1.How many children are expected to participate on this trip and how many chaperones are there? Can parents chaperone?
There will be approximately 100 students on the trip along with 10 chaperones for two buses or 145 students with 13-14 chaperones on 3 buses. If there are fewer students, there will be fewer chaperones.
2.What are the requirements for eligibility? Why are the standards so high?
Students must maintain a citizenship GPA that includes no “U” grades and only one “I” grade at any time with the rest of their citizenship marks either a “M” or a “E” until we depart from the trip. Students must maintain the 2.0 academic GPA throughout the first semester as well. Please be advised that when you register for the trip you also are giving permission to check student grades during the first semester of school on all progress
reports and the final first semester grade see the handout for permission to access this information.
3. What happens if my child is placed on the waiting list?
Be patient! Students fall off of the participant list for a variety of reasons, as students move off of the participant list students from the waitlist will be added to the trip. Please keep in mind this is a slow process and your patience is greatly appreciated.
4. What are the COVID protocols for the trip?
We will be adhering to the state of California requirements regarding student in person instruction including vaccination mandates. Please be advised that we must also monitor the requirements for states that we will be visiting including Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. Please understand that we must also meet these states requirements as we will be visiting many restaurants, hotels and attractions in each of these states. We must also adhere to the requirements for travel outlined by the FAA and the various transportation companies we contract for our transportation. Please understand all the provisions are subject to change by the states that we visit.
5. What happens if my student’s grades drop below the requirement after the first report card?
The student will be placed on probation and if they fail to bring up their grades by the next progress report they will be removed from the participant list and will no longer be eligible to participate. Full refunds will be issued as long as there is a waitlist, if there is no waitlist refer to the penalty fees outlined in the payment schedule.
6. How are the room and bus assignments made?
Students pick their roommates and will sign up for their bus along with their roommates. Keep in mind that students must pick wisely as they are going to live with these individuals (4 to a room) for 8 days.
7. Are there scholarships available if my family cannot afford the trip but my student meets the eligibility requirements?
Yes, we have a scholarship program every year although funding for this year is uncertain at this time. Full and partial scholarships are available to families that meet the requirements. You must meet the criteria set forth in the application to be considered. In years past we have been able to fulfill the needs of many families and their students.
8. Can my child leave the trip early for any reason?
No, there are no tour deviations during the trip.