IRELAND Third Parent/Student Meeting August 21, 2014

AGENDA  Ms. Ball  Travel information  Communication  Mr. Piotrowski  Finances  Mrs. Byrnes  Travel Journal/ Blog  Forms

FACTS ABOUT TRAVEL and COMMUNICATION Ms. Ball

Travel Info: Clothing  We will be expected to be in MCC school uniform during the two days we spend at Aquinas Grammar.  Travel days during this trip require comfortable, appropriate clothing. Sneakers will be fine most days. Travel clothes should satisfy the MCC NUT day requirements.  Temperatures are expected to be in the 60’s and there is always a possibility of rain.  Students should pack one church-appropriate outfit, one poncho and an RFID safe passport wallet for hanging around the neck or waist.

Travel Info: Schedule  The itinerary has been posted to the wiki. It is a DRAFT and is subject to change for any number of reasons.  It does give you an idea of where we will be on certain days and how much spending money will be needed.  Host families will be sending bag lunches with our students, so food money may not be necessary on any day, unless the students WANT to buy a meal.

Travel Info: Transportation  Once we arrive in Dublin, there will be a bus with a member of the Aquinas school to transport us to Belfast.  Travelling days will have us either walking or riding a bus, too.  On our side of the pond, we will meet at MCC and bus to the airport in Orlando.  On the return leg of the trip, students can be picked up from MCC after we bus home from the airport.

Quick Facts: Irish Money  REMEMBER  REMEMBER : Notify the bank that your child will be in Ireland  Purchase an RFID protector for credit cards  There is only one day in our travels during which we will be using Euros (the day in Dublin).  Students will give $40 (US) to the chaperones to have converted into Euros and the chaperones will use that to pay for the Dublin day for all the students.  All other monies can be converted into Pounds Sterling for the other travel days.

Communications in Belfast WhatsApp application for phone-to-phone texting. Download and install it, so we can text while abroad. Add me: (321) to your Contacts and I will be accessible to your WhatsApp. Once I see you in my WhatsApp, I will send you a test text.

SKYPE  Skype can be another method of communication, but this will be done from homes, not the road.  Practice Skyping with your host family before we go. Unless it is an emergency, students should not be communicating with their parents or their States friends during the school day. They will be home in time to call or Skype or blog in the evenings.

FINANCES Mr. Piotrowski

Payment Due Dates  A few people still owe from February 14th  Last Friday April 11 th : $400 (only have about half)  May 30 th : $400

JOURNALS Mrs. Byrnes

Travel Journal  Document on keeping a travel journal is available on the Wiki  Buy a nice notebook- small enough to carry with you easily  You’ll write reflections and record your experiences throughout the trip  You’ll use this book to record details for your blog

Travel Blog  Each group has a Kidblog account  Each group will need to post daily  A paragraph and a picture minimum  On the day involving your focus (sport, Giant’s Causeway, etc.) your entry will need to be more extensive (250 word minimum, with pictures)  Every group member should contribute

Travel Blog  Next week  User names and passwords for Kidblog accounts  A rubric for the blog will be posted on the wiki

Travel Blog  Each group will find three useful, credible websites that are related to your group’s project  Your blog will provide an brief explanation of the information available on the website and links to the websites for interested readers  You will also include an interview with a real, live Irish person about your topic

After we return…  We’ll put together a presentation  Photographs  Video  Journal excerpts  We’ll present it to the entire school

Tonight’s Packet  You’ll keep  Goals and Themes, general Information  Medications, emergencies, etc.  Dispensary and First Aid Kits  Sign (and sometimes initial ) and return by next Friday, August 29 th  Uniform Statement of Responsibility  Emergency Contacts  Medical Info and Permission  Student Acknowledgement of Responsibilities  Parental Release  Notarized Approval for travel  In Front Office: Mrs. Myers is a notary

Questions? Concerns?