7th Grade Expedition

Morning of Drop-off

Dear 7th Grade families,

In just one week we will be departing on our Ojai journey!

Here are a few important reminders for our departure day.

On Monday, May 24 we will have a staggered drop off at Rincon Beach Park.

7C & 7D - 8:30am drop off

7E - 9am drop off

7F & 7G - 9:15am drop.

Please try to arrive at your cohort's designated time. Just like drop off at school you will drive in, we will do a Magnus screening and then have students unload bikes and bags from their car, put their bags in the Uhaul truck and go directly with their bike to their cohort on the lawn. Parents please drop and go so we can keep the cohorts in their groups.

For the bike ride please keep in mind that items should be lightweight and easy to carry. Please do not overpack.

Required items for your child to bring on the ride:

• Bicycle

• Helmet

• Bike gloves

• 2 water bottles or hydration pack

• Lunch/snacks - for example: bars, PB&J, hard fruit, trail mix

• Sunscreen (small)

• Bike rack pack and/or small backpack to carry lunch and bike supplies

• Mask (no bandana, buff/gaiter, or shield)

• Appropriate biking clothing - consider layers for the cool morning and hot afternoon. Long sleeve shirt over a T-shirt (shirts must cover the shoulders) comfortable shorts (board shorts ok) or pants (leggings ok, no jeans) closed-toed shoes.

SAFETY REMINDER

Before we embark on this ride, please read through the below:

• Parents, check your student's temperature in the morning and fill out Magnus.

• Parents, please remind your student that now more than ever it is important to follow all of the same protocols to ensure that we can continue adding outdoor adventures, trips, and electives.

• Students, bring two well-fitting masks, maintain social distancing and be respectful of the safety guidelines.

• All on campus safety guidelines apply on Adventures, Trips and Off Campus Electives.

Camp Arnaz view from Sulphur Mountain!

7th Grade End of Year Ojai Expedition

May 24 - May 28, 2021

Dear 7th Grade Families,

We are so happy to finally get back out on the road and spend time outside riding our bikes, sitting around the fire, camping under the stars, and just being together.

Thanks to the beautiful and safe La Conchita bike path along the 101, our goal is to journey from Santa Barbara to Ojai and back, strictly by bicycle! Starting at Rincon State Park, we will ride a route past Emma Wood, Foster Park on our way to Camp Arnaz in Ojai, CA.

After we’ve settled into Camp Arnaz, we will set out to ride the Ojai Valley, splash in the Ventura River, summit the famed Sulphur Mountain, and ultimately ride back to Rincon State Park! But most importantly, we will bond and laugh together in nature's classroom.

Please read the following safety information about how we will test before the trip and our approach to tenting and eating while on these carefully planned and exciting expeditions.

• TENTING: Each cohort will have its own sleeping area and students will set up tents close to other tents within their cohort (including the staff/faculty assigned to each cohort). After consulting with our Covid team, as well as considering the social and emotional wellbeing of our students, we have decided that students will be allowed to “nest” in mini-pods with 2 or 3 other students. Nesting comes from a practice that boarding schools and outdoor programs employ to ensure students can support one another. With your nest, you are allowed to sleep in a tent together (not masked) and sit together around the fire. If you or your child are not comfortable with nesting, please note your child is not obligated to nest and may choose to sleep in a single tent. All students will fill out a survey indicating preferences for nesting classmates or tenting alone. Because all students will be tested before leaving on the trip, we strongly encourage each family to consider nesting. We feel it will be in the best interest of the student, but we also completely understand if a family chooses not to do so. We will closely monitor all children throughout the trip for social-emotional needs whether nesting or not.

• EATING: In order to continue with the essence of “family-style eating,” each cohort will have their own eating area and will eat together. However, instead of being given family-style plates of food, cohorts will be given a start time to line up and be served cafeteria-style by PA, Scott, and their cooking team of adults. Each student will then take their plate back to their cohort area where they will eat, supervised by their cohort’s staff and faculty. They will follow similar eating protocols that they follow at lunch on campus.

• PRE- TRIP QUARANTINE/SAFETY: Starting the Monday before the trip, Monday, May 17, we ask that families and students be extra vigilant in their adherence to CDC guidelines. We are asking that, in addition to following all CDC guidelines, families also avoid indoor sporting events, non-essential travel, and other higher-risk activities. If you have any questions or want to run any scenarios by the Covid committee please contact erik@sbms.org with specific questions and details so the committee can weigh in.

• PRE- TRIP ANTIGEN TESTING*: All students will be required to take a school-provided rapid antigen test on Wednesday, May 19.

  • SBMS’s Covid-19 team of doctors will administer the test and read the results.

  • These will be given to students while in their car, and they will take about 15 minutes to process.

  • If a student tests positive on the Antigen test on Wednesday, they will need a negative PCR test to join the trip.

  • This test is in addition to the rapid antigen test the school will administer on the day before departure.

  • Antigen tests are provided by SBMS.

*Testing requirements are subject to change based upon county regulations and Covid-19 team advice.

• DAY BEFORE DEPARTURE ANTIGEN TESTING*: All students will be required to take a school-provided rapid antigen test on Sunday, May 23 between 12-2pm.

  • SBMS’s Covid-19 team of doctors will administer the test and read the results.

  • These will be given to students while in their car, and they will take about 15 minutes to process.

  • If a student tests positive on the Antigen test on the day before departure, they will need a negative PCR test to join the trip.

*Testing requirements are subject to change based upon county regulations and COVID19 team advice.

Please review all of the pages on the OJAI 2021 website as it contains all the information you will need to help prepare your child for a successful journey. Please familiarize yourself with this site and visit it often with your child to make sure you are well prepared.

• Please fill out the Trip Medication Consent (if needed) and return it to the office asap. Please refer to the emails from Anne Chen in the office regarding important instructions and links to trip waivers.

• Important: Please update Magnus Health with any of the following information that has changed since the beginning of the year. Here are the different areas: Emergency Contacts, Insurance, Healthcare Providers, Allergies, Medications, Heart Health, Bone & Joint, Medical, Other Health Conditions, Additional Medical Info. Instructions on how to update can be found here.

• A separate email will be sent regarding the Trip Waiver.

We understand that getting back out on the road for these expeditions will require a good deal of additional work, flexibility, and cooperation by all of us, but we feel that these extra efforts will allow us to finish the year strongly with safe, fun, and rewarding peak experiences for our students and staff.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact . . .

Marco Andrade - 7th grade Dean marco@sbms.org

Erin Finnegan - Director of Outdoor Education & Trip Coordinator erin@sbms.org

Erik Edwards - Health and Safety erik@sbms.org

With gratitude!

Erin, Marco, Erik and the 7th grade team