Field Trip Toolkit 

Admin policy on Field trips: https://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/MPS-English/OBG/Clerk-Services/MPS-Rules-and-Policies/Administrative-Procedures/Chapter-07/Administrative_Procedure_07_30.pdf 

2024 goals: 

• Please plan your field trips ahead of time as much as possible. 

• Remember to avoid scheduling trips during finals and exam periods. 

• Communicate your field trips to the school. 

  • Put your field trip on the southdivisioncardinals@gmail.com calendar and 

  • email the whole school your tentative and confirmed attendance lists.

Instructions

1. Please fill out the Field Trip Data form(this is for South internal resource equity purposes).

2. Fill out the SOUTH DIVISION FIELD TRIP APPLICATION form linked here and also available in the main office. THIS SHOULD BE DONE ATLEAST A MONTH IN ADVANCE (if not 1.5 months in advance) to allow time for processing and planning.

   1. If you need a private/school bus, you will need a budget code to pay for the bus(how will the bus be paid for). You may ask Mr Trejo or Ms. Norma for this budget code, if there are funds. Walking and city buses are also great options! Bus cards are $2 each. Speak with Ms. Norma about ordering bus cards. 

   2. To get a private bus quote, you must first try to go with an MPS contracted bus company.

      1. Look at this Excel sheet to see which contracted bus companies have the lowest price for preferred destinations. If you do not see your field trip destination in this Excel sheet, then you can contact any of the 5 bus companies for a quote.

      2. Call the bus company and ask for a quote. Usually ask for drop off after 9am and pick up at 1pm. 

      3. THIS YEAR, you may need to collect funds from students or from fundraising to cover the cost of bussing due to last year's budget cuts. 

         1. Deposit the cash that students submit at the end of the day EACH DAY with your name and field trip information. 

   3. You may need additional chaperones if taking more than 10 students. Please be sure to consider class coverage!

   4. Turn in the completed field trip form to Ms. Norma. 

3. Wait for approval.

4. Once the field trip is approved, reserve the mode of transportation.

   1. Fill out the bus Smartsheet for MPS. This form ensures that the right school and budget is charged and is THE ONLY WAY MPS books buses. If students paid, the funding source will be "students pay/activity account."

   2. Once you fill out the form, the bus company should be sending/emailing you a bus confirmation sheet. Please make sure that you forward that confirmation email to our bookkeeper, Ms. Jimise Foreman, foremajc@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.  

5. Print off and distribute permission slips (in the main office as wll), and compile a list of potential students. Spanish permission slip available too.

6. Send out this list to the whole school via 032 as soon as possible, for planning purposes.  

7. Send field trip info (non sensitive or private) to Southdivisioncardinals@gmail.com to get it added to the calendar.

8. Alert the kitchen staff supervisor (Ms. Peterson) about the change in lunches.

   1. Field trip Meal Procedures: Please fill out and email to Ms. Petersen, petersea@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

9. Be sure to tell students where/when to gather if necessary. Currently, the hall leading to the auditorium has been designated as a waiting space.

10. Day of:

    1. Be sure to collect all permission slips.

    2. Before you leave, give the attendance secretary the permission slips AND a final list of students actually going on the field trip WITH the time you all leave and expect to return. 

    3. Send the list of students actually going to the field trip to all staff 032. 

    4. Make sure no extra students try to join your field trip or wait outside the main doors to avoid the scanners.

    5. Busses should pull up in front of the school, look down Lapham in case the cones block their entry.

    6. Unfortunately, cell phones on field trips are not allowed at this time, unless they are actually necessary for activities during the field trip (check with Mr Trejo for approval and then the cell phone committee, Ms Bova Brown, if cell phones get approved). Please try to take pictures for your students. 

    7. COUNT YOUR STUDENTS before returning to South.

11. When you all come back, check in with the attendance secretary to let her know that you and your students are back.

    1. Instruct students to go to the current class.  Or if your return is very close to the end of class or lunch, ask security or admin where students can wait until the bell rings.