Parent Information Letter
Welcome! Your child is an excited grade 7 middle school student because they have just brought
home an application package for the Ultimate Science Trip to Orlando, Florida in March of 2018.
He or she was presented some information about the trip at their school and now they want to
convince you to let them go!
(Keep this cover letter for future reference)
Good Things to Know
Places we go to:
Cocoa Beach
Magic Kingdom
Hollywood Studios
EPCOT
Animal Kingdom
Busch Gardens Tampa
Sea World
Discovery Cove
Kennedy Space Centre
Islands of Adventure
Universal Studios
Amway Center
Downtown Disney
Wizarding World of
Harry Potter!
NASA
All meals, hotels, flights, VIP passes,
transportation, tickets are included!
We are just missing you!!
Awesome things we do:
Snorkel in a reef with 1000’s of
fish and rays!
Lunch with an Astronaut
Orlando Magic Basketball Game
Swim with the dolphins!
Rip around on Airboats looking for gators & other species.
Go to Disney School and their Youth Education Classes
On court greeting of The Orlando Magic Basketball Team
Learn the technology used with the rides of Florida
Tour of a replica Serengeti Plain learning about and
feeding some of the animals like giraffes!
Visit International Pavilions to experience 11 countries!
Learn about physics by riding all the giant roller coasters!
Enjoy many theatrical shows and live performances like
Indiana Jones Stunt show, Special Theatrical and make-up
shows, concert, parades, plus more!
Not to mention all the roller coasters, water rides, night
shows, pool party and delicious meals!
Have your picture taken with the Atlantis Space Shuttle!
Feed the Manta Rays!
Plus so much more there’s not enough room!!
http://grouponesultimatesciencetrip.wordpress.com/
As a family, you must now decide if this amazing trip is for you. The trip is life changing for many
students in so many ways. What an opportunity to be with like-minded motivated peers that is
almost impossible to duplicate anywhere! We have provided the following information to help you
make an informed decision.
1. The trip will be held during Spring Vacation of 2018. This 8 day, all inclusive trip will cost
approximately $3550 and is payable in 10 installments to keep payments low and affordable. Due
to the fluctuating exchange rate the price is only an approximation. In addition, there is
mandatory school insurance is only $65 and luggage fees if applicable.
2. Please attach a $450 cheque to your child’s application. This cheque will be cashed if your son or
daughter is accepted or it will be returned by mail if your child is placed on the waiting list.
Parent Chaperones also need to attach their cheque too. Thank you!
3. If accepted on the trip, payments of $325 per month will be required at the end of January,
February, March, April, May, Sept., Oct., Nov. (2017), January, 2018, with the balance due by
the end of February, 2018. The first deposit is non-refundable. However, if you should choose to
drop out before Sept. 30, 2017, then all payments would be refunded, except for the initial
deposit. From October 1, 2017 and on, ALL deposits / funds are non-refundable.
4. A fundraising committee will be established by the parents and this will give the families many
opportunities over a longer period of time to earn a great deal of funds for all or part of the trip.
Our trip offers countless options and circumstances that probably exceeds all other school or
community youth initiatives! It also gives your son/daughter a chance to take ownership for this
fabulous opportunity by earning their own money to put towards the costs! Those funds that are
generated in group activities are usually accessed and used for the last payment in February.
5. All applications will be reviewed by the Florida Teachers who spend a lot of time and effort
selecting students who are deserving of this opportunity. Participants will be selected based on
the application information, teacher references, school attendance and behaviour.
6. Once accepted, Parents and Students must sign a Behavior Contract and violation of this contract
may result in withdrawal from the trip with no reimbursements.
7. Explore the Website!: http://grouponesultimatesciencetrip.wordpress.com/ or just Google
“Ultimate Science Trip” to find the link for lots of other information. There is a YouTube link
to an Introductory video on The Ultimate Science Trip in the top menu of the web site.
8. If selected, bring passport, AHC, medical insurance card from work to the December 15th
meeting.
3 Easy Steps to Apply
1. To apply, parents and students will jointly fill out and return the following forms to your child’s
school contact by Thursday, December 1st. The forms are: a). Student Survey b). Parent
Agreement. (with attached cheque / money order) Made out to Westpark Middle School.
2. Attach a $450.00 cheque to the Parent Agreement Form. If your application is successful, your
cheque will be cashed on or after December 5th. All other applicants will be placed on a waiting
list and your cheque will be returned by mail from Westpark near the end of December. If you are
absolutely unable to attach this payment, simply call Mrs. Streit at 403-347-`8911 for preapproval.
3. Once you return your cheques and forms to your teacher/school contact, then they will give you 3
reference sheets to pass out to 3 teachers in grade 7 (the sooner the better), one of which MUST
be your science teacher. These will then be filled out by the teacher and given directly to the
Florida committee representative. Your child does not need to ask for them back.
Then What?
Anxiously wait for about a week or so and you will be informed by Canada Post mail if your
application was successful or if your application was placed on the waiting list. Please make sure
your name and address is printed neatly and clearly on all forms. Thank you!
The first meeting for those selected will be on Thursday, December 15th at Westpark at 6:30pm.
If you have any questions about this amazing opportunity, please call the tour coordinator, Scott
Cline at 403-347-8911 (WMS) or email him at [email protected].
Student Survey Form.
Full Name: _____________________________ Age: _____ School: _____________________________
Home phone number: ____________________
male or
female
(circle)
Complete the following survey for the Ultimate Science Trip 2018 (Approx. March 22nd – March 29th). The
Selection Committee needs as much information as possible to select the most suitable candidates.
Return this form to your school’s rep. by Thursday, December 1st. Please be honest with your answers.
You will be informed of our decisions by mail around December 6th-13th. Good luck!
1)
What are your reasons for going on this trip?
1.___________________________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________________________
3.___________________________________________________________________________
2)
Who do you know that went on the trip before you and what is their relationship to you?
___________________________________________________________________________
3)
What are the places, activities and other things that you are looking forward to the most, on the Florida
trip?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4)
The Ultimate Science Trip involves really long days and requires a great deal of physical endurance
(sometimes “speed walking” in excess of 7 km. each day in very hot conditions). Will you be able to
handle this?
(Circle)
yes
no
not sure
5)
Everyday of the trip we are up early, sometimes as early as 6:00 am., not returning until 9:30 pm. most
nights. Will you be able to do this?
(Circle)
yes
no
6)
Almost every day of the trip, each group has to make many choices on what to see, what to do and what
to eat. Are you willing to be a team player, a person who can make compromises and will cooperate
with your fellow group members AND your chaperone to make the trip a positive experience?
(Circle)
yes
no
7)
What attributes (personal / individual qualities) do you possess that make you an excellent
candidate and team member for this trip?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
8)
How many times have you flown outside of Canada? (Circle) 0
1
2
3
4
+5
If “so”, where and when? ______________________________________________________
9)
How many times have you traveled to Disneyland? (circle)
0
1
2
3
4
+5
If “so”, when? ____________________________________________________________
10)
How many times have you traveled to Disneyworld? (circle)
0
1
2
3
4
+5
If “so”, how old were you and where did you go? ____________________________________
11)
Have you ever flown on a passenger jet before? (Circle) yes
Do you get air sickness (circle) yes
12)
no
no
how many times _______
motion sickness (circle) yes
Have you ever traveled without your parents/guardians?
(Circle)
yes
no
no
If no, do you think you will get REALLY home sick? _____________________________
13)
14)
You will be sharing a large bed with one of your friends from your school and likely sharing your
hotel room with two others from a different school. Do you see this as being a problem?
(Circle)
yes
no
What do you hope to learn on the trip?
1._________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2._________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
15)
This is an all inclusive 8 day trip (all meals, tips, park admissions, VIP tickets, transportation,
flights, classes, pool party, group pictures, insurance, dolphin pictures, trip pictures, fundraising
opportunities…etc are included in the price), excluding spending money, may cost around $3550.
Do you plan on helping to fundraise for the trip? (Circle)
yes
no
16)
What efforts have you made so far to help prepare or get ready for this trip? (saved $, got a job…)
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
17)
Do you agree to demonstrate commitment to the trip by attending and participating in all of the
meetings? Missing more than 2 meetings will probably jeopardize your position on the trip.
(Circle)
yes
no
18)
Can you swim one length of a pool and tread water?
19)
Are you afraid of any animals? (Circle)
20)
Do you have any allergies or special needs? (dietary needs, physical needs, behavioral needs …etc.)
(Circle)
yes
no
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
21)
What athletic teams have you belonged to in the past year or so?
yes
(Circle)
yes
no
no, if so what? ______________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
22)
What school clubs / leadership initiatives / volunteer work have you participated within the last year?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
23)
What other responsibilities do you have at home or in the community? (Jobs, pets, family, regular
chores…)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
*Please sign your name to pledge your 100% participation and support in the trip.*
Good luck, and thanks for all of your effort to complete this form. Believe me, it’s
worth it! -Mr. C.
100% Completed forms will help your application!
Student Signature
Printed Parent Name
Date
Parent Signature
Parent E-mail address: ______________________________________________
Our Website address is: http://grouponesultimatesciencetrip.wordpress.com
Parent section
Parent(s), why do you think your child should be chosen to go on the Ultimate Science
Trip? (Not just needing a holiday away from you. lol )
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
School Contacts: CMS. –Mr. Devereaux, Normandeau – Mr. Good, WMS. –Mr. Hunter,
GCS. – Ms. Brown, EMS. – Mr. Golby, Glendale – Miss. Smith, G.H. Dawe – Miss Barrett
Surveys should be returned on Thursday, Dec. 1st or sooner to your school contact. Thank you!
Parent Agreement Form
(complete all blanks please)
___________________________ M or F _______________________ _________________________
Student’s full name
Home phone number
School
Address: _________________________________________Postal code:_____________________
__________________________________
Parent Email _______________________________
Yes! I would like my child to be a candidate for the all inclusive and Ultimate Science Trip 2018
in Florida! Here is my son’s / daughter’s deposit attached below:
-Students will be notified of their acceptance by mail between December 6 to the 13th!
-If accepted, we will attend the initial information meeting at West Park Middle School (Gym)
on DECEMBER 15th at 6:30pm. At Westpark Middle School gym.
By signing below we agree to the details of the cover letter, the student survey and most importantly,
support our child’s application for the 2018 Ultimate Science Trip!
______________________
Parent/ Guardian signature
_____________________
Student signature
_________________
Date
Deposit
**Please staple / attach
your $450 cheque here:
Make cheque payable to
Westpark Middle School.
Now return all forms back to your contact teacher and then hand out
your reference forms. Good luck!
Parent Chaperone Agreement Form
Mom or Dad can come too!
- In fact we encourage it! Just simply fill in the spaces below.
Chaperone Interest Yes! I want to go too!
If you are interested in coming along as a parent chaperone, please fill in the following information.
Chaperones pay the same fee as students. Parents are not required to do ALL the rides – but we dare you!
___________________________ M or F
Parent’s full name (print)
__________________
Cell number
_________________________
Main E-mail for communication
Please state below what experience you have had supervising groups of students and / or any medical
or first aide training you might have. _______________________________________________________
The Ultimate Science Trip involves really long days and requires a great deal of physical endurance.
We are up early and the days can be hot. Will you be able to handle this?
Yes - watch out!
**Please staple / attach
your $450 Chaperone deposit
cheque here:
Make cheque payable to
Westpark Middle School.
No- maybe next time?
Not Sure-in training!