Close Up
Academy
May 1 – May 6, 2015
Washington DC & Gettysburg
WELCOME!
Close Up Sponsors
Jeannine Kuropatkin
jkuropatkin@mpsaz.org
Florence Masciangelo
Additional teacher chaperones will be added
with a 15-1 ratio, per district guidelines.
Why RHODES is SPECIAL?
Parents
Our Parents are willing to support their child and our staff. We have parents who
are always willing to answer the call for assistance in any way they can.
Staff
Rhodes leads the way in many innovative ways to teach our students. We support
and reinforce the 7th & 8th grade curriculum required by District and Arizona
State Social Studies Standards. Our staff works hard to give your child the very
best educational experiences and THIS is one of them.
Students
Our students are the BEST! Their performance in academics, sports, the arts,
and competitions consistently show superior merit.
What is the Close Up Academy?
Close Up Academy is a study visit to Washington, D.C., that
gives students an interactive course in U.S. history. It is
specifically designed for the interest level and curricular
needs of middle school students.
Close-Up is a nonprofit foundation whose goal is to bring
students to our nation’s capital to get a firsthand look at
government and to promote citizenship.
Close-Up is the only program endorsed by Congress and the
National Middle School Association of America.
What TYPE of student benefits
from the Close Up Program?
Answer:
All STUDENTS can benefit from this program.
Let Us Explain………
Who Should Attend?
At Rhodes, we feel all students should attend.
As a parent, you will need to decide, if this study visit
is appropriate for your child.
Students who make the best participants are:
* Responsible, respectful, and mature.
* Able follow rules and meet deadlines.
* Eager to learn about the history of our country.
We want to offer students the best experience of their life.
What does a typical day look like?
1) We start our day with a wake up call. Everyone is
required to go down and have breakfast (This is not
an option – students MUST eat breakfast).
2) Students board the buses and begin their day
exploring the historical and cultural sites of DC.
3) Every evening, back at the hotel, students
participate in study group activities based upon
information they studied that day. Students are
grouped with other jr high school students from
across the USA.
THESE ARE FUN TIMES!
Supervision on Program
Students are supervised the entire time! They are with adults 24/7:
* Teachers - During travel; Morning & night-time check-ins
* Personal Instructors (P.I’s) - While on program 6 AM - 10 PM
* Security guards – On the hotel floors overnight 10 PM - 6AM
Chaperones are NOT in the same room with students.
No girls in boys rooms . . . No boys in girls rooms!
Room is designated: No crossing the threshold!
If this rule is broken . . .
STUDENT GOES HOME C.O.D. !
Where Do We Stay?
We have stayed at many different hotels in Virginia &
Maryland. (Ex: Holiday Inn)
ALL NIGHT SECURITY ON EVERY FLOOR!
Chaperones & Security Monitors make a nightly check
on each and every room.
NOTE: We will not receive the hotel or flight info until
two weeks before the trip. Once we know this, you
will be notified.
Sorry . . . You cannot use your Frequent Flyer Miles.
Hotel Issues
Students will be 4 to a room with other students of
the same sex/grade . . . Be assured that they will room with at
least one other Rhodes student.
**Students can request roommates at the January Student Meeting.
We expect our students to behave in the proper manner in the hotel
(rooms, dining, elevator, noise level, etc.)
If there is a door to an adjoining room in the hotel, these doors are
NOT TO BE OPENED.
Because of the wonderful behavior of past student groups from
Rhodes, we have had the opportunity to stay at some of the best
hotels in the Washington DC area.
What are the meal arrangements?
Breakfast is at the hotel. Typical menu items include
eggs, bacon, pancakes, French toast, waffles,
bagels, muffins, cereal, milk, juice and fruit.
Lunch is usually at a mall food court or Hard Rock
Cafe, Union Station, ESPN Zone, depending
upon where the students are at that day. Students
are given vouchers, not cash, to ensure they get
lunch.
Dinner is usually at the hotel, sometimes at a
restaurant or mall if the field study goes into the
evening.
Food allergies or restrictions If your child has any,
PLEASE let us know. We will pass this
information onto Close Up so accommodations
can be made for your child’s needs.
What if my child needs medical attention?
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A Close Up Staffer will reside at the hotel during the program and is available in case of
an emergency. There is a dedicated staffer on each program to assist students who are ill,
All Close Up Staff are trained in First Aid, AED, and CPR.
Close Up partners with several leading health care providers, including Georgetown
University Children’s Medical Center (GUCMC), to ensure that students have access to
quality health care should they need medical attention while on program.
GUCMC maintains a pediatric doctor on-call who will assist & make needed referrals.
Students on medication will be responsible for taking it on their own.
The Close Up Program Instructors are very responsible, and if needed, can obtain help
very quickly.
IMPORTANT!
Student health records, that you will supply to us on the Close Up registration site and on the
Georgetown University Hospital Form are hooked up with George Washington University Medical Center.
PLEASE RETURN THESE COMPLETED HEALTH FORMS ASAP!!
Parents complete the Emergency Contact/Permission form in the Close Up Packet.
Rhodes Teacher Chaperones carry these forms in event of an emergency!
How much will the trip cost?
What does the cost cover?
Total cost is $1986.00 . . . This pays for:
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Round-trip airfare, hotel & three meals/day
Admission to all museums & historic sites
All bus & metro transportation in DC & Gettysburg
Close Up student manual, backpack, and refillable water bottle.
NOTE: We also provide a special Rhodes Close Up Tshirt, sweatshirt hoodie, and
luggage tag
How are we ever going to pay for this?
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A LARGE bank account or Visa/Mastercard
ECA Tax Credit (Mr. David Chaffee will explain)
Letter Writing to relatives, friends, civic organizations,
businesses, etc. (A letter writing workshop will be announced
to interested students after Intent Forms have been returned.)
Employer Matching Programs Ask your employer!
5 Monthly payments of $397.20 (Sept-Oct-Nov-Dec-Jan)
Scholarships for Returning Close Up Students ($75.00 from
Close Up + $25.00 from Rhodes Close Up)
Wilkinson Scholarship ($200 to be awarded to ONE 7th grader
who applies & best fulfills the scholarship criteria.)
Individual Fundraising (TBA: possibly Jamba Juice Cards?)
Welcome
Mr. David Chaffee
Professional Tax Advisor
Accountant
Arizona ECA Tax Credit
Arizona ECA Tax Credit
Married filing jointly - Allowed $400 per year / Single - allowed $200 per year.
Parents/Guardian 2015 ECA---------$400
Family/friend 2015 ECA------------- $400
Additional Payment--------------------$193 (ECA OR fundraising OR donation)
$993
Parents/Guardian 2016 ECA---------$400
Family/friend 2016 ECA------------- $400
Additional Payment--------------------$193 (ECA OR fundraising OR donation)
$993
$993 + $993 = $1986 Woo Hoo! Going to Close Up!!
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ECA payments can be made all at once OR monthly . . . just meet the deadlines!
ALWAYS check with your Tax Advisor or Accountant to verify that you qualify for the
Arizona ECA Tax Credit
Matching Funds - Loans
Matching Funds
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Some companies do matching funds. How will you know?
ASK!!!!
If you or someone you know works for any of these
companies, PLEASE utilize this means of obtaining funds.
HOWEVER, please do so EARLY! The money must be
paid by the Final Payment Deadline: Jan 29, 2016
Interest Free Loans
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Some Credit Unions will give you an interest-free loan if
used for ECA payments. How will you know? ASK!!!!
How can I raise funds for Close Up other than ECA?
Example 1 – Request a Donation
Write letters to relatives, friends, companies, businesses your family frequent,
organizations (civic, religious, sports, scouts, etc) to which you belong . . . Anybody
who is familiar with you or your family & Request a donation! A letter writing
workshop will be conducted!
Example 2 – Seek Companies who Match Employee Donations
Parents can inquire with their Employer regarding Matching Funds. Request & submit
necessary forms EARLY as the process can take several months! The final payment
must be in by Jan. 29, 2016!
Example 3 – Financial Aid from Arizona Tribal Communities
If you are Native American and registered with any of the Arizona Tribal Communities,
you can request financial help for your child’s educational study visit.
Example 4 – Individual Fundraising
Students & families can elect to do their OWN individual fundraising. We will organize 12 fundraising opportunities but students can raise funds on their own by babysitting,
yard work & housework. In the past, families have conducted yard sales.
Payment Precautions
1) PLEASE make sure that ALL Payments are paid DIRECTLY to the Rhodes
Bookstore AND that a receipt AND a copy of the ECA Payment is given.
2) Bring your receipts and Photocopy of ECA Payments to your Social Studies
Teacher, who will place it in Ms. Kuropatkin’s mailbox.
3) When paying through ECA, make sure to write your child’s name and the
Rhodes ECA Account # 8161 on the BLUE ECA card.
4) Do NOT send the ECA Card to the MPS District as we have not way to track
it to your child’s account.
5) If you have out-of-town family/friends who would like to contribute to your
child’s Close Up account, PLEASE have them send the $$ to you OR directly to
Rhodes Jr High. Instruct them to write your child’s name on any deposit or
correspondence.
Travel Insurance
Close Up offers the option to buy Travel Insurance for $95.00.
You can purchase this when you register online
OR at a later time.
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If your child cannot attend Close Up because of a sudden
illness, OR any other reason covered by the travel insurance
policy, you should be able to obtain a refund. (Read the policy
guidelines!)
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You will be responsible to obtain you own insurance. We do
NOT collect the cost of the insurance. When you register
online, you will have this option to pay Close Up directly.
Close Up PACKET
1.
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5.
6.
7.
8.
Cover Sheet (red)
National Middle School Endorsement (blue)
Close-Up sample Itinerary (white)
** INTENT FORM (beige)
** Contract/Essay (lavender)
ECA FORM (blue)
ECA Explanation (green)
Close Up TIMELINE
** If you choose to participate these forms must be completed and handed in ON or BEFORE the
deadlines indicated on the bottom of each form.
CLOSE UP TIMELINE
PARTICIPANTS WILL FIND THIS INFORMATION
IN THEIR PARTICIPANT PACKET
IMPORTANT DATES TO KNOW
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September 22, 2015 . . . Intent Form DUE
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October 23, 2015 . . . Deadline For 1st Deposit / Contact/Essay Form DUE
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January 29, 2016 . . . ALL PAYMENTS FOR TRIP ARE TO BE COMPLETED
Roommate forms given out when forms are turned in
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March 13, 2016 . . . 100% CANCELLATION FEE after this date
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April 27, 2016 . . . Parent/Participant Meeting 6:30 PM @ RJH Auditorium
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April 29, 2016 . . . Student ONLY Meeting 8:15 AM @ Ms. Kuropatkin’s Room 71
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May 1, 2016 . . . See you at the Airport at the Designated Time
Additional Information
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You can choose to make weekly or monthly deposits.
Monthly deposits will be the total $1986.00 divided by 5 =
$397.20 (Sept-Oct-Nov-Dec-Jan)
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If a family needs to work out a slightly modified payment
schedule, we will try to work this out. However, this can only
be determined after a parent- sponsor contact has been
made.
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The Initial Deposit Date cannot be changed due to Close Up
Requirements and Procedures we must follow from the
District.
I’m ready to “Ship‘em off,” What should I do?
Please return the Intent Form and Contract/Essay Form
(with receipt of payment from the bookstore) to Ms.
Kuropatkin (Room 71).
1) Turn in the Intent Form by Sept 22nd
2) Turn in the Contract/Essay & $400.00 nonrefundable deposit, by Oct 23rd
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Student needs to complete the two essay questions - Write Legibly.
Student needs to get current teachers’ recommendation signatures.
All deposits must be made at the Rhodes Bookstore.
3) Payments must be completed by January 29, 2016.
DEADLINES are very Important to us AND to Close Up.
Monitoring the Participants: Grades & Behavior
To remain eligible for the Close Up Trip, students must NOT:
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Have chronic absences
Have Office referrals, time in ALC, & any Suspensions
Failure of a class
Any problems?? Parents will be notified.
Removal from the Program
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Students who do not display good behavior, passing grades, or are
chronically absent throughout the year will be removed from the Program.
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If removed from the program, money will be refunded according to Close
Up/ state and district guidelines . Refer to contract
Responsible Students
going on the Close Up trip:
1) Will be required to attend mandatory meetings.
2) Will be monitored very closely second semester (Jan–April 2016)
3) Will be responsible for lessons missed during the Close Up Trip.
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2 weeks before leaving, students will be given an Assignment Request Form to
notify their teachers of their upcoming absence.
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This is to ensure that students get the work for which they are responsible
turned into their teachers on time.
What if my child can’t go after paying?
1. No ECA money is refunded EVER! It is a tax
credit and this is mandated by state law.
2. $400 deposit is non-refundable (ECA may be
the better choice.)
3. Final Payments DUE by January 29th.
4. After March 13th NO money can be refunded.
5. You might want to take out travel insurance,
available from a separate company.
What do I need to do as a parent?
Once your Close Up deposits are paid, we will notify you via:
1) Email (Please PRINT this legibly on the INTENT FORM.)
2) Printed Notices (Given to your child at school.)
3) Daily Morning Announcements (Aired daily during 1st Period.)
Note: Parents can view Daily Announcements on the Rhodes Jr High
website homepage: http://www.mpsaz.org/rhodes
4) Postings in Social Studies Classrooms
You will need to Register ONLINE with the Close Up Program
We will give you the necessary instructions.
**If you do not have a computer, we will set a time
for you to come to school and register.
Introducing . . . Last year’s students
Let’s hear from some Rhodes Close Up Students
who went on last year’s trip . . .
Kaylee
Liyan
Kennedy
Sandra
Erin