Great Meeting Last Week!

Hey East Coasters,
Thank you all for coming to our pre-departure meeting on Monday.  It is great to see how excited the kids are becoming as we get closer to our trip.  I wanted to go over a couple of quick items that I mentioned at the meeting, but may not have explained as well as I would have liked.

Medication Authorization foldable:
This is the sheet that you picked up at the meeting that gives me or a chaperone the permission to administer some basic medications (Advil, Pepto-Bismol, etc.) as well as specialty medications that you wish to provide (if you wish to provide chewable versions of medications, just include them on the specialty side of the foldable).  This sheet should be folded and put into a quart sized Ziploc bag along with any daily supplements, or medications that your child takes on a regular basis.  Bring the baggie on the day we depart and I will assign it to your child's chaperone.  Please pack only enough meds for the trip, not the whole bottle.  Your child can get their medications from their assigned chaperone as needed (usually at meal times).  As always, any life saving medications (epi-pen, inhaler etc.) should be kept by your child for emergencies.  If your child is not bringing any medications or supplements with them, just sign the foldable for your child to have permission to get the basic medications I will have with me, and give it to me before our departure. 


The Flight:
I did talk about this, but really want to hammer home this point.  It is a red-eye flight, and it is very important that the kids try their best to get some sleep/rest on the plane.  We will be touring all day when we arrive, so please let the kids know that they will regret not getting a little sleep when they have the chance.  Additionally, we want to be considerate to the other passengers on the plane who are trying to sleep as well.

Departure Day:
We are leaving from the Rio Norte Campus on Saturday, April 2nd.  Please wear your USA Student Travel t-shirt on this day.


And finally, I want to have a quick student meeting at lunch on Thursday, March 31st in room P-2.  At this meeting, I will collect student ID cards in the event TSA needs them, and I will go over the rules of the trip and signed student agreement in detail one final time.  Thank you again for allowing your child to have this experience.  I will likely be sending a couple more e-mails before we leave, but as always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. 

-Mr. Sheridan

Mandatory Pre-Departure Meeting Tonight!

Hey East Coasters,
Just a quick reminder that our MANDATORY Pre-Departure meeting is taking place tonight, Monday, March 14th at 6:00pm in the Rio Norte MPR.  At least one parent or guardian must be present with their child.  We are less than three weeks away from our East Coast Adventure!  Please bring the completed paperwork you received in the mail from USA Student Travel, plus $10 cash (optional, but politely requested) for tips for our coach driver and tour guide.  Additionally, if your child has not turned in my trip agreement, please bring that as well. See you all tonight!

Mr. Sheridan

Mandatory Pre-Departure Meeting On Monday!

Hey East Coasters,
Just a quick reminder that our MANDATORY Pre-Departure Meeting will be taking place in less than one week, next Monday, March 14th at 6:00pm in the Rio MPR.  The traveling student and at least one parent/guardian must be in attendance.  If students have completed their trip agreements, they can bring them in to Mr. Sheridan as soon as they are ready.  They must have them by the Pre-Departure meeting.  See you then!

Staying Healthy

Our East Coast Trip will be fun and exciting, but it can be a challenge to stay healthy. Inevitably, heads will ache, tummies 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 my suggestions for staying healthy:

SLEEP
- I know the switch to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday 3/13 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. 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 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 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 14th. 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 yellow release form you recently received in the mail from USA Student Travel.

Our Pre-departure meeting is only two weeks away, and our trip is a mere 32 days away!  I look forward to seeing everyone in the Rio MPR at 6:00pm on Monday, March 14th!

Great Meeting Yesterday!

Our meeting yesterday was all about information.  We went over some important procedures, handed out the student agreement (which needs to be signed and returned), went over chaperone groups, and then let the kids ask any burning question that they just couldn't wait to get answered.  This year's group seems hesitant to ask questions, so I answered some for them.  Traditionally, here are some of the questions that kids have asked, with answers. 

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 14th.  At least one parent/guardian must be in attendance.

Q:  What are we supposed to pack?  Do we need to dress up for Broadway?
Check out the Packing List tab at the top of this page for basic information...keep your check-in bag below 45 lbs.  For Broadway, just wear something nice, but comfortable.  We will be touring during the day before we go to our play.
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?

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!

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 your money.

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 80 degree day (like we did in NY three years ago).  Pack for all eventualities.  

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

Right now we are scheduled to see "School of Rock",which has received rave reviews in its first run.  We are also scheduled for a Boston Celtics basketball game.

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.

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 for sale as well.

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

In the Hotel the answer is yes, on the bus, NO.

Q:  How long is the trip? 

We will leave Rio around 6:00pm on Saturday, April 2nd and return to Rio around Midnight on Friday, April 8th.

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:  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 bus for the trip, but the plane will have many others.  At this point it looks like on the way out, we will be flying on United - a nice airline.  The home flight looks like it will be through Virgin America - a very nice airline (and my personal favorite).

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 Westin, Hilton, and Marriott. I don't know exactly where we're staying yet, but it will be in hotels of this quality.

Hope that helps!  See you all at our Pre-Departure Meeting: Rio Norte MPR @ 6:00pm on Monday, March 14th!

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

Well, our East Coast Trip is a little less than 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 25th.  Be sure to review the agreement and have both the student and Parent/guardian sign it and return it to Mr. Sheridan by the departure meeting on the 14th 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 Thursday, February 25th in room P-2 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.

Take care,

Mr. Sheridan

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 now. 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 two 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 14.

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 as a good one. 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. Several airlines are now cashless, meaning you can only purchase food on the plane with a debit/credit card.  Virgin America and United Airlines (the currently scheduled carriers for our trip), are cashless.

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. USA Student Travel still recommends them in their “Travel Tips” sheet, but 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 as well as an iPod. :-)”

“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 one week, next Thursday, February 25, at 2:10pm in Room P-2. Our East Coast adventure is now only 43 days away!  As always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.


Mr. Sheridan