When is the trip and how much will it cost?
Does my student have to go on the trip?
What do the students do that do not go on the trip?
How do I register my child for the trip?
How do I make payments? When are payments due?
Can parents help chaperone?
Will you be doing any fund raisers to help students pay for the trip?
When will they choose roommates?
Will there be a parent meeting before the trip?
What will they see while in Washington, D.C.?
Will my child miss course work while they are gone? Do they have to take school work with them?
Do I have to buy the trip insurance? What if we sign up and can’t go.
Is food provided?
What should they pack?
How much cash should they take with them?
What are the accommodations?
Who will be my child’s chaperone?
What do I do if my child has special medical needs?
Who should I contact if there are issues with my payments or account?
How do I get information that is passed along at school?
- The trip is Monday, October 14th -Thursday, October 17th (there is no school Friday, October 18th).
- It will cost $690. This price includes transportation, hotel fees, all food, and all admission fees. Basically, they need money for “wants”… souvenirs, extra snacks, etc. The amount you send with your child is completely your decision.
Does my student have to go on the trip?
- No, we cannot make anyone go. The trip is optional.
What do the students do that do not go on the trip?
- 8th grade students will have class and activities but no new information or classwork will be presented
How do I register my child for the trip?
- Go to www.prodigystudenttravel.com and make an account. Follow the directions on the website. REGISTRATION IS ALL ONLINE.
- The Access Code is: HLJIT
- Enter the school name as Memorial Middle School
How do I make payments? When are payments due?
- The first payment is due March 15th - $125
- April 19th- $113
- May 24th- $113
- June 28th- $113
- August 2nd- $113
- September 6th- $113
- Any child with an unpaid balance on their account will not be eligible to participate in roommate selection. Roommate selection takes place about a week after the final payment is due.
Can parents help chaperone?
- We DO NOT use parent chaperones. All chaperones are HCSD employees.
Will you be doing any fund raisers to help students pay for the trip?
- NO
When will they choose roommates?
- In August/September when we are back in school
- Papers will be passed out to them and they will pick 3 other roommates
Will there be a parent meeting before the trip?
- Yes, there is one in February their 7th grade year and one in September before the trip their 8th grade year
What will they see while in Washington, D.C.?
- Lots of stuff! You can find an itinerary under the "Forms and Docs" link in the top right hand corner
Will my child miss course work while they are gone? Do they have to take school work with them?
- There is no new material taught at MMS and no assessments done while we are gone. Students do not have to make-up missed work or take assignments with them (with the exception of an occasional high school credit course but they still have Friday-Sunday to do any work).
Do I have to buy the trip insurance? What if we sign up and can’t go.
- Trip insurance is your responsibility. Prodigy does not provide trip insurance.
Is food provided?
- The first day students will pack a lunch
- From that point they will be given allowances for lunch and dinner (dollar amount depends on the place)
What should they pack?
- Each student may bring one piece of luggage which will be placed under the bus and generally unavailable during travel times. Each child may also bring a small carry-on bag for snacks, water, iPods, books, etc. Everything your child brings will be their responsibility to keep safe.
- A complete list of packing suggestions is on the Washington DC link on the MMS Website.
- School iPads are NOT permitted on the trip.
- No gaming devices.
- Please follow the schools dress code. We are representing Memorial. No inappropriate clothing as lined out in our school handbook.
How much cash should they take with them?
- That is at the discretion of the family
- Keep in mind DC is expensive.
- A hoodie is about $35
What are the accommodations?
- They stay in a hotel room with 3 other students who they get to choose. This happens about a week after final payments are due.
- Students are placed on a tour bus with their roommates for the entire trip.
Who will be my child’s chaperone?
- The bus is chaperoned by 3 or more HCSD staff members. There is also a trip coordinator from Prodigy on each bus and a professional tour guide will join us when we arrive in D.C. This allows teachers to focus on the students while the tour company can focus on details.
- Your child’s specific chaperone will be posted a week before the trip and is subject to change at any time.
- A security guard will be placed on each hotel floor overnight. This keeps your child IN and others OUT. They are not to enter your child’s room but are available in emergencies to get a school chaperone.
What do I do if my child has special medical needs?
- Paperwork will need to be completed for prescription medication. These forms can be found under the "Emergency and Rx Information" link on the top right corner of this website.
- If your child has specific medical needs we may be able to make arrangements. Any child with medication is expected to be responsible for taking their own medication, including over the counter items. If you have medical concerns for your child please contact the school nurse and Mrs. Thompson. Chaperones do NOT carry, store, or distribute ANY medications.
Who should I contact if there are issues with my payments or account?
- Questions about your account or payments should be directed to Prodigy
- Their phone number: 614-436-8747
How do I get information that is passed along at school?
- Printed materials from meetings can be picked up in the main office
- MMS announcements, E-Blasts, remind.com (remind 101) and the school website will have information as it comes available.
- Important documents (itinerary, medical forms, etc.) are also available on the Discovery Tours website.
- Visit the "Forms and Docs" page of this website and watch the "Home" page for announcements and messages.