Field Trips

Children learn best when they can bring to life their learning in the classroom with outside of the classroom experiences.  Each grade level is expected to plan at least two (2) Field Trips per school year.  The maximum number of trips allowed per grade level is four (4).  Walking/In-House Field Trips are encouraged.  The limit on Field Trips does not include district funded field trips.

Field Trips should be scheduled to take place between September and April.  No Field Trips for Grades 3 - 5 in May or during GMAS.

*Transportation stops allowing Field Trips the second week in May and often limits to First Come, First Served in March*

Here are some examples:

• Kindergarten – Live Theater Performance

• 1st Grade – Imagine It! Children’s Museum

• 2nd Grade – Farm Tour or Restaurant Tour/Farmer’s Market

• 3rd Grade – Atlanta Zoo / World of Coke

• 4th Grade – MLK & Carter Center

• 5th Grade – Georgia Aquarium / Visit the Capital

Be reminded that the cost of the bus is $40/hr, plus $5.00/mile.  Please be sure to account for this when you determine the cost to parents.  If there aren't enough funds to cover the trip, it will be cancelled by Admin.  You should plan to have funds collected at least two weeks before the trip.  Encourage parents to pay online for field trips.  YOU MUST USE THE FIELD TRIP COST CALCULATOR to determine the amount to charge students.

APS Online Payment Portal

Chaperone Stipulations:

It is my stance that parents should not ride the school bus on Field Trips.  This prevents any issues with other students.  They can only chaperone a Field Trip without Level 2 clearance ($45 BACKGROUND CHECK) if they will not be alone with students; meaning, a staff member will always be with them while they are with children.  Should student behavior necessitate a parent attending a Field Trip, with the explicit permission of the Principal, ONLY then can they ride the bus, but the teacher must ensure that their interaction with other students is limited.  They should attend to be with their child, they cannot have a group of their own.

All Field Trip Requests should be made by Labor Day.  Afterward, they run the risk of being denied.  

Student Removal from Field Trips Criteria

There are times when student behavior may necessitate a removal/denial of field trip opportunities.  This can only occur with the approval of a member of admin.  Approval will only be granted for students that have a documented history of poor behavior (In-School Time Outs or OSS).  Students must be on some kind of behavior contract that the parent is aware of from the time the trip is announced to the time the trip takes place.  We will deny all last-minute removals/denials. 

Updated:  8/13/23 (JLS)