Our Ref: JFH/MCO February 2014 Dear Parents SKIING HOLIDAY Mallnitz - Austria 14 February 22 February 2014 Final details DATE PLACE ARRIVE DEPART Friday, 14 February 2014 Saturday, 15 February 2014 Assemble in school car park (Western Way) entrance 12.30pm 13.30pm Arrive at Folkestone 16.30 17.20 Arrive at Calais (local time) 16.40 Arrive at Hotel Bichlhof 14.00 All times are approximate We will contact Mrs Keep when we reach our hotel and she will send a text to all parents to say we have arrived. Enjoy week of skiing in France DATE PLACE ARRIVE DEPART Friday 21 February 2014 Saturday 22 February 2014 Depart accommodation Hotel Bichlhof Depart from Calais for Folkestone If possible we will attempt to get an earlier train, please be near the phone all morning Arrive at Folkestone 11.00 Arrive back at College (Western Way car park) 18.00pm 10.30 11.30 14.00 All times are approximate We will contact Mrs Keep when we reach Dover to confirm arrival back into the UK, she will send a text to all parents. Someone must be available on Saturday to take her message and collect your child.
-2- Travel Company Resort Address Coach Company SkiTeam4 Station Road Workshops, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 4PJ Hotel Bichlhof Mallnitz Austria D.J. Coaches 7 Mark Lane Gravesend Kent DA12 2PS Tel No: 0117 9575148 Tel No: 01322 552222 All Passports, Medical Forms and E111 cards should be handed in to Mrs French by Monday, 10 February 2014 at the very latest. FOOD FOR THOUGHT USEFUL DETAILS FOR THE JOURNEY I strongly recommend that, because of the time we are leaving for our trip, you arrange for your child to have a good meal. The first hot meal we have will be our evening meal at the hotel on Saturday. Students can purchase breakfast at the service stations on the way therefore minimal nibbles or food is required. We suggest bringing a bottle of water to sip along the way. All fizzy, energy or caffeinated drinks such as Coca-Cola are to be avoided, and will be banned/confiscated as settled stomachs are required for very long coach journeys. Glass bottles containing drinks are to be avoided in favour of cartons/plastic bottles. Students are asked not to pack too much and not to munch throughout the trip. We provide black sacks for rubbish at selected points on the coach and students are requested to keep the coach free of litter by using the rubbish sacks. Students are also requested not to have chewing gum on the coach as it becomes sticky and leaves a mess on the coach if not properly disposed of. CLOTHES FOR THE JOURNEY Wear warm clothing such as your ski jackets that can easily be removed once on the coach. At stops, warm clothes will be needed. It is important to be comfortable, especially at night. (Track suit bottoms or similar are good for journeys). The importance of comfortable shoes and socks cannot be over-stressed. Do not wear your salopettes for travelling in. LUGGAGE: What and how much? Students are reminded that they will have to carry their own luggage at certain stages of the journey. One average size soft case per person should be sufficient, plus a small shoulder bag/back pack for the journey. There will be no access to suitcases during the journey. Continued on page three
-3- THINGS TO PACK For skiing Salopettes Hat 2-3 pairs proper ski socks (minimum) (ordinary socks will not do for skiing) Shorts/leggings etc. (under salopettes) 2 T shirts or polo neck tops 2 thin sweaters Ski gloves or mittens Goggles (and/or sunglasses optional) Packet of plasters and a crepe bandage (optional) String bag to carry lunch/drink etc For general ware Footwear suitable for Après Ski (trainers, boots etc) Slippers for wearing indoors Underwear Hankies/tissues Night wear/dressing gown Socks Swimwear/towel Towel/shower gel/shampoo Toothbrush/toothpaste Washing kit for you and your socks! Sun cream (Factor 30 or above), Lip salve THE SUN WILL BURN! Casual wear for evenings trousers/jeans/skirt/dress/sweater etc. Please keep a pair of ski socks in your hand luggage. We may be able to obtain skis and boots on Saturday afternoon and would want easy access. REMINDER: DON T BRING TOO MUCH WE ARE ONLY GOING FOR A WEEK! HAND LUGGAGE This should be carried on the coach and contain items essential for the journey. Such items should include snacks, drink(s), hand wipes, electronic games, cards or small board games, ipod (with earphones), books and tissues. Please keep small as there is limited space on board and goods have to be stored by your feet. DVDs This will be a long journey which may be very boring at times. We will have on board the bus a DVD player so any contributions from students will be appreciated. Make sure though they are classified as: PG/12/12A (15 only with parental vetting!!) Mrs Corio will collect these as we board the bus. Please make sure you write your child s name on them. Continued on page four
-4- ODDMENTS Writing pad and pen Books, games, cards (you might organise these with your friends) Camera at your own risk (Try to put your name on if you can) ipods-mp3 players at your own risk. You will need a small amount of euro s to purchase nibbles/drinks during the journey whilst in Europe. DUTY FREE STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BRING ANY ALCOHOL OR CIGARETTES INTO THE COUNTRY AND ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PURCHASE THESE IN RESORT. POCKET MONEY Your child s pocket money will be held by a member of staff and they will be able to collect it each day when the bank is opened, normally after breakfast. If your child is bringing more money please make sure they hand it over to staff to be locked away safely. We will take no responsibility for money that is lost or stolen from student s rooms. MOBILE PHONES I am reminding parents that students are not allowed to take their mobile phones on this holiday. I would ask parents to collect and retain mobiles before departure. Students may use staff phones if they are homesick. This is vital so that in the event of an emergency, I, as leader, control the flow of information in order that correct and up to date information is given to parents in a timely fashion rather than mobile/grape vines existing. TRAVEL SICKNESS The Managing Director of our Coach operator assures me that travel sickness is 90% in the mind, but nevertheless it can occur. Sensible preparation is important. The meal prior to departure should settle the stomach, not upset it. During the journey stick to normal meal times and do not eat biscuits, crisps and snacks the whole time. The biggest problem appears to be fizzy drinks. Coca-Cola and caffeine based drinks are banned on the outward and inward journeys. My staff are vigilant! Fruit juices or hot drinks from the vending machines are far safer. We would request that all party members take a travel pill approximately one hour prior to the journey. Continued on page five
-5- TOILET The coach toilet will be for travel sickness and really desperate cases only. The reason for this apparently harsh rule is simply that the coach can only carry so much water for flushing and once this has gone it is no longer possible to flush the toilet. It is therefore effectively out of action. Once we get going in Calais the coach will not be stopping during the night as we will all be sleeping and we will certainly need the security of a toilet that works. We will make regular stops at Services along the way to freshen up and use the facilities EMERGENCY CONTACTS Mrs D Keep and Mr G Wilks will be our emergency contacts. They will only contact parents in the event of the party being delayed during the return journey. Should you need to make contact, please call either of the following who will in turn contact us: - Mrs D Keep 07734 361919 Mr G Wilks 01256 359591 (Home) 01256 473698 (Work) ACCOMPANYING STAFF Mrs M Corio, Party Leader Mrs J French Mr S Gaunt Mr C Groundsell Mrs K Austen Mr P Corio Mr S French IMPORTANT MEETINGS Tuesday, 3 February 2014 We should have received the hired ski clothing by now. Your child will need to try the salopettes and jacket on over their clothes at school. We need to make sure it fits before we go!! We will arrange for any alternative sizes to be delivered if required. Please bring your child s Passport and E111 card for Mrs French to collect if you have not already sent them in. Wednesday, 12 February 2014 IMPORTANT All students need to attend the final briefing in Mrs Corio s teaching room at lunchtime please be on time for this meeting as time is short. Please buy your lunch at first break and bring it to the meeting to eat. Please put date in your planner. Continued on page six
-6- MEDICAL We will be taking a comprehensive medical kit and will carry the students medication if any is necessary. Students may take plasters and a crepe bandage, but are asked to hand in any other medicines including plain aspirin. Please write clearly the child s name and the dosage. We need to be aware of any pills that are taken. I have also attached a leaflet regarding health whilst skiing, please make sure you all read it. TELEPHONE CALL ON ARRIVAL AND RETURN Mrs Keep is our contact and will text all parents when we make the call to her to confirm our arrival in resort and on our return to Folkestone the following Saturday. You will find her number on the previous page should you wish to contact us while we are away. I would appreciate it if you could complete the slip attached and return to me as soon as possible with any queries or concerns you may have. Yours sincerely Mrs M Corio Party Leader
SKI HOLIDAY 14 February 22 February 2014 I have received final details of the skiing holiday in Austria 2014. I am quite happy for my son/daughter to go swimming, ten pin-bowling and any other activities with the staff in the evenings. Name of Student: Parental signature: I would like to ask the following questions: