Tour updates - April 11

EMERGENCY CONTACT PHONE NUMBER

This number was emailed to tour participants on April 11, 2008. If you did not receive it, please contact Mr. Teague.


HOST FAMILY UPDATE
Our friends in Bietigheim have the student information cards now, and are currently working to secure host families. We suspect (this is only our best guess) that those placements will be completed in late April or very early May. At that time we will be sent a roster of all student placements which we will forward on to you. This roster will include the name of the host family, their phone number, and their email address. You will know exactly where your student will be staying prior to our departure.


MONEY MANAGEMENT:

World Group Travel has offered the following suggestions for your consideration:
A) For those parents who already have as Visa card (or similar), you may contact your card carrier and obtain a Visa debit card that the student can take with them. Parents can monitor and add money if needed.
Follow this link for more information on Visa debit cards:

http://usa.visa.com/personal/student/debit_cards.html

Follow this link for more information on the Visa Buxx card (a form of Visa debit cards):

http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/prepaid/visa_buxx.html

B) There is a company in Lisle called Travelex whom World Group Travel customers have used.

www.travelex.com

1504 N Naper Blvd # 148
Naperville, IL 60563
(630) 955-0535
Travelex can provide cash for those who would like something in their pocket as well as variety of Debit Card options.

MEAL EXPENSES:

We are now able to provide an estimate of how much money students will need for meals during the second week of the tour (that are not covered in the tour package).

Students will be responsible for five (5) lunches during the second week. June 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. A typical bakery sandwich, chips and a drink – or fast food meal like McDonalds or KFC – will cost approximately 8 Euro ($13 at today's rate of 1.60 = $1). Therefore a budget of approximately $65 US should be adequate.


STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT:

Relative to students being present in social situations where alcohol may be present, we are able to offer the following clarifying language:

Students may – as a part of this tour – find themselves in culturally appropriate situations where they will be interacting with adults who are legally consuming alcohol. Examples include:
• meals in the host-family home
• post-concert wine & cheese receptions
• performances at city-governed outdoor band-shells or parks
• rest stops on the autobahn
• informal social dances with Musikschule students at local restaurants (i.e. Waldhaus disco, Asperg, etc.)
• Musikschule sponsored meals in public restaurants
• Guided group tours through a local brewery

Students on this tour are permitted to be present in the situations outlined above. However, to be clear, it is important for students to understand that they are not – under any circumstance – permitted to consume alcohol. Any violations of this District 99 policy will result in the termination of tour participation for the student participant. If you have any questions regarding this policy, make certain you communicate with your band director prior to departure for clarification.