Dear Parent/Carer 3rd October 2018

Visit to South Africa February 2020

Be part of something special! A once in a lifetime, potentially life changing opportunity!

Would your child like to be part of our South Africa Project? Our long established partnership with Schietsdrift School in Kwazulu-Natal has had a huge impact on education in our Zulu partner school and made long lasting impressions on the Wellfield students and staff who have participated in the 4 previous visits. Since 2008, through our help, the Schietsdrift School has gone from this

to this in 2016:

and this in 2018:

Previous project visits have not only led to strong friendships between the two schools but have also resulted in the provision of a library, a chicken run and laying hens, a vegetable garden, a teaching kitchen and, more recently, an interactive whiteboard to help develop the quality of teaching.

I am delighted to launch the next visit which will take place in 2020 running from 12 th - 23 rd February 2020 , which includes the half term holiday, and which is open to students who are currently in years 7-9.

I am able to offer this wonderful tour at a fantastic TOTAL COST of £1600. The price builds in the possible impact of inflation or change in exchange rates on flights, which cannot be secured at the proposed price until numbers are confirmed. This price is based on a minimum number of 12 paying students and/or adults although is not expected to increase if fewer students participate.

The initial deposit to secure a place on the trip is £120 payable by Friday 9th November 2018 and a second deposit of £100 is due by Friday 7th December 2018. Interim payments of £250 each would be then due by the following dates:

Friday 8th February 2019, Friday 26th April 2019, Friday 14th June 2019.

The final balance of £630 would be due by Friday 6th December 2019. Included in the £1600 are the following:

All flights from Newcastle to Johannesburg via a European or Dubai connection. Travel insurance 9 nights’ accommodation at Spionkop Lodge near Winterton, Kwazulu-Natal All meals - mostly self-catering but including some restaurant meals as well Local travel and transfers; all activities, trips and excursions Preparation of immigration documentation for children travelling without both parents to South Africa

and authorisation by a legal Notary.

The price of the tour does NOT include the following:

Return transfer from Newcastle Airport on arrival back in the UK Individual travel documentation - passport. Each student needs his or her own passport. Visa - not required currently if travelling on a UK passport. UPDATES POST BREXIT IF REQUIRED. Personal clothing, equipment and travel inoculations, although none are currently required for South Africa. Spending money for souvenirs or additional drinks.

Please note that once flights are booked, there can be NO refund of any payment except those, which are in excess of the cost of the flight. In addition, failure to meet payment deadlines may result in your child not being able to participate in the tour with no refund of payments made.

Whilst in South Africa, our students will again spend time most days at the school helping the Zulu pupils with their work, especially improving their English, and building up the strong friendship that now exists between our two schools. However, the visit is also about having fun, personal development and finding out about the culture and the area so there will be a number of activities and excursions for students to experience. The ‘in resort’ itinerary would probably include most of the following:

Spionkop Game Drive; Spionkop Game reserve and braai Thokoziza shopping trip and lunch Mount Alice hike and/or Battlefield Tour Reptile park Dinner at Bingelela, Bergville.

If you would like to find out more information about this visit to South Africa, please come to a meeting at school on Wednesday 31st October at 5.30 pm. Please either pay your deposit to reception before the meeting to secure your child’s place or wait until after the meeting if you need reassurance or confirmation of what is involved. Please complete either section A or section B of the attached form and return it to the main office to give me an indication of how many people will be attending.

I look forward to seeing you and, in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me for more information.

Yours faithfully

Mrs. F. SwinburnDeputy Head Teacher - South Africa Party Leader

Student name ___________________________________________ Tutor Group ____________________

Either section A: (Please tick all relevant boxes)

I would like my child to accompany the visit to South Africa and I include the £120 deposit to secure a place.

I will also be attending the meeting on Wednesday 31st October.

I will not be attending the meeting on Wednesday 31st October.

Or section B:

I am interested in finding out about the visit and will be attending the meeting on Wednesday 31st October.

Parent/Carer name ___________________________________ Signature ___________________________________

Contact number _____________________________________ Email address ________________________________