Dear Parents/Guardians, This letter is to inform you of the upcoming field trips for our third graders for this school year. We will begin collecting money for our field trips very soon, as both of our trips take place before the Winter Break. Currently, we have two field trips tentatively planned for this year. We will notify you of any changes that may occur to the field trips listed below.  Our first field trip is to Francis Marion University. We will view “Follow the Drinking Gourd” in the planetarium, followed by tours of the Hewn-Timber Cabins, Rogers Library, and Television Production in the Media Center. The cost of this field trip is $3.50, which will cover bus expenses, including the driver. We will leave the school campus around 8:45 am and return at approximately 12:45 pm. We will eat lunch at school as normal upon return.  Our second field trip is to Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, SC. We will view the habitats of various sea organisms. The cost of this field trip is approximately $32.00, which will cover bus expenses, admission, and lunch at the aquarium. We will leave the school campus around 8:30 am and return at approximately 4:00 pm. We need to have the two trips paid for in the next two months. We will need at least three chaperones (1 per class) for each field trip. If you are interested in serving as a chaperone on a trip, we would love to have you. However, you must have a cleared volunteer application (SLED background check) on file at least two weeks in advance, no exceptions can be made. If you are unsure if you are an approved school volunteer, please call the main office before committing to chaperone. Please remember only North Vista third grade students and approved chaperones are permitted on the field trip. Younger siblings will not be allowed to attend. Students must be in school appropriate attire (school dress code) for the trips. No electronics are allowed. Students may bring a camera; however, we are not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen property. Snacks will not be necessary for our first trip. Please adhere to the deadlines on letters and/or permission slips pertaining to the field trips. In some cases, we may have to pay for buses/admission in advance; thus, it is imperative that we have your child’s payment by the deadline. Permission slips will be going home soon; however, you may begin sending deposit money now. You can pay a little each week, the entire total, or any other combination desired, as long as the balance is paid in full by the deadline. Thank you in advance for furthering your child’s educational experience! Sincerely, Third Grade Teachers