WELCOME! PLEASE SIGN IN AND TAKE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING PER FAMILY FROM THE PIANO: 1. UPDATED ITINERARY/TONIGHT S PRESENTATION 2. TRAVEL TIPS & TRICKS CHAPERONES Chris Vitale, Director Trevor Sindorf, Director James Doyle, Chaperone John Scozzaro, Chaperone Kaylee Scozzaro, Chaperone Aaron Staluppi, Chaperone Marisa Minogue, Chaperone Maggie Fatsis, Chaperone Kristine Kowalczuk, Chaperone, Media Mike Kowalczuk, Chaperone, Media Neil Sullivan, Chaperone Sue Sullivan, Nurse 1
TONIGHT S AGENDA Overview of Student Expectations Safety Guidelines Itinerary Review Student trip Packing tips/guidelines Medications and Medical needs Questions If you think of a question please write it down and wait until the end. We will likely cover just about everything and are happy to answer any questions you may have at the end of the presentation in an effort to keep things moving along. STUDENT EXPECTATIONS All school policies apply If you can t do it in school you can t do it on this trip ZERO TOLERANCE Impossible to come up with a list of rules that would include EVERY a high school student would think to do that they shouldn t Do your best Do what s right Treat everyone and everything with dignity and respect TRUST 2
SAFETY GUIDELINES Never go anywhere alone Always in assigned groups of 4 or more Chaperone check-ins are non-negotiable We set the time/place, you show up Late for a check-in and you spend the rest of the day with your chaperone Miss a check-in and you are with a chaperone until further notice Chaperones are an extension of the director Yes and Thank you Problem? Find Mr. Vitale or Mr. Sindorf Rooms You are not permitted, under any circumstances, to be in someone's room other than your own. When traveling with a group everyone puts something at stake STUDENTS: Their academic standing and standing within this program ADULTS: Our careers We take both of these VERY seriously and you should do the same TRIP PRIORITIES AT ALL TIMES 1. Everyone s SAFETY 2. MUSIC 3. FUN Sleep Lack of sleep results in irritability and poor decisions, which makes for a bad experience for everyone involved 3
SCHEDULE We will meet each night to review the schedule for the following day Know the schedule and be early to everything Your tardiness affects 110 other people GROUP TRAVEL IS NOT LIKE FAMILY OR INDIVIDUAL TRAVEL PATIENCE COURTESY ON TIME GROUP NEEDS BEFORE YOUR NEEDS LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER Help each other make good choices Safety at all times Be nice ITINERARY REVIEW MONDAY, APRIL 2 nd Up, Up, and AWAY! Report to WHS at 12:30 pm. You will need to show the following to your chaperone upon arrival Instrument Black 3-ring binder with music in sheet protectors Wire Music Stand Suitcase PASSPORT! Dress Comfortable pants/shoes and Italy travel shirt (provided) Load bus and depart for Philadelphia International Airport Depart at 6:25 pm for Rome 4
TUESDAY, APRIL 3rd Florence Breakfast served on flight Arrive in Rome around 9:10 am Meet tour managers/load motorcoaches and depart for Tuscany Arrive in Florence and guided walking tour. You will need $ for lunch (Euros) Hotel Check-in Dinner provided CLOTHING FOR DAY: Casual/Travel HOTEL Information: Hotel Residence Palazzo Ricasoli +39.055.352151 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4th Florence/Venice Breakfast at hotel High speed train to Venice Basilica San Marco, Rialto Bridge, and Market Glass blowing demonstration Free time in Venice in groups with chaperones You will need money for lunch Dinner provided Late return to Florence CLOTHING FOR DAY: Casual 5
THURSDAY, APRIL 5 th Florence/Accademia/Lucca Breakfast at hotel Guided tour of Accademia at 9 am Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio Free time in small groups and lunch on your own Time to change at hotel, load buses, transfer to Lucca Rehearsal prior to concert Concert at San Francesco Church in Lucca, 8:30 pm with Filarmonia Puccini Reception with community band following concert CLOTHING FOR THE DAY: Casual day/concert Dress in evening FRIDAY, APRIL 6 th Florence/Assisi/Orvieto Breakfast at hotel Transfer to Umbria stopping in Assisi on the way Free time in groups and lunch on your own Guided tour of Basilica of San Francesco Transfer to Orvieto Check into hotel and dinner provided CLOTHING FOR THE DAY: Casual HOTEL INFORMATION: Hotel Oasi dei Discepoli +39.0763.33309 6
SATURDAY, April 7 th Orvieto Breakfast at Hotel Free time to explore city and lunch on your own Time to change Rehearsal Dinner provided 8:30 pm concert at Palazzo del Capitano Gelato provided after performance CLOTHING FOR THE DAY: Casual/Concert dress SUNDAY, APRIL 8 th Orvieto/Rome Breakfast at hotel Early departure for Rome Stop for Lunch on the way (not included) Tour of Pantheon Roman Forum Coiseum Free time in small groups Check into hotel Attend Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci at Peatro Opera di Roma CLOTHING NEEDED FOR DAY: Casual/Nice attire for opera HOTEL INFORMATION: Hotel Parco Tirreno +39.06.664911 7
MONDAY, April 9 th - Rome Breakfast at hotel Workshop/Concert with Italian Army Band Lunch on your own and time to change Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter s Basilica Farewell Banquet followed by late night trip to Trevi Fountain CLOTHING FOR THE DAY: Concert/Casual/Nice clothes for Banquet TUESDAY April 10 th USA! Breakfast at hotel Early departure for airport Flight leaves at 11:55 am Return to Philadelphia at 3:45 pm Estimated return to WHS is 7:30 8:30 pm DRESS FOR THE DAY: Comfortable/Italy travel shirt (provided) 8
PACKING GUIDELINES 1 checked bag, 1 carry-on, and 1 personal item (backpack, etc) Checked bags must be less than 62 linear inches and under 50 lbs We suggest 40 lbs to leave room for souvenirs Trumpets, Flutes, Clarinets, Oboes, Bassoons, Altos Your instrument will be your carry-on Low Brass, Low Woodwinds, Percussion will be a 2 nd checked bag or rented Clothes/absolutely necessary toiletries/medication (more on this later), inflight entertainment, extra copies of credentials Passport must be on your person or in your carry-on, not in checked luggage LABEL EVERYTHING CLOTHING Pack as light as possible. Do not pack an outfit for each day. Comfortable clothing, T-shirts, Pants, etc Jacket it will likely be 50-70 during the day and can get as cool as 40 at night. Wear on the plane to save room in your suitcase Ladies: You may need a shawl or other cover-up Most cathedrals and some other locations have rules about clothing: 1) No bare shoulders. 2) Knees must be covered. 3) No bare midriffs. To not be covered can be considered disrespectful. Comfortable walking shoes no flip flops Weatherproof jacket/folding umbrella Light-weight sweater or warm shirt for chilly evenings Underwear, socks, sleepwear Toiletries 9
PERFORMANCE ATTIRE Black Polo (provided) Black dress pants (males and females) Black belt (gentlemen) Black socks/dress shoes for gentlemen Black dress shoes for ladies no heels All performances are indoors. MONEY If traveling with debit/credit card call # on back of card at least a week in advance to advise them of your foreign travel. Ask for a collect number to reach them in case of a problem while abroad Credit cards in different places: 1 in travel pouch, 1 in suitcase We suggest having $100 in EUROS before departure (from your bank). Not the best exchange rate, but it s an emergency fund in case your card doesn t work upon arrival Best exchange rate take $ from ATM in Europe in large sum and put it in your safe in the hotel. This way, you re charged the transaction fee, but it s a flat fee, not a percentage 10
CELL PHONES Mr. Nimmo PASSPORTS Carry with you on the plane Other times leave in safe in hotel room Have a paper copy of your passport on you at all times Leave a paper copy at home with family We will have paper copies in a binder as well We will do passport checks at the following times: Your initial arrival to WHS on 4/2 Anytime we exit an airplane Anytime we leave a hotel for the last time 11
WHAT ELSE? Consider a travel pouch to hold secure items. Pick-pockets can be a problem in a large European city. Those using rented instruments Bring mouthpiece, reeds, etc Pack a wire music stand in your suit case they will not be supplied at every performance site. See us if you don t have one. Electricity 120 volts in US, 220-230 volts in Europe Universal Adapter/Converter Kit AAA, Macy s, Amazon, etc Apple users: World Traveler Adapter Kit Hair Dryers need voltage converter AND plug adapter VALUABLES/PACKING ADVICE Bring valuables at your own risk ipads, ipods, phones, computers, cameras etc. Laptops we don t recommend that you bring one ipad/tablet/smart phone would be better Wifi is provided for free in most hotels and hotspots can be found throughout the cities You will be moving your belongings several times throughout this trip pack light and make sure you can comfortably move your suitcase and carry your belongings Plan to wear things more than once 12
MEDICATION THE LAST FORM: A Medication Form must be filled out for EACH medication being brought on the trip. Due 3/16 This includes Tylenol, Advil, or any other over the counter medication. Bring only the amount of medication needed for the trip Bring your medication in your carry-on for the flight Once we check-in at the first hotel Mrs. Sullivan will collect prescription medications for distribution throughout the trip Over the counter medications may be kept by students, but Mrs. Sullivan MUST be notified every time any over-the-counter medication is taken by a student We will travel with copies of all of the medication paperwork that you provide us ALLERGIES We suggest having a card printed in Italian with any food allergies listed. Show it to the waiter prior to every meal, including lunch. FOOD FOR FLIGHTS There are no nut-free meal options on the flights and they do use peanut oil Bring your own meal or purchase something after we go through security at the airport No fruits/veggies Vegetarians/Dairy free will get Vegan meal options. If anyone would like to change please let us know ASAP. 13
EMERGENCIES STUDENTS Will be given emergency contact cards with adult contact info including our European tour guide upon loading bus on 4/2. PARENTS Call hotel Email/Call Mr. Vitale KEEP IN TOUCH! We will be posting daily updates on the band facebook/instagram pages along with pictures (hopefully) We are documenting the entire trip (video/photo) and commemorative DVD s will be available after the trip has concluded Need to get ahold of Mr. Vitale? Email or call the hotel would be best Skype/iMessage with your children 14