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Caerphilly County Borough Council Cyngor Bwrdeistref Siriol Caerffili
St. Martin’s School
Ysgol Martin Sant
Hillside, Caerphilly CF83 1UW
Tel. Ffôn: 029 20 858050
Fax. Ffacs 029 20 858051
E-mail E-bost: [email protected]
18TH May 2015
Website Safle wê http://www.stmartins.caerphilly.sch.uk
Dear Parents,
The History Department is arranging a visit to ‘New York & Washington’ during October 2016.
We have decided to offer this trip to Years 7-12. This is the third USA tour undertaken by
the History Department and comes as a result of another successful visit to the USA in
October 2014.
The visit will be organised by ‘Leisure World for Schools’ who have arranged several
successful overseas visits for Welsh schools during the last few years. We shall be leaving
Caerphilly on the 20th October 2016 and returning on the 27th October 2016.
Students will then follow a full itinerary of events which will include a full tour of Washington
DC with a guide, visits to Arlington National Cemetery, a stop off in Philadelphia to see the
original Liberty Bell and the ‘Rocky Steps’, A full day tour of New York as well as a visit to
many of the local attractions. (A more detailed itinerary will be shared with Parents and
students nearer the event. This will be supplied at a parents evening in June 2016.)
The total cost of this trip is £1150. This includes all coach transfers in the USA. Return
flights and taxes, 3 nights bed and breakfast accommodation at the Hampton Hill, Silver
springs and the Holland Hotel in New York and all guided tours. What the price does not
include is Entrance fees to museums and places of interest and evening activities. In October
2014 after consulting with parents we decided on the following activities: The Empire State Building £18.00
 Ellis Island Boat Trip £12
 Bubba Gump Restaurant Time Square & Coach Transfer £28
 Hard Rock Café Washington £18
 Hooded Tops to wear while travelling £22
 Travel Insurance £15
 Airport Transfer UK £30
 Soccer Match @ St John’s University with Coach Travel £21
To secure a place, a deposit of £75 must be paid by Friday 12th June 2015. Please take the
payments to Mr Ferris in Room 23. A second deposit of £75 is then due before Friday 10th
July 2016. I realise that this is a big financial commitment and in order to insure that the
trip becomes feasible and manageable we will set up a series of deadlines to help spread the
costs. This could mean parents contributing monthly or termly. The final balance is due 10
weeks before the trip. I will inform parents of this after the deposits have been collected.
The deposits are non returnable and are not held by the school. The initial first and second
deposits secure the air flights which are necessary for the trip. Pupils will require their own
Raising Standards –
Extending Opportunities
Caerphilly County Borough Council Cyngor Bwrdeistref Siriol Caerffili
passport. Many students have lost deposits in recent times so could I ask that parents
and students think about this before making a financial commitment.
It is hoped to take 45 students to ‘Washington & New York’. We know the trip is likely to be
very popular so a prompt response is essential. However, in order to ensure that all students
involved have a safe and enjoyable time, we reserve the right to refuse any student whose
behaviour in school gives cause for concern from joining the trip. Please note that this is the
only circumstance under which the deposit will be returned. Deposits cannot normally be
refunded unless the school withdraws the student’s invitation to the trip.
We are sure that the trip to the USA will be both educational and enjoyable. Please do not
hesitate to contact me at the school if you have any questions to ask.
Yours sincerely,
M R Ferris
Mr M R Ferris
Head of History
Raising Standards –
Extending Opportunities