By: Kahdija Charpentier

Are you going to the D.C. Trip? Well, if you are then I suggest that you continue reading, it may answer a few questions that you have and tell you a little bit more information that you need to know if you are going on the 8th grade trip.

If you are going you will be leaving on May 14, 2014 and will be traveling to Pennsylvania and see Gettysburg.  The next stop is Washington D.C. and you will be arriving at about 10 p.m.  After you arrive in D.C. you will tour a variety of national sites Thursday through Saturday afternoon, before you go home. You will be arriving home early Sunday morning at about 1 a.m. You have just enough time to get some rest before school the next day.

The money that you are paying ($550) will be going for your transportation, admission to each of the sites we will be touring, 3 nights of hotel lodging, 11 meals, a company tour guide, a group picture, a ceremony, security guards, insurance, a dinner and dance, any taxes and gratuities, coordinator fees, processing, and 3 D.C. shirts that you’ll be wearing on the trip. The final payment of $275 was due the week of Feb. 18-21. If you decide you do not want to go anymore then all your money can be refunded by the school through March 21, 2014, after this time, your money will be in possession of Scholastic Tours and only a portion will be given back if a refund is requested. The last day to cancel and receive a full refund is March 21st.  Questions about refunds should be directed to the office.

If you are wondering who will be chaperoning, it will be school employees. Before the trip, you will be able to meet with chaperons many times before you leave for D.C. There will also be a MANDATORY meeting for the parents on May 1, at 7 p.m. So, if your parent does not know, be sure to inform them and constantly remind them because it is important that at least one parent attend. This meeting will give parents the opportunity to meet the chaperons and discuss information about the trip.

Be sure to find the roommates that you want to room with because roommate signups are March 10-14.  

April 8th is the deadline for the essay and/or speech contest for Wreath Laying.

April 11th is where the administrators and coordinator meet with the students going on the trip and is also the first bus meeting. 

The second bus meeting is on April 28th. 

May 1st is the mandatory meeting for the parents at HAMS in the gymnasium at 7 p.m. with the chaperons going on the trip.

May 8th is the third bus meeting.

May 13th is luggage drop off in the evening.

May 14th is when we leave for Pennsylvania/Washington D.C.

May 17th we return back to Reynoldsburg.

If you are going to Washington D.C., I hope you have fun and take a bunch of pictures of the sites you’ll be seeing. Be safe and stay with your group. Be considerate to others and respectful of the property of others and represent Hannah Ashton Middle School like no other student groups have.