Middle School

May 15, 2008: Required forms for

• 7th Grade Trip to Tofino
• 8th Grade Trip to Four Corners
  
  

Dear 7th-Grade Parents,

This year the 7th grade will be traveling to Vancouver Island for an outdoor experience to beautiful Tofino, B.C. The trip includes five days and four nights of camping and adventure. Students will learn wilderness survival skills, orienteering, kayaking, surfing, and more. Over the course of the trip, students will have the chance to kayak, surf, and learn about outdoor survival skills including building an emergency shelter in the wilderness and orienteering.

The Salt Spring Adventure Company, a sightseeing company based in Tofino, will facilitate the trip; SCDS chaperones on the trip will be Math Teacher David Evans, Art Teacher Crystal Aspen, and Winterim Ski Instructor Charlotte Austin.

There are a number of important logistics for this trip because we are a school group crossing the Canadian/U.S. border, so please go through this packet carefully.

Below is a link to forms and the action needed for each:
1. Gear List – please follow the guidelines on the gear list. Students should be able to carry all their gear
2. Two copies Affidavit of Permission for Minor to Travel with Escort, which must be notarized and both copies returned.
3. Tofino Sea Kayaking Company Waiver and Release to sign and return
4. Salt Spring Adventure Company conditions and Release to sign and return
5. Surf Sister Registration Form and Participant Form to sign and return
6. SCDS Request for Financial Assistance to submit if necessary
7. SCDS Emergency Information and Medical Form to review, update and return

On Monday, June 2
Meet at Lower Woodland Playfield (where the Winterim buses meet at Green Lake Way and N 50th) by 6:45 a.m. Load gear onto the van and board the bus.
Bus departs at 7:00 a.m. promptly. Being on time is extremely important, as the bus needs to catch a 9:45 ferry to Vancouver Island. A complete itinerary was mailed home and can be found here (you will need to login to the Friday Flyer page.)

On Friday, June 6
The bus will return to Lower Woodland Playfield at 6:30 p.m. Please pick up your child promptly, and get ready to hear some great stories.

Questions? Please contact Marianne Picha or David Evans.

Dear 8th-Grade Parents,

At last, we have all the pieces in place for this year’s 8th-grade trip to the Four Corners region of the Southwest. A trip itinerary is included, along with assorted forms and updates that need to be returned to the front office by Wednesday, May 28.

Airport Departure: The dates for the trip are Monday, June 2, through Monday, June 9. The class flies to the Albuquerque from Seattle on June 2 on SW Flight # 3686 at 6:55 a.m., arriving in Albuquerque at 10:54 a.m.
Airport Return: We return on Monday, June 9, departing Albuquerque on SW Flight #40 at 7:35 p.m., arriving in Seattle at 9:35 p.m.

June Schedule: After the trip, the 8th graders will be given the following day, Tuesday, June 10, off from school as a recuperation day. There will be no 8th-grade classes that day. Wednesday, June 11, will be a regular day at school, including the Recognition Assembly and graduation rehearsal. And finally, Thursday, June 12, will be graduation at Noon at Seattle Pacific University. Students have the option of coming to school that day and attending Beach Day, with the understanding that they will be dressed and ready for graduation by 11:50 at Seattle Pacific University.

Chaperones and Lodging: We will be sending three faculty members on the trip: Social Students teacher Mary Lowry, Spanish teacher Maricarmen Navarro, and PE teacher Shiloh Ratcliffe. Deb Sullivan, former SCDS PE teacher and Athletic Director, has been instrumental in planning this exciting trip and has arranged for an additional chaperone to meet us in Albuquerque. The group will reside in a dorm at Ft. Lewis Community College, where there will be privacy and meals throughout the trip. All adventures are contracted with professional guide groups.

Cost and Assistance: The cost of the trip is $1,800. Please remember that there is financial assistance available through the Connor Wright Fund. You may return the Request for Financial Assistance forms directly to the business office. All other forms should come to the front office:

• Seattle Country Day School Release Form
• Mild to Wild Release Form
• Southwest Adventure Company Release Form

Please review the itinerary and gear list which were sent home.

The teachers and kids are excited about this adventure. We look forward to a fantastic send off for your kids.

Sincerely,

Marianne Picha
Interim Middle School Head