Mackintosh Academy offers a number of educational field trips during the academic year. As part of the re-enrollment process, parents sign a release granting permission for their child to participate in all scheduled classroom field trips during the school year, as approved by the Head of School. Parents will be notified in writing in advance of the dates and locations of these field trips. Parents must notify the school in writing at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled trip if they do not wish their child to participate. Please note that we will not be able to supervise a child on campus, and other arrangements should be made if a child is not attending a scheduled field trip. Separate release forms are required for any and all overnight activities. Parents of children aged seven and under are required to supply an approved car seat for all field trips. Children without a car seat will be prohibited from attending a field trip.
Participation in field trip activities is a privilege and not a right. Mackintosh Academy rules and policies apply to all students during the course of a field trip.
Overnight trips are an integral part of the Mackintosh Academy learning experience. It is expected that all students will participate in overnight trips except under extreme circumstances. Mackintosh will not be able to supervise a child on campus, and other arrangements should be made if a child is not attending a scheduled overnight trip. In addition, students may be expected to complete an alternate academic project or experience to correspond with the missed opportunity. The cost of overnights is in addition to the tuition costs as outlined in the Student Enrollment and Tuition Payment Agreement. Parents should expect an annual overnight trip for students in middle school. Estimated overnight trip costs are outlined below. Parents are strongly encouraged to involve their children in helping raise funds for these trips. Mackintosh will also work with families to find fundraising opportunities on campus during events such as our Mack Market. Families experiencing significant financial hardship are encouraged to contact the school early in the school year to discuss possible financial assistance opportunities.
5th/6th grade $500-600/$1800 - $2000 alternating years
7th/8th grade $900 - $1000/$1600 - $1800 alternating years
Parents, other volunteers at Mackintosh Academy and the Academy’s faculty and staff may offer transportation services for a child in their private vehicles or a vehicle rented by the school for the purposes of the field trip. Parents must sign a Transportation Release as part of the online enrollment process.
Mackintosh Academy Littleton relies on parent and community volunteers to act as chaperones and drivers for field trips and some on campus activities. Volunteers are required to review and pay attention to the following chaperone guidelines:
Chaperones must be at least 18 years of age and known to the school.
Many of our trips are physically demanding. Chaperones should expect to be on their feet and walking most of the time.
Work responsibilities need to stay at home so that chaperones can focus on the children.
The chaperone role is to assist in overall safety, enthusiasm, and support of children in their care.
Chaperones will be called upon to help ensure students are on time for various activities and have the appropriate materials, help students keep track of personal belongings, and to supervise meals and clean-up.
Chaperones will assist students in maintaining the behavior guidelines according to the student/parent handbook and trip protocols.
Volunteer drivers are required to submit a photocopy of their driver’s license and insurance information to the main office prior to driving on a field trip. New copies are required annually.
Chaperones, under Mackintosh staff guidance, accept responsibility for the safety of children in their care.
Volunteer drivers are responsible for ensuring that children are placed in car seats appropriately and that children under the age of twelve are not placed in the front seats of any vehicle.
At all times chaperones must be present with their assigned students. If for any reason they need to leave, even for a moment, they must explicitly transfer the students to the direct supervision of a Mackintosh staff member or other chaperone as directed by a staff member.
If special discipline problems arise, immediate communication with a Mackintosh staff member is required. The staff member will take appropriate actions. Chaperones may not discipline children unless there is an immediate safety concern.
At no time should a chaperone be alone with a child other than their own child.
Chaperones will ensure that children using public restrooms are in groups of three.
Chaperones will be aware of and maintain appropriate physical boundaries with children.
In the case of illness or injury, chaperones will immediately contact a Mackintosh staff member who will take appropriate steps.
At the direction of a Mackintosh staff member, chaperones may be asked to stay with a child or group of children who cannot participate in an activity due to illness or other special circumstance. If such a situation requires you to be alone with a child, these times will be documented and shared with the child’s parents.
Chaperones must have a charged cell phone on their person at all times. Cell phone numbers must be shared with the responsible staff members.
Chaperones may not post any pictures from the trip to any social media platform unless expressly permitted by a Mackintosh staff member. Chaperones may share photos with staff members who may then choose to share these photos through school platforms such as ParentSquare.
Chaperones may not store photos of Mackintosh children on personal devices unless given direct permission by that child’s parent.
Chaperones will review the social media guidelines and field trip driver guidelines published in the Student/Parent Handbook.
Overnight Chaperones
In addition to the above, the following rules apply to chaperones on overnight field trips:
All chaperones will receive a mandatory background check.
All chaperones must participate in a mandatory training on boundaries.
Chaperones are directly responsible for an assigned group of students during off-times and night times.
Chaperones may not use any recording devices of any kind or participate in video conferencing of any kind in areas reasonably considered to be private such as dorm rooms or hotel rooms.