4th Grade St. Mary's Field Trip - Does Your School Go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is it?

The kids go to Historic St. Mary's City, MD. It's kind of like a living outdoor museum where you can learn what life was like for the colonists (and Yaocomaco Native Americans) in the 1600s. The trip involves touring four sites - The Yaocomaco Indian Hamlet, The Godiah Spray Plantation, The Town Center, and The Waterfront (kids get to go on board the Dove, a recreation of the cargo ship that made the original voyage to Maryland in 1633-1634). (Fun fact...Did you know that St. Mary's City was the first capital of MD?)

4th grade students learn about colonization in social studies. The trip fits with the curriculum, as kids learn about political, religious, and economic reasons for colonization. It's a great trip! If your school normally takes 4th graders there, but didn't this year, it may be due to cost. Specifically, charter buses must be used because it's an extended day trip. ALL of the approved bus carriers on the MCPS approved list raised their prices. Most of the prices rose significantly. This really impacts the affordability. The only reason I was able to get the 4th grade kids from my school there this year was through the help of my principal. She came up with the funds to pay for a large portion of this trip. This brought the overall cost down significantly per child.

Sounds like a fantastic trip!

Bummed that our school does not go.

And, for the posters who keep saying that MCPS is one singular school system. This is obviously NOT true. Seems that some kids DO get a different educational experience depending on how wealthy the ES population is.

Not necessarily...I wouldn't call the population of my school wealthy. We definitely have students who can't pay the full amount, and others who struggle to contribute half the cost. The administration at my school supports the trip and makes it happen.

[Anonymous]

Had the BEST time on this field trip with Beverly Farms - they said we were the top group ever to come through the exhibits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school goes tomorrow. I know another school that didn’t do it one year out of concern for the cost.

Is this why some schools don't do it?

We are at a FOCUS school that pays for kids who can't afford field trips. Why would this one be any different?

For those who do go, how much does it cost?

DD went to a Focus school, and they went on this trip 3 years ago. I don't know if they still go, but as far as I know, it had been a longstanding tradition at her school.
In 5th grade, they went to Baltimore. I understand many other schools take 5th graders to Philadelphia.

[Anonymous]

DS is in 4th grade at a W feeder school. Haven't heard a thing about it.

[Anonymous]

We are in a FOCUS school (Flora Singer) and the 4th grade is going next month.

[Anonymous]

No, our child's school in Rockville did not go to this one this year, but they have in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school goes tomorrow. I know another school that didn’t do it one year out of concern for the cost.

Is this why some schools don't do it?

We are at a FOCUS school that pays for kids who can't afford field trips. Why would this one be any different?

For those who do go, how much does it cost?

I'm the first PP here. At the Focus school I was referring to, a new principal came in and was/is very concerned about equity and access to field trips for all students, so there has been a big emphasis on reducing cost of field trips to parents. The PTA has stepped in, but at least one year the 4th grade plans changed because of this. We are now at a different Focus school, and the cost for the trip is $31, with a note (as with all field trips) to let your child's teacher know if this is a hardship.

[Anonymous]

St Mary's was my kid's favorite field trip of elementary school. DC even asked to go back as a family, to do all the things the class didn't have time to.

But the classes nearly didn't get to go at the last minute because of the volunteer requirements. Because the trip is outside the local area (or maybe it's the length of the trip? I forget the criteria), chaperones have to go through a more extensive screening than just the online training. This includes getting fingerprinted at one of the designated centers, at your own expense, and a wait of several weeks to be cleared.

They didn't publicize this early enough, and scrambled at the last minute to get enough parents to do it. It might have been a relatively new requirement that year, but I did notice this year they sent out volunteer notices for another big field trip several months in advance.

[Anonymous]

College Gardens did the trip this year

[Anonymous]

It is a fantastic field trip that brings to life what the kids have been studying. We are lucky to live so close to this opportunity. If there are schools in the county that are not going because of cost, that needs to change.

Make the trip part of the curriculum. Funding should come from the central office, not the PTA or parents. It’s that important that the kids get to experience it. It truly is unfair that some kids in the county do not have access to this field trip.

[Anonymous]

DD is in 7th grade this year. I think that of all trips she has taken, her 4th grade trip to St Mary's was the field trip that most closely aligned to what she was learning in school. It is a shame all schools are not going.

[Anonymous]

Our school (greenwood) didn't go last year. They had gone every year prior.

[Anonymous]

Oak View does not. Also, Some schools do a 5th grade trip to Philadelphia and others only go to Mt Vernon. Which is a fine place to visit but it’s not as enriching as an entire day in Philadelphia.

I think it’s scandalous that the county allows this kind of disparity in school experiences. They need to make it possible for all 4th and 5th graders to go on such trips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St Mary's was my kid's favorite field trip of elementary school. DC even asked to go back as a family, to do all the things the class didn't have time to.

But the classes nearly didn't get to go at the last minute because of the volunteer requirements. Because the trip is outside the local area (or maybe it's the length of the trip? I forget the criteria), chaperones have to go through a more extensive screening than just the online training. This includes getting fingerprinted at one of the designated centers, at your own expense, and a wait of several weeks to be cleared.

They didn't publicize this early enough, and scrambled at the last minute to get enough parents to do it. It might have been a relatively new requirement that year, but I did notice this year they sent out volunteer notices for another big field trip several months in advance.

Thanks to the PP who posted the itinerary. We're at a FOCUS school that does not go, so we'll make it a point to take the kids on our own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Mary's was my kid's favorite field trip of elementary school. DC even asked to go back as a family, to do all the things the class didn't have time to.

But the classes nearly didn't get to go at the last minute because of the volunteer requirements. Because the trip is outside the local area (or maybe it's the length of the trip? I forget the criteria), chaperones have to go through a more extensive screening than just the online training. This includes getting fingerprinted at one of the designated centers, at your own expense, and a wait of several weeks to be cleared.

They didn't publicize this early enough, and scrambled at the last minute to get enough parents to do it. It might have been a relatively new requirement that year, but I did notice this year they sent out volunteer notices for another big field trip several months in advance.

Thanks to the PP who posted the itinerary. We're at a FOCUS school that does not go, so we'll make it a point to take the kids on our own.

Check out their website! It really is an awesome trip, especially if the kids arrive with background knowledge. I really prepare my students before the day of the trip. Although, I try to leave a few surprises so they will also learn a little something new on the field trip. I've been so many times that I could be the docent and give the tour

https://hsmcdigshistory.org/