Trip Update

I am sure many of you are aware that the Hart District has decided to cancel all school related trips involving airline flights over the next two weeks.  Just be clear, our East Coast Adventure is not a school or district sponsored trip.  So, our trip is not effected by this policy and is currently moving forward as planned. 

Having said that, I am sure that many of you are concerned about the situation, and what the possible options are if the trip were to be cancelled or delayed.  NationsClassroom has many resources devoted to the CV-19 situation, so I thought I would share their FAQ with you in order to answer your most pressing questions regarding the trip.  Additionally, I want to give you a video resource from the WHO regarding travel, and the travel notices from the CDC.

Here is the FAQ page from our travel company, NationsClassroom.  

This page should answer most of your trip related CV-19 questions:

https://www.nationsclassroomtours.com/en/coronavirus-faq  

As a quick status update, NationsClassroom has successfully served over 1000 students so far this season, and currently have 600 kids on tour this week.  They are following all guidelines and all students are going about the trip as normal (with an added emphasis on hygiene).

These are some additional resources from the WHO

https://youtu.be/0KBvReECRrI  

and CDC.  

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices  

Should you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Staying Healthy

Our East Coast Trip will be fun and exciting, but it can be a challenge to stay healthy while touring. Inevitably, heads will ache, stomachs will hurt, and eyelids will droop as the trip begins to take its toll on the teenage bodies embarking on this trip (and perhaps on some adult bodies as well). Here are some suggestions for staying healthy:

HYGIENE
Wash your hands often!  Be sure to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap.  Do this prior to eating at home, at school, on the trip, and of course after using the restroom!  Use hand sanitizer when necessary.

SLEEP 
I know the switch to Daylight Saving Time this Sunday 3/8 will probably have us all a little messed up, which really highlights how important sleep is for us. Get plenty of sleep the week leading up to Spring Break. The last thing we want to experience is fatigue and exhaustion before the trip even begins! If you are well-rested, it will help to counteract the less-than-perfect sleep you may experience when we’re on the red-eye flight out.

EAT HEALTHY, DRINK HEALTHY
Drink lots of water on the trip.  Stay hydrated! Some kids experience headaches around Day 2 or 3 of the trip, and often this can be attributed to dehydration. Unless your child is an athlete in training, the East Coast Adventure often has far more physical activity (with all the walking) than your child is used to in an average day. Caffeine and artificial sweeteners both act as diuretics, drawing fluids out of the body faster than necessary. Instead of turning to Mountain Dew or Diet Coke, encourage your child to drink water both at meals and in-between them. If you absolutely have to have something sweet to drink, consider lemonade, Sprite, fruit juice or some other non-caffeinated beverage.  If you really must have a Coke or Pepsi with dinner, have just one, and match it with an equal amount of water.

Eat healthy meals. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” In that same spirit, we offer your child a variety of healthy eating options at each meal, but it’s up to your son or daughter to make those good choices. Day 2 or 3 of the trip is also the day that the stomachaches begin. While it’s not the most fun topic to talk about, constipation often is the cause. I encourage students to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and grains to keep things "regular.” And again, staying hydrated with plenty of water also prevents constipation. Finally, don’t blow your souvenir budget on candy and other unhealthy snacks; instead, pack granola/protein bars, trail mix, dried fruit, or other healthy snacks in your luggage.

Eat light before the flight. Kids who are nervous about the flying, or who eat a large meal, or eat too much junk will probably end up sharing their partially digested meal with the rest of us if they aren't careful. Gross. Stick to a light dinner before we depart, and then pack a little trail mix or some pretzels for the flight.  Breakfast is the first item on our agenda after we land, so you can refuel once we’re back on terra firma. When we land in Washington DC, it’s better to be hungry than nauseous.  Along those lines, if you are prone to air sickness, or motion sickness of any kind, my suggestion is ginger gum.  It is available in the same section as Dramamine, but doesn't make you drowsy, and can help to keep your stomach calm. 

MEDICATION
The only meds that kids are allowed to keep with them are life-saving meds (asthma inhaler, epi-pen, etc). All other medications (prescription or over-the-counter) should be handed to the designated chaperone, along with any written instructions, right before we board the coach to drive down to the airport. If your child is taking meds on a regular schedule, it is his/her responsibility to come to us.
This is an important topic, so medication will be addressed at our pre-departure meeting on Monday, March 16th. If you have any questions about medication, please ask at the meeting, or contact Mr. Sheridan well in advance of our departure. And of course, please indicate any medication or food allergies on that medical release form from Nations Classroom that I passed out at the most recent student meeting.

Our Pre-departure meeting is just 10 days away, and our trip is a mere 29 days away!  I look forward to seeing everyone in the Rio MPR at 6:00pm on Monday, March 16th!

Coronavirus Info

Hello East Coast Trip family,

I've had a few parent inquiries as it relates to the Coronavirus and what contingencies are in place for our trip.  Obviously, we are keeping an eye on the situation, and we want to be sure that the health and safety of our students and chaperones is a top priority.  

A few parents have asked, but at this point, there are no plans to cancel the trip.  While it is important to take the spread of the virus seriously, I also think that perspective is important as well.  New viruses can be disconcerting, but basic hygiene is the best prevention.  You are still far more likely to catch the flu, and the flu is still far more dangerous statistically than the Coronavirus (but I'll bet many of us did not get the flu vaccine this season, and aren't as concerned with catching the flu).  

As far as actual travel is concerned, currently, there are no travel restrictions within the U.S. on domestic flights.  If any of that changes in the coming weeks, we'll be sure to let you know.  

In the meantime, here are some steps NationsClassroom are taking to be as proactive as possible:

1) NationsClassroom provides Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes on every bus

2) They have added on to the packing list to bring hand sanitizer and optional face masks (however, masks are only for people who are sick already, and want to help minimize spreading germs.  Masks are not for the currently healthy and do not protect the well from getting sick!)

3) Tour Managers, Guides and Chaperones will remind bus leaders to have students wash their hands prior to eating and at every bathroom break.

We also will encourage travelers to follow the CDC guidelines of prevention below:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china 

We will keep a watchful eye on the situation and plan accordingly.  I'm looking forward to a great trip, with healthy happy students - and I hope you are too!  I will be sending an email with some suggestions on how to stay healthy before and during the trip in the next day or two.  If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

Great Meeting Yesterday!

Our meeting yesterday was all about information.  We went over some important procedures, handed out the student agreements and medical form (which need to be signed and returned), went over chaperone groups and met some of our chaperones, and then let the kids ask any burning question that they just couldn't wait to get answered.  If your student missed the meeting, have them come by my room (P-2) to pick up a trip agreement next week.  

One quick reminder that our next meeting is our MANDATORY Pre-departure meeting at 6:00 pm in the MPR at Rio Norte on Monday, March 16th.  At least one parent/guardian must be in attendance.

Here are some of the questions that kids asked, with answers.

Q:  What are we supposed to pack?  How many bags can we bring?  Do we need to dress up for Broadway?

Check out the Packing List tab at the top of this page for basic information.  You can bring a check -in bag and a carry on...keep your check-in bag below 45 lbs. and your carry on is usually your backpack.  For Broadway, just wear something nice, but comfortable.  We will be touring during the day before we go to our play.
Q:  Can we wear pajamas on the plane?
NO.  We will be landing in the morning, hopping on our bus, and will be touring all day after we land...we won't be going to the hotel until later that night.  You will need to be in actual clothes.

Q:  Do we have to stay in our chaperone groups?

No.  The chaperone groups are for organizational purposes only.  Most of the time we will be in a full group tour.  Chaperone groups allow us to account for all kids before we leave a location.

Q:  How often will we get food?

We get three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). These meals begin with breakfast the morning of our first tour. You are responsible for eating dinner before we leave for our trip.

Q:  How big are the food portions, is food included in the trip?

Food is included.  Some portions are fixed. At other places it's all-you-can-eat. I've never had anyone starve on the trip, so I think the portion sizes are good.  Be careful not to over-do it!  Also, if you have any dietary restrictions (vegan, allergies etc.) please let me know.

Q:  Is there time for shopping?

Plenty. You won't get to shop in every shop in every city we visit, but you will be provided with ample opportunity to spend some cash.

Q:  What will the weather be like? 

It really depends.  It is early Spring on the east coast which means it will likely be cooler than it is here in California.  It could potentially be cold enough to snow, or you could have an 85 degree day (like we did in NY seven years ago).  Pack for all eventualities.  

Q:  What play are we seeing on Broadway?  Are we going to a baseball game?

Right now we are scheduled to see a revved up revival of "Westside Story".  We are also going to a Washington Nationals baseball game while we are in D.C.

Q:  How long are the plane rides?   Can we move seats on the plane?

We are scheduled to take a direct flight from LAX...it's about 5 hours each way.  Seats on the plane are assigned and you need to sit in your assigned seat unless moved by a chaperone.

Q:  What time do we leave the hotels in the morning and what time do we get back? 

It depends, but usually we have breakfast at the hotel around 7:00am and leave around 8:00am.  We will return around 10:00pm each night.  Lights out is usually around 11:00pm.

Q:  Is the school dress code in effect?

Yes.  You are allowed to wear hats and sunglasses (if you are a Red Sox fan, or a Yankee fan, I wouldn't recommend wearing those hats in the wrong city).

Q:  Are there opportunities to buy snacks in between meals and can we bring water with us on tour? 

 Yes, but be careful not to eat too much junk or you will get sick.  Water is fine to bring with you while we are on tour, and the coach drivers often have bottles of water as well.  NO water when we go through TSA security at the airport!

Q:  Can we bring food in the hotel rooms and on the bus? 

In the Hotel the answer is yes, on the bus, NO.  ALWAYS clean up after yourself.

Q:  How long is the trip? 

We will leave Rio around 5:45pm on Saturday, April 4th and return to Rio around 10pm on Friday, April 10th.

Q:  What if our phone goes off while we are walking around? 

Your phone should be on silent mode for the trip...we don't want to be disrespectful.
Q:  Can we bring a GoPro Camera or a really big expensive camera on the trip?
You should avoid bringing anything overly expensive.  The more stuff you bring, the more stuff you can lose or break.  GoPro may not be allowed in some of the places we are touring (no photography).

Q:  Should we bring cash or a pre-paid card for the trip? 

This is up to you and your parents.  I would suggest looking into whether your bank will allow a debit card with set maximum daily charges - we can talk about money in depth at the pre-departure meeting.

Q:  Is it just us on the plane, and are the planes nice? 

We will have our own buses for the trip, but the plane will have many others.  At this point it looks like we will be flying on United, Alaska, JetBlue and American airlines - which are all nice.

Q:  What are we doing everyday? 

We will be touring, and seeing many of our most important national treasures!

Q:  What kind of hotels are we staying in?

They're four-star hotels like Hyatt, Sheraton, and Embassy.

Hope that helps!  See you all at our Pre-Departure Meeting: Rio Norte MPR @ 6:00pm on Monday, March 16th!

East Coast Adventure...Let's Get Walkin'!

Well, our East Coast Trip is 6 weeks away.  This is just a quick suggestion to get out and start walking.  While on tour, we will be walking, on average, about 7 miles a day.  Granted it isn't all in one shot, but we will be going through museums, the national mall, large estates, and major city streets in Boston and New York.  It is easy to get tuckered out if you aren't in decent shape.

I encourage all the East Coast Trippers to get out and walk at least a few times a week - and not just in P.E.!  If you are thinking about getting some walking shoes for the trip, I would suggest getting them now and breaking them in.  You don't want to be walking miles a day in new shoes...blisters hurt.  I would also suggest bringing two pairs of shoes on the trip in the event that the weather is uncooperative and one pair gets wet.  If you are looking for a complete list of things to pack, feel free to take a look at the suggested packing list by clicking on the "Packing List" tab at the top of this page.

I hope that everyone is getting as excited as I am to start our journey.  Remember that our Rio Norte students consistently get praised for their outstanding behavior on these trips...I am certain that this year's group will continue that tradition.  I will be handing out a student behavior expectation agreement at our next student meeting on the 24th.  This is my agreement and is in addition to one form Nation's Classroom that I will also hand out.  Be sure to review the agreements and have both the student and Parent/guardian sign it and return it to Mr. Sheridan by the departure meeting on the 16th of March (students can turn it in to Mr. Sheridan sooner than that if it is completed).  Knowing what is expected of you will make it easier to make good choices.  That should do it for now.

A quick reminder that our next student/chaperone meeting is this Monday, February 24th in the MPR at 2:10 pm.  During this meeting we will talk about chaperone groups, review the student agreement, and cover other interesting topics - this meeting should take about an hour.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail, text (661) 621-3655, or even post a question on our Facebook page.

Money and Our Next Meeting

Hey East Coasters!

So, parents of students going on the East Coast trip often ask, “How much money does my child need to bring with them on the trip?” The short answer, technically, is “none.” Your child won’t like me telling you that, but all necessities are covered on the trip. All meals are paid for, drinking fountains are fairly common in most of the places we’re going, all admissions to all museums, events, and attractions are included, so your child doesn’t need to bring any money. Technically.

OK, but seriously... Your child is probably going to want a bottle of water here and there, and may want a little extra spending money for snacks and beverages beyond mealtimes (about $3-$5 per day). Then there are souvenirs. I’ve seen kids buy a couple small tchotchkes for family, and spend little more than $15 on souvenirs TOTAL for the whole trip. For other kids, they would put the Real Housewives to shame. We had one kid spend over $500 in less than a week.

You know your child and his/her shopping habits best. Clothing is usually the most expensive item kids buy on this trip, and one nice “I ♥ NY” sweatshirt in Times Square can go for $40-50, easy. Overall, average souvenir purchases are about $10-$20 per day.

Also as you may or may not know, I do respectfully request a little tip money ($10 total) from each student: $5 for our coach driver, $5 for our tour guide. These people will be with us for the whole trip and become a part of our trip "family".  Naturally, tipping is optional, but in our country it is customary and a nice courtesy, especially for a job well done. All other tips are included in the cost of the tour. I will collect the coach driver and tour guide tip money ($10) at the Pre-Departure Meeting on Monday, March 16. 

On a related note, parents also ask: “Debit/prepaid card or cash?” There are advantages to both. Depending on the type of card and the issuing bank, parents can control the amount of spending per day and/or add value to the card if needed; this is a good security feature if the card is lost, and is also helpful in limiting teen spending. Talk to your bank now about your options. Looking online, many financial magazines rate the Wells Fargo card for teens and the Capital One MONEY account as good options. Cash is easiest, but once lost it is almost certainly gone for good. Talk with your child and find out what you think will work best. Most airlines are now cashless, meaning you can only purchase food on the plane with a debit/credit card.

As for VISA, MasterCard, or American Express gift or pre-paid cards, most of them don’t have a name on them, they don’t require ID, and they’re usually as good as cash if lost, so be careful with this option. Finally, don’t even bother with traveler checks; their time has passed...the truth is the 19-year-old kid behind the counter at the souvenir shop will have NO idea what to do with your traveler's check.

 When asked, this is what previous East Coast trip parents had to say with regard to money:

“A mixture of cash and debit cards worked great for our daughter.” 

“My child took $200 and that was more than enough,she came back with money leftover,and she is quite the shopper!”

“We got our daughter a debit card for the trip, (which she hardly used, just on the plane), but it made us feel better. AND, it's proven to be a useful budgeting tool for our daughter going forward. Rather than $5 here, $20 there, she uses the card and we review it to see where the money is going.” 

“I gave my daughter cash and put it in envelopes by day. I gave her more for NY and then gave less for each day as I saw fit. I also told her that she could keep whatever money she did not spend on the trip. I gave her $300. She was really careful about making good choices and she came home with $291. ( She bought one sweatshirt, but, made money back on the food court allowance). It worked out well and now she is going to buy a cat with her leftovers. :-)”

“I would say slightly more than $20/day.”

Hope all that advice will help your family make a more informed decision about money. Our next student meeting is in less than a week, on Monday, February 24, at 2:10pm in the MPR. Our East Coast adventure is now only 46 days away!  As always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Follow Up to Our Student Meeting

Hello East Coast Trippers!
We had a very successful meeting last week.  I'm extremely excited to be working with such fun, well-behaved, and respectful 8th graders - we're going to have a great trip!  Here are some of the things we were able to accomplish in the meeting:

- We played an ice breaker game to try and get to know one another better
- Wrote down shirt sizes for our commemorative t-shirt
- We assigned roommates
- We answered a few questions related to the trip

There are a couple of things I covered with the kids Monday, and I am including them in this message for parents as well.

I will have a student behavior agreement for the kids at the next student meeting on February 24th.  The kids should sign it along with their parent/guardian and return it to me sometime before the departure meeting on March 16th.

Due to the importance of communication, I informed the kids of different ways to stay in touch with me and the trip - and it might be good for you too.  One that I recommend for parents, is following my text alerts by having you fast follow sheridantrip on twitter by texting "follow sheridantrip" to 40404.  Another way is through my Google Voice number (661) 621-3655.  Students and parents are welcome to call or text this number with any burning questions between now and the trip, although e-mail is still best.

Here are some of the questions about the trip that the kids asked Monday:

Q: When do we leave and when do we get back?
A:  We leave on Saturday, April 4th and return on Friday, April 10th.

Q:  Is food included on the trip?
A:  Yes, breakfast. lunch, and dinner are included.  Breakfast is usually at our hotel.

Q:  How many bags are we allowed to bring?
A:  You are bringing one check in bag weighing no more than 45 lbs. and one carry-on (usually a backpack)

Q:  What time do we go to sleep and wake up?
A:  It varies, but usually we will get up around 6 am and get to bed around 10 pm

Q:  Are we allowed to use our phone on the trip?
A:  Yes, and no.  You should absolutely bring your phone on the trip, and you are welcome to use it as a camera while we are touring (although it might be a good idea to bring an actual camera as well).  However, phone calls, facetime, texting, surfing etc. should be reserved for times when we aren't on tour.  What does that mean?  You can use your phone in your room, at meal times, and when we are traveling between major cities on the bus, but NOT when we are in the city looking at sites (including the bus).

Q:  What sporting event are we going to?
A;  It looks like we will be going to the Nats vs. Marlins in Washington D.C.

That should do it for now.  I am looking forward to seeing my East Coast Trip students at our next meeting on Monday, February 24th.  That meeting will again be in the MPR at 2:10 pm and will conclude around 3:15.  Thanks again for a great meeting and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

East Coast Adventure 2020...Here We Go!!!

Dear East Coast Trip Family,
In a little over 2 months, we will be departing on our big adventure to Washington D.C., New York, and Boston.  I can tell you from personal experience that history travel, is amazing.  There really is nothing like it; and I am very excited to be able to share the experience of visiting some of our most famous national treasures and landmarks with your child.  For the past few months we have been finalizing our roster, and we now have a good idea of who is going on the trip, so it's time to inform you of some important dates.


Monday, Feb. 3rd @ 2:10pm - Rio Norte MPR: Roommate Meeting 

So, this is the meeting that all the students will be most interested in attending!  This is my opportunity to become familiar with the kids, and we will finally have a chance for the students to meet their fellow adventurers who are going on the trip.  This meeting is intended for students and teachers only.  We will start with an ice-breaker activity or two and then we will move on to the all important process of choosing roommates.  If your child cannot attend this meeting, it might be a good idea to have them designate a person to speak on their behalf regarding room assignments (unless they don't care who they room with).  This meeting should take a little over an hour, and will conclude at 3:30.


Monday, Feb. 24th @ 2:10pm - Rio Norte MPR: Student Meeting 
Topics to be determined


Monday, March 16th @ 6:00pm - Rio Norte MPR: Pre-Departure Meeting 

Organized by Nation's Classroom, and hosted by both myself and our tour company rep, this meeting will go over the specifics of the trip.  We finally get to see our exact itinerary, and our hotel and flight information.  Now that we know for sure everyone who is going on the trip, our tour company is working hard making final arrangements to secure the very best flights and hotels possible. This meeting is MANDATORY for the traveling student and at least one parent/guardian to attend, so please mark your calendar.   

That should do it for now.  I'm looking forward to a great trip, with a great group of kids.  I will be trying to stay in contact with all of you on a pretty regular basis now as the trip gets closer.  On that note,  I would also like to remind you (or inform you for the first time) that besides this page, you can stay connected to the trip on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  You can "Like" our trip page at https://www.facebook.com/MrSheridansEastCoastAdventure  follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sheridantrip  or you can check us out on Instagram at http://instagram.com/sheridantrip  Finally, you can get updates sent to you as a text message on ANY cell phone (regular cell phone or smartphone) by texting the words follow @sheridantrip to 40404. These Twitter text alerts are free and do not require you to sign up for a Twitter account. Standard text rates do apply.  Thanks, and I'll see your kids on Feb. 3rd!