Level II Venturing Out Package - Grade 9 Ottawa Excursion

LEVEL II VENTURING OUT PACKAGE –GRADE 9 OTTAWA EXCURSION

October 2023

Dear Parents, Re: ICE Ottawa Excursion December 13-15, 2023

A key component of the ICE curriculum is to understand our national identity and a visit to the Nation’s capital is a great way to begin this exploration The group will be travelling by bus from 11 Redway Rd Loblaws at 7:00am on Wednesday, December 13th and returning to the same location at 6:30pm on Friday, December 15th, 2023 Students will be split into two groups for the Ottawa Excursion, travelling on two buses and staying at two hotels The groups will be exploring Ottawa with EF Tours guides and buses.

Enclosed with this letter you will find an Excursion Information Form that outlines the educational rationale for the trip, our activities, risks associated with the trip, important contact information, and financial information Please read the information carefully as it forms the basis of your consent for your child’s participation

This excursion plays an important part in the overall educational plan for your child, however, it must be understood that should you, the parent or guardian, not feel comfortable with the activities and potential risks associated with this trip, you should contact me immediately to discuss special arrangements that might be made to modify the trip for your child

Once you have satisfied yourself as to the suitability of this trip for your child, please complete the following forms by Thursday, October 19, 2023.

Parent Acknowledgement & Consent Form

Level II Code of Conduct

EF Tours Enrolment Form (via fillable pdf OR submitted to your child’s advisor) Global Travel Protection Program (optional)

Finally, please ensure that your child’s medical information and emergency contact information is up to date for this excursion. To confirm these details, log on to YorkNet.

EXCURSION INFORMATION FORM

Excursion Name ICE - Ottawa Excursion

Transportation Details

Date(s) and Times

Depart: 11 Redway Rd , Loblaws at 7:00am on Wednesday, December 13th, 2023

Return: 11 Redway Rd , Loblaws at 6:30pm on Friday, December 15th, 2023

Group Involved (Include approximate number)

All grade 9 students, Students will be split into 2 groups:

Group A - 9A and 9B Group B - 9C and 9D

Group Leader and any other Staff Involved

Sara Gardner, seven other York School faculty, other York faculty as needed and EF Tours guides

Destination Address Group A Hotel: The Courtyard Marriott Downtown (350 Dalhousie St, Ottawa, ON K1N 7E9)

Group B Hotel: The Lord Elgin (100 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5K8)

Activity Description and Educational Rationale

The excursion supports the ICE Character unit, particularly our study of Canada’s involvement in World War I, the Canadian identity reflected through our art and culture, the history of Canada’s indigenous peoples, and the workings of our federal government

Service Provider(s)

Emergency Contact Information

Approximate Cost

Please note that once you have provided consent to have your child participate on the excursion you will be charged for the expenses incurred on your child's behalf for this excursion. Where, after you have provided your consent, notice is given that your child cannot attend the excursion, efforts will be taken to avoid incurring expenses on your child's behalf for the excursion, and you will be only charged those expenses that could not be recouped.

EF Tours

Teacher cell phones TBD Andrea Lossing 416.526.6595 (in Toronto)

$1450-1550*

Cost includes: any entrance fees or instructional fees as well as hotel cost and hotel security, bus charters, tour director and specialists costs and programmes

Meals included: breakfast and dinner daily

Cost does not include:

Daily lunches Suggested lunch cost is $15-$20 per lunch Students are encouraged to bring lunch for the bus ride to Ottawa on Day 1 to save the cost of one lunch The bus will be making a lunch stop

*EF Tours Travel Insurance will be added to this cost (unless you OPT OUT when submitting forms). The tour company will add an Global Travel Protection Plan, underwritten by Chubb Insurance of Canada (at a cost of $60) that includes; illness and accident coverage, baggage and property coverage and tour cancellation and interruption coverage.

A 50% non-refundable** deposit will be levied to your account upon receiving a completed Venturing Out Package The remainder of the cost will be charged at the end of the excursion

**refundable only through travel insurance

Return Level II VO Form via YorkNet by Thursday, October 19, 2023

What to Bring

Packing List included below

Activities to be undertaken by students: Traveling by coach bus, explorations by foot in the region including walking tours. Visits to the Parliament Buildings, Ottawa museums and galleries, and local attractions. Students will work in small groups on documentaries; they will be interviewing local citizens and filming background footage Students will stay at a hotel near the ByWard Market and have opportunities to explore the market in small groups

Student preparation for excursion: Students will be studying civics, Canada’s role in 20th century conflicts, and reading War Poetry Students will also have practiced their vlogging skills at the pre-trip excursion to the Distillery District

Follow-up:Students will create vlogs to showcase their learnings from the trip and how Ottawa represents the Canadian character.

Risk Assessment

Specific Risks Identified:

Students may be exposed to a number of physical injuries including: cuts, scrapes, broken bones, bruising, sprains, head injury, concussions, and slips, trips, and falls from heights

Students are at risk of temperature related injuries from physical activity outdoors While on this excursion, students are at risk of getting lost or separated from the group, as well as damage or loss of property. While on this excursion with other students and staff, students are also at risk of exposure to COVID-19 There is also the risk of a traffic accident when en route

Precautions to be taken to reduce risks:

Using a coach bus company for all bus services and knowledgeable trained EF tours guides

At each new location, rules and expectations will be reviewed Students will be made aware of safety protocols for any specific activity. Check-ins with students to monitor energy levels and adjust accordingly The York School communicates dietary and medical needs to EF Tours in advance and EF Tours communicates these needs to restaurants and other providers Teachers can communicate with one another via cell phones in the event groups are separated

Students will be paired with a buddy or small group and must not venture out alone. During independent time, students will be provided with a map of the area and geographic limits will be identified for students When partially supervised, students must be with their buddies, and when given the opportunity to venture away from the group, they must remain within specific geographic limits and will check in periodically with a teacher at a specific place and time Students will have cell phone contact numbers for both teachers and the hotel Students will be made aware of the risks and will discuss the importance of being aware and vigilant Independent time protocols will be followed and will only take place in safe areas of the city.

Minor injuries will be treated by teachers and leaders with First Aid kits If a major injury occurs, EMS will be activated

Everyone will exercise precautions to avoid sun burns and heat related issues by applying sunscreen, wearing a hat and/or sunglasses, and monitoring time spent in direct sunlight

Precautions to reduce exposure to COVID-19: In terms of covid precautions, we will follow the school’s policy at the time of the excursion. Further information will be shared prior to the excursion.

Contingency plan for bad weather/trip interruption: Students will dress for the weather and outside of extreme temperatures many of the activities will run as scheduled Some walking tours may be altered to bus transport if necessary Depending on the nature of the interruption the route and itinerary will be altered In the event an activity cannot take place, the itinerary and programme goals would be adjusted according to the situation. Should we encounter hazardous road conditions on route, we will pull off at a restaurant or public convenience until conditions improve Parents and the school will be contacted in the event of a later than anticipated return to Toronto

Location of nearest Emergency Medical Service:

Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

401 Smyth Road

Ottawa, Ontario

K1H 8L1

(613)-737-7600 / 911

Arrangements to be made to transport person/group to EMS (including route to be taken):

For a minor injury requiring more than basic first aid, a teacher will travel with student to local hospital in taxi or EF tours vehicle depending on logistics. For a major injury or illness, an ambulance will be used When deemed necessary, EMS will be activated by dialing 911 and The York School and parents will be contacted The other faculty members will remain with the group Route taken will be based on current location at time of incident

Additional Information:

- Students should travel with a photocopy of their health card and government issued photo ID Parents are encouraged to keep original documents at home

- Hotel has 24h front reception agent and EF Tours provides overnight security

- Student rooms will have two double or queen sized beds. Students sleep in groups of two or three to a room.

Tentative Example Itinerary-

Groups 1 and 2 will have separate schedules. Please note that times and activities are subject to change:

Day 1: Ottawa

Board coach buses at 11 Redway Road and depart

Meet your Tour Director at your destination

Travel to Ottawa and meet your tour director

Guided Tour of the National Gallery of Canada

Examine the artistic treasures housed at the National Gallery of Canada, a crystal palace constructed of rose granite and considered as much of a work of art as the art it houses This world-renowned institution offers exhibitions of Inuit, other Canadian artists (including the Group of Seven) and contemporary works from around the globe

Dinner in Ottawa

Enjoy an evening of bowling

Stay at Hotel in Ottawa with overnight security each night

Day 2: Ottawa

Breakfast at your hotel

Tour Director-led visit Parliament Hill

Get ready to spend some time exploring the place where the most important functions of government take place, the Parliament Buildings! See where the fiery debates between the parties take place and just think of all the important Canadian history that's occurred here since the buildings began functioning as a government centre in 1859.

Question Period at Parliament

When Members of Parliament are in session in the House of Commons you will have an opportunity to observe the question period from the public gallery

Supervised Free Time for Lunch in the Byward Market - Exploration and Documentary Interviewing Time

The ByWard Market is one of the top attractions in Ottawa with over 50,000 people visiting on the weekends during the summer months. It's’ a huge open-air market with artists, a great farmer’s market, over 260 stands and 500 shops! It’s also a historical area of the city, originally designed in 1826 as a public market The streets are extra wide because they were designed to accommodate the huge amount of traffic, except back then traffic was of the horse variety!

Tour director led sightseeing of Ottawa

Visit the Bank of Canada Museum

Guided Tour of the Canadian War Museum

Learn about Canada's involvement in conflict, both here and abroad. Covered in the museum exhibitions are disputes ranging from those involving the First Nations peoples during the formation of the country, through the two World Wars and our more recent role as peacekeepers The museum emphasizes the devastating human cost of war

Dinner in Ottawa

Evening at Escape Room Ottawa

Day 3: Ottawa

Breakfast at your hotel

Guided Tour of the Canadian Museum of History

Preserving the heritage of Canadians and showcasing the culture of Canada and the world, the Museum of History invites you to explore its two main halls The Grand Hall, built in the shape of an enormous canoe, features the façades of six Pacific Coast native dwellings, linked by a shoreline and boardwalk, and a large collection of totems The First People’s Hall displays histories of the First Nations, their cultural identities, artistic expressions and traditional and contemporary ways of life

Depart for home

Return to 11 Redway Road

SPECIFIC EXCURSION RULES

Dress: Students must wear appropriate clothing for the activity, location and weather You are representing The York School and casual wear rules will be in effect: clothing must be neat, clean and should not display objectionable words, phrases, pictures or symbols Students must dress respectably and never let their undergarments or midriffs show Please adhere to the packing list When not in uniform, students must wear shoes or boots that are suitable for extended periods of walking

School uniforms are expected for the visit to Parliament – this includes gray skirts/pants, white or blue polo shirt, blue quarter zip sweatshirt, black or brown dress shoes OR running shoes

Participation: Student participation in activities is mandatory and they must be on time

Personal Electronic Equipment: Students are not permitted to bring laptops or personal video gaming equipment Students are permitted to bring their cell phone However a no cell phone policy will be in effect overnight (see below)

Cell Phone Policy: Students will have access to their phones during daytime programming when deemed appropriate and necessary by teachers. There will be a no cell phone policy at night in the hotel. Cell phones will be collected when groups return to the hotel for overnight hours.

Curfew: Students are required to be in their own room when directed by staff

Rooms: Room arrangements will be assigned by supervising teachers. Students will be in groups of 2-3 per room. Students are required to keep their personal belongings neat and tidy. Students may not enter another student’s room without permission.

Independent/Free Time: Students will be paired with a buddy and must not venture out alone During independent time, students will be provided with a map of the area and geographic limits will be identified for students When given the opportunity to venture away from the group, they must remain within specific geographic limits and will check in periodically with a teacher at a specific place and time. Students will have cell phone contact numbers for both teachers and the hotel. Students will be made aware of the risks and will discuss the importance of being aware and vigilant Independent time protocols will be followed and will only take place in areas deemed safe in advance

Buddy System: Each person will be partnered for safety. In trips of odd numbers, there will be a group of three students Students will be responsible for the whereabouts of their buddy and for informing teacher leaders if the buddy is late or ill etc.

PACKING LIST

Note: Please check weather reports prior to departing – December will be cold and could be snowy. The group will be walking to many destinations and outside exploring the city quite a bit, so pack and dress appropriately.

- A solid pair of warm, walking shoes/boots

- Winter boots

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4 pairs of warm, wool socks

2 pairs of pants

2 long sleeve shirts

3 t-shirts

2-3 sweaters/hoodies

- Winter coat

- Warm hat/toque

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2 pairs of Mitts or Gloves

- Scarf

- Pajamas

- Undergarments

- Long underwear

- School uniform (includes black shoes, tie, blue sweater)

- Toiletries kit

- Water bottle

- Day backpack or bag

Other

- Pen, pencil

- ICE journal

- Camera

- Sunglasses

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, CONSENT, AND RELEASE

The following sets out statements to which, you, the parent(s), must agree by signing electronically below in order for your child to be permitted to participate in the intended trip Should you have questions regarding any of the statements below, you may contact the Divisional Principal or Experiential Educator, Andrea Lossing, at alossing@yorkschool.com

(416 926 1325 Ext 1221) I/We understand, as the parent or guardian of the student named above, that students on York School trips are expected to participate fully in all activities undertaken during and in preparation for the trip, and that they must conduct themselves in a manner befitting of their role as ambassadors for the school community

I/We further understand that all students will be bound by The York School Code of Conduct and any additional rules and regulations listed in this information package and/or discussed and implemented while on the trip, and that any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the trip leader, result in the immediate return of the student to Toronto. Responsibility and payment for these arrangements will be borne by the parent/guardian. Any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the Division Head, result in appropriate disciplinary action including suspension from subsequent trips

I/We have reviewed the contents of this information package and Code of Conduct expectations, rules and consequences with our child. I/We, the undersigned, consent to the participation of our child (as noted above) in The York School trip to Ottawa on Wednesday, December 13-Friday, December 15, 2023

Details concerning this event, including activities, travel, supervision, location and safety precautions have been communicated to us and are understood In particular, we are aware that students will be engaged in the following activities:

Traveling by coach bus, explorations by foot in the region including walking tours Visits to the Parliament Buildings, Ottawa museums and galleries, and local attractions Students will work in small groups on documentaries; they will be interviewing local citizens and filming background footage Students will stay at a hotel near the ByWard Market and have opportunities to explore the market in small groups

Our emergency contact information is up to date I/We agree to update the information with the trip leader if changes occur prior to the trip start date.

I/We have reviewed the Trip Plan and are aware that this excursion may expose my/our child to the following risks:

Highway and street safety: traffic concerns while on the chartered buses Walking on local paths: tripping, falling, fatigue, sprains, strains, getting separated from group activities in busy urban areas

Allergens: Food, environmental

I/We, the undersigned, grant the trip supervisors appointed by The York School permission to act on my/our behalf and to consent, to any medical, dental or surgical treatment, including pain relief and admission to hospital which may be required for my/our child, in the opinion of a qualified medical practitioner if, after reasonable attempts have been made to contact me/us at the phone numbers provided to the school, I/we cannot be reached I/We do hereby release The York School, its directors, employees and its agents, from every manner of suit, claim or legal action which may arise as a result of an injury to, or the death of, my/our child sustained by reason of my/our child’s participation in this excursion.

As parent(s) of the child above, I/we

1. acknowledge that I/we understand the statements made regarding the intended excursion with respect to expected behavior, consequences for misbehavior, and the details of the trip, including activities and risks,

2. consent to my/our child’s full participation in the trip, and to the school taking the measures set out above in response to any medical emergency that may arise, and

3. release the school from legal action arising from injury or death according to the terms set out above.

CODE OF CONDUCT

I understand, as the parent or guardian of the student named above, that students on York School trips are expected to participate fully in all activities undertaken during and in preparation for the trip, and that they must conduct themselves in a manner befitting their role as ambassadors for the school community We further understand that all students will be bound by The York School Code of Conduct and any additional rules and regulations listed in this information package and/or discussed and implemented while on the trip, and that any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the trip leader, result in the immediate return of the student to Toronto at the parent/guardian’s expense and that any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the Division Head, result in disciplinary action. We have reviewed the contents of this information package and Code of Conduct expectations, rules and consequences with our child

Please Note:

This copy of the Venturing Out Package is for reference only Log on to your YorkNet account at https://yorkschool.myschoolapp.com/app#login to complete your child’s VO Package and give consent for their participation in this excursion