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DESTINATION DALLAS

April 20-22, 2016

PARENTS’ MEETING

March 30, 2016

PAGES DESCRIPTION

2-3 Itinerary (for your information)

4 Checklist (for your information)

5 Connect with Us in Dallas… (for your information)

6 Contract (MUST be read, signed, and returned to Mrs. Gorman by Friday, April 8, 2016)

7 Medication Administration Release Form (if needed, MUST be returned to Mrs. Gorman with medication by Wednesday, April 13, 2016)

DESTINATION DALLAS itinerary

April 20-22, 2016

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

Departure: Two Arrow Coach buses will be in place for boarding in the PA front lot at 6:30 A.M. It is VERY important that ALL students be at the school promptly at 6:30 to load the buses. WE WILL LEAVE at 7:00 A.M.

Snack/Stretch/Lunch: We will picnic and play at Spring Lake Park in Texarkana, Texas. We encourage snacks to be eaten throughout the morning, and the sack lunches you bring from home can be eaten on the bus.

Perot Museum of Nature and Science: This amazing downtown Dallas museum, which opened on December 1, 2012, boasts four floors of hands-on science exhibits.

Hotel Check-in: We will stay at the Hampton Inn Arlington Inn North, located at 2200 Brookhollow Plaza Drive, Arlington, Texas. In case of emergency, the phone number is (817) 652-9562 (please ask for Sarah Gorman’s room).

Cici’s Pizza: Students will be treated to an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet with drinks.

Arlington Skatium: Get ready to roll back in time with a special roller skating neon party! Everyone will receive a pair of basic skates, and upgrades (in-line skates) will be available for $2.50. Students will skate from 7:00 to 9:30 P.M.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21

Breakfast: Continental breakfast is provided at the hotel. Students will eat from 7:00 to 8:30 A.M.

Fort Worth Botanic Garden: We will explore 110 acres of beautiful, fragrant gardens. While enjoying the great outdoors, the small groups will also compete in a nature scavenger hunt.

Lunch: We will enjoy an authentic Tex-Mex lunch at Joe T. Garcia’s. This meal is served buffet-style and is pre-paid.

Fort Worth Stockyards: After arriving downtown after lunch, we will tour the stockyards, explore the Texas-themed shops, and then we will find our way through the Cowtown Cattlepen Maze. In addition, we will watch the historic cattle drive at 4:00 P.M.

Billy Bob’s Texas: After arriving at 4:30 P.M., we will be treated to an hour-long private country/western line dance lesson by instructors at Billy Bob’s, the world’s largest honky tonk.

Dinner: We will travel back to the Dallas area for dinner in the food court at Grapevine Mills Mall. Food costs will be the students’ responsibility, and they will pick from the following venues for dinner:

Charley’s Grilled Subs, Chicken Now, Chili's Too, Great Wraps, Kelly's Cajun Grill, Maki of Japan, Panda Express, Ruby Thai Kitchen, Sbarro, Sonic, Subway, and Taco Bell

If time permits, the small groups will enjoy shopping at the various retail stores located at the mall.

Main Event: After arriving at 8:00 P.M., we will bowl for one hour (with popcorn and drinks provided), play laser tag for 30 minutes, and enjoy the video arcade for 30 minutes with a video game card. All activities are pre-paid.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 22

Breakfast: Continental breakfast is provided at the hotel. Students will eat from 6:30 to 8:00 A.M.

Hotel Check-out: We will check rooms and load luggage at around 8:30 A.M. We will then check out of the hotel and board buses for our last day in Dallas.

Sixth Floor Museum: After arriving at 9:30 A.M., we will tour the museum (with audio). We will then walk to the Grassy Knoll for a group picture.

Lunch: We will picnic in Klyde Warren Park, which is located at 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway in downtown Dallas. Food costs will be the responsibility of the students. A list of vendors, menus, and prices will be provided during the week of the trip. This free public park features game carts, a playground, a large green space, and an amphitheater for special events.

Departure: We will depart Dallas for Little Rock by 2:00 P.M.

Dinner: We will stop at Texarkana for dinner at about 5:30 P.M. We will take the State Line exit, where a McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Burger King are located next to each other.

Arrival: We will arrive at PA at approximately 8:30 to 9:00 P.M. After 7:00 P.M., please check for an email from Mrs. Gorman with an arrival update. Each parent will pick up his/her child on the sidewalk along the lower parking lot. A chaperone should be told that the student is leaving. Please do not block the front drive – leave the buses room to come into the lower lot.

TRIP CHAPERONES Mrs. Sarah Gorman (7th grade team leader)

CONTACT INFO: sarah.gorman@pulaskiacademy.org – 425-1578 (may call, email, or text)

Mrs. Keri Bone (7th grade English teacher)

Ms. Christen Bufford (7th grade American history teacher)

Mr. Todd Dunn (7th grade pre-algebra teacher)

Mrs. Elizabeth Kimball (MS/US nurse)

Ms. Megan McCain (7th grade Spanish teacher)

Mrs. Lin Schuster (MS/US learning lab teacher)

Coach Todd Wood (MS/US PE teacher and coach)

Coach Jason Wyatt (7th grade science teacher)

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DESTINATION DALLAS checklist April 20-22, 2016

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING?

1. Luggage is limited to ONE small carry-on bag/backpack (brought on the bus with you) and ONE small piece of luggage (loaded underneath the bus).

2. Bring a sack lunch and a drink for Wednesday. Please put lunch and drink in a small insulated lunch bag. Make sure your name is clearly written on your bag. Do NOT bring things that will spoil easily.

3. Snack and drinks are allowed for the bus trip. Please make sure that all drinks are in plastic bottles and have screw-top lids (as cans spill too easily, and glass breaks). Gum, peanut-based foods, and energy drinks are not allowed.

4. Bring an appropriate amount of money for the trip (about $75). You will need money for the following things: a. Thursday night dinner at Grapevine Mills Mall b. Friday lunch in Klyde Warren Park c. Friday night dinner in Texarkana d. OPTIONAL spending money for gift shops and/or Grapevine Mills Mall.

5. Although we will not hold you strictly to the school dress code, we do expect you to dress appropriately and to look nice. If you are wearing inappropriate clothing, you will be required to go back to your hotel room and change before leaving for the day’s activities.

You may wear t-shirts, as long as they have appropriate messages on them. Shoulders must be covered; no tank tops, spaghetti-strap, or mesh shirts may be worn. Shorts or pants should not have rips, tears, or holes in them. Pajama pants, sweat pants, or any similar pants may only be worn at the hotel and not on the bus while travelling. For girls, leggings may be worn only with shirts that are of mid-thigh length. Please pack a light jacket or sweatshirt in case of cool weather. In addition, please pack COMFORTABLE shoes that stay with your feet (NO FLIP-FLOPS). Socks will be needed for Wednesday night’s roller skating and Thursday night’s bowling. Hats/caps are only allowed to be worn when visiting the gardens/parks. Please adhere to the following additional dress expectations:

GIRLS BOYS Knee-length Bermuda shorts or capris (NO SKIRTS) Khakis, jeans, or leggings

Knee-length shorts (NO ATHLETIC SHORTS) Khakis or jeans

6. Wear a watch. We will often give specific times for meeting together with the large group, and your knowledge of the current time is imperative for your personal safety and our group’s punctual arrival at prescheduled events.

7. You may bring a music device with headphones, a camera, and/or a hand-held video game (all clearly labeled with your name). These devices must NOT have internet or Wi-Fi capabilities. REMEMBER, THE STUDENT IS FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE ITEMS. Chaperones will NOT keep up with them, and we are also not responsible for anything stolen, lost, or broken.

8. You are NOT to bring a portable DVD player or laptop. Movies (rated G/PG) will be available on each bus to watch while travelling.

9. You may NOT bring a cell phone or ANY other device that has internet or Wi-Fi access. Because we want you to have a full experience in Dallas, we would like you to “unplug” from these devices that otherwise rule your life.

IF A CHAPERONE DETERMINES THAT YOU BROUGHT A PROHIBITED DEVICE ON THE

TRIP, THE DEVICE WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP, AND YOU

WILL RECEIVE A SATURDAY DETENTION WHEN WE RETURN TO SCHOOL.

PROBLEMS WITH ALLOWED DEVICES MAY ALSO RESULT IN CONFISCATION. 4

CONNECT WITH US IN DALLAS…

THROUGH FACEBOOK! See pictures and videos of your kiddos in Dallas by liking the seventh-grade

class page! Even if you don’t have a Facebook account, you can keep track of us by going to the following address:

https://www.facebook.com/PAMS7th/

THROUGH TEXT! Receive text notifications by joining the parent group using Remind 101. You do not have

to add the app to your phone. All you have to do is follow the instructions below! Used in conjunction with email, this provides an additional way to communicate quickly with parents. If you want to reply back to Mrs. Gorman, text her directly at 501-425-1578, because if you reply to the group message, she won’t see it unless she opens the Remind 101 app.

THROUGH LIVE VIDEO FEEDS! Don’t you just LOVE technology? Stay tuned for more

information about specific days/times when Mrs. Gorman will stream live on location from our Dallas trip!

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DESTINATION DALLAS Information and Guidelines

Our trip to Dallas is sure to be a fun and educational experience. This will be an exciting opportunity to expand some of our studies in history, English, math, science, and the arts outside the regular classroom environment. It will also be a positive way to further class spirit and unity. To ensure a successful trip, it is very important that students show their full cooperation by adhering to all school rules, following the predetermined itinerary, and respecting the chaperones who have the final word in all matters. The well-being of all students and the reputation of Pulaski Academy are our first priorities. Below is a list of trip rules that must be read carefully by ALL students and parents. These rules, along with the rules in the PA Handbook, serve as behavior guidelines for our trip.

THIS CONTRACT MUST BE SIGNED BY THE STUDENT AND PARENT AND RETURNED TO MRS. GORMAN BEFORE THE STUDENT IS ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TRIP.

1. All school rules, including modified dress code (explained on the packing checklist), apply to the trip. Any violation of a major school rule (i.e. possession and/or consumption of drugs or alcohol) will result in the student’s immediate return home and appropriate disciplinary action upon return to school.

2. Once students are checked into their rooms at curfew, NO ONE is to leave the room unless it is an emergency, in which case a

chaperone should be contacted IMMEDIATELY.

3. Luggage is limited to one small carry-on bag and one small piece of luggage.

4. Each student is responsible for his/her possessions. Leave all valuable items, such as expensive jewelry, at home. Do NOT bring large sums of money. Do NOT bring laptops, portable DVD players, or devices with internet or Wi-Fi access.

5. Students are not to call home, and parents are not to call students. THEREFORE, STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BRING CELL

PHONES. In case of an emergency, call the numbers presented at the parents’ meeting. Teachers will be in touch with parents if there is a situation with a student while on the trip.

6. Follow the itinerary at all times. IN ALL CASES, THE CHAPERONES HAVE FINAL SAY.

7. Students must stay with the group at all times. Because this is a bonding trip for the students and teachers, students will NOT be allowed to break away from the group to spend time with family members or friends who live in or are visiting the Dallas area.

8. Students who are on regular medication must remain on medication and must have enough to last for the three-day trip. Student inhalers and EpiPens that are stored at school will be brought along on the trip. Over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, antacids, and antihistamines will be available for students if needed. All medication will be monitored by Nurse Jann and Mrs. Schuster. Medications should be carefully labeled as directed and given to Mrs. Gorman by Wednesday, April 13, 2016.

9. If students must be picked up early from the trip due to prescheduled weekend plans (such as athletic tournaments or competitions), parents must communicate this request with Mrs. Gorman by April 8, 2016. Early departures/pickups will be the responsibility of the parent, as teachers will not be able to leave the group in order to accompany a child to the airport.

IF, IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAPERONES, A VIOLATION OF THIS CONTRACT AND/OR OF A MAJOR SCHOOL RULE HAS OCCURRED, THE STUDENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY RETURNED HOME AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION WILL BE TAKEN UPON RETURN TO SCHOOL.

RETURN THIS SIGNED CONTRACT BY FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2016.

student’s first and last name – printed neatly parent’s first and last name – printed neatly

student’s signature parent’s signature

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DESTINATION DALLAS Medication Administration Release Form

Student’s Name To Pulaski Academy, School Nurse, or Nurse Substitute: I request that you give the following prescription medication(s) to my child during this trip in accordance with the policy printed below. You are authorized to delegate this authority to another person if so desired. I will not hold the school staff responsible for an undesired reaction which may occur from the medication. parent name (printed) parent signature

Name of Medication Quantity Dosage Dosage Time(s) Name of Medication Quantity Dosage Dosage Time(s) Name of Medication Quantity Dosage Dosage Time(s) Name of Medication Quantity Dosage Dosage Time(s) Medication Policy and Guidelines

1. The medication MUST be in the ORIGINAL container with the child’s name on the prescription label.

2. All medications must be placed in a clear Ziploc bag clearly labeled with the child’s name. 3. All medications must be given to Mrs. Gorman by Wednesday, April 13, 2016. 4. The consent form must be signed before any medication will be given. Handwritten notes or

emailed messages are NOT acceptable.

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