Frequently Asked Questions
Where are we going?
We are going to two homes designed by eminent American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob. They are located near Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania.
When are we going?
May 11 Mrs. Tanner, Mrs. Herron and Mrs. Nelli's students from Scioto Darby, J. W. Reason, Ridgewood, Britton, Norwich, Washington
May 15 Mrs. Helmer and Ms. Hanlin's students from Beacon, Hoffman Trails, and Darby Creek
May 16 Mrs. Lycan and Mrs. Kash's students from Hilliard Crossing, Brown, Avery, and Horizon and Mrs. Hanlin's students from Alton Darby
What school will my child be leaving from and be picked up from?
Thursday, May 11th trip: Norwich Elementary
Monday, May 15th trip: Alton Darby Elementary
Tuesday, May 16th trip: Hilliard Crossing Elementary
What does the itinerary look like for the day? (All times after 6am are approximate and may be revised during the trip according to individual trip needs.)
5:30 am -- Bus Chaperones should arrive.
5:45 am -- Parents drop off students at designated location. Students check in with teachers.
6:00 am -- Buses depart.
10:30 am -- Bus 1 arrives at Fallingwater. Bus 2 arrives at Kentuck Knob
10:30am - 1:00pm -- Students and chaperones tour their respective sites, grounds and gift shop.
1:00 - 1:30pm -- Students return to buses and buses switch places, driving to their 2nd site.
1:30 - 4:30pm - Students and chaperones tour their 2nd sites, grounds and gift shop.
4:30pm -- Buses depart for St. Clairsville, Ohio
6:30pm -- Buses arrive at St. Clairsville for dinner stop.
7:30pm -- Buses depart for Hilliard.
9:15pm -- Buses arrive at same designated school for parent pick up.
When do I pick my child up? (Exact time will be on Remind and Twitter)
Pick up is approximately 9:15 pm the same day of drop off, give or take 15 minutes. We will be sending messages via Remind during the trip. Some staff will also be tweeting about the trip throughout the day. Be sure to sign up for reminders!
Why are we going?
This trip is a key element in our study of innovations in architecture. As America's most eminent architect, Frank Lloyd Wright was a pioneer in the Organic Style. His innovative style ushered in a new era in architecture around the world. Seeing his structures in person provide students with a memorable and personal experience they cannot get from virtual tours or pictures.
How will we get there?
We will be riding chartered buses from Cardinal Transportation. Some parents have arranged to carpool there and back. (If you wish to do this, you MUST contact your child's Focus teacher as soon as possible if you have not already.)
How long does it take to get there?
The trip takes approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes of driving time.
Are we staying overnight?
No. This is a 1-day trip. We will leave at 6am and return at about 9:15 pm the same day.
Does my child have to go to school the next day?
If it is a school day, yes. Students may rest and sleep on the bus on the way home, and can reasonably be in bed before 10pm that night. While it is a long and exciting day, and they will understandably be tired, students are still expected to go to school the day following the trip. When students miss the day following this trip, it makes it more difficult to justify taking it again in future years.
Who is chaperoning?
Parents who responded to the survey sent out via email in March will be chosen to be chaperones on the bus. Chaperones are chosen largely on a first-come-first-serve basis, with some exceptions made for students with special needs. Some parents are choosing to drive themselves there and back, or carpool, and will join their child(ren) during the tours. All chaperones must have volunteer badges.
How much does it cost?
All individuals riding the bus will pay $70.00 each.
All Individuals driving/riding in cars will pay $42.00 each.
What does the cost cover?
This fee covers the cost of the charter bus and admission to both sites. It does NOT cover the cost of food or money for the gift shop.
How and when do we pay?
Payment must be in the form of a check made out to Hilliard City Schools. Parents. The deadline for payment is the week of April 10th.
Is financial help available?
Some financial help is available for families on free/reduced lunch. If you are in need of financial assistance, please contact your child's teacher.
What should my child pack?
Layers of weather-appropriate clothing (we go rain or shine)
Please dress for the weather. Layers are a good idea.
Closed-toe shoes like sneakers or tennis shoes. Flip-flops/sandals are not acceptable. It may be muddy or wet where we are walking.
Enough food to sustain them from 6:00 am - 6:00 pm when we stop for dinner
Something to do on the bus that is silent.
Tech devices are acceptable as long as they have headphones or can be muted.
Students are in charge of all their own possessions. HCSD will NOT be responsible for lost, damaged, stolen, destroyed or otherwise harmed student property.
Is there WiFi or a way to charge devices on the bus?
There IS WiFi! However, there is no way to charge devices on the bus. We strongly recommend bringing a back-up, non-electronic form of entertainment or extra batteries, if possible.
Who will be in charge of my child during the trip?
Chaperones who ride the bus will be placed in charge of groups of 3 - 6 students. These chaperones will all attend a chaperone meeting and must have an HCSD volunteer badge. In addition, your child's teacher will be ultimately in charge of overseeing all students.
How can I get updates on how the trip is going?
We will be updating via Remind. You MUST SIGN UP for text alerts using the appropriate code below if you wish to receive updates the day of your child's trip. If you do not sign up, you will not be able to receive updates. It is important to sign up for updates as there may be an unexpected delay in return times. You only need to sign up for the Remind for the day your child is going on the trip.
Remind for May 11 -- Text the message @4h4da to the number: 81010
Remind for May 15 -- TBD
Remind for May 16 -- TBD
What are the teacher's Twitter handles?
SDE, RGW, JWR (May 11th Trip) Rachel Nelli: @RNelliGifted
ADE, DCR (May 15th Trip) Catherine Hanlin: @hanlinfocus
I'm driving. Can I just drive my child there and back?
In the past, we have asked that all students ride the bus to the sites unless there is a medical reason not to. The bus trip is part of the experience, and the vast majority of students truly enjoy it. In cases where parents are carpooling, students will often be released to their parents at the dinner stop, and they drive straight home from there. Parents may not leave with their children at any time without signing out with their child's teacher first.
If I'm driving, do I need to tell my child's teacher beforehand?
Yes, please. At each site, there is a strict limit as to how many people may go on a tour at one time. We will be arranging all tour groups and times before departure, and each tour group is likely to be full so as to move us through the sites in as timely a fashion as possible. Parents and other family members who show up unexpectedly will NOT be able to tour with their child, nor will we have tickets available for them.
I'd like to carpool. How do I find people to carpool with?
Contact your child's teacher about carpooling and she will put you in contact with other interested parents.
When will we eat? What will we eat?
Students should try to eat something at home, and bring a lunch and snacks with them on the bus to sustain them for 12 hours. Please, NO NUT-CONTAINING SNACKS MAY COME ON THE BUS. We will eat "lunch" on the bus around 10am, before touring the first site. Students often eat on the bus between tours and after visiting both houses.
At about 6:30pm we will stop in St. Clairsville, Ohio for dinner. There will be several fast food choices available. If your child cannot/will not eat fast food, please pack dinner for them as well. Students and chaperones will need to pay for their own dinners.
My child has special medical needs. How will that be managed?
In many cases, we will ask parents of children with special needs to be chaperones on the trip. If you cannot be a chaperone, we may need to fill out some extra paperwork to ensure your child's safety and our ability to care for him/her during the trip. Please contact your child's teacher.
If my child cannot go at the last minute, will there be refunds?
Unfortunately, all reservations must be pre-paid, even if the student does not attend so refunds are not available.
What will happen if my child misbehaves on the trip?
Students who have a behavior issue will spend the day directly supervised by his/her teacher. Students who have a serious behavior issue will spend the remainder of the trip on the bus with a teacher, parents will be notified and appropriate consequences will be applied upon return to school. (This is exceedingly rare. If you have a concern, please contact your child's teacher.)
My child gets motion sickness on car trips. How will this be managed?
We strongly encourage parents of easily motion-sick students to give their child motion-sickness medication before departure and/or use motion-sickness wristbands. We also carry motion-sickness bags and wipes on the bus.
Will the day my child goes be his/her "Focus Day" for the week?
This will vary by teacher. Please contact your child's teacher to find out.
If I'm going on the trip, do I need a Volunteer Badge?
Yes. All adults who will be on the bus or touring the sites with student groups MUST have a volunteer badge. Information about volunteer badges is available here.
Is there a gift shop?
Yes. There will be scheduled times for groups to browse and purchase items in the gift shops. However, the time will be very limited as both shops are small and can only accommodate a few students at at time. We strongly encourage parents and students to browse and purchase online before or after the trip. You can browse for items offered at Fallingwater here: http://www.fallingwatermuseumstore.org/. It also contains many items carried at the Kentuck Knob gift shop.
We are going to two homes designed by eminent American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob. They are located near Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania.
When are we going?
May 11 Mrs. Tanner, Mrs. Herron and Mrs. Nelli's students from Scioto Darby, J. W. Reason, Ridgewood, Britton, Norwich, Washington
May 15 Mrs. Helmer and Ms. Hanlin's students from Beacon, Hoffman Trails, and Darby Creek
May 16 Mrs. Lycan and Mrs. Kash's students from Hilliard Crossing, Brown, Avery, and Horizon and Mrs. Hanlin's students from Alton Darby
What school will my child be leaving from and be picked up from?
Thursday, May 11th trip: Norwich Elementary
Monday, May 15th trip: Alton Darby Elementary
Tuesday, May 16th trip: Hilliard Crossing Elementary
What does the itinerary look like for the day? (All times after 6am are approximate and may be revised during the trip according to individual trip needs.)
5:30 am -- Bus Chaperones should arrive.
5:45 am -- Parents drop off students at designated location. Students check in with teachers.
6:00 am -- Buses depart.
10:30 am -- Bus 1 arrives at Fallingwater. Bus 2 arrives at Kentuck Knob
10:30am - 1:00pm -- Students and chaperones tour their respective sites, grounds and gift shop.
1:00 - 1:30pm -- Students return to buses and buses switch places, driving to their 2nd site.
1:30 - 4:30pm - Students and chaperones tour their 2nd sites, grounds and gift shop.
4:30pm -- Buses depart for St. Clairsville, Ohio
6:30pm -- Buses arrive at St. Clairsville for dinner stop.
7:30pm -- Buses depart for Hilliard.
9:15pm -- Buses arrive at same designated school for parent pick up.
When do I pick my child up? (Exact time will be on Remind and Twitter)
Pick up is approximately 9:15 pm the same day of drop off, give or take 15 minutes. We will be sending messages via Remind during the trip. Some staff will also be tweeting about the trip throughout the day. Be sure to sign up for reminders!
Why are we going?
This trip is a key element in our study of innovations in architecture. As America's most eminent architect, Frank Lloyd Wright was a pioneer in the Organic Style. His innovative style ushered in a new era in architecture around the world. Seeing his structures in person provide students with a memorable and personal experience they cannot get from virtual tours or pictures.
How will we get there?
We will be riding chartered buses from Cardinal Transportation. Some parents have arranged to carpool there and back. (If you wish to do this, you MUST contact your child's Focus teacher as soon as possible if you have not already.)
How long does it take to get there?
The trip takes approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes of driving time.
Are we staying overnight?
No. This is a 1-day trip. We will leave at 6am and return at about 9:15 pm the same day.
Does my child have to go to school the next day?
If it is a school day, yes. Students may rest and sleep on the bus on the way home, and can reasonably be in bed before 10pm that night. While it is a long and exciting day, and they will understandably be tired, students are still expected to go to school the day following the trip. When students miss the day following this trip, it makes it more difficult to justify taking it again in future years.
Who is chaperoning?
Parents who responded to the survey sent out via email in March will be chosen to be chaperones on the bus. Chaperones are chosen largely on a first-come-first-serve basis, with some exceptions made for students with special needs. Some parents are choosing to drive themselves there and back, or carpool, and will join their child(ren) during the tours. All chaperones must have volunteer badges.
How much does it cost?
All individuals riding the bus will pay $70.00 each.
All Individuals driving/riding in cars will pay $42.00 each.
What does the cost cover?
This fee covers the cost of the charter bus and admission to both sites. It does NOT cover the cost of food or money for the gift shop.
How and when do we pay?
Payment must be in the form of a check made out to Hilliard City Schools. Parents. The deadline for payment is the week of April 10th.
Is financial help available?
Some financial help is available for families on free/reduced lunch. If you are in need of financial assistance, please contact your child's teacher.
What should my child pack?
Layers of weather-appropriate clothing (we go rain or shine)
Please dress for the weather. Layers are a good idea.
Closed-toe shoes like sneakers or tennis shoes. Flip-flops/sandals are not acceptable. It may be muddy or wet where we are walking.
Enough food to sustain them from 6:00 am - 6:00 pm when we stop for dinner
Something to do on the bus that is silent.
Tech devices are acceptable as long as they have headphones or can be muted.
Students are in charge of all their own possessions. HCSD will NOT be responsible for lost, damaged, stolen, destroyed or otherwise harmed student property.
Is there WiFi or a way to charge devices on the bus?
There IS WiFi! However, there is no way to charge devices on the bus. We strongly recommend bringing a back-up, non-electronic form of entertainment or extra batteries, if possible.
Who will be in charge of my child during the trip?
Chaperones who ride the bus will be placed in charge of groups of 3 - 6 students. These chaperones will all attend a chaperone meeting and must have an HCSD volunteer badge. In addition, your child's teacher will be ultimately in charge of overseeing all students.
How can I get updates on how the trip is going?
We will be updating via Remind. You MUST SIGN UP for text alerts using the appropriate code below if you wish to receive updates the day of your child's trip. If you do not sign up, you will not be able to receive updates. It is important to sign up for updates as there may be an unexpected delay in return times. You only need to sign up for the Remind for the day your child is going on the trip.
Remind for May 11 -- Text the message @4h4da to the number: 81010
Remind for May 15 -- TBD
Remind for May 16 -- TBD
What are the teacher's Twitter handles?
SDE, RGW, JWR (May 11th Trip) Rachel Nelli: @RNelliGifted
ADE, DCR (May 15th Trip) Catherine Hanlin: @hanlinfocus
I'm driving. Can I just drive my child there and back?
In the past, we have asked that all students ride the bus to the sites unless there is a medical reason not to. The bus trip is part of the experience, and the vast majority of students truly enjoy it. In cases where parents are carpooling, students will often be released to their parents at the dinner stop, and they drive straight home from there. Parents may not leave with their children at any time without signing out with their child's teacher first.
If I'm driving, do I need to tell my child's teacher beforehand?
Yes, please. At each site, there is a strict limit as to how many people may go on a tour at one time. We will be arranging all tour groups and times before departure, and each tour group is likely to be full so as to move us through the sites in as timely a fashion as possible. Parents and other family members who show up unexpectedly will NOT be able to tour with their child, nor will we have tickets available for them.
I'd like to carpool. How do I find people to carpool with?
Contact your child's teacher about carpooling and she will put you in contact with other interested parents.
When will we eat? What will we eat?
Students should try to eat something at home, and bring a lunch and snacks with them on the bus to sustain them for 12 hours. Please, NO NUT-CONTAINING SNACKS MAY COME ON THE BUS. We will eat "lunch" on the bus around 10am, before touring the first site. Students often eat on the bus between tours and after visiting both houses.
At about 6:30pm we will stop in St. Clairsville, Ohio for dinner. There will be several fast food choices available. If your child cannot/will not eat fast food, please pack dinner for them as well. Students and chaperones will need to pay for their own dinners.
My child has special medical needs. How will that be managed?
In many cases, we will ask parents of children with special needs to be chaperones on the trip. If you cannot be a chaperone, we may need to fill out some extra paperwork to ensure your child's safety and our ability to care for him/her during the trip. Please contact your child's teacher.
If my child cannot go at the last minute, will there be refunds?
Unfortunately, all reservations must be pre-paid, even if the student does not attend so refunds are not available.
What will happen if my child misbehaves on the trip?
Students who have a behavior issue will spend the day directly supervised by his/her teacher. Students who have a serious behavior issue will spend the remainder of the trip on the bus with a teacher, parents will be notified and appropriate consequences will be applied upon return to school. (This is exceedingly rare. If you have a concern, please contact your child's teacher.)
My child gets motion sickness on car trips. How will this be managed?
We strongly encourage parents of easily motion-sick students to give their child motion-sickness medication before departure and/or use motion-sickness wristbands. We also carry motion-sickness bags and wipes on the bus.
Will the day my child goes be his/her "Focus Day" for the week?
This will vary by teacher. Please contact your child's teacher to find out.
If I'm going on the trip, do I need a Volunteer Badge?
Yes. All adults who will be on the bus or touring the sites with student groups MUST have a volunteer badge. Information about volunteer badges is available here.
Is there a gift shop?
Yes. There will be scheduled times for groups to browse and purchase items in the gift shops. However, the time will be very limited as both shops are small and can only accommodate a few students at at time. We strongly encourage parents and students to browse and purchase online before or after the trip. You can browse for items offered at Fallingwater here: http://www.fallingwatermuseumstore.org/. It also contains many items carried at the Kentuck Knob gift shop.
Info for Chaperones
When and Where are the Chaperone Meetings? (Please choose ONE to attend)
5:30-6:00 at Hoffman Trails-Room 104 on Wednesday April 26, 2017 OR
5:30-6:00 on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Avery Elementary-Room 38
How long will it last?
30 minutes
Why do we need to be there?
This is a trip with many moving parts, and chaperones are vital to the success of the trip. There are chaperone groups and tour groups, and a complex schedule for the day. The tours at Fallingwater run every 6 minutes, and the ones at Kentuck Knob run every 10 minutes. It is important for chaperones to have an idea beforehand of what's to be expected. We love our chaperones and want them to be as prepared as possible!
What if I cannot attend?
Please contact your child's teacher.
What do chaperones have to do on the trip?
We ask chaperones to sit near their students (if they are on the bus) and act in loco parentis for their charges. We ask them to shepherd their group through each site, following the schedule. Further we ask them to ensure their students are behaving appropriately and cleaning up after themselves. If there is an serious issue, we ask that they contact the teacher leader immediately. Finally, we would like our chaperones to talk with their groups about what they are seeing. What do they notice? What do they find interesting, good, bad or otherwise? We hope you will be as amazed by the depth of the conversations you can have with the Focus students as we are!
One note: There are cafés at both sites, but we do ask (unless given permission otherwise) to NOT take their groups to the cafés. In the past this has led to chaperones feeling compelled to pay for treats for all their charges, which is not fair to the chaperones. It has also led to extremely long lines at both sites, leading to groups getting off schedule and delaying the trips substantially, which is not fair to any of the participants.
5:30-6:00 at Hoffman Trails-Room 104 on Wednesday April 26, 2017 OR
5:30-6:00 on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Avery Elementary-Room 38
How long will it last?
30 minutes
Why do we need to be there?
This is a trip with many moving parts, and chaperones are vital to the success of the trip. There are chaperone groups and tour groups, and a complex schedule for the day. The tours at Fallingwater run every 6 minutes, and the ones at Kentuck Knob run every 10 minutes. It is important for chaperones to have an idea beforehand of what's to be expected. We love our chaperones and want them to be as prepared as possible!
What if I cannot attend?
Please contact your child's teacher.
What do chaperones have to do on the trip?
We ask chaperones to sit near their students (if they are on the bus) and act in loco parentis for their charges. We ask them to shepherd their group through each site, following the schedule. Further we ask them to ensure their students are behaving appropriately and cleaning up after themselves. If there is an serious issue, we ask that they contact the teacher leader immediately. Finally, we would like our chaperones to talk with their groups about what they are seeing. What do they notice? What do they find interesting, good, bad or otherwise? We hope you will be as amazed by the depth of the conversations you can have with the Focus students as we are!
One note: There are cafés at both sites, but we do ask (unless given permission otherwise) to NOT take their groups to the cafés. In the past this has led to chaperones feeling compelled to pay for treats for all their charges, which is not fair to the chaperones. It has also led to extremely long lines at both sites, leading to groups getting off schedule and delaying the trips substantially, which is not fair to any of the participants.