Ms. Stacie Schantz Ms. Amanda Vandegrift

Group Leader Assistant Group Leader

Insider’s France

July 6-16, 2012

Agenda• Why travel?• Who is ACIS?• A Typical Day• Learning Objectives• Cultural Connections• Trip itinerary• What’s Included• Extra Benefits• Cost• Automatic Payments Option• Protection Plans• Next Steps• Questions and Answers

Why Travel?Whether exploring the Louvre in Paris, riding horseback through a cloud forest in Costa Rica, standing atop the Great Wall in China, or ordering tapas in Madrid, ACIS students:

• Acquire skills and knowledge that prepare them for future success in college and careers

• Gain global perspective, cultural awareness, independence and responsibility• Develop a spirit of discovery and love of learning that lasts a lifetime

“The trip was absolutely amazing. It has convinced me to study abroad.

It couldn’t have turned out better!”

— Amanda Kesner, ACIS Participant, New Jersey

• Premier provider of the highest quality educational tours since 1978

• Division of AIFS, the leader of international education programs since 1964

• Financially secure institution with more than $130 million in annual revenue

• Wherever you are, ACIS is there:We have offices in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Sacramento, London and Paris, with affiliate offices in Rome and Madrid and local representation at every destination ACIS travels to.

Who is ACIS?

ACIS Report Card

98%Rate overall satisfaction good

to excellent

99%Rate educational content good to

excellent

97%Rate ACIS Tour Managers good

to excellent

Percentages for travel in 2009

A Typical Day

7:30-8:45 Start your day with breakfast in your hotel

9:00-12:00 Enjoy a morning activity such as city sightseeing or a bicycle tour

12:00-1:00 Lunch. Your group may choose to take a tour manager’s suggestion for the best pizza/crepes/paella in town or browse a local market and picnic in the park

1:00-3:00 Participate in a Cultural Connection designed to immerse you in the local culture, or use an ACIS Walking Tour to explore a museum or sight

3:00-6:00 Free time to shop for souvenirs, explore local neighborhoods or relax in a town square

6:30-7:30 Time for dinner

7:30-11:00 An evening activity such as a boat ride, a show or concert, or a Culture Quest will keep you entertained – or enjoy activities as organized by your group leader

Learning Objectives

1. Gain a sense for the importance of culinary traditions in France by partaking in a cheese tasting and sampling traditional meals.

2. Gain a wider understanding of the evolution of the French Châteaux of the Loire, from simple fortress to graceful residence and subsequently be

better able to assess Versailles and its role in the build up to the French Revolution.

3. Compare and contrast the lifestyles of city-dwelling Parisians with the lifestyles of those who inhabit smaller fishing villages in France's northwest

corner.

Each trip includes specific Learning Objectives that are highlighted during the tour and which will help you reflect on the history and cultures of the place

you are visiting!

During your trip you will:

• Paris Culture Quest

• Versailles by Bike

• Loire Valley Culture Quest

• Fromagerie Tour and Tasting

• Pétanque Lesson

• Cooking Lesson in Paris

On every tour itinerary, ACIS has included Cultural Connections—interactive experiences that enable students to engage with the places, people and

cultures they are visiting! Learn more about the Cultural Connections on your tour at www.acis.com/trips.

Trip ItineraryDay 1 | Overnight Flight

Bon Voyage!

Your ACIS Tour Manager will meet you at the airport and

welcome you abroad.

Trip ItineraryDays 2-3 | Paris

Bienvenue to the City of Light!

During your visit to Paris you will:

• Enjoy a sightseeing tour that shows you Paris’ famous sites.

• Explore the shops and neighborhoods the locals frequent.

• Explore the artistic and cultural neighborhood of Montmartre as

you compete in a Culture Quest

Days 4-5 | Loire Valley

Explore the Châteaux of the Loire Valley!

• First visit Versailles, Louis XIV’s magnificent palace, and explore

the gardens by bike!

• Visit Chenonceau with its exquisite Renaissance design.

• See the château of Amboise and spend free time exploring this

town.

• Finally discover mighty Chambord, the creation commissioned by

François I.

• Enhance your understanding of the region by way of a Loire Valley

Culture Quest!

Trip Itinerary

Trip ItineraryDays 6-7 | Dinan/Rouen

Step back in History!

• This morning discover the Normandy coast on the way to the

lovely island monastery of Mont St. Michel!

• Learn about important WWII history firsthand as you visit the

American War Cemetery, overlooking Omaha Beach.

• Stop at a Cheese Factory for a cheese tasting of one of France’s

most famous products – Camembert!

• Explore Rouen’s Notre Dame Cathedral and learn about how the

bravery of Joan of Arc inspired the French people.

Trip ItineraryDays 8-9 | Paris

Return to the City of Light!

• Visit the Louvre – the most famous museum in the world and

home to the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory.

• Enjoy an illuminated evening boat ride along the Seine and enjoy

the best view of Paris from atop the Eiffel Tower!

• Explore the Jardin du Luxembourg where you will learn to play the

traditional French game of Pétanque.

• Your final day also includes a hands-on lesson in French cooking.

Trip ItineraryDays 10 | Paris

• Spend part of the day visiting Claude Monet’s house in Giverny

• Explore Monet’s house and gardens, which inspired many of his paintings

• Return to Paris for some last minute souvenir shopping, crepes or photo opportunities

• Last night to spend with group! (Dinner on our own…NOT included in price)

Day 11 | Fly home

Au revoir!

Trip Itinerary

What’s Included• Round-trip flights on commercial airlines

• Service of an ACIS Tour Manager—a highly trained, multilingual guide, educator and travel expert who provides educational commentary and activities and manages travel logistics

• Daily continental breakfasts and dinners

• Accommodations in three- and four-star conveniently located hotels

• Surface transportation and airport transfers

• Excursions and activities as indicated in your tour itinerary, including comprehensive walking tours and Cultural Connection activities

• Basic Protection Plan which provides medical coverage and cancellation insurance

• Job Loss Protection included on every tour

• 24-hour global support network and on-call emergency service

• TripStream

• Take your family and friends along with youas ‘virtual’ guests! Your tour manager will be sending updates each day of your activities

• ACIS’ Travel is Education Scholarship Contestawards students up to $1,000 off their tour

• ACIS backpack and luggage tags

• Destination Information—www.acis.com is loaded with information on what to pack, souvenir suggestions and more. Plus, an informative and fun ACIS Travel Journal to bring along on tour.

• ACIS eKit Global phonecards, which save you up to 70% on international phone calls, are available for purchase.

• ACIS Travel Prepaid Visa Cards are a secure and convenient way to access funds while on tour.

Travel Essentials

Cost

Program Fee $2819

Registration Fee $95

Estimated Departure Fee $529

Weekend Surcharge $50

Giverny Excursion $59

Extra day in Paris $209

Total $3761 + tip +bus? + spending money

Additional fees: (some are optional)

Adult Surcharge $95

Single Room Supplement $640

Double Room Supplement $280

Ultimate Protection Plan $250

Comprehensive Protection Plan $200

Le Train Bleu with Illumination Drive (dinner) $109

Recommended Tipping:

Tour manager $5 per person/day

Bus driver $3 per person/day

Please note: Price is valid until April 1, 2011,

with $195 deposit

Automatic Payments Option

Automatic Payments makes planning your trip budget easy because your payments are

spread out evenly, giving you more time to pay.

Automatic Payment Advantages:

•FREE enrollment

•Avoid late fees

•24/7 control over your trip

budget and scheduled

payments

•Even payment amounts over a

longer period of time

•You can set your last payment

to be processed as late as 45

days before you depart

Bonus: All 2011 participants who enroll in Automatic

Payments are entered into our contest to win a free trip!

• You choose a payment frequency (every 2 weeks, every 4 weeks, monthly, or

quarterly) and your payments are automatically deducted from your checking or

savings account.

• To sign up or to learn more about Automatic Payments visit My Account on

www.acis.com and follow instructions.

Protection PlansYour ACIS Registration Fee includes Basic Protection coverage. For your peace of mind, we offer a range of enhanced protection plans from which you may choose. ACIS

recommends that participants purchase the Ultimate Protection Plan designed specifically for your travel needs.

Fundraising• We will offer fundraising opportunities (individual and / or group) over the next year

and a half, however it is up to YOU to raise the funds necessary tor travel. The more motivated you are, the more money you can raise…but it’s up to YOU to start raising and saving money! (Many people- -including Ms. Schantz & Ms. Vandegrift-- have had to save for years to be able to travel abroad.)

• All fundraising money will be put into the France Travel Club account. We will send your fundraising money via check to ACIS to put towards your account balance. (We will meet with your periodically to go over your fundraising balance)

• If you fundraise and decide not to go on the trip (for whatever reason), your money remains in the France Travel Club account to be disbursed to the remaining travelers. You will NOT get a cash or check for this money. (This is customary for all QCSD travel clubs)

• Parents…if you are willing to help us with fundraisers or have ideas / connections for fundraisers, please let us know! We appreciate any and all help you can give us!

Next Steps• Get paperwork (Signed QCHS Code of Conduct and Application) in to Ms.

Schantz or Ms. Vandegrift as soon as possible (no later than the end of the day on Feb.25th) if you are serious about going to France. Late applications will NOT be considered for travel.

• We will be contacting your teachers, guidance counselors for student recommendations (if there is ANY question about your behavior, attitude, etc., you will NOT be going on this trip)

**Remember—traveling is a privilege. We are looking for responsible students with a positive attitude to travel with us. If we can’t trust your behavior / attitude in the classroom, you will not be traveling with us to a foreign country.

• We will be inviting students to travel with us. You will receive an invitation to accompany us on this trip no later than March 7th.

Next Steps• When you receive your invitation to travel, you will receive a

Registration Form. This form details important information about insurance, payment plans, refund policies, and the ACIS release clause. (You can also register online. We will give you the information necessary to do this.)

• If you choose to register using the paper form, you will need to return your form to Ms. Schantz or Ms. Vandegrift no later than March 24th. I will mail them out together. (If we turn in our forms BEFORE April 1st, we can save $400 on the cost of the trip)

• To register, you will need to submit $195 with your application (check, money order, or credit card—if registering online)…$95 is nonrefundable.

Next Steps• Once registered, we will hold several meetings throughout the next

year and a half, discussing the following topics:

• Fundraising (both individual and /or group)• Passports• French Language / Culture• Luggage (size and how to pack)• Safety while abroad• Emergency Contacts (Phone chains)• Cell phones• Money• Dress code / behavioral responsibilities• Transport to / from Philly Airport

Thank you!• Thank you for coming tonight! We enjoyed meeting you!

• If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us via email (we can get back to you faster this way):

• Ms. Schantz Ms. Vandegrift• sschantz@qcsd.org avandegrift@qcsd.org

• (Please include “France Trip” in the subject of your email)

• All documentation from tonight’s meeting and future meetings will be posted online at Ms. Schantz’s school website (QCSD, QCHS, Staff, Ms. Schantz, France Trip 2012).

• Thank you!

www.acis.com • 877-795-0813 • info@acis.com

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