Dear 8^th Grade Parents,

There are only 7 months until the 8^th grade class departs to Washington, DC!  Mrs. Truax and Mr. McKenzie are coordinating this year’s trip.  Mr. McKenzie will be joining Mrs. Moritz on the trip, while Mrs. Truax will be coordinating the curricular component of the experience.  We are traveling through Smithsonian Student Travel (also called SST).  Here are the basic facts: 

Tour ID:           586690-G1 (For fastest enrollment visit smithsonianstudenttravel.com.)

Requested Tour Dates:  May 14, 2009 through May 16, 2009

Total Student Cost: $1,160.00

Total Adult Cost:  $1,270.00

Coverage Plan:  $85 (I believe this is optional)

Application deadline:  March 3, 2009

$150 deposit due with applications (non refundable).

The price listed above includes:

. Round-trip airfare

. Bus transportation while on tour

. Accommodations in nationally recognized hotels with overnight security on each floor

. Breakfasts and dinners as specified

. Comprehensive sightseeing tours and excursions, led by expert local guides

. Select entrance fees and theater tickets as specified

. Full-time services of an SST Tour Director throughout the program

. Walking/sightseeing tours as specified

. All non-optional gratuities (bus driver, tour guides, etc)

. 24-hour Emergency Assistance on tour

. Backpack tag, luggage tag and travel journal per tour

. Medical and Accident Insurance per tour

. SST's standard cancellation policy

There are 4 ways to enroll in our group travel: 

1. Enroll online at www.smithsonianstudenttravel.com to sign up quickly and easily online! Just scroll down to the green bar on the left for “Parents and Students”, and click “Enroll in your teacher’s tour”

All you need is to enter Tour ID #586690 and then follow directions for payment

2. Call your application and payment in to customer service:  888-333-9756 (phone lines are open 8:30am – 8pm eastern standard time). 

3. Fax your application and credit card information into 800-318-3732

4. Mail the application into:   (I have attached an application to this email (PDF file).)

Smithsonian Student Travel

Attn: Meghan Welch (Confidential)

One Education Street

Cambridge, MA 02141

There is some benefit to signing up now.  First, you can choose to use Autopay (I have attached a PDF file with more details).  Autopay allows you to make monthly payments toward the trip.  The prices are outlined below:

Total Price With Autopay Total

Students   $149 /month $1,190 (Sept-April I believe)

Adults   $163 /month $1,300 (Sept-April I believe)

The itinerary is listed on the SST website.  It may vary a bit as we want to travel to the Holocaust Museum and other monuments.  We will also see if we can get into the Whitehouse.  These will be added as we continue to coordinate the trip.  

It is a wonderful trip for parents as well as students.  Please consider joining us on this great adventure.  Last year Mrs. Nelson was fortunate enough to go as a parent along with 8 or 9 other parents, and it was truly amazing.  

Please let Mrs. Truax, Mrs. Curley or Mr. McKenzie know if you have any questions.