Washington Elementary School 🐾

Thank you to all the families who were able to attend the Family Information Session last night. The information session slidedeck is provided below. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Please complete the field trip permission form by Tuesday, September 22:

Fairview Lake Field Trip Permission Form

The form includes a request for insurance information in the unlikely event that a student requires medical treatment. It also provides an opportunity to share bunk preferences.

You can also review a list of frequently asked questions:

Fairview Lake Frequently Asked Questions

It is time to share important information about our upcoming two-day, one-night outdoor education experience at Fairview Lake (FVL) in Stillwater, NJ.

Trip Dates: Thursday, October 8–Friday, October 9
Departure: 8:45 AM on Thursday
Return: Approximately 3:00 PM on Friday

Learn more about Fairview Lake Environmental Education

Students will participate in three different groups throughout the trip:

• Cabin groups
• Dining groups: Approximately eight students and one Washington staff member
• Activity groups: Approximately 15 students, with at least two Washington staff members and one FVL staff member

Students from all fifth-grade classes will be mixed for cabins, meals, and daytime activities. There will also be several whole-group activities.

Girls will sleep in cabins with approximately 10 students and two Washington staff members. Boys will stay in a two-story lodge with bunk beds in rooms of varying sizes, supervised by Washington staff members.

The cost of the trip is $225 per student, which includes meals, activities, FVL staff, and transportation by coach bus. Financial assistance is available; please contact me confidentially if needed.

Payment will be accepted through Membership Toolkit.

A school nurse will accompany us and be available throughout our 24-hour stay. Newton Medical Center is approximately 20 minutes away.

Before the trip, I will meet with students to answer questions and review expectations and procedures. We anticipate a wonderful experience and expect students to follow adult directions and treat one another with courtesy and respect.

If a student has difficulty meeting these expectations, the following steps may be taken:

• The student will receive a warning and additional guidance.
• The student may miss certain activities.
• The student may be asked to call a parent/guardian.
• In extreme circumstances, or after other interventions have been exhausted, a parent/guardian may be asked to pick up the student from Fairview Lake and return them to school.

Please complete the field trip permission form by Tuesday, September 22:

Fairview Lake Field Trip Permission Form

The form includes a request for insurance information in the unlikely event that a student requires medical treatment. It also provides an opportunity to share bunk preferences.

You can also review a list of frequently asked questions:

Fairview Lake Frequently Asked Questions

In addition to fifth-grade teachers Joanne Sangimino, Matt Cognetti, and John Borja, Nurse Cindy Herf, and me, several additional Washington staff members typically join us. I will share the complete staff list at a later date.

Please review the following information carefully if your child requires medication while at Fairview Lake.

Board of Education policy and state law require that all prescription and over-the-counter medications be authorized by a physician and administered by the school nurse.

The required forms are available below:

Authorization for Medication Form

Asthma Treatment Plan

If your child uses an inhaler, the Asthma Treatment Plan must be completed. If you need EpiPen paperwork, please contact Nurse O'Connor.

If your child already has medication at school, we will use the existing paperwork for Fairview Lake whenever appropriate. You do not need to submit a duplicate set of forms.

Medication and required physician authorization forms are due by Tuesday, September 22. If you anticipate difficulty meeting this deadline, please contact Nurse O'Connor so that acceptable arrangements can be made.

All medication must be provided in its original container. Medication and forms cannot be accepted on the day of the trip, as there is insufficient time to address questions or resolve missing information.

Because it is impractical to bring individual bottles for every student, we will bring Benadryl, Tylenol, and Advil. A physician's order is still required before the nurse may administer any of these medications. Please ask your child's physician to specify the dosage in milligrams.

Please call or email Nurse O'Connor with any medication-related questions or concerns.

An optional, in-person information session will be held in the Library immediately following Back to School Night on Thursday, September 10. We will share information and photos about Fairview Lake and answer questions.

This is a parent/guardian-only meeting. We will hold a separate meeting with the fifth-grade students before the trip.

All families are welcome, but attendance is not required. If you have questions or concerns that cannot wait until the information session, please feel free to contact me.

We believe Fairview Lake will be a meaningful and memorable educational experience. Many of the activities connect directly to our curriculum, while also providing students with opportunities to build independence, strengthen relationships, and enjoy the outdoors.

We are looking forward to a great trip!