garrity to administer any prescribed or OVER-THE –COUNTER medication during the field trip.

_____  Turn it your child's original or CERTIFIED COPY  birth certificate to Mrs Garrity.

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PLEASE NOTICE :

A brochure about this health insurance coverage was distributed on the week of November 10th . Please read it carefully and bring it with you on the field trip !!

    Health  Coverage in Canada is built within  the  cost of the field trip . Any potential patient ( hopefully nobody!!) will have to  pay upfront for medical or pharmaceutical expenses, keep those   receipts  and  request a reimbursement later . Please notice that this insurance acts only a secondary health plan.

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WHAT TO TAKE

TIPS ON HOW TO PACK

Climate : Cold , cold , cold !    

      Snow, snow, snow! 

Parents and students who are going to Canada with Magothy River Middle School French classes will be participating in outdoor activities in the snow. Students and chaperons are allowed to bring one carry-on back that must fit above the seat or at your feet (not in the aisle),and one large suitcase that will be stored in the bus luggage compartment. I recommend that you bring the following articles of clothing. DRESS FOR VERY COLD AND SNOWY WEATHER!

1.                  A WARM   COAT (un manteau)

2.                  A WARM WATERPROOF JACKET (un blouson)

3.                  A pair of WATERPROOF BOOTS  (des bottes)

4.                  ONE PAIR OF COMFORTABLE WALKING SHOES (des tennis)

5.                  Four pairs of warm socks (des chaussettes)

6.                  Two pairs of jeans (des jeans)

7.                  Thermal underwear (sous vêtements)

8.                  Two pairs of waterproof   gloves or mittens (des gants)

9.                  A pair of  waterproof pants (un pantalon)

10.              Two warm ski caps (des tugues)

11.              A  wool scarf (une  écharpe)

12.              Two  shirts (deux chemises)

13.              Two T-shirts (deux T-shirts)

14.              Swimsuit or bathing suit (maillot de bain)

15.              Pajamas (les pyjamas)

16.              YOU MAY BRING A SMALL PILLOW AND A BLANKET FOR THE BUS RIDE .   

 MERCI !!

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ROOMING INFORMATION

Chaperons,

 if you already paid your supplement  for a single or double room , this request DOES NOT apply to you

if you did not, then it is time for you to search for a roomate !!

Please notice, the agency just advised me that  the hotel rooms have  large queen beds . No single beds are available ! This means that you will have to share  a queen bed with a roomate !!

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                                              FAQ

From: Garrity, Luisella M
Sent: 1/08/09
To: Garrity, Luisella M
Subject: FAQ

Bonjour mes parents,

as we are approaching our departure date, I would like to answer to some FAQs.  I will try to be as concise as possible!

DEPARTURE and PASSPORT/BIRTH CERTIFICATES  

 We will be meeting at 7.30 pm on Saturday  1/24/09 right outside the main entrance of our school. 

 Each participant will be "checking in" with me and Ms Cuozzo  BEFORE lining up in front of the bus .

 Each participant will have  his/ her birth certificate or passport  ready to be checked (this is mandatory for ALL participants --CHAPERONS included!!  ).

After checking in all participants, I will place all documents in a special folder and in alphabetical order so that they are ready to be reviewed by the immigration officer at the border (CHAPERONS... after checking in with me, you can hold on to your documents  -- if you prefer to do so). 

DOCUMENTS  will be put in a safe at the hotel as soon as we get there.

Please make a couple of copies of your documents  prior to departure. One copy should be left at home and another copy should be left in your luggage.  

***If you do not hold American citizenship, please bring a valid passport issued by your country along with a valid green card!!

CANADIEN  CURRENCY :

         There is no need to take Canadien dollars with you . We will exchange money at a local bureau near our hotel upon arrival in Quebec!! Please remeber snacks and meals en route are not included .

Please allow $ 15.00 / per lunch per day and approximately  $ 10.00  for tips to our bus driver .  As a rule of thumb, $ U.S 100.00 should be sufficient  for this field trip .

LUGGUAGE:

Please limit your packing to one suitcase and an additional carry on for the bus ride!

HOW TO COMMUNICATE during the field trip.

I e-mailed a list of participants with their phone numbers . We will contact the first person on the list and then the communication is expected to flow in alphabetical order.  In case the family listed after yours is not available please leave a message AND contact also the one after them. This will avoid any delays. 

Participants can also be contacted at the hotel Clarendon

Québec City :

Le Clarendon 57 rue Ste-Anne, Québec Tel : 418-692-2480

Best time to contact us is early morning ( before 7.30 am )  since we will depart after breakfast for our daily activities. You can try to call also  l after 9.30pm .

In case of emergency find below other numbers:

	418.656.4245	Travel agent  office number
	418.564.9536	Agent ‘s cell  ( Mr. Christian Bourque)

CELL PHONE AND IPOD POLICY:

Given the exceptional situation , above items ARE  ALLOWED during this  field trip ( thank you Mr. Mirenzi !!:)  . Participants will be responsible for these items at all times.

You can try to call your children’s’ cell phones. Most of them work in Canada.

During the bus ride we will also watch movies and cartoons (some in French)

MEDICINE :

( Chaperons, this information does not apply to you !)

Medical forms were issued by our school health room  and distributed to your children  this week . The same procedure applies to prescription or over- the - counter medicines  ( Tylenol, Claritin , Motrin etc ...) :  

1) Parents fill out the forms. Pediatrician will sign that same  form. Form AND   medicine should  be returned to  our Health Room . If you have any more questions about this matter please contact our health room at 410-431-8873.

RESPECT and SAFETY  :

PARENTS !!

I know you will have a little chat with your children prior to departure . I want to thank you in advance for emphasizing the following :

 It is extremely important that your children display  same good manners and  respect as if they were at home or at school . Respect for their  chaperons,  guide, teachers ( my self and Miss Cuozzo ) and  for all the places that we will visit in Canada.

MISSED SCHOOL :

Participants will miss only one day of school . It is the  students ' responsibility to take all tests prior to departure !

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RESTAURANT MENUS

January 25

Le Bonaparte               

Potage, Choix de : Escalope de saumon sauce cardinal ou Poitrine de poulet aux fines herbes, Bombe Alaska, Boisson gazeuse/Thé/Café

Soup, Choice of: Salmon cutlet in cardinal sauce or Chicken breast with fine herbs, Baked Alaska, Soda/Tea/Coffee

January 26

Hotel’s breakfast

Full american breakfast

Cabane à Sucre           

Soupe aux pois, Pain, Pommes de terre, Tourtière, Jambon, Saucisses, Fèves au lard, Omelettes, Marinades, Crêpes, Sirop d’érable, Tire sur la neige, Boisson gazeuse

Pea soup, Bread, Potatoes, Meat pie, Ham, Sausages, Baked beans, Omelet, Homemade ketchup, Pancakes, Maple syrup, Maple taffy, Soft drink

January 27

Village Huron

Paillasson d’œuf brouillé, Pomme de terre aux fines herbes, Fines tranches de bison fumé, Banique aux bleuets, Jus d’orange, Chocolat chaud

Omelet, Roasted potatoes with natural herbs, Thin slices of smoked game meat, Blueberry banique (Indian muffin-type bread), Orange juice, Hot chocolate

Buffet des Continents

International buffet

January 28

Hotel’s breakfast

Full american breakfast

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