Chaparral School Outdoor Education Program

CHAPARRAL SCHOOL OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM CATALINA CAMP INFORMATION 2016-17

Dear Parents:

This year many of our seventh graders may participate in an Outdoor Education Program held on Catalina Island by Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI). This program features a hands-on exploration of the marine and coastal environment. This year camp will be three days long and take place at the end of the school year, May 22 – May 24. There will be two camp locations, each with comparable activities and facilities (Fox Landing and Toyon Bay).

Life science, marine biology, ecology, and oceanography are taught in an activity-oriented approach as students study animal and plant life in its natural environment. Students are taught to use snorkeling gear so that they can observe ocean life. Students do not need to know how to swim, camp staff will assist them. Outdoor science labs are active and encourage a hands-on approach to learning (e.g. touch tanks and wilderness hikes). Chaparral staff and parent volunteers accompany students at all times. Trained naturalists and camp counselors conduct classes at CIMI.

The trip is not required and participating or not will have no effect on your child’s grade. Our anticipated expense per student is $318. No student will be prevented from making the trip solely due of a lack of contribution. Please contact Mr. Miller ASAP if you have specific questions.

Please review the following information regarding Outdoor Education. STUDENTS MUST FOLLOW ALL GUIDELINES AND DEADLINES OR THEY WILL LOSE THEIR PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING CAMP.

CONTRIBUTION Our expense to send each student to camp this year is estimated at $318. We are seeking parent contributions to offset the cost of this trip. Chaparral Middle School reserves the right to cancel this trip due to a lack of necessary parental support. This amount includes bus and boat transportation, food, lodging, chaperones, and supplies. As space is limited and we are required to provide advanced payment for students, a student’s intent to attend is due on the date of our first collection of contributions. This will take place on Tuesday, December 13th, 2016. Some families choose to contribute the entire student portion of $318 or more, but if that is not possible, we request that a partial contribution of $150 be submitted at that time. This allows the school to determine the financial feasibility of the trip.

We ask that all contributions be received to the school by Friday, March 2nd, 2017. Checks should be made payable to “Chaparral Middle School.” The canceled check will serve as a receipt of contribution for those who submit by check. Please use the attached envelope for your submission whether it is by cash or check. The Advocacy teacher will collect these

Continued on back: envelopes along with signed Eligibility Contracts during Advocacy Period on December 13th . Please remember that the office staff cannot accept money or checks. Please only submit contributions for this trip to your Cougar’s Advocacy teacher.

A signed Eligibility Contract should also be turned in with the contribution to the advocacy teacher on Tuesday, December 13th.

ELIGIBILITY Chaparral views the outdoor education program as a unique and rewarding experience. We require that students meet our behavioral eligibility requirements in order to attend camp. The following are the standards all students must meet on the 3rd quarter report card. No student will attend camp whose third quarter progress report does not meet the criterion listed below. In order to attend Outdoor Education, all students must continue to maintain these requirements throughout the fourth quarter:  No more than a total of 8 points on the 3 highest citizenship marks (i.e. 3+4+2 = 9 not eligible, 3+3+2 = 8 eligible, 4+2+2 = 8 eligible)

Students may also be ineligible for camp based on SSRA, Assistant Principal or Principal recommendation in the following cases: 1. Students with excessive unexcused absences or tardy time. 2. Students with more than two serious referrals to SSRA or any suspensions 3. Students with un-cleared fines.

 Chaparral also strongly recommends that parents do not provide the opportunity for students to attend camp who have not met the academic eligibility requirement of a 2.0 grade point average on 3 rd quarter report cards. Full refunds will be provided for parents wishing to keep students home due to academic ineligibility.

CHAPERONES We will need many parent chaperones to accompany us to Catalina. This is an active trip, and chaperones will be required to supervise and participate in all the activities, including ocean snorkeling and terrestrial hikes. Chaperones will not be charged to attend camp, but will need to provide fingerprint verification and TB test verification. If you would like to volunteer to be a chaperone, please attend the parent informational meeting or call Michael Miller at (909) 861-6227 or send an e-mail to [email protected]

MORE INFORMATION/PARENT INFORMATIONAL MEETING There is a parent informational meeting and chaperone sign-up with a PowerPoint presentation on Thursday, December 8th in Mr. Miller’s room in the new Science/DBL quad. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and last for approximately one hour. We will be happy to address any questions at that time, or you may contact Mr. Michael Miller at Chaparral School (909) 861- 6227.

Sincerely,

Mr. Michael Miller 7th Grade Catalina Camp Coordinator Chaparral Middle School (909) 861-6227