Dear Parent/Carer,
I am in the process of organising a skiing trip to Sestriere, in the Italian Alps for our current Year 9 students. The trip will take place during the Easter holiday 2024 when the students will be in Year 10. The trip will depart on Sunday 31 March 2024 and return on Saturday 6 April 2024. Due to the delays we encountered at Dover last Easter, we have decided that it is in the best interest of the students to fly this time. The cost is £1455 per person. This includes:
- Return coach travel from school to UK airport
- Return flights
- Overseas coach transfers
- 6 nights full board accommodation including hot lunches
- A 5 day lift pass
- 5 days hire of skis, boots, poles and helmets
- 25 hours of ski tuition - 5 hours per day
- Snow Guarantee Insurance
- Fully Comprehensive Winter Sports Travel Insurance
- Dedicated Resort Representative
- 24 hour emergency contact number & medical assistance service
- In-house evening entertainment programme organised by dedicated resort representative and JPA staff.
- Souvenir Ski Trip ‘hoodie’
The ski trip has been running for many years and in my opinion is good value for money, particularly seeing as 25 hours of ski tuition is included in the price. Students have enjoyed the experience and it has benefited them in their personal development.
Whilst I do not want to be pessimistic, I do need you to consider that there may be other financial implications; i.e.
- your child will need their own passport
- all students must make sure that they are fully vaccinated as per the governments advice in order to meet the entry requirements of the countries we will be travelling through and staying in
- if your child needs to visit a doctor/hospital you will need to pay the Travel Insurance Policy Excess and/or medication expenses etc. upon our return.
However, parents can claim some/all of the medication expenses back through the UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC) – The website gives you some information: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/ All students will need to get a GHIC card (which is free) before travelling.
If you would like your child to participate in this trip please return the slip below to student reception, by Friday 23rd June 2023. In previous years this trip has been very popular and oversubscribed. If you are successful in gaining a place, you will be notified by letter. Please note that Jesmond Park Academy no longer accept cash for trips and all payments will need to be made through the SCOPAY system. Contact Lyndsey Jennings if you need any help with this process. You will need to pay your deposit via SCOPAY by Saturday 1st July 2023. Failure to pay the deposit by this time may mean that your place is given up to another student on the waiting list.
Please note: that this deposit is non-refundable once your child has been accepted on the trip. The remainder of the cost of the trip is to be paid in five instalments of £241 due on or before 1st of each month in August, September, October, November and December with the final instalment due on or before 1st December 2023.
If the trip is undersubscribed it may not be viable to proceed and I will need to arrange to return your deposit. However, if the trip is oversubscribed, names will be pulled out of a hat and deposits returned to unsuccessful applicants. For successful applicants, remember, that once your child’s place is booked and the deposit is paid, you are agreeing to pay the full amount of the trip (payable in instalments). Deposits are non-refundable and cancellation charges are
subject to the travel company’s terms and conditions. I will let you know if you are successful or not as soon as possible.
May I highlight to you that skiing is physically and mentally demanding and students who haven’t been skiing before must take this into account when considering whether to apply for a place on the trip.
Please be aware that attendance on the trip is dependent on your child’s continued compliance with the school’s Praise Code. There are cancellation charges if your child withdraws or is withdrawn at a later date, no matter what the reason or circumstances.
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me at school on the number below, or email me at lunderhay@jesmondparkacademy.org.uk
Yours sincerely,
Mr L Underhay
Ski Party Leader