U.S. Immersion 2013

Parents briefing Session

Oct 25, 2013

Dominion High School

Loudoun County, Virginia, USA

U.S. Immersion 2013

Parents briefing Session

Oct 25, 2013

Marcus Neo Chin Ming-Fwu Neo Shi-Zhang Sim Wen-Hong

Zhu Jia-hua Yao Jia-xu Alex Wu Andy Low

Samuel Tan Shi-Jie

Li Jia-wang Cheng Wei-LoonMr Joseph Tan Mrs Bridget Tan-Chew

Dominion High School

Loudoun County, Virginia, USA

Objectives

• To enable our students to develop an understanding of

Western (American) history, culture and current

developments

• To develop in our students the skills to adapt quickly and

successfully in the western cultural environment through

immersion and reflective journaling

• To help our students to enhance their communication

skills so that they can engage the West.

Details of Immersion

• Date: 9th to 23rd Nov (both dates inclusive)

• Flights: – Departure: 9th Nov – Emirates EK355 2135h– Return: Saturday, 23rd Nov – Emirates

EK404 2045h

Dominion High SchoolLoudoun County, Virginia, USA

21326 Augusta Dr, Sterling, VA, United States

Dominion High SchoolLoudoun County, Virginia, USA

Dominion High SchoolLoudoun County, Virginia, USA

Dominion High SchoolLoudoun County, Virginia, USA

Dominion High SchoolLoudoun County, Virginia, USA

Dominion High SchoolLoudoun County, Virginia, USA

Teacher in-charge

Mrs Jennifer RodgersU.S. Government, Comparative Government, International Relations

Mrs. Rodgers joined the Dominion High School staff in 2005 and teaches Academic Government, A.P. U.S. and Comparative Government and Politics, International Relations and Global Social Issues.  Prior to teaching at Dominion, Mrs. Rodgers spent two years teaching Government and History at a public high school in Washington D.C.  Mrs. Rodgers received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from the University of Virginia and has completed graduate coursework in education at the University of Virginia's Falls Church campus.   Mrs. Rodgers is a co-sponsor of the Global Ambassadors Club.  She has chaperoned several trips to Singapore, organized visits for visiting Singaporean students, and serves as the faculty coordinator for the Loudoun International Youth Leadership Summit.    Her e-mail address is jennifer.rodgers@lcps.org

Dominion High SchoolLoudoun County, Virginia, USA

Dominion High School is a public secondary school in Sterling, an unincorporated area in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. It is part of Loudoun County Public Schools. Dominion High School first opened in 2003, receiving students from Potomac Falls High School and Park View High School. Dominion's student body draws students who live primarily in the Sugarland Run and Lowes Island communities. Most students come from Seneca Ridge Middle School and other from private schools.

In 2005, Dominion was designated the host of the Loudoun Academy of Science, which is a designated part-time magnet school program for Loudoun County students, somewhat similar to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia.

The immersion programme aims to offer a slice of the American culture.

The activities during the 2-week immersion will include:• School-Based Programme

• Class immersions• Joint projects• After school activties

• Beyond School Programme • Field trips and excursions

The programme…

The programme…Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

 9 

Meet at T3 7.30pm

 Departure

EK355 SIN/Dub(2135h/0100h)

  

10Arrival at Washington DCEK231 Dub/Wash(0225h/0810h)  Welcome party at a host family’s home.

11 

Day spent at Dominion High School. School Tour, orientation, work on collaborative projects and class observations

12 

Field Trip to US Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and Jefferson Memorials with U.S. Government students After school activity: dance clinic with Latin Dance club

13 Field Trip to National Gallery of Art and American Art Museum with art students  After school activity: tie-dying t-shirts

14 

Day spent at Dominion High School Shadowing classes with hosts and working on collaborative projects

15 

Field trip to Harper’s Ferry National Park, West Virginia (site of U.S. Civil War battle and Appalachian Trail) with history students

16 

Weekend with host families

  17 Weekend with host families        

18 Field Trip to Holocaust Museum with psychology students

19 

Field Trip to the American History Museum, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and FDR Memorial with Government students  After school activity TBA

20 

Day spent at Dominion High School Observing classes and working on collaborative projects After school activity TBA 

21 

Day spent at Dominion High School Finalize and present collaborative projects. Farewell Dinner

22 

Singaporean students depart—host families to drop students off at airport at 7:30 AM. DepartureEK232 Wash/Dub1010h/0800h (23rd Nov)  

23 Arrival at ChangiEK404 Dub/Sin(0935h/2045h)

The programme…the field trips

US Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and Jefferson Memorials

The programme…the field trips

National Gallery of Art and American Art Museum

The programme…the field trips

Harper’s Ferry National Park, West Virginia (site of U.S. Civil War battle and Appalachian Trail)

The programme…the field trips

Holocaust Museum

The programme…the field trips

American History Museum, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and FDR Memorial

The programme…other experiences

The weather…

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

The weather…

• While temperatures can seem cold by Singapore standards, November is not quite winter in the Northeastern USA.

• Sweaters, hooded sweatshirts, and light jackets should be sufficient to stay warm while outdoors, layering is important because going from indoor to outdoor activities, you may very warm if you can not take off a layer.

• It tends to be about the same in Washington as at Loudoun County so for trips into the city dress appropriately.

• Weather should be a bit warmer than Beijing.

Accommodation… and transport)

• Homestay throughout host families – with Buddy

• Most families in the area live in single family

homes.

• The homes in the area may seem quite large

compared to the average Singaporean homes.

Contacts…

• We shall be staying together with a hosting staff

member, Mr George Wolfe at– 20558 Noland Woods Court, Sterling, VA 20165

– Email Address: joseph@hci.edu.sg

– Cellphone No: (+65) 96820725

• However, I will be using a local US phone when I arrive

so I will be able to easily contact anyone and be

contactable 24/7

Pre-Immersion programme / workshops

• Cultural Intelligence Workshop

• Learning the history of the United States

– This learning may include select literary

readings by writers of the country, lectures,

internet research and sharing.

Flight Details… reporting time & attire

• Flight: Emirates EK355 – Saturday 9th Nov –2135h

• Meet at Terminal 1 at Row 6 at 6.45pm• Attire: Appropriately attire (with jacket or

sweater)

Travel checklist

To carry at all times …

International passport

Photocopy of passport and other important documents

Passport-sized color photo

E-ticket

Emergency contact numbersEmail & phone contacts of friends & loved ones

Travel checklist …

Personal Effects : Sufficient to last for 2 weeks • Toothbrush, toothpaste• Face Towel / Bath Towel • Soap, moisturizer, lip balm (if necessary, can get

pretty dry when it gets colder)

• Shampoo, antiperspirant, deodorant (Indoors it can get warm and you will perspire at times)

• Plasters• Personal Digital Thermometer

Underwear including under shirts and good socks

(Not Ankle socks)

Shirts: T-shirts, Long sleeved shirts, light sweaters (to wear over long sleeved shirts) A heavier sweater for colder days.

Jackets: Temperatures between 3-12 degrees. Only on the very coldest days you may feel you need something more than a warm coat, but they are also quite bulky, layering is preferable especially with a jacket that also acts as a windbreaker.

Pants: (A pair of Jeans, and a little bit more formal khaki pants.) A pair of shorts or other sport pants. (PE related or CCA use)

School Uniform + School Blazer: 1 set at least

CLOTHES

Travel checklist …

• Students may not be able to do laundry when they are there so please make sure to bring appropriate number of clean clothes for two weeks.

• Outerwear like sweaters and pants can be worn a multiple times without washing)

• Underwear should not!

Travel checklist …

FOOTWEAR• Comfortable walking shoes• Sports shoes• Sandals • Socks

BAGS• Bag packs for daily use

Travel checklist …

ELECTRONICS

Laptop with appropriate travel adapter/ charger

(For Blogging & Reflections) – compulsory to bring laptop (Security)

Camera/ Smartphone

Mobile phone charger

Also be careful not to be on data roaming in the USA, you could incur very large bills when you get home!

Thumbdrive

Travel checklist …

STATIONERY • Note Pad • Writing Materials • Highlighters, if necessary• Any other stationery that is needed

Travel checklist …

IMPORTANT NOTE …

No sharp objects in cabin luggage

e.g. scissors, nail clipper

For liquids and aerosols, please follow SQ guidelines

Please limit your baggage to : • 1 checked-in luggage of not more than 20kg; • Size of suitcase : not larger than 26 inches • 1 cabin luggage - dimensions in total must not

exceed 115 cm and not more than 7kg • (ribbons to tag bags)

Gifts …

Gift for host student / class.

Gift for host family (Something from Singapore)

Coffee Table book for family, with pictures of Singapore, also a good ice breaker.

Gift for school teachers, etc.

HCI brochures and mementoes

Tokens that are representative of Singapore …

Gifts that are not expensive

HEALTH

MATTERS

Personal Medication – • Get regular medication from your family doctor [Note: MOE regulation]

Dentist – Strongly advised to get teeth checked and

treated before trip, if necessary

Vaccinations – • Different vaccinations needed for different

durations of stay • e.g. flu jab, Hep A and B etc.

IMPORTANT …

Expenditure … how much to bring?

Prohibited and Controlled Items

Singapore Changi Airport (Immigration and Checkpoint Authority)

Under Singapore Law

• Upon your arrival at the Singapore Changi Airport, baggage will be subjected to checks by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and other security agencies.

Under Singapore Law

• prohibited items such as arms and explosives, bullet-proof clothing, antique guns, toy guns and swords etc require authorization from the Licensing Division of the SPF.

• If you have prohibited items in your possession, please declare them and produce valid permits or authorization documents.

Ammunition

• Empty Cartridges• Live Bullets• Ornaments made

from empty cartridges

• Bullet-shaped lighters

• Grenade-shaped lighters

ARMAMENTS

• Firearms• Stun Guns• Replica Guns• Antique Guns• Toy Guns• Gun-shaped

lighters

Miscellaneous

• Flick Knife• Butterfly knife• Handcuffs• Pepper spray• Catapult• Crossbows

Martial Arts Equipments

• Knuckle Duster• Nanchaku• Ninja Shoku• Ninja Stars• Truncheons

Consequences

• At least 3 – 5 demerit points.• Lose

– subsidy for the trip.– scholarship / bursaries (if any).– special program (if any).– leadership appointment.

• Banned from ALL overseas school trip.