Dear 4th Grade Parents,
For 26 years, the 5th grade students at Montecito Union School have experienced the weeklong, curriculum integrated, Colonial Study Trip. This field trip through the colonial era hotspots of Jamestown, Williamsburg, Mt. Vernon, Monticello, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. immerses the students in the history of the people and places they have been studying for the entire year and enables them to literally walk in the footsteps of those who built our nation.
In order to make Colonial Study Trip 2019 happen we need to:
STEP ONE: Determine the level of parent support.
Clearly, this type of trip can only be undertaken with the enthusiastic support of our parents. Each spring we survey the parents of fourth graders to determine if this is an experience that they would like to offer their soon-to-be fifth graders. If there is strong support, we begin the process of making it a reality and gaining School Board approval. Attached to this letter is a parent survey to help us decide if there is sufficient parent interest to move forward with the trip for Spring 2019. This survey is essential to our decision-making process and needs to be returned by Friday, May 4th.
You may also take this survey online at www.colonialstudytrip.weebly.com. Use the Colonial Study Trip 2019 drop down menu to access the Parent Survey, Register a Student, see Chaperone Responsibilities before you register yourself, or view a copy of this information letter.
STEP TWO: Raise the Funds to pay for the trip.
This experience will only be possible if we are able to secure enough donations to fund this once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunity.
We have been offered a Spring discount for all the students we are able to register by May 31st. The Spring travel cost is $2322 per student. At this spring rate, our fundraising goal for all the students is $130,000. In order to determine if this goal is feasible, we have included a line on the Trip Survey asking what donation amount parents are able to make. If we are able to get enough pledges, we will move forward with the trip. This money will then need to be collected by October 30, 2018 in order to –
STEP THREE: Gain School Board approval and confirm the trip with our tour company, World Strides.
If you support the trip and would like your child to participate, it’s easy to get him/her registered. Simply go to worldstrides.com and register using Trip ID# 163215.
Adult registration is handled in the same manner. If you would like to join the crew and register as a parent chaperone for the trip, please go to worldstrides.com and sign up online using Trip ID# 163215.
Thank you for returning this survey by May 4th. This baseline data will help us to understand the work that is ahead of us in order to continue this MUS tradition. Mr. Bower is happy to answer any individual questions you may have. Please email him with your questions, or he’ll be happy to set up an individual meeting.
By law, students are not required to pay to go on the trip. We do have a week-long intensive colonial curriculum here at school for students who choose not to travel with the group.
This educational opportunity is only possible through the generous donations of our parents. The suggested donation is $2,322; however, every donation counts, and many parents donate above that amount to help make the trip possible. Any amount you are able to donate is very much appreciated. If we do not raise sufficient funds to pay the cost for all the students who wish to go on the trip, the trip will have to be cancelled and donations received will be returned to the respective donors. To make your donation, either:
As a reminder you can fill out the survey and make a donation online at colonialstudytrip.weebly.com.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration,
The 2019 Fifth Grade Teachers
Marsha Brown, Vicky Harbison, Brighton Judy
and
Trip Coordinator
Jennifer Wilson
For 26 years, the 5th grade students at Montecito Union School have experienced the weeklong, curriculum integrated, Colonial Study Trip. This field trip through the colonial era hotspots of Jamestown, Williamsburg, Mt. Vernon, Monticello, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. immerses the students in the history of the people and places they have been studying for the entire year and enables them to literally walk in the footsteps of those who built our nation.
In order to make Colonial Study Trip 2019 happen we need to:
STEP ONE: Determine the level of parent support.
Clearly, this type of trip can only be undertaken with the enthusiastic support of our parents. Each spring we survey the parents of fourth graders to determine if this is an experience that they would like to offer their soon-to-be fifth graders. If there is strong support, we begin the process of making it a reality and gaining School Board approval. Attached to this letter is a parent survey to help us decide if there is sufficient parent interest to move forward with the trip for Spring 2019. This survey is essential to our decision-making process and needs to be returned by Friday, May 4th.
You may also take this survey online at www.colonialstudytrip.weebly.com. Use the Colonial Study Trip 2019 drop down menu to access the Parent Survey, Register a Student, see Chaperone Responsibilities before you register yourself, or view a copy of this information letter.
STEP TWO: Raise the Funds to pay for the trip.
This experience will only be possible if we are able to secure enough donations to fund this once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunity.
We have been offered a Spring discount for all the students we are able to register by May 31st. The Spring travel cost is $2322 per student. At this spring rate, our fundraising goal for all the students is $130,000. In order to determine if this goal is feasible, we have included a line on the Trip Survey asking what donation amount parents are able to make. If we are able to get enough pledges, we will move forward with the trip. This money will then need to be collected by October 30, 2018 in order to –
STEP THREE: Gain School Board approval and confirm the trip with our tour company, World Strides.
If you support the trip and would like your child to participate, it’s easy to get him/her registered. Simply go to worldstrides.com and register using Trip ID# 163215.
Adult registration is handled in the same manner. If you would like to join the crew and register as a parent chaperone for the trip, please go to worldstrides.com and sign up online using Trip ID# 163215.
Thank you for returning this survey by May 4th. This baseline data will help us to understand the work that is ahead of us in order to continue this MUS tradition. Mr. Bower is happy to answer any individual questions you may have. Please email him with your questions, or he’ll be happy to set up an individual meeting.
By law, students are not required to pay to go on the trip. We do have a week-long intensive colonial curriculum here at school for students who choose not to travel with the group.
This educational opportunity is only possible through the generous donations of our parents. The suggested donation is $2,322; however, every donation counts, and many parents donate above that amount to help make the trip possible. Any amount you are able to donate is very much appreciated. If we do not raise sufficient funds to pay the cost for all the students who wish to go on the trip, the trip will have to be cancelled and donations received will be returned to the respective donors. To make your donation, either:
- Send your check payable to The Colonial Fund to Montecito Union School, Attn: Jennifer Wilson.
- Go to our GoFundMe site, gofundme.com/colonial-study-trip-2019 and make your donation with a credit card.
As a reminder you can fill out the survey and make a donation online at colonialstudytrip.weebly.com.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration,
The 2019 Fifth Grade Teachers
Marsha Brown, Vicky Harbison, Brighton Judy
and
Trip Coordinator
Jennifer Wilson