Knoch 8th Grade Field Trip to

Washington DC

November 4-5, 2023

This fall, your child has the opportunity to participate in an overnight field trip to Washington DC November 4-5, 2023!  Each bus has at least three experienced chaperones (including Knoch School district teachers) who ensure the students have a safe, fun, and educational experience to be remembered for years to come. 

Students will see and explore the institutions of our federal government and immerse themselves in our national history. Knoch  students have been traveling to our nation’s Capitol with Logan Tours for 40 years. Many remember it as a highlight of their school years. Make it one of yours, too!

Key Dates + Info

Trip Cost:  $350 

Sept 8: Logan Tours representative goes over trip info in classroom.

Sept 8 – 25: Sign up for the trip.  When you finish the sign up forms, you will be taken to a payment page to pay the $100 non-refundable deposit (applied to trip cost).  You must sign up and pay the deposit by midnight on Sept 25.

Sept 26 – Oct 6: The “Sign Up” link will be replaced with a “Final Payment” link.  The $250 final payment is due by Oct 6.

The final payment of $250 is fully refundable up until the morning of the trip for any reason.

Sept 26: Roommate selection forms distributed in Social Studies class.

Sept 26 – Oct 3: Turn in all roommate selection forms for your room as a packet, matching and stapled, to Mr. McAnallen in room 131.

A trip roster will be emailed to the parents of all students who signed up, and posted in room 131. Use this to select roommates.

Oct 30 @ 6 pm:  Parent meeting at Knoch Middle School Library.

Nov. 4 early morning (TBA): Drop off at Knoch Middle School for bag checks and bus boarding.

Nov. 5 @ evening (TBA): Pick up at Knoch Middle School (have phones on – return time may change).

FINAL PAYMENT

What You'll See

On this exciting 2-day, 1 night trip, students will:

We depart from Knoch High School early Saturday morning, traveling on comfy coach buses. After arriving in DC, students spend the afternoon touring the city, then head to Manassas, VA for dinner and evening activities. We tour again Sunday morning and head home by mid-afternoon on Sunday. 

U.S. Capitol Building
Washington Monument
Lincoln Memorial
Students in front of Lincoln Memorial
White House
Air & Space Udvar-Hazy Center
Students in front of White House
Arlington Cemetery
Arlington Cemetery
World War II Memorial
Vietnam War Memorial
Korean War Memorial
United States Marine Corps War Memorial
Dorothy's Ruby Slippers at American History Museum
Ford's Theater

How to Sign up and Pay

  • Click “Sign up” at the top of the page.  You will  enter several pages of information and signatures.  Your child is not signed up until you complete these forms.
  • Deposit. When you are done completing the forms, you will be taken to a payment page where you pay the non-refundable deposit using your checking account, or a credit card (a 3% convenience fee is added to credit card payments).
  • Final Payment: There will be a final payment link available on this page after the deposit due date has passed.
  • Due dates: The due dates for sign up, deposit, and final payment are listed in the box at the top of this website.

Refund Policy

  • The deposit is not refundable for any reason.   It holds your child’s spot on the trip.  The remaining balance is fully refundable until the morning of the trip if your child withdraws for any reason. 
  • You must notify Rebecca Green at logantoursinc@gmail.com  that your child is dropping out in order to get a refund.  If he/she just does not show up, there is no refund.  

Fundraising Opportunity

See the fundraising tab at the top of the page to learn about ways to help pay for the trip.  Do not delay!

Student Behavior

  • Students are expected to abide by all applicable school policies while on this trip.
  • The District has the right to deny a student from participating based on disciplinary or other issues that arise before the trip (e.g., fighting, bullying, etc.).
  • The “Good Night” time on the itinerary is the last time that any student will be permitted in the hotel hallways.  Errands, such as obtaining soft drinks, ice, or asking questions of the chaperones must be carried out before that time.
  • Knoch staff and students have gone on the Washington DC Field trip for decades.  They’ve always been well received by the hotel, restaurants, and tour sites visited.  Help us keep up our good reputation!

Meals & Money

Saturday Meals
Breakfast – not included. Eat before you leave or bring something easy to eat on the bus.
Lunch – 6″ Subway sandwich, chips, dessert, and water.
Dinner – All-you-can eat pizza and soda.

Sunday Meals
Breakfast – Hotel continental breakfast including hot items
Lunch – Elephant & Castle Restaurant
Dinner -Hoss’  Steakhouse buffet (chicken tenders, fries, soup, salad, and dessert bar)

If you have special dietary needs, bring food that is safe for you. We can store a cooler under the bus, if needed.

Spending Money: All meals, admission fees, and gratuities are included in the tour price.  If you want to send additional money for  vending and small souvenirs, do so at your discretion.  $30 – $50 is reasonable.  More will be needed if they are going to buy a hoodie and/or several items.

Food and beverages are permitted on the buses and in hotel rooms.  Only drinks with resealable containers are allowed.  Students are expected to discard waste and keep buses and rooms clean. If not, snack privileges will be revoked.

Hotel & Roommates

  • We will be staying at the Hampton Inn, Manassas VA, which features comfortable, well appointed rooms equipped with cable TV and a blow dryer.  4 students will be in a room, and each room has either two queen beds or a king bed and a sleeper sofa.  
  • Students choose their own roommates using a form that will be distributed during Social Studies class after the trip sign up and deposit are complete. 
  • Students should list the names of everyone they want to room with, make sure everyone’s form for their room matches, staple them together and turn in as a packet to Mr. McAnallen in room 131.
  • Rooms of fewer than 4 may be asked to add a student or combine with another room.
  • If a student cannot find a roommate, every effort will be made to assist.  However, if a room cannot be found for this student, he/she will receive a refund of all monies paid towards the trip.
  • Please help your child with this process, and encourage them to be kind and helpful to their peers.  We know it can be stressful.

Packing & Preparing

What to Bring:  Take all items on board the bus that you plan to use throughout the day, including  phones, cameras, jackets, and spending money (not required – keep to minimum). Please send healthy snacks and water.   

You’ll also need to have a gym bag with you on the bus.  Pack this with whatever you’ll need for the Freedom Center pool & recreation area.

Everything you’ll need at the hotel (sleepwear, toiletries, games, more snacks & drinks – water) goes in a bag that can be put in the under-bus storage. You won’t be able to access it throughout the day.

Medication must be given to the chaperones before boarding.

Phones and other screens:  Students are responsible for their possessions, so use discretion.  Label these items with name and parent phone number in case they are misplaced.

What NOT to bring:  Don’t bring anything that isn’t allowed at school (weapons, alcohol, vapes, etc.).  All bags and luggage will be inspected. Please triple check that there are no prohibited items. If there are, you might not be able to attend the trip and school policy enforced.

Weather:  We will be outside and walking A LOT!  Wear comfortable shoes.  Check the DC forecast and pack accordingly, including jacket/rain coats.

Music and video: Must be played through headphones. No flash photography after dark.  No laser lights.  Movies rated G or PG only.

Bag Checks and Student Screening:  Students and their luggage will pass through metal detectors and bag searches before boarding in the morning.  If anything is found that is prohibited from school (see the student handbook), your child will not be allowed to attend the trip.  Please TRIPLE CHECK that there are no items that would get them in trouble on their person, or in their luggage.

Safety

Student Safety is the most important aspect of this tour. The following procedures are in place to ensure safe travels:

  • School behavior standards will be upheld during the trip, and participation may be denied based on a student’s disciplinary record.
  • Chaperones and tour coordinators have required clearances. Most are district employees who know the students and are familiar with the places we visit.
  • Experienced tour coordinators travel with the group at all times. They explain meeting times, places, etc. in advance of each stop. They will alert students and chaperones to any changes that need to be made, and are in contact with the bus drivers at all times.
  • Students travel in groups with their roommates and their bus chaperones.
  • The places we visit have strict security and/or police on site.
  • Hotel rooms do not have exterior exits. Hotel rooms have landline phones and students are told how to contact chaperones during the night.
  • The “Good Night” time on the itinerary is the last time that any student will be permitted in the hotel hallways.  Errands, such as obtaining soft drinks, ice, or asking questions of the chaperones must be carried out before that time.
  • A security guard walks the halls all night. Mechanisms are put in place to ensure students do not visit one another’s rooms during the night.
  • Only experienced drivers are used, and we strictly follow federal laws pertaining to driver safety.

Questions?

Shawn McAnallen, School Sponsor

McAnallens@southbutler.net
724-352-1700

Rebecca Green, Tour Coordinator

logantoursinc@gmail.com
724-355-4997