Seventh Graders, Families, and Guardians,

Our field trip to the Aquarium of the Pacific is this week!!!  We are all looking forward to a wonderful, educational experience.  The students will have some work to do while at the aquarium as well as take notes on a future life science project that will be due later in the trimester.  I’ve included some additional information below regarding our trip.  The students are to come to school on Wednesday in free dress. We expect to leave SHS around 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon and will leave Long Beach around 7:00 a.m. Thursday morning, hopefully arriving home around 9:30.  You can take your student home at that time for a well-deserved rest!

Location:  Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, Ca  90802

Check-in:  Members Entrance at 5:00 p.m.

Gear:  The staff will meet us at the Information Booth with labeled luggage bins for all of our overnight gear.  We will not revisit our gear until bedtime, so please keep out items you might need, such as a jacket, water bottle, and money for the gift store.

Meet time:  Program will start at 5:45 p.m. at Blue Cavern.  This will give us the option of visiting the gift store, Pacific Collections, and the Lorikeet Forest before we start the program.  These locations will be closed once the program starts.

o Wear comfortable clothing and shoes for the tours and activities that have been planned.  We will be venturing throughout the aquarium.

o All overnight guests must bring something comfortable to sleep in.  A t-shirt and pair of sweats will work just fine.

o You will be sleeping on the floor in front of either the Tropical Reef or Northern Pacific exhibit.  Please remember to bring what you plan to sleep on.  A sleeping bag, and pillow will be needed.  You may bring a therma-rest, egg foam mattress, for your comfort.

o Don’t forget your toothbrush and other essentials to get ready for bed and to get ready in the morning.  Sorry, no showers are available.

o As a good reminder, please only pack what you can carry.  Over packed luggage can be hard to carry up the stairs, so only pack what you need.

o Please do not bring food, or beverages (except water) into the aquarium.

o Flashlights are not needed at night, and may disturb the animals.

o No i-Pods; we are together to enjoy learning and conversation with each other.

Cell phones are allowed, however I will keep them with me.  During the dinner hour and/or down time, I will allow students to call home and check in.