Washington DC 2025 Program

Washington DC (Updated 9-27-2024)

• When does the DC trip take place?

  The 8th Grade Washington DC trip is confirmed for June 4 to June 6, 2025.

   

• What are the travel/flight details for the DC trip?

  TBD

   

• How do scholars qualify to attend the Washington D.C. program?

  -Scholars must have a 93% or higher attendance rate from September 23, 2024 to May 15, 2025. 

  -Scholars must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA for all classes. This is 70% or higher in all classes. 

  -Scholars must have no excessive behavior issues or suspensions from October 1, 2024 to June 3, 2025.

  -Scholars must complete their assigned D.C. presentation and present findings in (specific dates to be assigned.)

   

• What should scholars pack for the DC program?

  Information coming soon.

• How much does the Washington DC program cost?

  The DC trip traditionally costs $2,000-$3,000 (based upon what other schools charge.)  But, at GRCS, we try to make all of our programs accessible.   Families only need to pay $220 for the program.  This includes flight, hotel, food and entrance fees to sites.

  Parents can pay in increments of $55 on the GRCS website.  Payments are due:

  First Payment of $55 due by: October 1, 2024

  Second Payment of $55 due by: November 15, 2024.

  Third Payment of $55 due by December 15, 2024.

  Fourth and final Payment of $55 due by February 1, 2025.

  There are no refunds for payments after January 10, 2025.

  Payments can be made here:

  Pay for DC Here
  

• Can we fundraise to help pay for some of the payments?

  Yes, you can!  Galapagos offers three different types of coffee that can be sold to friend, family and co-workers.

  Each bag of coffee costs $13.99.  For each sale of coffee, the scholar raises $5 to go towards the cost of the trip.  So, if you sell 20 bags of coffee, you earn $100 towards the trip.

  Fundraising is not required.

  The types of coffee we have are:

  Balanced

  

  Aromatic

  

  Chocolaty

  

  Buy coffee here!

• Can my scholar bring electronics? Will he/she be able to call home during the trip?

  Scholars may not bring electronics nor may they call home during the trip.

  As discussed in our orientation meeting, we want scholars to be in the moment and fully immerse themselves in this educational adventure.   Therefore, phone and electronics are not permitted.  Please review the policy here: Communication and Electronics -Project Passport 2023.

  Scholars may bring cameras as long as they do not have internet connectivity.

• What will scholars do on the trip (agenda)?

  Sample Agenda (This agenda is an example only, a final agenda will be released this winter.)

  First Day

  Leave Rockford for O’Hare

  7:00 am – Flight leaves O’Hare to Washington

  9:27am- arrive in DC, and check into the hotel

  12:00 pm: Lunch

  1:30 pm- Tour the Capital Building (Congress)

  4:00 pm- Washington Monument

  6:oo pm- Dinner

  8:00pm- Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center

  10:00 pm- Return to hotel

  Second Day

  7:00 am- Breakfast

  9:00 am- White House (outside view and photos)

  10:30 am- Holocaust Museum

  12:45 pm- Lunch

  1:45 pm- African American Museum

  6:30 pm- Washington Nationals baseball game. (Dinner at the game)

  10:00 pm- Return to hotel

  Third Day

  7:00 am- Breakfast

  9:00am- Tour Ford’s Theater

  11:am- Tour the Washington Mall

                Viet Nam War Memorial

                Lincoln Memorial

                Korean War Memorial

                Martin Luther King Memorial

  1:00pm- Lunch

  P.M- Go to airport and return home to Rockford.

• Where will scholars be staying in Washington D.C.?

  Hotel TBD

  Scholars will stay in rooms based upon gender.  There will be up to four scholars in a room.  No scholar will have a private room.

• Who is chaperoning the Washington D.C. trip?

  The total number of chaperones on this trip will be dependent upon the number of scholars attending.  We aim for approximately one chaperone for every six scholars.

  Currently the chaperones are:

  Ms. Mallory Johnson- 8th grade math/sci instructor

  Ms. Molly Kettelhut- 7th grade ELA/SS instructor

  Ms. Stacey Puckett- UA Dean of Culture