Follow up to our Pre-Departure Meeting

Hey East Coasters,

Thank you all for coming to our pre-departure meeting on Monday.  It is great to see everyone together and 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 - mine all require swallowing).  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 anytime 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 4th.  Please wear your Nations Classroom t-shirt on this day - if you still need a shirt, please let me know ASAP.  Everyone needs to arrive by 4:30pm and you should park in the lot, and keep the bus loop open.  We will distribute lanyards and wristbands and will weigh your check-in bag - it must be 45 lbs. or less.

And finally, I want to have a quick student meeting at lunch on Thursday, April 2nd in room P-2.  At this meeting, I will collect student ID cards for safe keeping until we go through TSA, and I will go over any last minute information.  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.  

Staying Healthy

 Hey there East Coasters!

Our East Coast Trip will be fun and exciting, but it can be a challenge to stay healthy. 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).  While it is impossible to avoid illness in all cases, making good choices can help to reduce the risks.  Here are some suggestions for staying healthy:

SLEEP 
I know the switch to Daylight Saving Time Sunday probably has 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.  Students WILL be tired on the trip.  It is important that they learn to push through the exhaustion, and to take cat naps when they can because we will be doing things all day long.  Encourage your child to take their sleep opportunities seriously...it will improve their enjoyment of the trip.

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, 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 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 their 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 in depth 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 in the travelers form link you received through email from Nations Classroom.  

MASKS/PROTOCOLS 

Thankfully, our mandatory masks days are finally behind us.  However, masks are still a good idea in some situations and it is always good to be prepared for any eventuality.  While masks are not required, they can be helpful for some indoor settings.  Bring masks with you on the trip, and have them readily available to wear when/if you feel the need to mask up or in the event that something strange happens and they become a necessity while we are traveling.  

As far as protocols go, while we are all excited to have things back to pre-pandemic norms, we will be continuing to follow guidelines that will encourage good hygiene and will help reduce the spread of germs.  Hand sanitizer, hand washing, masks when recommended etc. will be enforced when necessary.  Obviously, if students feel more comfortable continuing to wear a mask, they are welcome to do so.

Our Pre-departure meeting is only 6 days away, and our trip is a mere 25 days away!  I look forward to seeing everyone in the Rio MPR at 6:00pm next Monday, March 16th! 

- Mr. Sheridan 

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

Well, our East Coast Trip is just 4 weeks away.  This is just a quick suggestion to get out and start walking.  While on tour, we will be walking, on average, about 7-10 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 Philadelphia 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 on this page by clicking on the "Packing List" tab at the top of the 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 handed out a student behavior expectation agreement at our last student meeting.  This is my agreement, and is separate from the one being sent to you by Nation's Classroom (make sure you have filled that one out as well).  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 16th of March (students can turn it in to Mr. Sheridan as soon as 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 meeting is our Pre-Departure Meeting on Monday, March 16th in the MPR at 6pm.  One parent or guardian and the traveling student must be present at this meeting.

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

 

Great Meeting This Week!

Our meeting yesterday was all about information.  We went over some important procedures, handed out the student agreement, 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 this week.  

One quick reminder that our next meeting is our MANDATORY Pre-Departure meeting at 6:00 pm on Monday, March 16th. This meeting will take place in the Rio MPR,  and at least one parent/guardian must be in attendance with their student traveler.

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 website 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 and Nations Classroom 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 dough.

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 several years ago).  Pack for all eventualities.  

Q:  What play are we seeing on Broadway?  Are we going to a sporting event?

Right now we are scheduled to see "Stranger Things" on Broadway.  We are also going to a Rangers v. Sabres hockey game at Madison Square Garden in NYC.

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

It looks like 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, leggings etc. (if you are a Red Sox fan,  I wouldn't recommend wearing those hats in New York).

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 5:00pm on Saturday, April 4th and return to Rio around 11:30pm 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 stuffed animals, or GoPro Camera or a really big expensive camera on the trip?

You should avoid bringing anything overly expensive or of high sentimental value.  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).  If you are determined to bring a nice camera, just be careful.

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 potentially be flying on Alaska and United Airlines - which are nice airlines.

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 three and four-star hotels like Marriott, Sheraton, Holiday Inn etc.

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