Thursday, March 3, 2011

Bon Voyage/Trial Run

We have decided to do something a little different this year as our Bon Voyage Party! We are going to do a trial run with the students!!

The rest of the leaders and I are very excited about this. We are going via Light Rail to the Dallas Zoo for the day.

Date: Saturday June 4th .
Time: 7:30 a.m. returning around 6 p.m.
Meeting Place: The back parking lot of Kohl's at Parker and 75.

We will be meeting in the parking lot, where the parents will say goodbye to their students for the day. From there, we will walk across the street to board the train and start our journey to Dallas Zoo. We will have fun activities at the planned at the zoo for the day including Lunch. The students will have a chance to practice their "counting off" skills and what it is like to stay together and travel as a group.

Once we arrive at the zoo, I will call Jasmine and she will activate the phone tree - making sure that works correctly before we depart to the UK!

The cost for this little mini trip will be $15 and includes light rail tickets, admission to the zoo and lunch. Please bring this money to the April 9th meeting so I can purchase the tickets ahead of time so we get the discounted rates. If the students want to bring extra spending money, this might be a good opportunity to practice their budgeting skills, although this is NOT necessary.

More information about this as we get closer to the date.

Missing Paperwork

The following students are missing paperwork. I need to have this turned into me ASAP.

1. Health Forms: Philip, Ethan, Jeanae, Jared, Jordan G, Monique, Andrew, Kathryn, Justin, Danielle, Nathan, Sophie, Dallas, Antonio.

2. Success contracts: Philip, Ethan, Jeanae, Jared, Jordan, Monique, Andrew, Kathryn, Justin, Danielle, Nathan, Sophie, Dallas.

3. Passport Copies (4 copies): Brady, Philip, Yesenia, Jeanae, Jared, Jordan, Colin, Katie, Megan, Monique, Andrew, Kathryn, Justin, Josi, Elizabeth S, Danielle, Francesca, Nathan, Charles, Sophie, Sara W, Jacob, Dallas, Antonio.

4. Extra passport pictures (2): Brady, Philip, Morgan, Yesenia, Taylor C, Ethan, Jeanae, Brett, Damien, Jared, Jordan, Katie, Christina, Maika, Megan, Elysabeth, Monique, Andrew, Kathryn, Justin, Josi, Elisabeth S, Danielle, Francesca, Nathan, Charles, Cameron, Sophie, Sara W, Jacob, Dallas, Antonio.

If you feel you have turned this in, let me know so I can locate it. :-) If not, I need these ASAP. I know some of you are waiting on your passports, just scan them and email them to me as they arrive. Same for the rest of the forms and then bring the originals to the meeting in April. Thanks for your cooperation in this matter.

Budgeting Tips

1. Make a list of who you want to buy gifts for BEFORE you leave. Suggestions include parents (especially mom), grandparents, anyone you donated to your tuition, siblings. Remember "friends" will come out of the woodwork asking you to bring them something back, don't give in.

2. Suggested spending money amount: I would recommend between $300 and $500. This depends on who you want to buy things for and for yourself. Everything is paid for on the program, i.e. hotels, food, etc. The only thing you would need to buy extra would be souvenirs and snacks.

3. Remember sodas and snacks are VERY expensive in the UK. You can always pack some snacks to bring with you as long as they are individually wrapped (like snack packs of crackers, small cookies, gum, etc.) DO NOT bring any meat products (beef jerky) or cheese products that are opened. These will be taken away when we go through customs. If you bring snacks on the plane, remember anything not eaten that is opened will have to be thrown away as well. This is why we suggest the snack size packs.

4. Cash versus Card: I suggest a combination of both. I would go with at least some Pound Sterling (UK) already converted and maybe a few Euros (Ireland). I will be checking into doing a group money exchange before we leave if it is feasible, although it might be too complex with the exchange rate. If you are getting VISA/MASTERCARD gift cards, make sure they are good for international destinations. You usually have to order international gift cards directly from VISA. Some banks will allow your student to have a VISA/MASTERCARD debit card. You need to check with your individual banks for their policies. If they have a credit/debit card, be aware that the card must have the students name printed on it.

IRISH FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND

For any of those interested - the North Texas Irish Festival is going on this weekend in Fair Park. Hours are Friday 3/4 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 3/5 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and then Sunday 3/6 11:30 a.m. to 7:30. They will have an Irish Village, Irish Dancing, Irish Music, Irish food. Discount tickets are available at Tom Thumb.

You can visit their website: www.ntif.org for more information.