Senior Trip to Chicago 2012

How to Contact Us:

Non-emergency calls: You may call your student traveler at any time. Please consult our itinerary before deciding when to call. Remember, Chicago is an hour behind us. Obviously, the best times to call are in-between activities. In the morning after wake-up and in the afternoon before dinner are generally the best times to call. Hotel: While in the Chicago area, we will be staying at Best Western Hotel in Countryside, Illinois (708-354-5200). You will need to mention the Columbus Academy/Prodigy Student Travel Group when you call and ask for your child's room. Cell phones: If possible, students are expected to bring cell phones with them. For nonemergency calls, personal cell phones will be the best way to contact your child. We will, however, ask that all cell phones be turned off during certain activities. EMERGENCY CALLS: In case of an emergency, our trip coordinator, Kerry Wimsatt, will be checking his voicemail continuously. Or you may contact us by using the following contact information: Kerry Wimsatt: Sheri Dillon: Prodigy Student Travel Office: 614-332-9948 614-774-3666 614-436-8747 (Susan)

What to Bring:
Each student may bring one large bag and one small bag. The large bag will be stored under the bus. Only the small bag/backpack can be carried on the bus with the student. Clothing: Due to the highly variable Chicago weather, it is recommended that students dress in comfortable, casual-but-presentable layers. Student attire should be casual, neat and appropriate. While we do not require dress code, we will be representing our school as we move around the downtown area of Chicago. The evening activities are not dressy. It is recommended that students bring a waterproof jacket, hat, and gloves. Exercise/pool facilities will be available to students. Comfortable walking shoes are required.

Money: All scheduled meals and activities are included in the cost of the trip. Students may bring some spending money for incidentals, gifts, snacks, etc. There will be very few opportunities for extensive shopping, so students do not need to carry large amounts of money. Food: Students may bring food for the bus ride and for the room. Students may want to consult with roommates about food for the room. (No dairy products, pleaseor anything that might spoil/smell.) Other: iPods, playing cards/portable games are permitted. Students are responsible for keeping their electronics, valuables etc., secure. Cell Phones with chargers are REQUIRED. We will be using these throughout the trip. Flexibility and a sense of humor are required.

Hotel Information: Best Western Hotel in Countryside, Illinois (708-354-5200)

Students will be assigned four per room (with the exception of two three per room arrangements). Students will be assigned to specific rooms one week before the trip. Girls will be on one floor or wing of the hotel, boys on another. There will be a nightly 'room check' after which no student is permitted to leave their room (excepting an emergency, of course).

Chaperones:
From Columbus Academy: From Prodigy Student Travel: Sheri Dillon, Moira Landes, Stefan Farrenkopf Kerry Wimsatt

Night Security will be on duty from 12:00am- 6:30am (one security staff member per hotel floor/wing) Note: Male CA chaperones will room in the boys hall, and female CA chaperones will room in the girls hall.

Standards of Conduct - Expectations

As representatives of Columbus Academy, students are expected to behave accordingly. Common sense, sound judgment, responsible behavior and consideration for others are expected

Guidelines/rules of conduct: 1. Students are expected to conduct themselves in ways that model the highest expectations of our Standards of Conduct found in the Student Handbook. 2. Students are expected to behave as representatives of Columbus Academy. They are to respect and follow directions from chaperones. Chaperones reserve the right to question behavior. 3. Parents will be notified of severe infractions as soon as possible. Any student(s) involved will be sent home immediately at their parents' expense. Serious concerns may lead to exclusion from extra-curricular activities and suspension/expulsion from school. 4. An open-door policy will be observed in the hotel until 11:30 p.m. to provide for group interaction. Two guards will be on duty from then until 6:30 a.m., during which time no student may leave his/her assigned room. 5. Any health concerns should be made clear to the chaperones in advance. We will take the field trip permission forms with us in case of an emergency. 6. In addition to observing school and specific Chicago trip rules of behavior, it is expected that each student take responsibility for contributing positively to the overall experience of their class. Attitude is, in fact, just about everything.