New York Trip Informational Meeting

1. New York Trip Informational Meeting Thursday, October 27, 2011 7:00 PM FHS Choir Room

2. Welcome to the first official meeting for the FHS Choir’s spring break trip to New York, New York! Tonight I will be going over the information regarding the trip as I have it to date. However, as with any type of travel, there are always possibilities for changes so keep that in mind as we get closer to the departure date. Any substantial changes that affect your child or the cost of the trip will be sent to you as soon as I receive them.

3. I. – Cost of the trip • $1800.00 as stated in the original agreement • Covers • Transportation to and from the airport both here and in New York • Transportation while in New York • All meals while traveling • All shows and venues requiring admission fee • Airfare to and from New York • Chaperone travel cost

4. I. – Cost of the trip • Payment Schedule • September 15, 2011 - $150.00 • October 18, 2001 - $500.00 (Popcorn Credit will count) • November 1, 2001 - $100.00 (Chocolate Credit will count) • December 2, 2011 - $525.00 (BBQ Plate Sale Credit will count) • January 6, 2012 - $525.00 (Or balance of the $1800.00)

5. I. – Cost of the trip • Fundraising Opportunities • Popcorn Sales – Students receive $1.25 for every bag they sell • Chocolate Sales – Students receive $1.00 for every one sold • BBQ Plate Sale – Students receive $4.50 for each ticket sold • Shining Stars – All money goes towards the student’s trip • Gold - $250.00 • Silver - $100.00 • Bronze - $50.00 • Twinkling - $25.00

6. I. – Cost of the trip • SYF “Road” Scholarship (Student was identified in September) • Only one per group will be awarded • Will not exceed $1000.00 • Must be 25 and under • Must be participating in some form of student/youth group travel • Must demonstrate need or circumstances that prohibit them from affording the cost of their group’s travel program • Must not be a relative of a SYTA member • Must not be a relative of a SYTA Youth Foundation Trustee, Charter or Benefactor member. • Must be submitted by the director of the organization • Application will be filed November 1, 2011

7. II. – Selection of Chaperones • It is customary to have 1 chaperone for every 10 students. We have 67 students registered to go. Mr. Spates and I need to operate in our official capacity as trip leaders leaving 6 adult chaperones to oversee the students. Their duties will consist of keeping track of their 10 students at all time, room check every evening and every morning, ensuring the students are always on time, be available to the students in their group for any difficulties that the students may encounter, and ensuring that this trip is not only safe, but one to remember.

8. II. – Selection of Chaperones • Selection of the Chaperones is totally at my discretion. However, I would like to list them and explain my reasons for selecting them for this position. • Billy Craven – Director and I have to go. • Charles Spates – Assistant Principal (Required to go by the district.) • Nancy Spates – Mother of Brianna Spates and parent volunteer to the choir • Paula Rock – B.O.B.S. President (Needed to write checks and oversee spending of funds) • Ronald Rock – Father of Ronnie Rock and parent volunteer to the choir • Robert Contreras – B.O.B.S. Secretary and father of Victoria Contreras • Maria Ramirez – B.O.B.S. Vice-President and mother of Mariah Ramirez • Juan Manuel Senties – Briscoe JH Choir Director and accompanist for FHS Choir

9. II. – Selection of Chaperones • Each of these individuals has been involved with the B.O.B.S. and the FHS Choir for the past 3 years and has been very instrumental in raising money not only for this trip, but for our trip to San Antonio two years ago. They also organized and facilitated last year’s first Choir Scholarship Dinner and Performance. I have come to trust and respect each of them to the point that I would entrust your children to their care. Each one has been a chaperone on choir trips for me in the past and has a great understanding about how I want things to happen.

10. II. – Selection of Chaperones • . The reason for the students covering their cost for this trip is because I do not believe that it would be ethical to ask an individual to give up a week of their life to go and supervise children (not their own) and pay $1800.00 to do so. Without chaperones this trip would not be possible because there is no way I could keep up with all of the students all of the time. Their role will not be passive on this trip, but extremely active. I hope that now you understand this better since there seems to have been some confusion surrounding it. I would also like to let you know that each of the students was informed from the beginning that their $1800.00 cost included the chaperones. If you have any questions or concerns and would like to speak to me about this privately, I would be very happy to listen. • I am telling you this because I do not want anyone thinking that I just randomly picked people to be chaperones for this trip.

11. III. Travel • Charter Buses • As the departure date draws closer, we will solidify the times that the students will need to meet me here at the school for travel to Bush Intercontinental Airport. (All students traveling to New York must meet at the school at the designated time and travel as a unit to the Airport. They will also be expected to return as a group to the school for you to pick them up here and not have to drive the 60+ miles to the airport.) • We will also inform you of the exact amount of luggage each student is allowed to take and when they will need to have it here for inspection.

12. III. Travel • Flight Information • The first flight is set to depart out of Bush Intercontinental Airport at 8:55 AM arriving at the Newark Airport at 1:33 PM. It is Continental Flight 510. It has 46 seats reserved. (This means that these same 46 people will also fly back together) • Their return flight is scheduled to depart New York La Guardia at 6:35 PM and arriving at Bush Intercontinental Airport at 9:20 PM. It is Continental Flight 233. • The 2nd flight information will be given as soon as I get it confirmed.

13. IV. Lodging • Holiday Inn Express • 232 West 29th Street (Between 7th and 8th Avenue) • New York, New York10001

14. IV. Lodging • Students will be 4-to-a- room as much as possible to help keep costs down. Rooming assignments will be forthcoming. • No room changes will be made once the rooming list has been finalized • All students are to remain in their room from room-check at night until wake-up in the morning. Failure to do so could result in them being sent home at the parent’s expense. (We will be vigilant about this so make sure you speak to your child about their behavior on this trip.)

15. V. Meals • All will be provided!

16. VI. Educational Opportunities Broadway Shows Wicked Phantom of the Opera

17. VI. Educational Opportunities • Metropolitan OperaMacBethby Giuseppi Verdi • sung in Italian with English surtitles

18. VI. Educational Opportunities • Cathederals(We have requested permission to sing inside of each in order to experience how the music of the Rennassance, Baroque, and Classical periods would have sounded.) • St. PatricksSt. John the Devine

19. VI. Educational Opportunities • Broadway Show Workshop • The students will spend an afternoon learning a musical number from cast members of a Broadway show and be taught a dance number by the show’s choreographer.

20. VI. Educational Opportunities • Metropolitan Museum of Art

21. VI. Educational Opportunities • NBC Studio Tour • Early Morning Show Wave

22. VI. Educational Opportunities • Comprehensive tour of New York City including the Statue of Liberty

23. VI. Educational Opportunities • Exciting View from the “Top of the Rock”

24. VI. Educational Opportunities • Shopping in China Town • (Students need their own $ for shopping)

25. VII. Additional Information • As new information or changes become available, they will be distributed to you. • We will have a 2nd official meeting with all parents with students traveling with us in February 2012. The date is still not set, but you will notified ahead of time again.

26. Thank you so much for allowing your child to have this wonderful opportunity. • Billy Craven • FHS Choir Director