GENERAL INFORMATION QUEBEC CITY TRIP JANUARY 13-16, 2012 North Cumberland and McCourt Middle Schools HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR THE TRIP? All students will have until Monday, Monday, October 17, 2011 to return the following to either Mrs. Shaw in Room 203 or Mrs. Mailloux in Room 204 for NCMS students, and to Dr. Anderson s office at McCourt Middle School. 1. COMPLETED reservation form with all required signatures and information. 2. Original Birth Certificate or Passport (this will be returned to you after the trip). 3. Cumberland School Department Hold Harmless Form. 4. $250.00 deposit in the form of a personal check or money order made payable to North Cumberland Middle School (NCMS) or McCourt Middle School (MMS). 5. Due no later than October 19, Cumberland Schools Health Services Forms. I have labeled them Doc. A, B, C, D, and E. Doc. A MUST be returned. Doc.B you should keep and put it into your child s wallet on the day we leave for the trip!!! Doc. C. should be returned if you are giving your child permission to selfadminister non-presription drugs. Doc. D should be returned if you give your child permission to self-administer prescription drugs. Doc. E must be returned. ALL PARENTS OF TRIP PARTICPANTS FROM MCCOURT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND NORTH CUMBERLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL MUST E- MAIL ME AT cumberlandquebec2012@gmail.com. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE WILL BE COMMUNICATING WITH YOU AFTER THIS DATE. ONCE I RECEIVE YOUR MESSAGE, I WILL REPLY AND INFORM YOU THAT YOU ARE NOW ON OUR MAILING LIST. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BOTH PARENTS RECEIVE MAIL, PLEASE HAVE BOTH SEND A MESSAGE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHERE THE STUDENT SPENDS TIME WITH BOTH PARENTS IN DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLDS. THE ADDRESS YOU SEND MUST BE AN ADDRESS THAT YOU CHECK DAILY. Please use your personal e-mail address and include a work address if you choose. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL FORMS FOR THE TRIP WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE NCMS SCHOOL WEBSITE www.northcumberlandmiddleschool.com. Click on the Quebec link. YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED UNLESS ALL THE ABOVE ITEMS ARE PROVIDED.
ELIGIBILITY School rules regarding field trips policies will be in effect. All final decisions will be made by the building principals. You must be both academically and behaviorally eligible to attend the trip. WHAT IS THE ACTUAL COST OF THE TRIP????? The price of the trip is $599.00. This includes medical insurance and tips. It does not include optional Trip Interruption and Cancellation Insurance. If you wish to purchase this, please add $26 to the total cost of your trip and check the yes box on your reservation form. The total cost of your trip would then be $625.00. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE $599.00 PRICE PER PERSON IS BASED ON 50 STUDENTS PER BUS. IF ANY OF OUR BUSSES DOES NOT HAVE 50 STUDENTS, ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL PAY AN EXTRA CHARGE WHICH WILL VARY ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS.IF A BUS HAS 45-49 STUDENTS, THERE WILL BE AN EXCESS CHARGE OF $13 PER PERSON FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS. IF A BUS HAS 40-44 STUDENTS, THERE WILL BE AN EXCESS CHARGE OF $30 PER PERSON FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS. IF A BUS HAS 35-39 PARTICIPANTS, THERE WILL BE AN EXCESS CHARGE OF $52 PER PERSON FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS. THERE IS NO WAY TO DETERMINE THESE NUMBERS AT THIS TIME. WE WILL HAVE THESE NUMBERS AFTER NOVEMBER 18, WHEN ALL PAYMENTS ARE DUE IN FULL. YOU WILL RECEIVE AN E-MAIL AT THAT TIME DETAILING THE TRIP NUMBERS AND COST. ANY EXTRA CHARGES MUST THEN BE PAID IN FULL BY NOVEMBER 28. PLEASE NOTE!!!!! THE COST OF THE TRIP COULD BE AFFECTED IF PEOPLE DROP OFF BETWEEN NOVEMBER 18, 2011 AND JANUARY 13, 2012! PLEASE SEE PAGE 20 OF THE IMMERSION TOURS CANCELLATION POLICY TERMS AND CONDITIONS. THIS CAN BE FOUND ON THE NCMS WEBSITE UNDER THE QUEBEC LINK. IF FOR ANY REASON YOU CANCEL YOUR TRIP BY NOTIFYING US AT cumberlandquebec2012@gmail.com BEFORE DECEMBER 14, 2011, YOU WILL FORFEIT $100.00. IF FOR ANY REASON YOU CANCEL YOUR TRIP BY NOTIFYING US VIA E-MAIL BETWEEN DECEMBER15, 2011 AND JANUARY 13, 2011, YOU WILL FORFEIT $250.00.
Canadian money You will also need to bring Canadian money for personal expenses, souvenirs, and 2 lunches that you will buy in Québec. The average amount of money spent last year per student is $140.00 Canadian. YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE/PASSPORT WILL BE HELD AT SCHOOL. IF YOU VOLUNTARILY DROP OFF THE TRIP, OR IF FOR SOME REASON YOU NEED YOUR PASSPORT/BIRTH CERTIFICATE, PLEASE CONTACT MADAME SHAW OR MADAME MAILLOUX AT NCMS OR DR. ANDERSON AT MCCOURT, AND IT WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PRICE QUOTED IS BASED ON A MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE TRIP. SHOULD THE MINIMUM NOT BE REACHED, THE PRICE OF THE TRIP WILL INCREASE. DO NOT BRING ANY FORMS OR MONEY TO THE MAIN OFFICE!! All forms and money should be given to Mrs. Shaw in Room 203 or Mrs. Mailloux in Room 204 at NCMS or to Dr. Anderson s office at McCourt. PLEASE ADDRESS ALL QUESTIONS TO MADAME SHAW AT cumberlandquebec2012@gmail.com. Canadian Money Each student is responsible for obtaining Canadian currency before departing for the trip. Please check with your bank. Go to xe.com for daily exchange rates. OUR HOTEL Hotel Château Laurier 1220, Place George-V Ouest Québec (Québec) G1R 5B8 www.vieuxquebec.com/en/laurier/ 418-522-8108 All rooms have either 2 double beds or one double bed and will accommodate 2 to 4 students OUR TOUR COMPANY Immersion Tours 1001 Route de l Église, Suite 205 Quebec, Qc, Canada G1V 3V7 info@immersion-tours.com website: www.immersion-tours.com tel.: 418-694-4450 fax: 418-694-6294 1-888-757-7032
ROOMMATES ALL ROOMS ACCOMMODATE 2-4 STUDENTS. STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE ONE ROOMMATE, AND INDICATE THE NAMES OF TWO OTHER STUDENTS ON A 3X5 CARD. THIS CARD MUST BE TURNED IN TO MADAME SHAW at NCMS or DR. ANDERSON at MMS BY NOVEMBER 10, OR ROOMMATES WILL BE ASSIGNED TO YOU. IF YOUR GROUP CONSISTS OF 1 OR 3 PERSONS, SUBMIT THE CARD AS IS AND ROOMMATES WILL BE ASSIGNED TO FILL THE ROOM. NO EXCEPTIONS HERE. EXAMPLE: John Jones and Mark Smith want to room together Their friends, Paul Stone and Victor Moon want to room together Their 3X5 card should look like this: John Jones and Mark Smith Paul Stone and Victor Moon When it is time for me to assign rooms, I will either put the boys in 2 rooms for 2, or in a room for 4. SUGGESTIONS 1. You should carry a small, flat wallet that hangs around your neck. These are available at Walmart, Target, etc. This is a MUST. Every year students lose money unnecessarily. Do not wait too late to purchase this! 2. Invest in a good pair of COMFORTABLE, WATERPROOF, INSULATED BOOTS! Your feet will thank you every day! Bring an extra pair so that you can always have a dry pair. 3. On the subject of clothing, layers are always recommended. You will need a good jacket, snow pants or waterproof pant covers, warm hat, gloves, mittens, face warmer, scarf, etc. Expect it to be very cold and you will be prepared! Every year students come unprepared for the cold and they suffer. DON T FORGET TO PURCHASE DISPOSABLE HAND AND FOOT WARMERS!! 4. You are allowed to bring only one suitcase and a back- pack, which you will take on the bus. Label them both! Also, pack snacks, personal electronics, games, cards, books, etc. for the bus ride. You must also pack a lunch to be eaten on the bus ride Friday. A frozen drink will keep your sandwich fresh until lunch time. 5. If you would rather bring your own ice skates than rent them, please pack them in a separate bag, with your name and address listed on the bag. 6. Our busses have televisions with both VCR and DVD players. Please bring movies for the ride. School policy dictates G-rated or PG movies only. LABEL YOUR MOVIES.
7. NO GUM ANYWHERE ANYTIME ON THE TRIP!!! NO CAFFEINATED ENERGY DRINKS!!! YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO EITHER BRING OR PURCHASE THEM ON THE TRIP!!!!!! 8. FOR SAFETY REASONS, STUDENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO GO OUTDOORS WITHOUT SKI PANTS. STUDENTS WHO DO NOT COMPLY WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND LEFT BEHIND AT THE HOTEL WITH AN ADULT CHAPERONE. WE WILL BE VERY FIRM ON THIS. STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT PROPERLY DRESSED FOR THE WEATHER WILL BE DEALT WITH. SIMPLY STATED, IF YOU ARE NOT DRESSED IN SKI PANTS AND BOOTS, YOU WILL NOT BE GOING OUT!!!!! TELEPHONE USE Students will not be permitted to make either long distance or room-to-room calls from their hotel rooms. They will, however, be able to call the front desk in case of emergency or if they are in need of something. You may call the hotel whenever you like to speak to your child. Students are encouraged to bring and use their cell phones whenever they like. I suggest that you check with your provider for long distance, texting and roaming charges, which may be steep. You may want to look into a Canada calling plan. Please be assured that if an issue arises, we will notify you immediately. You will also have the number of the hotel, tour company, and an emergency number which you may call. We thank you for your understanding in this matter. KNOW YOUR CHILD We know your children in the classroom setting, but when it comes to emotional maturity, only you know their limits. Every year children come to Quebec who are sometimes not ready to leave home for 4+days and nights. It is extremely frustrating to have to deal with a child who is not eating, probably not having much fun, and generally miserable because he/she is not ready to handle being away from home. Please sit down with your child and have a frank discussion if you have any concerns in this area. Thank you for your understanding. We have your children s best interest at heart. Over the past 14 years, nearly 2,000 Cumberland eighth graders have taken this wonderful journey to Quebec City. We are doing our best to ensure that this, our FIFTEENTH annual trip, is the best yet. WEATHER
In the month of January, the days are usually the coldest days of the year. The average daytime temperature is 12C=9F, and it is even colder at night, -17C=1F on average. We will provide weather projections several days before departure. Yes, we have experienced -35C temperatures!! MERCI BEAUCOUP!!!! MADAME SANDRA SHAW DR. RICHARD DROLET MADAME LOUISE MAILLOUX DR. ANDREW ANDERSON MR. JASON MASTERSON. MRS. BETHANY COUGHLIN