Dear parent(s),
As our long awaited ski trip to Austria is fast approaching I would like to update you on arrangements that need to be made prior to our departure. :
If your child needs any medical assistance whilst on the slopes it is a good idea for them to have any medical information that they need on their person. Therefore could I ask all parents to purchase a small see-through plastic bag (E.g. sandwich bag, snap and lock type). In this bag please put the form at the end of this letter which provides the following details:
· your Childs name
· and any medical conditions/allergies,
· contact details of parents
· and the E1 11 card (see below).
Please put this bag into a pocket on your child’s ski suit (not a pocket that will be regularly used, an arm or chest pocket would be ideal). Hopefully, your child shouldn’t need to open the pocket but MUST know which pocket the information is in.
We will be carrying such information about your children with us but this is a further measure of safety.
We have arranged for the children to be provided with evening entertainment for the three nights that they will be staying in Austria.
1st night: Tirolean Dancing / Austrian culture (a fun packed night, children will have great fun playing traditional music and learning traditional dances)
2nd night: Swimming. The pool in Zell Am See has a slide that takes the children outside the building, into the snow, then brings them back inside to splash in the water Swimming costume and towel needed please add this to the list that you were given recently.
3rd night: Bowling (Austrian style).
Children do not have to take part in any of the activities if they do not want to. However the children will be expected to attend the Austrian night. Nights 2 and 3 will require us to leave the hotel, therefore all children will be required to come with us even if they do not wish to swim or bowl. We have managed to get all of these activities for the amazing price of 10 Euros total. This will be need to be paid on the first night that we arrive in Austria and will be collected by the teachers.
It is a good idea to give the children “tatty trainers” to use to get back and forth from the slopes as the snow can damage trainers very easily.
To do now:
· Ensure that your child has an E1 11 card (EHIC CARD), if you have not got one they can be obtained in a few days from the post office.
Two weeks before departure:
· Please could all passports and any medication that you wish us to take for your child be given to the school secretary Mrs. S. Roberts by Monday 23 March, (the Monday before we go). All medication (E.g. Piriton) must have your child’s name clearly marked on the bottle/packet and placed inside a bag/container with your child’s name on it. Instructions on how to administer the medicine and a parents signature must be included to say that we can administer the medicine if required. You can pick them up from the office the day after we get back Friday 3rd April or after the Easter holidays.
· It is a good idea to pack ski socks into hand luggage as we will go for a ski fit as soon as we arrive in resort.
· It is also advisable for the children to wear their ski jackets to travel. This means that the suitcases are lighter and easier to pack.
· Please ensure that you child has a pillow for the bus, a sleeping bag or blanket is also advisable.
· Please ensure that you have all the recommended clothing on the list sent out in the recent pack.
· As you can appreciate we will have a large number of similar sized skis and boots. We will mark each but if your child has a handkerchief, adult sweatband etc that they can tie around their skis this will help us enormously.
One week before departure
· Your child will need a combination of Euros and £ Sterling (See below)
· Check all recent correspondence regarding the tip and ensure that all is packed.
Day of departure :
· Make packed lunch for the journey. We will be leaving on Saturday (late afternoon) and arrive lunch time on the Sunday. We will be stopping at services every 3 to 4 hours both here and in Europe, however a small prepacked selection of food (that doesn’t go off easily) will cut down on costs. Please remember to tell your child how quickly the food is to be eaten (although they will be reminded constantly on the journey).
Costs:
We want to keep the cost as affordable to all parents therefore I would like to run through the costs that the children will come up against over the trip. The weakened pound against the Euro has not helped matters and I hope that the following sounds reasonable. I have negotiated a deal with the bus drivers. They will sell drinks (FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP) E.g Coke, diet coke, water etc at 60p or 1 Euro, (60p is obviously far cheaper) and chocolates / sweets at a similarly cheap price. (European prices can be considerably more).
Day 1
24 hours travelling
British services and ferry (Including packed lunch) £0.00
Money needed for breakfast (and small charge for the use of toilets 50c) in German services 10Euros
Refundable deposit for lift pass 5Euros
Food provided when we arrive at hotel.
Day 2
Breakfast provided
Lunch on slopes and drinks (although drinks can be purchased through bus drivers) 15 Euros.
Dinner provided
Day 3
Breakfast provided
Lunch on slopes and drinks (although drinks can be purchased through bus drivers) 15 Euros.
Dinner provided
Day 4
Breakfast provided
Lunch on slopes and drinks (although drinks can be purchased through bus drivers) 15 Euros.
Dinner provided – leave resort.
Day 5 – Breakfast on ferry £10
Purchase of drinks/chocolate from coach drivers £10
Entertainment package 10 Euros
Total suggested: 85 Euros and £20
I hope that the above gives you an idea of the money required, if you want staff to look after the children’s money and give the children a set amount per day please put the money in a zipped purse / wallet with your child name and clear instructions on daily amounts inside. You can give these to staff on the day of departure or ask the children to give them to us. Alternatively the children can have ownership of their own money. N.B. Children love buying presents for parents / siblings these have not been allowed for in my costing, if you do not wish them to purchase such items please tell them before we depart.
Please do not give your child any more than 100 Euros and £25. The suggested amount of 85 euros and £20 is adequate for the length of time we are away.
Both schools have decided upon a number of rules:
money (max as above)
mobile phones are not allowed
ipods / electronic games – (if you don’t want to lose it don’t take it)
Digital cameras - (if you don’t want to lose it don’t take it) Disposable cameras are a good idea. I will be taking lots of photographs of the children over the course of the trip and will put them on a cd for each parent when we come back if you would like one.
Your child will be able to phone you from the payphone at the hotel. I will post this letter as well as any further correspondence on our school news blog. I will also post confirmation of arrival and a message each evening to say that the children are ok ( excluding the evening that we are travelling back on the bus). Mr. Roberts will post an approximate arrival time on the day of return.
You can access the NEWS blog via our website: www.rctednet.net/pontyclunprimary Choose blogs and then news.
Please note that there are 30 children and 4 staff attending from Pontyclun Primary School. The recommended number of staff by Edwards Coaches is 3, however we have paid for an additional member of staff to attend out of the school budget.
The staff members are myself, Mr. Williams, Miss. Baker and Mrs. Gardiner
Penygauwsi Primary School are taking 14 children and two members of staff.
May I take this opportunity to thank you all for ensuring that your payments are made on time and for your support.
We understand that many of the children may not have spent as long a period of time as this away from home, and you will obviously have questions and concerns. Please can I assure you that your child’s safety and well being is of our utmost concern and that the staff attending are very experienced at organising residential trips away. If you have any questions regarding the trip please feel free to send a letter into school, email me at Andrew.m.llewellyn@rctednet.net or of course pop in and have a chat.
Thank you once again
Mr. Llewellyn
