Day 4

Yesterday we started in DC and ended up in NYC. We decided that since the DC Mall was going to be full of runners, cars and buses that we should take the DC Metro into town. What a great experience that was. It took about 40 minutes with one transfer to a different train. It was clean and really easy to use. I think all the kids really liked the adventure of taking a metro in a gigantic city.

In the evening we ate at a great deli where the food was amazing. Then we saw 39 Steps on Broadway and Times Square. I don't think the kids could believe the amount of people there.

A full day in NYC! Today was great and jam packed with the sights, sounds, and smells of NYC. We started the day with a guided sightseeing tour centered in Lower Manhattan. The World Trade Center site and memorial moved us to tears.

We will see everyone (carpoolers) tomorrow at the PHX airport. Our flight arrives at 10:30 pm and I will try and update this blog while we are in transit to keep everyone informed.

DC Day 3

Yesterday was a full day. We went on a guided sightseeing tour of DC, to Arlington, Mount Vernon, and to Alexandria for a ghost tour. Our ghost teller must have scared one of my students ( I won't name names) 10 times!

It rained almost all day yesterday but I think it was fortunate for us. Some of the places we visited were almost empty. We had the run of Mount Vernon, pretty much walking straight into George Washington's house without waiting.

Wow -- what a first day! The plane broke on the tarmac -- engines would not start for three hours. The kids were great on the plane, taking the difficulties in stride. After the plane got into the air it was smooth sailing for the most part. Once we got to Atlanta we power walked (ran) to another concourse and 7 of us got onto the next plane while I worked with the ticket agent for the next 40 minutes to shoehorn the other 28 onto the next flight. It all worked!

Our bus driver and tour director met us at the airport. Deb the tour director is from Tuscon and is great. Sadly, with the flight delays we missed our capital appointment but we did then get to spend a little more time in the Holocaust Museum and then the student got to choose which Smithsonian they wanted to see.

Diner was nice. We went to Union Station and received a voucher for what ever we wanted. I ate Indian food and was very satisfied. Everyone seemed to be satiated. Finally, after diner we went and toured the monuments.

Sorry about the lack of original pictures, we went to the Lincoln Memorial but the picture above is from Google. I brought the wrong USB cable but I am trying to get one of the kids to take some pictures with their camera phone and email to me. There still is a possibility I can get some pictures up here. Everybody says hello! -- silas

Carpool List

The following is the carpool list to PHX.  Sorry the formatting is so poor.  Thanks for all the help. -- Silas  

  Flag to Phx     Wednesday - June 3 - Red-Eye flight

Driver 

Beth LaCour Beth (chaperone) 

Does not need a ride back 380-5386 

Will Carter Does not need a ride back   

Linden Sommer     

2 Seats Available

Jonna Baker 

Jordyn Baker Does not need a ride back

Manny Rodriguez

2 seats available 

Sherry Mace 380-5386

Jordan Mace        

Jordan Cox (tentative)    

2 seats available

Debbie Savery 527-1957

Leah Savery      

Caitlin Peretti      

Callie Johns          

Janine Turner/Tim Powell Allison Powell (chaperone)     

Maddie Powell     

Andrea Pickard 

Silas Pencille 

Chaperone 1     

Chaperone 2     

1 seat available

Sofia Nicoletti 

Bridgette Nicoletti     

Emily Fule     

Keven Griffen     

Chela Scurlock

Paul Lundstrom 

Justin Lundstrom     

Mark Mellott     

Josh Fuller     

Brooke Wiley     

Jared Rutledge         

Bill Oster 

Jordan Cox

Morgan Oster

Cullen Hamblen

Trevor Kulen

1 seats available

Carpool List home from PHX.

Phx to Flag Monday - June 8  

Driver 

Janet Hill 607-0486

Josh Fuller    

Linden Sommer 

Jordan Mace

1 available seats

Mona Mellott 814-6753

Mark Mellott 

Justin Lundstrom   

Brooke Wiley   

Jared Rutledge     

Brooke Cox 

Jordan Cox   

Morgan Oster

4 seats available

Kathy Peretti 522-0090   

Caitlin Peretti 

Leah Savery   
Callie Johns      

Janine Turner/Tim Powell 

Allison Powell (chaperone)   

Maddie Powell   

Andrea Pickard   

1 available seat            

Silas Pencille 

Chaperone 1   

Chaperone 2   

1 available seat

Mary Fule 

Bridgette Nicoletti   

Emily Fule   

Keven Griffen   

Chela Scurlock     

Mary Delduca 

Jared Rutledge         

3 available seats

            

 No Ride Needed: Michelle Sogge, Will Carter, Beth LaCour, Jordyn Baker, Manny Rodriguez

Good news! We have the flight information!

Great news! We have booked your flights! Please note they are subject to change at this time. I've also included the flights at the bottom for the participants staying later than the rest of the group.

Please also let your participants know that baggage fees are not included so if they plan on checking bags they will want to prepare for that fee.

Thanks Silas!

Flight Details

--------------

LEAVE FOR DC

Name of the Airline: Delta Airlines

Flight Number: 1036

Departure From: Phoenix, AZ

Departure Time: 6/3/2009 23:40

Destination: Atlanta, GA

Destination Airport: ATL

Arrival Time: 6/4/2009 06:07

Name of the Airline: Delta Airlines

Flight Number: 1952

Departure From: Atlanta, GA

Departure Time: 6/4/2009 07:30

Destination: Washington DC

Destination Airport: DCA

Arrival Time: 6/4/2009 09:10

LEAVE FOR PHX

Name of the Airline: Delta Airlines

Flight Number: 1791

Departure From: New York, NY

Departure Time: 6/8/2009 16:55

Destination: Atlanta, GA

Destination Airport: ATL

Arrival Time: 6/8/2009 19:49

Name of the Airline: Delta Airlines

Flight Number: 1037

Departure From: Atlanta, GA

Departure Time: 6/8/2009 21:35

Destination: Phoenix, AZ

Destination Airport: PHX

Arrival Time: 6/8/2009 22:34

PEOPLE COMING HOME LATER

Name of the Airline: Delta Airlines

Flight Number: 0747

Departure From: New York, NY

Departure Time: 6/13/2009 18:00

Destination: Phoenix, AZ

Destination Airport: PHX

Arrival Time: 6/13/2009 20:45

Student Identification

Hi Everyone,

An interesting question was brought to my attention at yesterdays at the meeting.  The concern is about student identification for going through airport security.  I do not believe that they will need it but it would be nice for all of them to have some ID on them.  The school gave them an ID when they received their pictures and most students still have them.  Could the parents check to make sure your student still has the ID -- if they do not please contact me so we can order more for a small fee.

Silas

Hi Everyone, 

First, let me thank everyone for attending one of two meetings for the Washington DC trip.  The trip is quickly approaching and I want to keep everyone as up to date as possible.  The following is the agenda for tonight:

1. Please sign in next to your students' name 

2. npapencille.blogspot.com

This is the site you are looking at right now
I will be updating it prior to our departure

It will updated during the trip so that everyone has a chance to see how their students are doing

3. White House Difficulties and Alternatives   

Issue 1. The final list of attending students has not yet solidified 

Issue 2. Prior experience of last years students

~~~~~~

Alternative 1. Holocaust museum 

Alternative 2. Visit Korean or Vietnam War Memorial  

Alternative 3. Capitol Building  (some of the same difficulties as the White House)

4. Forms to fill out

I. Telephone Chain Chart

II. Rooming List 

5. Itinerary

I had anticipated having this at this time.  I do not yet have it -- 

I am supposed to receive it within the next week

6. Transportation to and from the PHX airport -- we are not meeting at NPA

We will meet at the airport at least 2 hours prior to the flight 

This need to be arranged individually

The unprofessional conduct of a hired "professional" van service last year is the reason

7. Questions

Hi everyone,

The raffle for the DC trip ended on Friday.  Mrs. Sell will be drawing the tickets on Monday morning and I will be calling the winners.  We did pretty well with the raffle but I think we just missed our goal of $500.

Here are two pictures from NYC.

The image on the left is of Times Square on a mellow Friday afternoon. On Saturday and Sunday it was teeming with people.

The image on the right is of the Flatiron building. It is about 6.5 feet across at its pointy end and just shy of 300 ft tall. Built in the 1900s it is one of the oldest skyscrapers in NYC.

2/17/09

I just got back from a professional development put on by the tour company for our 8th grade Washington DC and NYC trip.  One of the great ideas that I heard was to start a blog for the trip so that parents can keep up on the trip as it progresses.  I had thought about using Homeworknow but you cannot post pictures ... so here it goes.  

I plan on sending posting general information on this blog as we go along, updates from the road, and some pictures and wisdom from my recent professional development for new tour leaders.

Hope this work!