Did your FCPS go on a really pitiful field trip this year to the Smithsonian art museum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why did OP's school want $5.00 to take an FCPS bus on a field trip? Is that a thing?

You have to pay for the driver.

$500? 100 kids per grade x 5.00?

100 kids would be 2 buses, maybe 3.

[Anonymous]

My child's class went to the Kennedy Center, although now tbh I can't recall if it was this school year or last school year. That said, he said it was miserable bc it was boring and there was lots of sitting. He said they were stuck on the bus for an hour to get there, then they walked straight from the bus to the seats and were stuck there for the performance, then they walked back to the bus and had to sit there for an hour to get back to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this the only field trip they take in 6th grade? That sucks.

All grades in ES can take 2 a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school did a similar field trip this year, but it was really great. The museum has a great program where they really went into detail about certain paintings. I think it’s way better than having kids randomly wander around. They learned a lot and really learned how to appreciate paintings.

But to go all the way to the museum and spent less than an hour there and only see 2-3 paintings sounds really lame to me. Do you work at Gatehouse? Like sure, start the program that way, then let them see the rest of the museum!

I was a chaperone and definitely don’t work at gatehouse (I think most of them should be let go). We were at the museum for more than an hour. Probably closer to two. And it was pretty great. The other parents thought so too. And the kids were pretty engaged and happy to be on a field trip. Did your buses get stuck in traffic or something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child's class went to the Kennedy Center, although now tbh I can't recall if it was this school year or last school year. That said, he said it was miserable bc it was boring and there was lots of sitting. He said they were stuck on the bus for an hour to get there, then they walked straight from the bus to the seats and were stuck there for the performance, then they walked back to the bus and had to sit there for an hour to get back to school.

The Kennedy Center is a staple 4th grade field trip for years. Every school in the county goes. I’ve been many times and the musical performance never disappoints, but many 4th grades think that EVERYTHING is boring!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child's class went to the Kennedy Center, although now tbh I can't recall if it was this school year or last school year. That said, he said it was miserable bc it was boring and there was lots of sitting. He said they were stuck on the bus for an hour to get there, then they walked straight from the bus to the seats and were stuck there for the performance, then they walked back to the bus and had to sit there for an hour to get back to school.

The Kennedy Center is a staple 4th grade field trip for years. Every school in the county goes. I’ve been many times and the musical performance never disappoints, but many 4th grades think that EVERYTHING is boring!

My kid didn’t go last year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child's class went to the Kennedy Center, although now tbh I can't recall if it was this school year or last school year. That said, he said it was miserable bc it was boring and there was lots of sitting. He said they were stuck on the bus for an hour to get there, then they walked straight from the bus to the seats and were stuck there for the performance, then they walked back to the bus and had to sit there for an hour to get back to school.

The Kennedy Center is a staple 4th grade field trip for years. Every school in the county goes. I’ve been many times and the musical performance never disappoints, but many 4th grades think that EVERYTHING is boring!

[Anonymous]

DS's school is doing the Smithsonian Art museum trip next week. it'll be the only field trip i recall since K, maybe they did something in 1st too? And he's in 6th.

Very sad they didn't let the kids do a "make-up" trip to Jamestown for the grades that missed this.

[Anonymous]

I’m paying $30 for my high school age DS to go to DC and view free monuments. I’m assuming they are using a charter bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child's class went to the Kennedy Center, although now tbh I can't recall if it was this school year or last school year. That said, he said it was miserable bc it was boring and there was lots of sitting. He said they were stuck on the bus for an hour to get there, then they walked straight from the bus to the seats and were stuck there for the performance, then they walked back to the bus and had to sit there for an hour to get back to school.

The Kennedy Center is a staple 4th grade field trip for years. Every school in the county goes. I’ve been many times and the musical performance never disappoints, but many 4th grades think that EVERYTHING is boring!

My kid didn’t go last year

Every school is invited, but some schools opt out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m paying $30 for my high school age DS to go to DC and view free monuments. I’m assuming they are using a charter bus.

If there are only 20 kids and they're taking a charter bus, that seems about right. Maybe lunch is included?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did OP's school want $5.00 to take an FCPS bus on a field trip? Is that a thing?

This has been a thing for a while. My older kid is a college junior now and I remember paying this for any trip using a county bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, in FCPS, if you live farther away from DC, you get really screwed for field trips. Especially if your school is a late arrival school. You can't leave until all the buses are in, which puts you at a 10 am or later departure. Then your buses have to be back by 1:30 to get to the middle schools on time for their dismissal. So leaving at 1015---arrive in DC an hour later at 11:15 and then you need to leave DC by 12:30....it just doesn't allow for any decent field trip experiences. They should make an exception, I am sure they have some "reserve" buses they could use.

Why not take a field trip to something closer than DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, in FCPS, if you live farther away from DC, you get really screwed for field trips. Especially if your school is a late arrival school. You can't leave until all the buses are in, which puts you at a 10 am or later departure. Then your buses have to be back by 1:30 to get to the middle schools on time for their dismissal. So leaving at 1015---arrive in DC an hour later at 11:15 and then you need to leave DC by 12:30....it just doesn't allow for any decent field trip experiences. They should make an exception, I am sure they have some "reserve" buses they could use.

Why not take a field trip to something closer than DC?

Where do you recommend? Tysons Corner Center?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, in FCPS, if you live farther away from DC, you get really screwed for field trips. Especially if your school is a late arrival school. You can't leave until all the buses are in, which puts you at a 10 am or later departure. Then your buses have to be back by 1:30 to get to the middle schools on time for their dismissal. So leaving at 1015---arrive in DC an hour later at 11:15 and then you need to leave DC by 12:30....it just doesn't allow for any decent field trip experiences. They should make an exception, I am sure they have some "reserve" buses they could use.

Why not take a field trip to something closer than DC?

Where do you recommend? Tysons Corner Center?

Yeah, because that's all Northern Virginia has to offer.