OUR MEETING AGENDA

•Get Know Your Group Leaders

•Educational Objectives

•Program Themes

•Traveling with EF

•Health, Safety, and Insurance

•Behavioral Expectations

•What are you responsible for?

•Passports

•Contact Us

HS Group Leader

Tracey Casciano

•FCPS graduate•History teacher 8 years•Mother of 4 sons•Love to travel•Volunteer in Guatemala

…then click the placeholders to add your own pictures and captions.

MS Group Leader

Christianna Carreño

•Native Vermonter•Teacher for 10 years•Avid Traveler •Back-packer extraordinaire•Speaker of English & Spanish, love for communicating•Mom

We are excited to experience

Montecristi with you!

The purpose of life is to live it, to taste it, to experience to the

utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and

richer experience.

WHY TRAVEL?

A little about us as the group leaders

Benefits to your child

Global Citizenship

Global Classroom(click to play video)

THE INTERNATIONAL STUDY TRAVEL PROGRAM…

Provides rich global experiences across the world to ensure students and staff are well prepared for the 21st century

Is aligned with the FCPS Program of Studies

Complements the FCPS goal to produce globally-minded, career-focused citizens

Promotes international understanding and a respect for a variety of cultures

Expands students’ knowledge about culture and history and the basis for different values and beliefs

Fosters development of the interpersonal skills necessary to navigate a new environment with confidence, maturity and flexibility

“Dare to Dream” Program

• Service Activities: • English and Spanish tutoring

• Community capacity building

• Sports activities

• Vocational training

• Environmental education

• Community outreach projects

• Included:• Access to local partnerships• Authentic immersion• Full-time Field Director• Meaningful reflection• Planning and logistics

Themes: Education, Racial Equality, Poverty Alleviation

Traveling with EF

Safety first•All-Inclusive Coverage Plan•Small student-to-chaperone ratio•Trained and licensed local guides•24-hour emergency on-call service

Peace of Mind•Should social unrest or natural events make traveling to our destination unsafe, EF will work with our group to make alternative arrangements.

TRAVELING WITH EF

Traveling with EF

(Click to play video)

HEALTH and SAFETY

Full Time Staff Safe Location General Health Emergency Preparedness

Chain of Command

• Tour Director

• Lives and works full time in host country.

• Knows the country, community, and neighborhood.

• Cultural influences from baseball and tourism have created a positive American image that is reflected in how well volunteers are received.

• Based in small towns where we can meet the needs of underdeveloped and under-resourced communities, while benefiting from the security of rural areas.

• Removed from large cities and tourist areas where crime is more common.

• Clean Water (good idea to bring a reusable bottle).

• Food

• Medications*

• First Aid/ CPR/ AED certified group leaders

• Professional Clinic: 5 min drive: Clinica CJ Finlay. Rafael Perello # 25, Monte Cristi 829 579 2644

• Reputable Hospital: 1.5 hours away by car. Considered to be the best hospital in the country. Autopista Duarte, Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic 829-947-2222

• Defined roles and protocols/ Outreach 360

• Cell communication

• Tour director communicates with U.S. offices; satellite phones

• Group Leader

• Program Leader

• Tour Director

• EF

• FCPS

ALL-INCLUSIVECOVERAGE PLAN

The plan is already included in our tour price and covers your child for:

• Tour cancellation and interruption

• Illness and accident

• Baggage and property

• Flight delay

• 24hr access to an English-speaking representative

For more information, call EF’s Customer Service Department at 800-665-5364, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday–Friday.

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS

•The rules and behavioral expectations outlined in the “FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R)” and “EF Rules of the Road” will apply on this program.

•All scheduled activities are obligatory.

•No extra pre-program or post-program travel is permitted. All travelers must fly round trip with the full group.

•If a traveler violates the SR&R or EF’s Rules of the Road, EF and/or the Group Leader have the right to send the traveler home from the program at the parents’ expense.

WHAT ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR?

•Spending money for free time activities, souvenirs, beverages, and snacks ($20-$40 per day)

•Airline checked baggage fees, if applicable

•Passport and/or visa fees

These are all necessities each traveler will be responsible for on this tour.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

All travelers are responsible for securing necessary documentation

•Valid passports are required for all travelers

•Passports may take up to 14 weeks to process

•Some destinations may require travel visas

•Non-U.S. citizens may require special visas or other travel documents

•Important note: Passports must be valid for at least six months after our scheduled return date

•Please use visacentral.com for any visa related questions

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Thursday, April 30Thursday, April 30thth & Wednesday, May 27 & Wednesday, May 27thth

Please stay tuned for more information and parent meetings regarding this program. Meetings are required for all travelers.

Things to keep in mind:

•Ensure that your child has a current passport (valid for at least 6 months after return), and that the name in the EF system matches the name on the passport EXACTLY.

•Double check that your emergency contact names and numbers are correct. Please add emails and any work/mobile numbers as necessary via your personalized EF website

•Please let us know if your child has any dietary restrictions (kosher, vegetarian, allergies, gluten-free, etc.). EF needs to pass this along to the restaurants IN ADVANCE.

•Note that medical forms will be forthcoming from FCPS via email. All prescriptions and over-the-counter medications must have written permissions.

CONTACT US

•GROUP LEADERS

• Middle School: Christianna Carreño cecarreno@fcps.edu

(802) 733-5263

• High School: Tracey Casciano tmcasciano@fcps.edu

(703)915-6293•FCPS

• Jean Bender, jbender@fcps.edu(571) 423-4673

•EF TOURS• Jenni Williams, Virginia Partnership

DirectorJenni.williams@ef.com