CATALINA ISLAND MARINE INSTITUTE 7 th Grade STEM Trip A U G U S T 3 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

CATALINA ISLAND MARINE INSTITUTE

7th Grade STEM Trip

A U G U S T 3 0 T H – S E P T E M B E R 4 T H , 2 0 2 0

LODGING- FOOD- PACKING LIST ELIGIBILITY

PAPERWORK

COSTS IMPORTANT DATES OVERVIEW FAQ INTRO QUIZ

The following presentation has information to help you prepare for the 7th grade trip to Catalina Island. In order to gain all necessary information (and ensure you can score the required 100% on the quiz at the end) please thoroughly read each tab. Please note this can be used as a reference tool throughout the registration process.

Welcome AA families. The following presentation has everything needed to prepare for the optional 7th grade trip to Catalina Island. Please go through each tab to ensure you gather all necessary information, and know when to complete forms in a timely manner. This will be available throughout the registration process so you may use it as a reference tool when needed. While evening presentations will no longer be available, I will be holding two Q & A meetings in case you have additional, or highly specific questions. Each STEM trip offers students a chance to explore an environment unlike anything in Colorado while exposing them to a variety of STEM fields. They also offer a number of personal benefits, including but are not limited to, an increase in their personal, social and emotional development. These trips urge critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills. They can also lead to a deeper understanding of challenging concepts, all while providing a context for learning in many areas in and out of the classroom. We want you to feel confident about your choice to send your child on an AA STEM trip. Be rest assured, we have taken the time to think through every aspect of our trips to ensure the safety of all. Over the past decade, more than 2500 AA middle school students have had the opportunity to experience a classroom without walls, while building relationships and memorable experiences lasting a

• lifetime. Something I can attest to personally.

My name is Chris Todd and I am the coordinator for the AA STEM overnight trips. (Olympic, Catalina Island, Costa Rica). In addition to leading the trips, I also teach primary STEM at the MB campus. I have been with AA since we opened in 2005, originally teaching first grade at CP . I am excited to share this opportunity with you and your family, and look forward to working with you in making this a reality. Again, if you still have questions after reviewing the information found within this presentation, or would just like to come meet in person, please plan to attend one of the scheduled Q & A meetings. Thank you! Please note communication from me regarding any overnight STEM trip will come from the following email address: stemtrips@aak8.org. Please use this address for any communication on your end regarding any

• vernight STEM trip as well. Thanks again!

Intro

Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI) at Toyon Bay is a unique outdoor science school providing an exciting outdoor educational experience. Students are completely immersed in the field of marine science working side-by-side with knowledgeable instructors hired by CIMI. Said instructors will guide students through Island terrestrial biology, marine biology labs and field activities designed to stimulate minds, build character, develop social skills, and most importantly, create excitement about science. During their five day program students and teachers will participate in a variety of hands-on labs and field activities both in and out of the water. Students will experience one night snorkel*, 3-4 day snorkels, a couple hikes (the longest being 3-4 miles roundtrip), and a full day of kayaking where students will be led to a nearby bay. Daily science labs are interactive, hands-on, and led by engaging, experienced instructors. Click HERE to view an informational video created by AA showing what a week with CIMI looks like. The Toyon Bay Campus ▪ Private Cove & Pier ▪ Dorms ▪ Dining Hall ▪ Science Labs ▪ Touch Tanks & Aquariums ▪ Beach Amphitheater ▪ Snorkeling Gear ▪ Kayaks (five day program only) ▪ Recreational Field ▪ Volleyball Courts ▪ GaGa Ball Courts *All appropriate snorkeling gear will be provided by CIMI; no prior snorkeling or kayaking experience is needed for this trip.

Overview - Catalina Island Marine Institute Outdoor Science School

Labs and Field Activities ▪ Snorkeling (3-4 day snorkels) ▪ Fish Lab ▪ Sharks, Rays & Skates Lab ▪ Invertebrates Lab ▪ Marine Mammals Lab ▪ Plankton Lab ▪ Algae (Seaweed) Lab ▪ Kayaking (full day) ▪ Island Ecology Hike ▪ Astronomy Hike ▪ Evening Campfire ▪ Night Snorkel Daily Schedule ▪ 7:00 am Wake-Up ▪ 7:30 am Breakfast ▪ 8:15 am Clean Rooms ▪ 9:00 am Morning Program ▪ 12:00 pm Lunch ▪ 1:00 pm Recreation Time ▪ 2:00 pm Afternoon Program ▪ 5:30 pm Dinner ▪ 6:00 pm Recreation Time ▪ 7:00 pm Evening Program ▪ 9:30 pm Quiet Hours/Lights Out

Lodging, Food, & Packing List

SUNDAY NIGHT: Students and staff will be transported via charter bus to the Residence Inn by Marriott in Long Beach Downtown after landing in Los Angeles to stay Sunday night only. Three to four students share a room, boys and girls stay on separate floors, and chaperones stay within their own rooms on the same floors as students. A pizza dinner will be provided Sunday evening in the nearby Shoreline Aquatic Park. A continental breakfast will be provided Monday morning before making our way to the Catalina Classic Cruises ferry. The ferry is a private charter taking only CIMI campers to Toyon Bay where there is no tourism. MONDAY – FRIDAY: Students sleep in dorms on Catalina Island which are divided into several rooms. Rooms vary in size and have three to ten beds. Rooms within each dorm are set aside for chaperones. Dorms are separated by gender and campus. Each meal is served buffet style within the camp’s cafeteria. Please share any/all food allergies, regardless of how mild, when completing registration forms. Chaperones will be notified and kitchen staff will meet with students with food allergies before each meal to ensure nothing harmful is consumed. You can find the packing list on the STEM web site for this trip, or click HERE to access it now.

As part of the educational program at American Academy, students in Grades 5–8 are offered the optional opportunity to attend overnight field trips. Parents are responsible for obtaining all the information in advance of the trip and evaluating if their child is mature enough to attend. Eligibility: An overnight field trip is a privilege, not a right. Safety and learning of all students on the trip is the priority of the staff at all times. Students that become ineligible at any time before the trip and during the pay schedule period may not be eligible for a refund, subject to administrative discretion. Eligibility is determined at the sole discretion of the American Academy administration, taking the following factors into consideration. Academic Standing: Any child receiving a D or an F in two or more core subjects (Language Arts/English, History, Science or Math) at the close of the trimester preceding the final payment for the trip and/or there are current teaching staff concerns for in-progress grades (such as consistent missing assignments) is ineligible to attend overnight field trips. Behavior History: A student is ineligible to attend overnight field trips if the student has served an in- or out- of school suspension during the nine calendar months preceding the departure date. In addition, if there are serious behavior or safety concerns, included but not limited to: failure to follow directions; inability to stay close to a chaperone; or a tendency to wander; demonstrated at any off-campus, school-campus event on a prior field trip. Behavior Expectations: Disrespectful, insubordinate, or unsafe behavior on a field trip is unacceptable and may result in exclusion from activities in addition to disciplinary action at school. If a student on an overnight field trip displays behavior that is insubordinate, interferes with the learning of

• ther students, or jeopardizes the safety of students or staff, then the student may be declared ineligible to attend future overnight field trips. In

extreme cases, parents may be asked to arrange for the student’s immediate transportation home. Overnight Field Trip Paperwork and Payments: Parents of an eligible student planning to attend an overnight fieldtrip must complete an Overnight Field Trip Agreement and all other required paperwork no later than the deadline communicated by the trip leader. If paperwork and/or payments are not completed by the communicated deadline, the student may be excluded from the trip; any refund consideration is at the sole discretion of American Academy’s administration.

Taken from the Overnight Field Trips section of the AA Field Trip Policy, as linked to on page 20 of the Parent Handbook.

Eligibility: Grades, Behavior, Complete Paperwork, Payment

Once you have gone through the presentation and have completed the quiz with 100% accuracy, you will receive an email with the following information: REQUIRED PAPERWORK STUDENT INFO CARD: You need to print this and bring it with you to one of the registration meetings as proof of completing the online presentation/quiz. AA OVERNIGHT FIELD TRIP FORM: The link allows you to complete this form online. You do not need to print this form. CIMI REGISTRATION FORM: You need to print this form and sign it. You can complete it one of two ways. Fill in the information online, print it, and then sign, or print it before completing everything by hand. While not required, please note the recommendation for Meclizine (Dramamine). 1. Over the Counter Medication (OTC) form: There are five OTC medications listed on the form. The form needs to be completed by you and your physician if you would like any of the listed medications available for your student. You do not need to provide them as

• ur school nurse will carry all five. Anything highlighted YELLOW needs to be completed by a PARENT. Anything highlighted BLUE

needs to be completed by a PHYSICIAN. Please ensure your physician indicates the reason for the medication, the dosage, and they initialed next to each medication before leaving the office. Please note, a wet signature is needed by the physician on the front

• page. A stamp is not acceptable. The ferry is a three to four hour passage that has been rough for several students/chaperones in

past years. It is highly recommend to have Meclizine (Dramamine) signed off on the OTC form just in case. Sea bands and patches do not need to be signed off by a physician. − Chaperones will give friendly reminders each day to students taking medications to ensure they stay on track while traveling. − What if changes to medications occur over the summer break? Please read FAQ found under the FAQ tab on the home page. − No forms, including copies of insurance cards, will be accepted via email any longer to ensure complete accuracy of student information.

Paperwork

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON MEDICAL FORMS.

Once you have gone through the presentation and have completed the quiz with 100% accuracy, you will receive an email with the following information: AS NEEDED PAPERWORK MEDICAL FORMS – These forms need to be printed in color and completed by you and your child’s physician. This is a self-carry/self- administer trip. Your student needs to be comfortable self-administering all medications brought on the trip. 1. Over the Counter Medication (OTC) form: There are five OTC medications listed on the form. The form needs to be completed by you and your physician if you would like any of the listed medications available for your student. You do not need to provide them as

• ur school nurse will carry all five. Anything highlighted YELLOW needs to be completed by a PARENT. Anything highlighted BLUE

needs to be completed by a PHYSICIAN. Please ensure your physician indicates the reason for the medication, the dosage, and they initialed next to each medication before leaving the office. Please note, a wet signature is needed by the physician on the front

• page. A stamp is not acceptable. The ferry is a three to four hour passage that has been rough for several students/chaperones in

past years. It is highly recommend to have Meclizine (Dramamine) signed off on the OTC form just in case. Sea bands and patches do not need to be signed off by a physician. 2. Permission to Self-Carry/Self-Administer (PTC) form (One medication per form): The PTC form needs to be completed by your physician for any prescribed medications and/or any OTC medications not listed on the above OTC form. This includes rescue meds (Inhaler/Epi-pen). Please ensure the form is legible before leaving the office. The reason, dosage, and frequency of the medication must be listed on the form, or it will be returned to complete correctly. Controlled substances, like ADHD medications, will be held and administered by a school nurse throughout the trip. Any student with paperwork describing a need for an inhaler or Epi-Pen must have the appropriate medication with them at the airport the day of departure or they will not be able to attend! 3. Food Allergy (FA) form: For mild to severe allergies, please complete the FA form so we have a better understanding of what happens when ingested. Please complete this form even if they do not carry an Epi-pen. − Chaperones will give friendly reminders each day to students taking medications to ensure they stay on track while traveling. − What if changes to medications occur over the summer break? Please read FAQ found under the FAQ tab on the home page. − No forms, including copies of insurance cards, will be accepted via email any longer to ensure complete accuracy of student information.

Paperwork

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE LAST SLIDE.

• Total cost per student (estimated) = $1,260.00
• Catalina Island Marine Institute Tuition (based on last year’s tuition)
• $525
• Includes lunch upon arrival.
• Chaperone & Administrative costs
• $110
• Covers chaperone tuition, airfare, hotel,

and school store fees

• Hotel/Meals
• $120
• Includes dinner/breakfast
• Dinner at LAX Friday night
• Snacks for ferry ride to Catalina
• Transportation
• $390 - $490 (est. high)
• Airfare (direct flight)
• $350 - $450
• Charter bus
• $40
• Customized tee (to be worn on travel days, and intended to be a souvenir)
• $15

− There is a limit to the number of attendees; 150 spots are available on a first come, first served basis. Anyone who registers after the spots are filled will be put on a waitlist. The cap is pending availability on flights and accommodations at CIMI. − Final cost depends on flights, number of students attending, and any unforeseen increases in rates from last year’s trip. − Aside from the above, the only additional cost may be purchasing needed items from the packing list and/or cash for souvenirs purchased at CIMI.

Costs

• February 4, 2020: The registration process begins.
• February 12, 2020: Q & A Meeting – 6:00-7:00 PM (MB Cafeteria) –

Please plan to attend a meeting if you still have questions after reviewing this presentation, or feel free to come introduce yourself and/or hear what others may be curious about regarding the trip.

• February 18, 2020: Q & A Meeting – 8:15-9:15 AM (MB Cafeteria) –

Please plan to attend a meeting if you still have questions after reviewing this presentation, or feel free to come introduce yourself and/or hear what others may be curious about regarding the trip.

• March 11, 2020: Registration Meeting – 4:30-6:00 PM (MB & CP Main Floor Hallway)

Please bring with you the Student Information Card, CIMI registration form, completed medical forms, and a copy of your insurance card (front and back). If you arrive without medical forms because you are not planning to send any medications, you will complete a “no medication” form at registration. Staff will be on hand to check over forms to ensure they are completed correctly. Provided laptops will be available at the end of the process to register on the school store and pay the deposit of $550. Registration will not be available at any other time, so please ensure your school store password and stored credit card information are up to date before coming to the meeting. Any forms that are incomplete will be returned to you and due back on March 25, 2020. You will officially be registered once paperwork is complete, registration on the school store has been made, and the deposit has been paid.

• March 25, 2020: Registration Meeting – 4:30-6:00 PM (MB Main Floor Hallway)

Please bring with you the Student Information Card, CIMI registration form, completed medical forms, and a copy of your insurance card (front and back). If you arrive without medical forms because you are not planning to send any medications, you will complete a “no medication” form at registration. Staff will be on hand to check over forms to ensure they are completed correctly. Provided laptops will be available at the end of the process to register on the school store and pay the deposit of $550. Registration will not be available at any other time, so please ensure your school store password and stored credit card information are up to date before coming to the meeting. Please make sure all forms are complete as well as registration closes at the end of this day. You will officially be registered once paperwork is complete, registration on the school store has been made, and the deposit has been paid.

• March 25, 2020: The registration process closes.
• June 1, 2020: Final payment due date.

You will receive an e-mail the last week of May with the final amount which will be charged to the credit card on file within the school store.

• August 13, 2020: Mandatory Pre-departure Meeting – 5:30 PM (MB Cafeteria)

Important Dates

How can I reach someone if there is an emergency on our end?

I will have cell service Sunday, and Friday evening after returning to Long Beach. You may reach me at (720) 607-0675. Please contact CIMI’s landline for emergencies only at (310) 510-1622, as cell service is not available on the island.

Does my child know who his/her chaperone is? What about roommates? How are the groups arranged?

I will be meeting with students before our departure to go over trip details and to share groups/chaperones. Room assignments will be given once we arrive at CIMI. Groups are arranged by gender and compatibility, and checked by teachers/administration who do their best to ensure students are with one or more of their friends throughout the week. Requests are not accepted for day groups or rooming assignments.

How many chaperones attend? Can parents chaperone a trip?

We take a ratio of 1:10 on each trip, including a nurse from each campus. Chaperones consist of all AA staff: i.e. administrators, teachers, nurses. Parents are not permitted to attend an overnight STEM trip. A list of chaperones will be provided once they are confirmed. Please note changes sometimes occur at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances.

Do I need to submit new medical forms if they were submitted to the school nurse at the beginning of the year, or were submitted for a previous trip?

Forms submitted to the school nurse are needed for their reference throughout the school year. Medical forms for trips need to be submitted each trip due to Douglas County policies.

What if there are changes to medications over the summer break?

In order to keep all students safe, we need to know about (and have documentation for) any medication changes. Please note that due to unpredictable side effects, students who are placed on new medications or have a dosage change to existing medications within one month of the trip may not be allowed to travel. Please contact us at stemtrips@aak8.org immediately if your child’s medications look like they will be changing around the time of the trip!

Will someone call me if there is a problem with my child?

You will be contacted if your child is injured, becomes ill, or is exhibiting unacceptable behavior on the trip. Parents will be notified in the following cases: injury/illness, provided the injury/illness is reported to chaperones by the student, or another party; injury requiring medical attention; fever higher than 100 degrees; diarrhea and/or vomiting.

What does my child need to do about work missed while at Catalina?

Math is typically the only thing assigned while away on a trip. Students will be responsible to check in with each of their teachers a week prior to departure for information regarding missed worked.

FAQ

Time to take the quiz!

Thank you for your interest in next year’s 7th grade trip to Catalina Island. There will be a short quiz for you to take reviewing some of the key components to this process. (10 questions) After completing the quiz with 100% accuracy (using notes, two separate browser windows), you will be prompted to complete student and contact information. Please note you’ll need the following to complete the contact information section:

• Student ID# (Located within Infinite Campus)
• Emergency Contact Information for non-parent (email, phone number)
• Emergency Contact Information for up to four non-parents/family members (email, phone number)

Lastly, an email containing necessary forms to complete will be sent to the first provided parent email address. These forms need to be completed prior to a registration meeting. Information for each form can be found on the Paperwork slide. Thank you!

Please click HERE to access the quiz.