Florence, Italy 2011March 17 – March 24

Weather Forecast

Average High 60Average Low 40

Clothing

Spring means rain; have appropriate waterproof clothing and footwear, including an umbrella.

Spring can also mean cold; dress in layers for warmth.

And we will be going into variety of places so you will need to remove layers as well.

We will have be walking everywhere we go. How much you enjoy your days & evenings will partially be a factor of how you dress.

Bring AT LEAST TWO pairs of comfortable footwear.

One should be suitable for rain.

Important Items to Pack

A way to tell the time

Every student MUST be on time for each rendezvous!

Important ItemsPrescriptions should be in original containers

& should be carried on the plane; students bring only medications for life threatening conditions (asthma, diabetes, etc.)

Duplicate prescriptions for essential medications

Carry on Liquids

3 oz capacity

All liquids & gels must fit in quart size Ziploc bag.

Other Essentials

Back-up eyewear (contacts, glasses, sunglasses)

Camera

Notebook & pens

CHA will provide more guidelines as we get closer

For your personal electronic devices

Power Adaptor (IPOD, cell phone, battery chargers etc.)

Hairdryers are supplied by the hotel.

Label your ONE suitcase clearly before you get to school.

Helpful Hints

Name: XXXXX XXXXXX

Address: Moorestown Friends School

Moorestown, NJ 08057

Cell#: 856-555-5555

Bring a small backpack or satchel: Label it :

Name: XXXXX XXXXXXAddress: Moorestown Friends School

Moorestown, NJ 08057Cell#: 856-555-5555

You will need to carry it on our daily excursions.

Pack a bag for the plane. Label it: Name: XXXXX XXXXXX

Address: Moorestown Friends School

Moorestown, NJ 08057

Cell#: 856-555-5555

Suggestions an Ipod or mp3 playerSudoko or other small gamesBooks and magazinesLight blanket or shawlEarplugsSnacks – no liquid from home

It’s going to be a LONG overnight flight

Note about PickpocketsNever carry your wallet in your back

pocket. Never put all of your money in one

spot.Be careful with handbags or “Murses”.

Over the shoulder bags are safest.

http://www.osochic.com/2010/06/summer-must-have-cross-body-bags.html

Medical and Dietary ConditionsMike Brunswick will be the “Safety Chaperone.”If there are specific medical conditions,

including food allergies or dietary restrictions, make sure he knows.

A student should assume that the food/restaurant is not safe from specific allergens until he/she asks.

mbrunswick@mfriends.org 856-235-2900 ext. 257

What not to bring

Don’t bring anything that you would cry about if you lost it.

Don’t bring anything that would cause you to violate MFS rules of conduct.

Don’t bring traveler’s checks – They are no longer practical.

Money Students will need $35-50 per day (Total: $250 – 350) for lunch and dinner and snacks.

We may also be visiting some sites that are not included on the itinerary. Please budget $25 for these extras. (e.g. Duomo Dome, Science Museum, DaVinci Musuem, Church Donations.)

Any reasonable amount above that is at your discretion.

Changing Money

Current Exchange Rate is: 1 US dollar = 0.7715 euros

Ask your bank or AAA in advance for Euros (involves small service fee.)

Many banks charge a smaller service fee for a larger order of currency.

Ask for smaller denomination bills.

AAA does have travel credit cards that act like debit cards.

Tipping

We will ask each student to contribute toward a tip for the bus driver and the guide.

Please plan on $10 for the driver and $35 for the guide.

Tipping at restaurants can be optional. Once we are there we can be more precise.

Cell PhonesCheck with your cell phone provider

before we leave to see if you have, or can add, coverage – roaming charges are no fun!

International phones are available in Italy for about $50.

International phone cards are useful for calling home.

Intensive Learning = Academics

Students will receive a grade of Pass / Fail at the end of IL.

If students do not pass, they will have to complete an additional assignment.

Passing IL is a graduation requirement.

Students will have an assignment to complete. (We’ll talk more about this with the students directly.)

Required ReadingStudents received an email before winter

break with a list of titles to read before we arrive in Florence.

Should choose: one fiction title or one nonfiction reading

Available in the library

ALL school rules apply :Including: Appropriate clothing, language,

behavior, manners with all restaurant, hotel, museum personnel.

The hotel will lock the mini-bar & disable pay-per-view movies.

Students are reminded that we will know what was removed from the mini-bar or viewed on the television.

You will be responsible for any additional room charges.

Getting a tattoo or a piercing on a school trip is forbidden.

Despite the drinking laws in Italy, students are forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages on any school trip.

We are staying in first class hotels that promise 100% satisfaction to their patrons.

Hotel Etiquette

If a student makes noise in the hallways or adjacent room, the hotel may be asked to refund the cost to an upset patron. The hotel will charge CHA Tours. CHA Tours will charge your parents.

So PLEASE observe the following rules:

No running anywhere in the hotel.No shouting or loud music.No slamming doors.Observe the dress codes in public

areas (e.g. no pajamas or bare feet in the hotel restaurant.)

Boys and girls need to be in their respective rooms by 10 PM.

There will be a nightly bed check: students should not be anywhere but in their own rooms between bed check and wake up call.

Abide by the curfew that will be announced for each day.

Please remember…

Serious infractions of these rules will result in the student returning home early at the parents’ expense.

Most of all….Let’s have a safe,

educational, and fun time.

Let’s create happy memories.

Let’s show Florence, Italy how awesome MFS students are!