1. Switzerland Week Without Walls- Grade 8 Parents Meeting 24 rd February 2009 6.00pm Room C1-41- Senior School Parents Meeting 24 rd February 2009 6.00pm Room C1-41- Senior School

2. Agenda  Meet the supervisors  Itinerary  Medical Forms and Travel Contract  Behaviour - Rules and Expectations  Visa Requirements  Packing List  Visa Deadline  Questions  Meet the supervisors  Itinerary  Medical Forms and Travel Contract  Behaviour - Rules and Expectations  Visa Requirements  Packing List  Visa Deadline  Questions

3. Accompanying Staff  Michael Bowe- Trip Leader/ English Dept  Mark Le Surf – IT/DT Dept  Eliza Pomiecinska – Counseling  Rebecca Hennard – Science Dept  Zeina Jawad – Math Dept/ Grade 8 Head  Michael Bowe- Trip Leader/ English Dept  Mark Le Surf – IT/DT Dept  Eliza Pomiecinska – Counseling  Rebecca Hennard – Science Dept  Zeina Jawad – Math Dept/ Grade 8 Head

4. Itinerary Departure: From Doha airport on 9 th May at 22:55 pm Arrive in Amsterdam at 6:10 am Depart Amsterdam at 7:10 am Arrive Geneva at 8:40 am Return: Depart Geneva May 17 at 9:25 am Arrive Amsterdam at 11:04 am Depart Amsterdam at 13:15 pm Arrive Doha at 21:45 pm All KLM flights Departure: From Doha airport on 9 th May at 22:55 pm Arrive in Amsterdam at 6:10 am Depart Amsterdam at 7:10 am Arrive Geneva at 8:40 am Return: Depart Geneva May 17 at 9:25 am Arrive Amsterdam at 11:04 am Depart Amsterdam at 13:15 pm Arrive Doha at 21:45 pm All KLM flights

5. Departure  Students must arrive no later than 7:45 pm on May 9  Students must not bring more than 1 suitcase (max 20 kg) and 1 carryon bag (max 7 kg)  Students must arrive no later than 7:45 pm on May 9  Students must not bring more than 1 suitcase (max 20 kg) and 1 carryon bag (max 7 kg)

6. Trip Highlights  Orienteering course  Rock climbing  Full day Mountain Hike  “Earth Works” – understanding the alpine environment  Survival skills  Nature at Night  Visit to a salt mine  Visit to Geneva – boat tour, UN visit, shopping  Orienteering course  Rock climbing  Full day Mountain Hike  “Earth Works” – understanding the alpine environment  Survival skills  Nature at Night  Visit to a salt mine  Visit to Geneva – boat tour, UN visit, shopping

7. Outdoor clothes required!

8. 1200-2000 meters – a bit of tiredness first days

9. http://www.villagecamps.com

10. Dormitory living, 4 to a room

11. Medical Form  Please provide all relevant information concerning the student’s medical needs  National Health Service + Qatar Foundation insurance  Three chaperones have been recently trained in first aid/CPR  There are doctors in Leysin village  Please provide all relevant information concerning the student’s medical needs  National Health Service + Qatar Foundation insurance  Three chaperones have been recently trained in first aid/CPR  There are doctors in Leysin village

12. Medical Consent Form, Parental Permission and Travel Contract  Please sign these tonight and hand back in  Medical forms must have any relevant allergies or other information  Please note that school rules apply at all times during the trip  Please sign these tonight and hand back in  Medical forms must have any relevant allergies or other information  Please note that school rules apply at all times during the trip

13. Hostel/Dormitory  We will try to fulfill student rooming requests – if the match is appropriate  Usually 4 students to a room  This is a healthy trip! Students should not bring any junk food on the trip/into their rooms (it will be removed)  We will try to fulfill student rooming requests – if the match is appropriate  Usually 4 students to a room  This is a healthy trip! Students should not bring any junk food on the trip/into their rooms (it will be removed)

14. Behaviour Expectations  Very high standards expected  During daily activities, students will be in group of 6-8 with a camp supervisor and QA chaperone.  They will not be permitted to be by themselves at any time  School rules will apply at all times  Very high standards expected  During daily activities, students will be in group of 6-8 with a camp supervisor and QA chaperone.  They will not be permitted to be by themselves at any time  School rules will apply at all times

15. What do we expect?  Punctual in mornings - 6.30am wake-up shower, getting dressed, down to breakfast  Follow staff instructions at all times  Usual school rules concerning alcohol, tobacco, drugs  Lights Out times must be respected - we have a busy schedule and students will be tired if they don’t sleep  Units of Work will have to be completed during the visit  Punctual in mornings - 6.30am wake-up shower, getting dressed, down to breakfast  Follow staff instructions at all times  Usual school rules concerning alcohol, tobacco, drugs  Lights Out times must be respected - we have a busy schedule and students will be tired if they don’t sleep  Units of Work will have to be completed during the visit

16. If these rules are violated  Students will be returned to Doha on the next available flight  This will be at parent’s expense  You will be restricted from taking part in other school trips  Students will be returned to Doha on the next available flight  This will be at parent’s expense  You will be restricted from taking part in other school trips

17. Other points  No laptops  Chaperones will maintain a Wiki that parents can access each day  iPods acceptable during rest periods NOT during camp activities  Mobiles may be brought – but beware of high roaming charges from Qtel  Students are responsible for their own belongings. We will NOT safeguard these for them!  (Passports will be kept safe by Mr. Bowe)  No laptops  Chaperones will maintain a Wiki that parents can access each day  iPods acceptable during rest periods NOT during camp activities  Mobiles may be brought – but beware of high roaming charges from Qtel  Students are responsible for their own belongings. We will NOT safeguard these for them!  (Passports will be kept safe by Mr. Bowe)

18. Valuables (continued)  Can bring a camera but keep it safe  Leave expensive jewelry and fine watches at home  Only bring an item if prepared to lose it  Wet weather can damage electonic items – keep in plastic bags or in room  Can bring a camera but keep it safe  Leave expensive jewelry and fine watches at home  Only bring an item if prepared to lose it  Wet weather can damage electonic items – keep in plastic bags or in room

19. Passports and Money  Supervisors will keep passports safe and carry copies during excursions  Passports MUST be valid for 6 months!  Students will be responsible for their own money. Do not bring large amounts.  Supervisors will keep passports safe and carry copies during excursions  Passports MUST be valid for 6 months!  Students will be responsible for their own money. Do not bring large amounts.

20. How much money to take?  We suggest 50 Swiss francs  There is only the need for spending money on the Geneva afternoon (snacks, souvenirs)  We will not stop at a bank to exchange dollars or riyals. Please change money before students go  We suggest 50 Swiss francs  There is only the need for spending money on the Geneva afternoon (snacks, souvenirs)  We will not stop at a bank to exchange dollars or riyals. Please change money before students go

21. Immigration Requirements  All students must carry a Parental Consent Form through Immigration  All students must have a valid visa for their stay in Switzerland  All students must carry a Parental Consent Form through Immigration  All students must have a valid visa for their stay in Switzerland

22. Visas  Switzerland has joined the Schengen Visa countries.  GCC citizens with a Shengen visa don’t need Swiss visa to visit the country.  Check with the Swiss embassy (Kuwait) for more information: http://www.eda.admin.ch/kuwait  Switzerland has joined the Schengen Visa countries.  GCC citizens with a Shengen visa don’t need Swiss visa to visit the country.  Check with the Swiss embassy (Kuwait) for more information: http://www.eda.admin.ch/kuwait

23. Paperwork for acquiring visas  Application Form  A separate parental consent form  School trip letter from QA  280 QR (current rate for 60 Euro)  Send visa application with passport and letters to the Swiss Embassy in Kuwait  Application Form  A separate parental consent form  School trip letter from QA  280 QR (current rate for 60 Euro)  Send visa application with passport and letters to the Swiss Embassy in Kuwait

24.  Passport must be valid for three months beyond the stay The application form must be completed in English and signed by the applicant. 2 passport photographs with biometric characteristics not older than 6 months – neither stapled nor glued. Electronic Flight Ticket to or via Switzerland to the final destination and return Travel health insurance (minimum coverage of Euros 30’000 or Swiss Francs 50’000) Travel During the processing time the passport has to remain with the Embassy or Consulate general of Switzerland in Kuwait From the Swiss Embassy Website

25. IMPORTANT!  It is YOUR responsibility to obtain a visa and pay the fee  If you do not, the student will be unable to travel  No refund of trip fees will be possible  Please send a copy of the visa to us at school by the end of March  It is YOUR responsibility to obtain a visa and pay the fee  If you do not, the student will be unable to travel  No refund of trip fees will be possible  Please send a copy of the visa to us at school by the end of March

26. Clothing to Pack (maximum 20 kg)  sleepwear (modest, please!)  comfortable everyday clothes for evenings and day trips (Clothing must be acceptable for school. No ripped jeans, visible underwear or midriff-baring tops)  5 days’ sport outfits: Sweat pants, t-shirts, fleece, wind-water proof jacket  trainers / hiking shoes (be prepared for a lot of wet walking!)  Thick socks (to prevent cold feet and blisters)  a pullover/ sweater / light gloves and scarf  compact umbrella  toilet kit  curling iron / hair dryer if you use one  a small daypack can be useful on hiking trips (maximum 20 kg)  sleepwear (modest, please!)  comfortable everyday clothes for evenings and day trips (Clothing must be acceptable for school. No ripped jeans, visible underwear or midriff-baring tops)  5 days’ sport outfits: Sweat pants, t-shirts, fleece, wind-water proof jacket  trainers / hiking shoes (be prepared for a lot of wet walking!)  Thick socks (to prevent cold feet and blisters)  a pullover/ sweater / light gloves and scarf  compact umbrella  toilet kit  curling iron / hair dryer if you use one  a small daypack can be useful on hiking trips

27. Action Points  Fill out forms this evening  Obtain Visa for those students who need on  Send copy of Visa to school by end of March  Fill out forms this evening  Obtain Visa for those students who need on  Send copy of Visa to school by end of March

28. Contact Information  mbowe@qf.org.qa mbowe@qf.org.qa  5040749  cshwaberow@qf.org.qa cshwaberow@qf.org.qa  5867624  mbowe@qf.org.qa mbowe@qf.org.qa  5040749  cshwaberow@qf.org.qa cshwaberow@qf.org.qa  5867624

29. Questions…