Washington D.C.

1. Washington D.C. Information Night September 13, 2011 7:00pm Bray Cafeteria

2. WHY Washington! • Proposed dates – May 17 – 20*** • It’s our HERITAGE! • Pride in our Country! • Historical and Present Relevance • Science Connection • ***See TRIP options….SoMe require different dates based on what we decide as a majority group.

3. Our Mission • Bring the children to the world and show the world that CHARACTER SPEAKS EVERY LANGUAGE • Past comments, past reactions, etc… • Always ask yourself, “Am I using my talent and time for positively affect someone else?”

4. Why are we participating? • Taking our Character Chorus Program to a International level. • International audience • Exposure of service through giving with our talents. • A chance to provide a once in a lifetime experience for children.

5. Dates and Locations • May 17 – 20** • Leaving early am, returning late pm. • Students will receive an excused absence (pending board approval). • We have checked testing calendars. • ***See TRIP options….Some require different dates based on what we decide as a majority group.

6. Who is Eligible to Attend? • Any Bray Student (and alumni) • Parents, siblings, guardians, family members who have a current volunteer clearance from admin. • Bray Supporters and Community Members • Students MUST be passing their classes! • Behavior and classroom disturbances are NOT acceptable. If at any point the child becomes a “behavior” concern, you will be REMOVED from the trip.

7. Requirements of the Student • The student will: • Maintain a good attendance record free of excessive absences and tardies. • Maintain passing grades on each progress and report card (grades below 75 will put a student on probation). • Attend after-school tutorials. If a student is identified “in need” of tutorials, they must attend. • Maintain completed homework- if a student is having a difficult time completing and turning in homework as reported to Mrs. Podany by the teacher, they will be placed on probation. • Avoid office referrals and bus referrals.  These are unacceptable and may be grounds for immediate release. • Perform at Events and fundraisers. • Maintain an excellent rehearsal attendance record

8. Requirements of the Parents • The parents are to: • Support the above student expectations • Stay on top of financial responsibilities, deposits, and payments. • Volunteer or provide a volunteer for fundraising events.  Volunteering can come in many shapes and sizes.  Ask Mrs. Podany what you can do if there is a problem. • Become a member of the Bray PTA and Booster Club. • Any parents, family members, etc…traveling with the choir must have their volunteer badge from the admin office. • All parties traveling with the choir must use the same company to alleviate any traveling problems. • Agree to the travel terms and be prepared to provide information for travel. • Any questions or concerns are to be addressed first by Mrs.. Podany. • Agree that this contract may be amended to at any time. • Remember – this is a voluntary program…not a school mandated one.

9. TRIP AND REHEARSAL BEHAVIOR • Won’t make the same mistakes as Disney! • There is a dress code and it is expected to be followed by children and adults! • If there is a behavior issue in practice, your child WILL NOT be allowed to continue…we will get your money back to you unless it’s past the final deadline! • Trip behavior is BETTER than school behavior!

10. WHY JOIN BOOSTER CLUB • YOU GET PERKS! • · $5.00 off the purchase of up to a Booster Club Jersey Shirts • · $5.00 off the purchase of Character Chorus shirt • · $5 off Character Chorus hoodie or sweatshirt (or $5 Spirit Store Credit) • · 2 free movie night admissions • · $5.00 off Bray lock-in admission price • · Free bumper sticker or car magnet • · A blue jean pass for one Friday (per child in family) • · Line Item set up for Trip donations, payments, and fundraising. • · Tracking of payments • We track your donations!

11. Trip Itinerary – May 17 • Day One - Arrive in Washington DC. • Self guided WWII Memorial, Viet Nam Memorial, Korean Memorial and Lincoln Memorial, Signers Park and Washington Monument. • Visit Ford’ Theatre Museum and Peterson House 5:30 PM Arrive at Hard Rock Café

12. Trip Itinerary – May 18 • Day Two • White House tour • U.S. Capitol Building. • Guided tours of the historic Capitol begin at the orientation theaters with a 13-minute film, "Out of Many, One," which will take you on a journey through our country's struggle to establish the world's first truly representative democracy and introduce you to the magnificent building that houses our Congress. • Group walks to Union Station for Lunch using Meal Voucher • Library of Congress. Self-Guided visit • PERFORMANCE - TBA • Buca Di Beppo Family Style Dinner

13. Trip Itinerary May 19 • PERFORMANCE – TBA • Smithsonian Museums (on own). • Recommend visiting the National Air & Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, the American History Museum and the American Indian Museum • Night-Time Illuminations Tour! • Group will enjoy a professionally guided tour of Washington’s most famous sites lit up against the evening sky. There will be ample picture opportunities and stopping points at some of our nation’s most famous landmarks including the U.S. Capitol, FDR Memorial, White House, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, World War II Memorial, and the Kennedy Center.

14. Trip Itinerary – May 20 • Departs for the Arlington National Cemetery. • Sites to include: Arlington House, Eternal Flame at the President John F. Kennedy Gravesite, etc. • Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. View Changing of the Guard Ceremony. • Takes place every ½ an hour. • 10:15AM Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A formal ceremony held at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The gift of flowers at a memorial site is a ritual that occurs around the world, understood in every culture. The floral tributes at funerals bespeak both the beauty nd the brevity of life and evoke memories of other days. • Mount Vernon • Fly Home

15. Current Trip Costs • We need to come together and discuss what we want. I prefer the MORE the MERRIER…BUT…we need to discuss cost.

16. WE NEED A VOTE! • (A) Travel by Land, Charter Bus…Leave Dallas May 16…24 hour drive with stops…all inclusive food and touring sites…Total (based on Quad occupancy): $620 $75 down payment per person Due Oct. 1 Final payment March 15. Have to have at least 45-55 people on the bus for this to be an option! Any less, it’s not feasible. If we have 70 + we will get two buses.Option A (land/bus travel)Quad – $435 Triple - $465 Double – $521

17. WE NEED A VOTE! • (B) Travel by Air (as a group) Leave May 17… with the option of booking your own flight at your own risk (group air pricing is coming in at $570 right now…which is terribly high…we are trying to get that lowered by hands are tied today…shouldn’t go over that so I’ll give you the HIGH end quote), ALL inclusive food and touring sites… • Total (based on Quad occupancy)= INCLUDING AIR (nonstop)$ 570 + land package $499 = $1069(if you are flying separate…then your package is $499 based on a Quad Occupancy). $125 down payment per person Due Oct. 1 Final payment March 15. Option B flight listed firstQuad – $1069 Triple - $1099 Double – $1155Quad – $499 Triple - $529 Double – $585

18. WE NEED A VOTE! (C) Travel by Air (as a group)with the option of booking your own flight at your own risk (group air pricing is coming in at $570 right now…which is terribly high…we are trying to get that lowered by hands are tied today…shouldn’t go over that so I’ll give you the HIGH end quote), only breakfast and two dinners included as well as touring sites… lunch and other meals out of pocket. Total (based on Quad occupancy)= INCLUDING AIR (nonstop) $ 570 + land package $435 = $1,005. (if you are flying separate…then your package is $435 based on a Quad Occupancy). $125 down payment per person Due Oct. 1 Final payment March 15. • Option C flight listed first Quad – $1005 Triple - $1035 Double – $1091Quad – $435 Triple - $465 Double – $ 521

19. ADDITIONAL REHEARSALS • Character Chorus students are expected to attend THURSDAY (Beginning first Thursday in January) Rehearsals from 4:00pm – 5:00pm…immediately following Character Chorus!!! This includes alumni who want to perform with us. They do NOT have to be members of chorus but they will expected to participate in the service learning projects. • CLOSER to departure, we MIGHT have to have Saturday or Sunday rehearsals.

20. Fundraising • You are expected to participate. • All ideas are processed through Mrs. Podany, Mrs. Thompson, and Mr. Johansen. Send them our way. If we can not accept the fundraiser for whatever reason, please accept our decision. • SOME fundraisers are whole group – needed for Character Chorus GENERAL fund for buses or uniforms. Other fundraisers are a “YOU SELL IT, YOU GET IT!” Booster keeps NOTHING…apply it to Costa Rica or Washington DC or both! • You may NOT do “on the side” fundraising using “our name” referencing the booster club.

21. MARK YOUR DATES • Cookie Dough Sept. 12 – 23 • MAGIC SHOW – Sept. 30 7:00pm THEN LOCK-IN! (HELP NEEDED). The Lock In will fundraise for Costa Rica. Your help and item donations allows for greater return! Can’t have it without ADULT volunteers. WE NEED A TICKET CREATOR, DISTRIBUTOR, AND IN CHARGE COMMITTED FULL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE NEED LOCK IN VOLUNTEERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! • SERVERS, LOCK IN WORKERS, STATION WORKERS, OVERNIGHT HELP! • OCTOBER 8 – COUNTRY DAY – Feather extensions and Wii Games! • October 3 – 14 YANKEE CANDLE fundraiser • October 14 – MOVIE NIGHT • October 29 – HARVEST FAIR – HELP NEEDED – JENNI THOMPSON • November 4 – MOVIE NIGHT • November 7 – 18 – ChickfilaCheesecakes fundraiser • November 10 – Night Benefit Concert - FBC • December – TBA – FUMC-CH concert • December 1 – Tree Lighting • December 8 – CHORUS TOUR TO NORTH PARK • December 16 – LOCK IN THEN LOCK-IN! (HELP NEEDED). Can’t have it without ADULT volunteers.

22. GET TO KNOW MRS. THOMPSON • She’s over fundraising and very knowledgeable! She’s Mrs. Podany’s right hand and runs most interference. If she says something…assume it came from Mrs. Podany! • SIGN UP FOR VOLUNTEERING THROUGH HER! • We do need a FULL TIME NONSTOP COMMITTED VOLUNTEER to coordinate, call, email, etc… • WE NEED A WEBMASTER! FULL TIME…

23. Ways to FUNdraise! • Find your child a corporate sponsor! • We have letters for you to distribute to your family! • We have a GOOGLE CHECK OUT and PAY PAL link for DONATIONS! We can accept credit cards! YAY! There is a charge! • Ask for monthly sponsorship. We NEED A PLEDGE DRIVE LEADER! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

24. What if….that’s not fair… • He said, she said…. • What if… • Reimbursements. • So – my kid is sponsored…do I get their money? • Greedy • Dishonesty in funds and money handling. • I’ve changed my mind…can I quit!

25. Cost and Due Dates • FINAL COMMITMENTS ARE DUE BY September 27th…WE NEED TO KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING! THIS INCLUDES exactly how you are traveling to DC. (Bus, Flight with us, Flight on your own). NO DECISIONS ARE ALLOWED AFTER THIS DATE! • Please NOTE: We will not provide any assistance with your personal travel or allow the use of our travel agent (reference Disney). You will need to decide BY Sept. 27 if you are flying with us or without us. There will not be an option to change your mind either way once we commit.