EXCURSION INFORMATION FORM
Excursion Name Oxford Schools DebateTournament
Transportation Details
Date(s) and Times
DEPARTURE:
Meet at 8:30 PM at theAir Canada domestic departure area in Terminal 1, Pearson InternationalAirport on Tuesday, March 7, 2023
FLIGHTDETAILS
Departure - 11:15 PM -Toronto, Pearson Intl,YYZ
Flight:AC 858
Arrival: 11:20AM
Flight time: 2 h 45 min direct
RETURN March 12th: Stu will be met by his mother in Oxford, and Dylan will travel by train from Oxford to London to meet his father at Paddington Station, per the letter of consent and direction on file with the school Mr Burkett will see Dylan safely onto the train
HOTELS
London (March 8-9):TheApartments Chelsea
41 Draycott Pl, London, England, SW3 2SH
Oxford (March 10-11): Royal Oxford Hotel Park End Street, Oxford, England, OX1 1HR
Group Involved
Group Leader
DestinationAddress
Activity Description and Educational Rationale
Emergency Contact Information
Approximate Cost
Please note that once you have provided consent to have your child participate on the excursion you will be charged for the expenses incurred on your child's behalf for
2 students (Dylan Burton and Stu Boyden)
Rob Burkett
Leslie Wilson is a second adult available in an emergency
The tournament will be held at the Oxford Union: Frewin Court Oxford, OX1 3JB
Represent Canada at the Oxford Schools international debate tournament
Rob Burkett (on trip): 416-820-9050
David Hamilton mobile (inToronto): 416-697-4698
Approximate total cost: $1800
Cost includes:
Hotels: $700
Heathrow Express: $40
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this excursion. Where, after you have provided your consent, notice is given that your child cannot attend the excursion, efforts will be taken to avoid incurring expenses on your child's behalf for the excursion, and you will be only charged those expenses that could not be recouped.
TrainTravel to Oxford: $50 (Stu) $90 (Dylan, return) Taxis/Ubers in London & Oxford: $150 London Underground travel: $40 (students to use their own card/phone to tap in and out) Theatre/concert tickets (incl. Mr. Burkett): $150
Meals: $400 (depending whether the students prefer sitdown restaurants or fast food) Students can charge meals themselves or Mr Burkett can pay
Mr Burkett’s Meals: $200 ea
Cost does not include:
Any incidentals: snacks, souvenirs, tourist attractions
Costs will be levied to student accounts after the excursion
Note:The school will pay for Mr Burkett’s hotels, train ticket, and return flight, but students will be charged for his meals, any Uber/taxi rides, and admission to museums/events
Return Level II VO Form via YorkNet by Monday, March 6, 2023
What to Bring
Sun Protection: Where a trip involves your child being outside between 11:00AM and 4:00 PM, or the UV rating is predicted to be 3 or greater, remind parents to provide children with the following: sunscreen, hat and water bottle. Sunglasses that protect against UV-Aand UV-B rays are also recommended.
Passport Health Card
Health Insurance card or photocopy of it
Proof of COVID vaccination (no longer required by the UK, but good to have on one’s phone)
As the students will be continuing their March break in England and Spain, they should pack accordingly. For London and Oxford they will need:
- Comfortable, casual clothing for travel days
- Business casual for the debate (e.g.: collared shirt, sweater, khaki pants) and the theatre.
- Appropriate outerwear for long walks, probably in the rain Temperatures will be in the 2-12 degree celsius range. Good walking shoes, ideally waterproof, are a must
- Notebook with paper for note-taking and prep
Students should bring their cell phones and charger to communicate with Mr Burkett Students are free to contact parents at appropriate times
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Computers, electronics, and other valuables are permitted but not recommended Students are responsible for their belongings.
Activities to be undertaken by students:
Debating, walking tours, museum visits, galleries, West End production and other similar tourist activities, e g riding the Eye
Our planned London itinerary is as follow:
Wednesday, March 8, afternoon:
Check into theApartments Chelsea Visit Churchill War Rooms
Walking tour of Westminster area, including WestminsterAbbey and Parliament Trafalgar Square and the National Museum (time permitting) Evening activity: concert or play, depending on how tired we are.
Thursday, March 9:
Camden Market, St. Paul’s Cathedral,Tate Modern,Tower of London Evening activity: West End Show (will buy ½ price, day of tickets)
Friday, March 10:
9:50AM train from Paddington Station to Oxford Station (1 hr) Walking tour of Oxford Early to bed for the tournament
Saturday, March 11:
8:30AM-9PM debate at Oxford Union! Dinner provided
Sunday, March 12: Stu to meet his mother at our Oxford Hotel Rob and Dylan to walk to the train station, Dylan to take the 9:30AM train to Paddington station to meet his father there
Travel by air, taxi, London underground, public bus, train, Uber and foot
The London Underground can be ridden by tapping a credit card or phone app linked to a credit card (e.g.Apple Pay).
Student preparation for excursion: Regular practices and tournaments
Follow-up: Students will debrief the experience and results with Mr. Burkett and the other debate coaches
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Tentative Tournament Schedule:
8:00-8:45am - Registration
8:45am - 9:15am - Briefings
9:30am - 11:00am - Round 1
11:00am - 12:30pm - Round 2
12:30pm - 1:30pm - Lunch
1:30pm - 3:00pm - Round 3
3:00pm - 4:30pm - Round 4
4:30pm - 4:45pm -AnAddress by the President of the Oxford Union
4:45pm - 5:00pm - BreakAnnouncement
5:00pm - 6:15pm - Semifinals
6:15pm - Dinner (Provided)
7:00pm - FinalsAnnouncement
7:15pm - Finals
9:00pm -Awards and Closing Ceremony
RiskAssessment
Specific Risks Identified:
• Traffic accidents
• Getting separated from the group
• Injuries due to physical activities: cuts, scrapes, broken bones, bruising, sprains, head injury, concussions, and slips, trips, and falls from heights
• Students are at risk of temperature related injuries from physical activity outdoors
• Illness, disease related to travel, food, water and environmental conditions
• Associated airline travel risks
• Different standards of design, safety and maintenance of buildings, public places and conveyances
• Health and safety standards potentially different to those in Canada
• Uncertain communication and transportation facilities at times
• Terrorism
• Allergic reaction to food or drink
Precautions to be taken to reduce or eliminate risks:
- Students will be registered with the Canadian Embassy prior to departure and travel advisories will be checked prior to departure
- Students will always travel in groups of two and be made aware of boundaries and rules in all locations
- Mr Burkett will have a comprehensive binder which includes student health and medical forms, copies of identification and will travel with a first aid kit
- Mr Burkett will have regular check-ins with students when he is not directly with them
- Students will have Mr Burkett’s and Msr Hamilton’s phone numbers
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TrafficAccidents – Students will travel by registered taxis or Uber, on accredited public and private transportation (London Underground, Great Western Railway train to Oxford and back, London and Oxford city bus)
Illness/Disease:
● FirstAid Kit to be carried at all times
● Students will be reminded to regularly wash their hands
COVID-19:The school encourages wearing masks in crowded places and while traveling (plane, train, etc ) but neitherTheYork School or the tournament hosts have a COVID policy or will be enforcing any COVID related rules/protocols Students may choose to wear a mask or not
Associated Travel Risks:
Getting Lost – group to stay together at all times and conduct only group activities including shopping and sightseeing Buddy policy enforced at all times
Note: crime is not considered to be a significant risk in the areas of London or Oxford we will be visiting, but students should make use of the hotel safe for passports and extra money they will not need during the day Students should always be aware of their surroundings and never wear headphones when walking around.
Contingency plan for bad weather/trip interruption:
If necessary the group will take a later flight or train and/or adapt their method of travel to suit the situation.TheYork School will monitor multiple global alert services to get the most up to date information and any excursion changes will be communicated to parents
Contingency plan for injuries/illnesses:
In cases of minor injury or illness, teachers will assess student(s) and apply first aid.They will make use of the travel first aid kit equipment This incident will be tracked via an injury report form In cases of major injury or illness, students will be taken to the hospital using an ambulance, along with a trip leader Second adult on the trip will remain with the otherYork student Trip leader will communicate withTheYork School and parents will be contacted
Location of nearest Emergency Medical Service:
London: St.Thomas’Hospital, Westminster Bridge Rd, Bishop's, London SE1 7EH
Oxford: Oxford Medical Centre, 6 Manzil Way, Oxford OX4 1GE, United Kingdom
Arrangements to be made to transport person/group to EMS (including route to be taken): Dial 999 for emergency services. Mr. Burkett will travel with both students.Transportation will be in a local vehicle as available or a regulated ambulance
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, CONSENT,AND RELEASE
The following sets out statements to which you, the parent(s), must agree by signing electronically below in order for your child to be permitted to participate in the intended trip Should you have questions regarding any of the statements below, you may contact the Divisional Principal or Experiential Educator, Barb Prevedello, at bprevedello@yorkschool.com (416-926-1325 Ext 1439) I/We understand, as the parent or guardian of the student named above, that students on York School trips are expected to participate fully in all activities undertaken during and in preparation for the trip, and that they must conduct themselves in a manner befitting of their role as ambassadors for the school community I/We further understand that all students will be bound by The York School Code of Conduct and any additional rules and regulations listed in this information package and/or discussed and implemented while on the trip, and that any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the trip leader, result in the immediate return of the student to Toronto Responsibility and payment for these arrangements will be borne by the parent/guardian Any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the Division Head, result in appropriate disciplinary action including suspension from subsequent trips
I/We have reviewed the contents of this information package and Code of Conduct expectations, rules and consequences with our child I/We, the undersigned, consent to the participation of our 2022 | 2023 7
child (as noted above) in The York School trip to the Oxford Schools debate tournament hosted by the Oxford Union on March 11, 2023 in Oxford, with associated travel to London and tourist activities from March 7-10, 2023
Details concerning this event, including activities, travel, supervision, location and safety precautions have been communicated to us and are understood In particular, we are aware that students will be engaged in the following activities: debating, banquet, and social activities, travel by plane, train, Underground, taxi/uber, and foot.
Our emergency contact information is up to date I/We agree to update the information with the trip leader if changes occur prior to the trip start date.
I/We have reviewed the Trip Plan and are aware that this excursion may expose my/our child to the following risks:
Students may be exposed to a number of physical injuries including: cuts, scrapes, broken bones, bruising, sprains, head injury, concussions, and slips, trips, and falls from heights. Students are at risk of temperature related injuries from physical activity outdoors While on this excursion, students are at risk of getting lost or separated from the group, as well as damage or loss of property While on this excursion with other students and staff, students are also at risk of exposure to COVID-19.There is also the risk of a traffic or flight accident when en route.
I/We, the undersigned, grant the trip supervisors appointed by The York School permission to act on my/our behalf and to consent, to any medical, dental or surgical treatment, including pain relief and admission to hospital which may be required for my/our child, in the opinion of a qualified medical practitioner if, after reasonable attempts have been made to contact me/us at the phone numbers provided to the school, I/we cannot be reached I/We do hereby release The York School, its directors, employees and its agents, from every manner of suit, claim or legal action which may arise as a result of an injury to, or the death of, my/our child sustained by reason of my/our child’s participation in this excursion As parent(s) of the child above, I/we 1 acknowledge that I/we understand the statements made regarding the intended excursion with respect to expected behavior, consequences for misbehavior, and the details of the trip, including activities and risks,
2. consent to my/our child’s full participation in the trip, and to the school taking the measures set out above in response to any medical emergency that may arise, and 3 release the school from legal action arising from injury or death according to the terms set out above
CODE OF CONDUCT
I understand, as the parent or guardian of the student named above, that students on York School trips are expected to participate fully in all activities undertaken during and in preparation for the trip, and that they must conduct themselves in a manner befitting their role as ambassadors for the school community. We further understand that all students will be bound by The York School Code of Conduct and any additional rules and regulations listed in this information package and/or discussed and implemented while on the trip, and that any infraction 2022 | 2023
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of these rules may, at the discretion of the trip leader, result in the immediate return of the student to Toronto at the parent/guardian’s expense and that any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the Division Head, result in disciplinary action We have reviewed the contents of this information package and Code of Conduct expectations, rules and consequences with our child.
Please Note
This copy of the Venturing Out Package is for reference only. Log on to your YorkNet account at https://yorkschool.myschoolapp.com/app#login to complete your child’s VO Package and give consent for their participation in this excursion.
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