8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip

8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Tuesday, November 3 - Friday, November 6

Trip ID: 227113

8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip: Nov. 3-6, 2026

Mandatory Parent Meeting for the November 2026 Washington, DC Trip

Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Time: 7:00 PM

Where: Novi Middle School Auditorium

Ms. Wesner will be discussing trip behavior expectations, bus transportation, hotel etiquette, packing lists, emergency forms, medical forms, travel safety, meals, and the itinerary. After the meeting, parents must complete paperwork and collect their child's trip sweatshirt, T-shirt, luggage tag, and lanyard. Please bring your insurance card with you to complete paperwork. This meeting is mandatory for at least one parent or guardian to attend.

If you are unable to attend the informational meeting, please take a moment to watch the provided videos for important details about the trip.

• Video 1: 2026 Trip Overview
• Video 2: Registration Information
• Video 3: Additional Details
• Presentation Slides

For any questions, please email Kimberly Wesner at Washingtondc@novik12.org.

To reserve your student’s spot on the trip, a $115 non-refundable deposit is required.

• Registrations submitted from February 1 - August 19 will be at the cost of $1649, with a $115 deposit required.

**When registering, please choose US for Country, even if you are not originally from the US.**

Payment Plan

• Flexible payment plans are available to make the trip more affordable. Payments are divided into manageable installments and can be made via mail, phone, or online. Online payments incur a $6 service fee per transaction, while enrolling in Easy Pay automatic withdrawals is free of additional charges.
• To secure your child’s participation, the remaining balance or an approved payment plan must be completed by August 19, 2026. Registrations after January 31 will be subject to availability.

• Additional Payment Details

• If you require a custom payment plan, please contact WorldStrides customer service directly at 1-800-468-5899. Be aware of the following fees:
• A $15 fee for missed installment payments
• A $60 fee for missed final payments
• Late Registrations
• After August 19, 2026, please call 1-800-468-5899 to be added to our waitlist.
• Being on the waitlist does not guarantee your spot.

Full Refund Program

• WorldStrides offers an optional Full Refund Program, providing added peace of mind for families. This program offers refunds for most costs, excluding deposits, handling fees, and late or administrative charges. To qualify, cancellations must be made prior to the group’s departure.

• Without the Full Refund Program, 100% of the tour price is non-refundable if cancellations occur less than 44 days before departure. This program is especially valuable for families concerned about unexpected injuries, illnesses, or relocations.

• Registrants have a 14-day window to opt into the Full Refund Program after they register.

• Please read the registration letter carefully for more information regarding F.R.P.

Standard Cancellation Policy: The services and value we provide begin long before your date of departure, and there are significant unrecoverable costs as your departure date approaches. Therefore, if you do not enroll in the Full Refund Program (discussed above) and you, the Program Leader, school, or school administration cancel beyond the 24-hour grace period, WorldStrides will be entitled to retain (in addition to the Non-Refundable Fees):

• 25% of the base trip price (minimum charge of $120 if base trip price is $400 or more) if your cancellation letter is postmarked more than 75 days prior to the group’s departure
• 50% of the base trip price if your cancellation letter is postmarked 45 to 74 days prior to group’s departure, or
• 100% of the base trip price if your cancellation letter is postmarked 44 days or fewer prior to group’s departure.

We are committed to making the 8th Grade Washington, D.C. trip accessible and affordable for all families. Below are four different opportunities for financial assistance and fundraising support:

1. WorldStrides FLAG Financial Assistance – K–12 Students
Our most popular financial assistance option is provided through the Future Leaders of American Government (FLAG) Foundation, which offers travel assistance to thousands of families each year.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Student must be in grades K–12 and traveling on a WorldStrides tour.

• Family’s annual adjusted gross income must be $85,000 or less.

• Completion of a confidential and simple application process is required.

To learn more or to apply, please contact WorldStrides Customer Service at 1-800-468-5899.

2. WorldStrides Gift of Education Fundraising
Through WorldStrides’ Gift of Education program, students can easily raise funds for their trip by:

• Sending e-cards,

• Sharing donation links on social media, or

• Generate personalized fundraising letters to send to family and friends.

100% of the funds raised go directly toward the student’s trip cost.
Click [here] to learn how to set up your child’s Gift of Education account.

3. NEF & NMS PTO Scholarships
These scholarships offer up to $400 in partial funding toward the trip.
Applications must be submitted to the Novi High School main office no later than Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

4. Novi Youth Assistance Scholarships
This program provides additional financial support through a separate application process. Applications can be dropped off at the Novi Youth Assistance office, located within Novi High School, or emailed to Carrie Reichley at carrie.reichley@novik12.org. Families can visit the Novi Youth Assistance website or contact the office directly for additional details on eligibility and the application process.

Recommendation: Apply for all scholarships as early as possible and around the same time.

This trip will:

• Bring history alive for students, increasing their appreciation and understanding of the past.
• Develop the students’ interpersonal skills as they “live together” for more than three days.
• Enable students to grow individually in assuming responsibility for themselves.

Transportation: Golden Limousine

• Students will travel on Golden Limousine charter buses, which are equipped with restrooms, power outlets, and entertainment systems to ensure a comfortable ride. Students will remain on the same bus for the entire trip and are expected to keep it clean and tidy.

Hotel: Hilton Mark Center, Alexandria, Virginia

• Our group will stay at the Hilton Mark Center in Alexandria, Virginia. Each room features two queen beds and is shared by four students. Breakfast will be provided daily at the hotel.

We work with WorldStrides to organize our trip to Washington, D.C. Their motto is “Committed to providing exceptional service, superior safety, and memories that will last a lifetime.” The company is located in Charlottesville, Va., and was founded in 1967. Our contact at WorldStrides is Tina DeSimone. Visit WorldStrides website.

Students will complete a behavior contract at the beginning of September. Violation of this contract will cause the student to be removed from the trip. If a student violates this contract prior to the trip, the student will be removed from the trip. If a student violates this contract while on the trip, we may send the student home on an airplane at the parent/guardian’s expense.

Meals will be eaten in a variety of places, including food courts, buffets, and family-style restaurants. We can accommodate a variety of dietary needs and restrictions, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergies. It is helpful if we are notified of dietary needs in advance of the trip.

*If you keep a kosher or halal home, the food provided on the trip does not meet these standards.*

D.C. Trip Restaurants

*A finalized list of restaurants will be available in October.

Hilton Mark Center, breakfast

• Ivy City Smokehouse: 1356 Okie St NE, Washington DC https://www.tavern.ivycitysmokehouse.com/
• District Taco - Dupont Circle - 1919 M St. Washington, DC https://www.districttaco.com/
• Good Stuff Eatery - 2110 Crystal Drive, Arlington VA https://goodstuffeatery.com/
• Reagan International Trade Center Food Court (students receive a meal voucher that can be redeemed at various restaurants) - https://rrbitc.com/dining/
• Ballston Quarter Market Food Quarter (students receive a meal voucher that can be redeemed at various restaurants) https://www.ballstonquarter.com/en/dining/quarter-market.html
• Pentagon City Mall (students receive a meal voucher that can be redeemed at various restaurants) https://www.simon.com/mall/fashion-centre-at-pentagon-city/dining
• Madhatter - 1319 Connecticut Avenue, Washington DC https://www.madhatterdc.com/

Forms will be available for prescription and over-the-counter medicines. All forms and medications are due to the main office at least one week prior to the trip. Each group’s chaperone disperses the medicine as needed. More information will be provided at the mandatory parent meeting in October.

Included in the cost of the trip, each student will receive a Novi Washington D.C. t-shirt and sweatshirt. Shortly after you register, expect an email from WorldStrides (and our representative Tina Desimone) requesting your child’s size for the t-shirt and sweatshirt. We offer adult sizes small, medium, large and extra-large. Do not order the shirts while you are registering for the trip. Wait until the company contacts you after you register. Please remember that your child will likely grow from the time you select sizes until the trip, so order accordingly.

The Washington, D.C. trip is chaperoned exclusively by Novi School District personnel. Chaperones typically include teachers but may also include principals, the superintendent, the student resource officer, the district nurse, and board members. To ensure adequate supervision, we maintain a chaperone-to-student ratio of 1:12. Please note that parents do not participate as chaperones for this trip.

• Nighttime Security: WorldStrides provides trained security chaperones who are stationed on each floor where students are housed. These security personnel are on duty from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM to ensure students’ safety throughout the night.
• 24-Hour Contact Service: WorldStrides offers a 24-hour contact service. Each student will receive a wristband with the contact number before departure. This ensures students have access to assistance at any time during the trip, should the need arise.
• Licensed Tour Guides: During city tours, each bus is assigned a licensed tour guide. These guides are knowledgeable about the history and layout of Washington, D.C., and are well-versed in current events to ensure safe and efficient navigation throughout the trip.
• Medical Support and Insurance: Doctors are available on call in case of medical needs, and the trip is covered by liability insurance for added security and peace of mind.

My Trip Information

• My Trip is a site provided by WorldStrides for parents to receive updates about the trip. After registering for the trip, you will receive an email asking you to register for My Trip.
• Updates and requests will be sent through the site. It is very important that you are in this information loop.

No High School Credit

• WorldStrides will send an email or mailing saying your child can get high school credit by going on this trip. it is part of the company's automatic mailing, but does NOT apply to us.
• Because Novi High School does not offer a class that matches the trip, students will NOT be able to earn high school credit.

In October, we will hold a mandatory parent meeting about two weeks before the trip. We will finalize the paperwork and discuss what to pack and student expectations. We will also answer any questions that parents or students may have.

Novi Middle School Washington D.C. Trip Sponsor: Kimberly Wesner

Contact me at: Washingtondc@novik12.org