Peru Tomorrow

I think it will be easier to keep updates along with a picture or two on this blog site rather than the google map. I will still do some updates on the map (possibly the same text information) but it has been difficult to get pictures on the map.

From the "day before" picture, I see that most of the students did not take us seriously when said we were going to have Tacky Tourist day today. Even Mrs. Jacobson didn't take her tourist responsibilities that seriously. We are going to have to work hard to turn this group into some serious tourists over the next few days.

Reminders:

We meet at the airport (American Airlines counter) at 4:30 am.

Make sure that everyone has their passports with them. We will have all the other forms that they need (permission to travel, e-ticket, medical, etc. )

You might want to weigh your bags tonight after you finish packing. Keep suitcases light.

Don't forget a daypack that you can fit enough in for overnight.

Get some sleep tonight!!!

Tomorrow we start our journey!!

April 9, 2010

Well we are just under a year away from traveling to Peru!!

Thank you for your input into the survey and the results are....there was an overwhelming majority in favour of adding the two day extension. I will contact our EF Tour Consultant and have the two days added soon. Check your EF Tours account to make sure this gets added to your tour. I will be checking on this as well.

If you have any questions, please contact Leanne or myself.

Mark Leggette

Agenda for Peru Meeting

February 25, 2010
7:30 PM
Didsbury High School Library

Registrations
– Online demo and forms
– Payments (Peace of Mind Program, Travel Security)
- Final Registrations
- Web site information for travelers. (payments, etc.)

Review of Trip
- Lima
- Cuzco
- Pisac
- Machu Picchu
- Option – River Rafting
- Option – Puerto Maldonado – Amazon Lodge, rainforest
2 day extension cost is $575
- humanitarian activity??? (Franklin Roosevelt School in Lima)


Trip Expectations:
- students
- parents
- supervisors

Outline for next year:
- Passports, 6 months, scanned,
- Medical forms and medical information
- Presentations – Kenton Zandee (EF Tours), Peru Travelers (2), Contacts
- Student Presentations
- Forms, Checklists,

Questions

Hello and Happy New Year,

Great News - At the monthly Chinook's Edge School Board meeting last week, the School Board officially approved the trip to Peru. We can now continue with our registrations and planning.

The next 6 months should look like the following:

1. By the 25th of February everyone on our initial list will have an opportunity to sign up. I will contact anyone who hasn't signed up yet and remind them that they need to make a decision on whether to go or not.

2. On the 25th of February we have scheduled a meeting (7:30 PM in the library) to finish signing up travelers, discuss optional excursions, and outline the year of planning ahead.

3. After the 25th of February we will let anyone on the waiting list sign up for the remainder of the spots available.

4. We will try and have all registrations completed by the end of March.

5. In early April we will have a meeting to decide on optional excursions.

That should take us to the end of the school year. Other trip planning, completion of forms, and information sharing will happen over the course of the 2010-2011 school year.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on February 25th.

Mark Leggette and Leanne Jacobson

Registration Extension

I been informed by EF Tours that they are extending the $75 off registration for the Peru 2011 trip until December 5, 2009. After that it is $50 off until December 15, 2009.

If your son/daughter has not picked up registration information or you did not attend the meeting last week you will need this information to proceed with registration.

If you have any questions, or need more information about registration, please contact me.

In the last e-mail and blog, we informed everyone that registrations can begin for the Peru trip. There is a small savings that can be realized by registering before the end of November, as well, monthly payments will be much more manageable if that is the payment method that you choose.

We are going to have a registration meeting on Thursday, November 26, @ 7:30 PM
in the school library to cover the following topics:
1. Current cost of the trip
2. Payment options (lump sum, deadlines for payments, and monthly payment plans)
3. Registration options (online, paper)
4. We will have computers available and will help you through the online process if you want to sign up that night. (you will need banking information as well as all contact information [address and phone number, etc.])

Even if you are not ready to sign up you should attend this meeting to get all the information that you need (booklets, etc.)

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

M. Leggette and L. Jacobson

REGISTRATION

We are able to start our registrations now. Students who are ready to register can come and get instructions from Mr. Leggette. I will have an instruction sheet for both online and manual form registration.

Things to consider:

• The departure fees have increased $9 from what was presented in the last posting (see below) and the first meeting. All other prices are the same.
  
• If you register before November 30, 2009, you will save $75.00
• If you register before December 15, 2009, you will save $50.00
• Our fees will be set until March 31, 2010 as we will have enough travelers registered to lock in our fee structure. This does not include a possible increase in departure fees.
• We have an agreement with EF Tours (in writing) that if Chinook's Edge School Division does not approve the trip, all fees will be refunded.

Do not register if you have any questions or concerns. I will be happy to go over these with individuals or families before you register. If you were at the first meeting, your place will be saved until you indicate that you are not going on the trip or you decide to register. We have had some individuals from the first meeting that have indicated they are not going to be able to go on this trip, however, we already have some individuals on a waiting list.