Re: Battlefields Trip 2 nd 3rd November Dear Parents / Guardians

Transcription

1 Re: Battlefields Trip 2 nd 3rd November 2018 Dear Parents / Guardians I am writing this letter to inform you about a Year 9 History trip (for the current Year 8s) to the First World War battlefields in both Ypres (Belgium) and the Somme (France) with Anglia Tours, Friday 2 nd Saturday 3 rd November (the week before Remembrance Day on the 100 th anniversary of the Armistice) to support the unit on the First World War. There are 42 places available on the trip which will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Please find the details of the proposed itinerary below. As you can see it involves a very early start and a late return, but promises to be an extremely worthwhile and rewarding experience for your son/daughter. Proposed itinerary Day 1 Fri 2 Nov An executive coach arrives. Coach Company: Driver Details: 0445 Depart school Collect Guide and depart latest from Maidstone Services Guide: Sean Cripps requested 0850 Outbound crossing. Booking Reference: 1030 France local time Arrive Ypres may include: Lijssenthoek Causes of the Great War, 1914 battles, ethos of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Empire troops, the role of women in the Great War. Hooge Crater Museum Museum with a recreation of a trench system: the development of Trench warfare; use of ground, trench construction, daily routine, technology, problems with trench fighting An opportunity for the group to handle equipment and weaponry and for a member of the group to dress in Great War uniform; Opportunity to eat lunch inside and purchase hot drinks. The Menin Gate

2 Sir Reginald Blomfield s Memorial to the Missing on the Ypres Salient; site of the daily the Last Post ceremony since 1928 Chocolate Shopping if school wishes Langemarck Germany Cemetery - German Perspective German cemetery ethos, Slaughter of the Innocents, Hitler s 1940 visit, causes of WW2, reconciliation. Vancouver Corner Gas - (Drive By) Poison gas and its effects, WMD today. Tyne Cot - Remembrance rd Ypres (Passchendaele), 1918 the end of the war, Remembrance an opportunity to reflect. Dinner Depart for accommodation Messines Peace Village requested Nieuwkerkestraat 9, B-8957 Ieper, Belgium Day 2 Sat 3 Nov Depart accommodation after breakfast 1030 Arrive Somme to include: Sunken Lane The Somme Kitchener's Army and the Pals Battalions; Recruitment; The Plan for 1st July 1916; 1st Bn Lancashire Fusiliers; Going over the top Hawthorn Ridge Crater The development of Mine warfare on the Western Front; Great War; Hawthorn Ridge mine. The Battle of the Somme captured on film by Geoffrey Malins. Packed lunches to be collected from Ocean Villas Newfoundland Memorial Park The Newfoundland Regiment on 1 st July; Preserved trench system and an opportunity to walk across the battlefield. Ulster Tower The Story of the 36th Ulster Division, background to the Troubles: the story of Billy McFadzean VC. Lochnagar Crater The use of Mine warfare in the Great War. Thiepval Memorial to the Missing The Somme a British victory? The impact of the battle; A chance for reflection; summing up and close of tour Depart Somme.

3 Possible time to stop to purchase food 2050 Inbound shuttle Arrive UK (local time) Arrive school (approx. time only). Payment The cost of the trip is 235 which includes transport, payment of our guides, museum entry costs, evening meal and insurance. If you wish your son/daughter to join this trip please complete the slip below and make a payment of on ParentPay by Friday 2 nd March (deposits are nonrefundable once the participant has been accepted on the trip). We regret that payments by cash and cheque will not be accepted. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis (maximum 40 places). Two further payments of 80 will be required by Wednesday 18 th April and Friday 25 th May Please feel free to contact me if you require any further details. Passports and EHIC Cards Your son / daughter will need a valid passport to enable him / her to leave and re-enter the country; and a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to ensure that he /she is covered in the unlikely case that he /she needs medical assistance. (These are obtainable from your local Post Office or applications can be made online. Although new applications are no longer issued at the Post Office, it is easy to renew over the phone). Arrival and Clothing Students should arrive at the school at 0430 at the latest, so that we can depart at There is no requirement to dress in school uniform, but students should be dressed smartly, wearing appropriate footwear and should also pack some warm layered clothing (including headwear and gloves) and waterproofs/umbrella in case of inclement weather. Mobile Phones/iPods/Cameras etc Anglia Tours has no objection to any of the above but would request that, with the exception of cameras, these remain on the coach when the guides are working with the students. Anglia Tours and the school cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to such items. Food Students should also bring a packed lunch with them to eat on the ferry or on the coach, and enough money in sterling for snacks. (Chewing gum is not allowed on the coach). As you can see from the itinerary an evening meal (included in the price of the trip) will be provided in Ypres on the Friday night (Last year it was pizza followed by ice cream). However, students will need to buy their own meal on the Saturday evening at either a service station or the Eurotunnel departure lounge. Dietary Requirements

4 It is important that you inform the school if your son/daughter has any dietary requirements. Unfortunately, it may not be possible to accommodate all requests but the tour company will do its best to help. Pocket Money The tour company recommends that no more than per day be taken as pocket money. (20 Euros should be more than sufficient). Please note that the tour company suggests that Euros are purchased individually before the departure date, as there is no provision in the itinerary for purchasing/changing foreign currency. Supervision The proposed trip supervisors will be as follows: Mr Murphy, Miss Cox and two additional members of staff to be confirmed. Medical Conditions/Medication and Passengers with Reduced Mobility The school and the tour company need to be made aware of any particular medical conditions that may affect the tour. If your son/daughter is on medication please ensure he/she has sufficient with him/her and please note that coaches do not necessarily have refrigerators, so if any medication has to be kept cool it should be kept in a thermal container. Insurance All students will be covered by an appropriate insurance policy, copies of which will be available at a later date. Behaviour Finally, I must also mention that if at any time from now to our departure date your son / daughter s behaviour is considered by the school to be unacceptable and might cause serious concern whilst abroad the school reserves the right to refuse to take them on the trip. No refund will be made unless another student can be found to take their place. On the day of the trip your son / daughter will be an ambassador for the school and must behave accordingly, particularly as we will be visiting cemeteries where they will be expected to be quiet and respectful; and battlefields where WWI munitions are still sometimes discovered. It is, therefore, extremely important that all students follow the adult supervisors instructions immediately when asked. I am sure all parents understand how important trust, behaviour and safety are on these trips. I hope that you will be able to give your son/daughter the opportunity to participate in this trip, which they will remember for the rest of their lives. Yours sincerely Kevin Murphy (History Teacher)

5 Year 9 Battlefield Tour Registration of Interest Form Please return to: Kevin Murphy by Friday 2 nd March 2018 Name:.. Form: I would like my son / daughter to participate in the two day battlefields tour at cost of 235 and have made a 75 payment on ParentPay. Please tick. I have completed the parental consent form (attached). Please tick. Passport. I have enclosed a copy of my passport. Please tick EHIC card. I have enclosed a copy of my EHIC card In line with County policy, once the student is accepted on the visit, then you must pay the required sums by whatever date(s) are specified and accept that, in respect of any withdrawal from the visit for whatever reasons, there will be no refund of the whole or part of the payment(s) made unless the circumstances are covered by travel insurance or otherwise at the discretion of the school governors. Whilst the school does not set out to make any profit on school trips, occasionally a small residual balance is left over. If the residual balance is of a significant amount per student, a refund will be made. I agree that any small amount of money left over from this trip may be donated to the school fund. Please tick. Signature.

6 SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL EDUCATIONAL VISITS NAME OF CHILD: PARENTAL CONSENT FORM (PC/07) DATE OF BIRTH:.. SCHOOL: St Benedict s School VISIT(S) TO: Battlefields DATE(S) OF VISIT(S): Friday 2 nd Saturday 3 rd November I have received and read details of the above visit(s). I consent to my child taking part in the visit(s) and the activities indicated. I acknowledge that the staff will be liable in the event of any accident only if they have failed to take reasonable care of my child during the visit. I have read any information provided with regard to the standard of behaviour and/or code of conduct expected during the visit and I undertake to reinforce this information with my child. I consent to my child receiving medical treatment that, in the opinion of a qualified medical practitioner, may be necessary. My child s doctor s name and address is:.. I undertake to pay the required sums by whatever date(s) are specified to me and accept that, in respect of any withdrawal from the visit for whatever reasons, there will be no refund of the whole or part of the payment(s) made unless the circumstances are covered by travel insurance or otherwise at the discretion of the School Governors. Signed:..(Parent/Carer) PLEASE COMPLETE THE SECTIONS BELOW 1. Please give your home address and contact phone numbers. If you will be away from home during the visit, please give an alternative address where you, or a relative or friend acting for you, can be contacted. Home Address Name: Address:... Post Code: Tel:.. Tel:.. Alternative Contact if required Name:.. Address:. Post Code:.. Tel: Tel: 2. In your child s interest, it is important that the organising staff should know whether he or she suffers from any illness or medical condition. Please use this space to state, in confidence, any health or other matter concerning your child of which accompanying staff should be aware. Please indicate here also if your child is receiving medication, with details and dosage, and/or has any specific dietary requirements. 3. Please provide details of any dietary requirements