THE FINAL

COUNTDOWN

Pre departure session

#2

Thursday, May 15

Parents and

Travellers!

14 MORE

SLEEPS!Departure time: 6.00am sharp!

From QEO

Families to arrive from 5.30am

onwards for loading

CLOTHING LIST

Pack light!

Team China Uniform and

school uniform they key!

Please name these clearly!

Case should have plenty of

space remaining!

DOCUMENTATION & SPENDING

MONEY

Passports- by Monday, May 26

Spending Money- by Monday, May 26

Additional medical permissions

Log of any medications

Copy to parent on return

SPENDING MONEY STRATEGY

Staff member to distribute

Booklet to record amounts

Student to sign for their spending money

Money left over can be converted back

into $ at the airport if you want this sorted

quickly

AIRPORT REQUIREMENTS

Plastic bag containing carry on liquids- no

more than 100 ml

Carry on bag- small/ medium back pack or

similar which will be used everyday

Comfortable to carry

Questions for Erin?

FLIGHT DETAILS

China Eastern Airlines

MU738

Thursday May 29

Depart Melbourne at 11:00am arrive Shanghai at 7:20pm

RETURN…

Friday June 06

MU737

Depart Shanghai at 8:15pm arrive Melbourne at 9:00am the next day

TRACK OUR FLIGHT

Two handy apps!

PLANE TRAVEL

Snacks to eat

Something to chew for landing in particular-

ear popping difficulties

Water/drinks for journey- will need to be

purchased after being cleared through

customs and immigration

GIFTS

Small Aussie gifts for your students to give to

Chinese buddies they already know and new

buddies they will meet

Suggest- in expensive items/ key rings/

pencils/ mini koalas/ minties/ snakes/

caramello koalas/ Furry Friend Choc blocks/

etc

Say around 10- 15 small items each

Each Primary School will have a

presentation for their Sister School

COMMUNICATIONKey school contact for 24/7 access

BLOG

Email & Skype - set up addresses and skype account

as appropriate

Be aware that communication with families may not

be possible everyday

Communication sessions will be in the evening

Communication sessions will be supervised by staff

There is a 2 hour time difference- 9.00pm in China is

11 pm here!

There will be as a minimum one SMS provided to the

school contact each day

BLOGGING UPDATES

Each school will add to the BLOG

The BLOG will record the

experience

Search facility to find student entries

Information recorded will be used by

students on their return

Jenny Ashby from Epsom has

developed our BLOG and led the

staff training.

ICT DEVICES AND POWER SUPPLY

Australian 3 pin plugs will work direct

into Chinese power points

Two pin plug devices/cords will not work

unless they go into a power board first

One small power board per “ room”

Each school will take ONE power board

as a back up.

FAMILY VISITS IN CHINA

Additional permissions are

required for any student

involved in a home visit

while in Suzhou.

EXPECTATIONS ON RETURNAll students will be expected to contribute to a BLOG to enable them to produce a report about their experience and their learning

Reports will be presented to

Each School Community

Each School Council

Each Organisation who provided sponsorship ( Rotary/ Eaglehawk Basketball Association)

Bendigo City Council

It is anticipated that each student will take a lead role in promoting Asian literacy and developing intercultural understandings in their school community and have a key role in supporting further programs

ARRIVAL INFORMATION

Parent pick up from the airport

Inside the terminal

Arrivals section

Parking at the airport is expensive- beware!

Flight arrival times will be clearly communicated to

each school contact to ensure families have accurate

information

PARENT CHECKLIST

A key reference

Remember chargers & power

boards

STAFFING UPDATE I will be departing for China on May 23 (one week prior

to students)

I will meet the tour at the airport in Pudong when they

land

I will be making contact with the –

Shanghai Medical Centre we will be using and the

Hospital

Consulate

Also investigate a range of local meal options for lunches

and dinners in Shanghai

Purchase all the MET Travel Cards for students

to use

TEAM CHINA SONG

Our travellers will now present our Team Song !

MEET THE STAFF TEAMS…

Meet the Staff Teams…

Team Pearl - Heather, Eliza, Wendy , Alice and

Chas

School Groups- KFPS/SHPS/MPS

Team Pudong - Andrew, Hayley, Diana, Celia

and Juncai

School Groups- QHPS,SGPS,WHPS

MEET THE STAFF TEAMS…

Meet the Staff Teams…

Team Puxi- Craig B, Erin, Brett, Adrian and

Corey

School Groups- CHPS, HPS,GSPS

Team Bund- Craig A, Laurel, Kate, Kerry &

Phillip

School Groups- ENPS,EPS,MGPS

HAT COLLECTION

Team Hats- collect from

Leonie Roberts before you

leave tonight- please be sure

to name these clearly!

MEDIA COVERAGE

There will be a full page story feature in the

Bendigo Advertiser on Saturday, May 24!

ABC Radio Interview with students

and staff next week!

BON VOYAGE!