Any teacher planning a field trip for a class has a lot to think about: Where to take the students, how to transport everyone efficiently, how much the trip will cost, etc. This website provides a helpful list of things to consider in order to make the most out of an intended field trip: http://tlc.ousd.k12.ca.us/~acody/fieldtrip.html. After all of those details have been hammered out, one final
. and extremely important step is to send a field trip letter home with each and every student.A field trip letter is required whenever a field trip is being planned for elementary, middle school, and high school-aged children. A sample letter, written in a format that is customizable for any grade, can be found here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/educational-field-trip-letter-to-parents-TC101983945.aspx. The purpose of the letter is two-fold. First, it is designed to inform both the children and parents or guardians about the time and date, transportation arrangements, planned supervision, whether or not the families are expected to contribute an amount to covering the cost, any special dress requirements (outerwear, formal attire, etc.), and any other pertinent information that may be relevant to the trip. Second, the letter should have a returnable component requiring the parent's or guardian's signature, signifying that the adult has given the child permission to go. If this section is not returned, it is not legally acceptable for the school to bring that child along. Usually, stressing that part of the letter's importance is enough to get all of the permissions returned - no child wants to be left out!An optional component of the field trip letter is an appeal for adult volunteers to provide supervision on the trip. This can benefit all parties involved. Teachers enjoy having extra help in an unfamiliar environment, adults have an opportunity to get to know the people with whom their children interact every day, and the children enjoy sharing the fun experience with their parent or guardian. More reference links: http://tlc.ousd.k12.ca.us/~acody/fieldtrip.html http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/educational-field-trip-letter-to-parents-TC101983945.aspx
