Dear Parent/Carer New York Residential Trip 2019 The Drama Department are pleased to announce that they are running a residential visit to New York on the 21 st -25 th October 2019. Students will spend a total of 5 days and 4 nights away. One of these nights will be an overnight flight back to London. The cost of the visit per person will be 1500 per person and this will cover: Return flights to New York City with a checked in luggage bag Hostel accommodation (based on 2 students sharing one room) Three nights accommodation in a hostel (One night will be spent on an overnight flight back to London) Some Breakfast and Evening Meals (see details overleaf) Lee Strasberg Acting Masterclass Two evening Broadway Theatre Tickets (Shows TBC) Travel Insurance Blue Man Group Evening Performance Seven day subway pass in NY Empire State Building Visit Airport transfers in UK & NY The cost above does not cover: ESTA Visas to travel to the USA Spending money Lunch provision Attached to this letter are proposed details for further excursions, activities and visits. At this stage, the itinerary is provisional and subject to change depending on flight times etc. In addition there are details regarding accommodation, travel visas and where you can find more information. Any further questions can be forwarded to Miss Pinnell via email on: kpinnell@woodbridgehigh.co.uk If your child wishes to be considered for this trip, please return the attached reply slip to the FINANCE OFFICE along with a deposit payment of 120 by 16 th March 2018. If your child is successful in gaining a place, we will write further to confirm this and advise of the expected payment plan, along with details of how to pay online. Your deposit will be returned in full if, for example, the visit is undersubscribed, or if oversubscribed in which case a ballot will take place. Only those students whose behavior meets the expected high standards of the school, will be considered for this visit. Please be aware, that the school reserves the right to remove any students from this visit if their behaviour deteriorates or shows cause for concern between now and the visit taking place. This may mean the loss of all monies paid to date. Yours faithfully, Miss Katherine Pinnell Head of Drama
Please sign and return this slip with deposit of 120 to the FINANCE OFFICE by the 16 th March 2018 I would like to reserve a place for my son/daughter: New York Residential- October 2019 Childs name:. Tutor Group: Print Name:..Relation to student:. I enclose a non-refundable deposit of 120 for the New York Residential Trip in October 2019. I have read and understood the content of this letter, particularly the paragraphs relating student behaviour and the authority staff will hold whilst leading the trip. Signed:.. Date: Print Name: Relationship to student:
New York 2019 Information Pack Details of the following are included in this pack: Item 1:Proposed Itinerary Item 2:Accommodation Item 3:Flights & Travel Item 4:Travel Visa s (ESTA) Item 5: Travel Insurance Item 6:Safety & Supervision Item 7:Price & Payment Plan Item 8: Half Board Dining
Item 1: Proposed Itinerary At these early stages a confirmed itinerary cannot be drawn together, however in order for you to have an idea of what is included in the package we have details of activities and excursion laid out in a potential itinerary below. This will be confirmed and communicated closer to the trip date. Monday 21 st October: Travel to New York City from London (times are to be confirmed) Arrive in New York City and transfer to YMCA Vanderbilt Hostel. Afternoon: Empire State Visit 17:00 Two Course meal at Hard Rock Cafe 19:30 Broadway Show (Shows TBC) Tuesday 22 nd October 08:00 Wake-up 09:00 Breakfast at Morning Star Restaurant 10:30 Ferry to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island 15:00 Return to hostel 17:00 Three-course meal at Heartland Brewery 19:30 Off-Broadway performance of Blue Man Group 23:00 Bed! Wednesday 23 rd October 08:00 Wake-up 09:00 Breakfast at Morning Star Restaurant 11:00 Lee Strasberg Method Acting Workshop 15:00 Return to hostel 17:00 Two course meal at Planet Hollywood 19:30 Broadway Show (Shows TBC) 23:00 Bed! Thursday 24 th October 08:00 Wake-up and check-out of hostel leaving luggage in secure hold. 09:00 Breakfast at Morning Star Restaurant 11:00 Fifth Avenue Shopping 13:00 Explore Central Park 15:00 Travel to NY Airport for flight back to London Friday 25 th October EARLY HOURS Arrive back in London and transfer to Woodbridge High School
Item 2: Accommodation We have arranged for students to stay in the Vanderbilt YMCA hostel. Address: Vanderbilt YMCA 224 East 47th Street New York, NY 10017. With just a 15 minute walk to Times Square, this hostel is an ideal location in New York City meaning that students will have easy access to the city s main attractions on foot and via the subway. The accommodation will be basic with communal bathroom facilities. The room basis may vary but most sleeping arrangements will be based on two people sharing twin/bunkbed rooms. For further information on accommodation please follow this link: http://www.ymcanyc.org/association/guest-rooms/vanderbiltrooms Item 3: Flights and Travel We anticipate that the outbound flight will be from London Heathrow. We have arranged for transfers from Woodbridge High School. Unfortunately, due to the advanced booking of this trip, flights cannot be confirmed until the year prior to the trip. The inbound flight will be arranged overnight to ensure that students have an additional day in New York City. Whilst in the city, students will travel mainly on foot or via the subway. Students will be provided with a seven day travel card to use throughout the duration of the trip. Students will be responsible for their travel cards throughout the trip and must replace in the event of it becoming lost. This card has been incorporated in to the total cost of the trip. Item 4: Travel Visas (ESTAs) Students must apply individually for a Travel Visa commonly known as an ESTA in order to travel to the USA. We cannot do this for your child. An application can be made online, however we ask that parents do NOT do this until your place is confirmed by the school and you have received instruction by the trip coordinator. The cost of this application is approximately 18. Parents must also ensure that all students passports are valid and in date. For information on ESTA guidelines and protocol please follow this link: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements Item 5: Travel Insurance Details of travel insurance can be found via this link: https://www.nstgroup.co.uk/insurance Item 6: Safety & Supervision The staff leading the party will retain the legal responsibility that they hold in school. The law requires staff to do everything reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of everyone in the party, and they will use their skills and experience as adults and teachers to protect their health and safety. In short, they will act with the degree of care that any responsible parent would demonstrate for his or her child s safety. New York is a highly busy and metropolitan place that can also be dangerous. Staff of Woodbridge High School consider your child s safety to be paramount and will ensure that arrangements are made throughout the trip to ensure that this is in no way compromised. Teacher supervision will be enforced at all times on the trip and students will not be permitted to venture in to the city unattended by a member of staff. Year 13 students will be given opportunity on some planned activities to venture away from their assigned member of staff but only with expressed permission from parents.
Students will be assigned groups and group leaders upon the commencement of the trip. The member of staff leading that group will be primarily responsible for said group throughout the duration of the trip. We trust that students will conduct themselves safely and accordingly throughout their time in the city. Item 7: Price & Payment Plan The total cost of the trip is 1500. To secure a place on the trip a deposit of 120 must be paid to the finance office by 16 th March 2018. In the event that the trip is oversubscribed, places on the trip will be allocated via a ballot. In the event that the trip is undersubscribed, deposits will be returned in full. Parents and students will be contacted regarding their place or either of the eventualities by no later than the 28 th March 2018. Once students secure a place on the trip the deposit will become non-refundable. If students become unavailable to attend the trip the deposit cannot be refunded. If students secure a place on the trip the balance of monies can be paid in 5 instalments of 276 by no later than the following dates: 120 (Deposit DUE BY Friday 16 th Mar 2018) 276 (DUE BY Friday 8 th July 2018) 276 (DUE BY Friday 19 th Oct 2018) 276 (DUE BY Friday 28 th Jan 2019) 276 (DUE BY Friday 26 th Apr 2019) 276 (DUE BY Friday 12 th Jul 2019) 1500 TOTAL AMOUNT PAYABLE You may pay smaller amounts as often as you wish, provided the payments you make totals the amount specified by the due dates above. Should you wish to pay in full, the payment must be made by 8 th July 2018. Our preferred method of payment is on-line but alternatively, cheques may be made payable to Woodbridge High School. Further details will be sent out to you if your child has a confirmed place on the trip. Item 8: Half Board Dining We have arranged for the following meal provision while students are away, the cost of these meals are included in the price of the trip. Monday: Evening Meal Tuesday: Breakfast & Evening Meal Wednesday: Breakfast & Evening Meal Thursday: Breakfast Due to the nature of the trip, we have not made arrangements for student s lunch meals as they will be in various places throughout the day. Students will be responsible for purchasing their own lunches throughout the day; staff will ensure that appropriate time will be made for this. Other meals that are NOT included are on flights to and from London (Monday Breakfast) and New York (Thursday Dinner). Students will be responsible in purchasing food for this.