Headmistress. September Dear Parent/Guardian. SIXTH FORM ARTS TRIP TO FLORENCE Wednesday, 21st February to Saturday, 24th February 2018

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1 ST GEORGE S SCHOOL Miss Helen Barton MA Headmistress September 2017 Dear Parent/Guardian SIXTH FORM ARTS TRIP TO FLORENCE Wednesday, 21st February to Saturday, 24th February 2018 We are delighted to be able to offer Sixth Form students the opportunity to visit Florence, Italy and enrich their understanding of the Renaissance period. The Renaissance is a time when the arts in all their forms began to focus on the knowledge acquired during antiquity and explored human experiences and how to apply this to their understanding of their world. The Renaissance is studied as part of the A Level Personal Study and Component 1 in all Art disciplines at St George s. The trip is also open to A Level Music students, since their study of the History of Music is also embedded in this time. Students will be offered pre-trip teaching about this significant period of Art and will be able to enrich their learning as a result of this experience. Students have previously described this trip as one of the most inspiring experiences of their time in the Sixth Form at St George s. The Florence trip allows students to study the work of the artists and craftsmen in the location in which they were produced, since little artwork from Florence is permitted to leave the city; Florence is a time capsule of the Renaissance. Working from primary (first hand) experiences is an important aspect of the A Level Art course and this significant opportunity provides plenty of evidence in their sketchbooks. Music students will be able to explore the museums and places that specifically explain musical developments. The provisional itinerary, we believe, offers good value for money given that the hotel is in the centre of Florence, enabling us to walk to all locations planned. The cost, fully inclusive of everything except the outward-bound lunch and return evening meal will be 700. We realise this is no small sum, and in part the cost is due to the exchange rates having an impact. Any student that may be disadvantaged on the basis of cost should see Mrs Priestland, along with a Bursary Request Form completed as far as they are able, to see if some part of the cost can be supported from this fund (the forms are available to download from the School Website and are required for a discretionary award). Harpenden/Wheathampstead-based students could also approach the James Marshall Foundation or Harpenden Trust, who often support students for educational travel purposes. To access the Harpenden Trust, students need to apply through the school via Mr Hollingsworth. Students who wish to carry luggage in the hold should appreciate this will accrue a further 60 surcharge. Efficient packing should prevent the need for this! We are currently investigating a possible additional, optional visit to the opera one evening, which would cost a further twenty euros (estimate only). St George s School, Harpenden Academy Trust. Registered in England and Wales No: Registered Office: Sun Lane, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 4TD. Tel: admin@stgeorges.herts.sch.uk Website:

2 A final information guidance sheet will be issued nearer the time with flight details etc. There will be a Florence Information Evening meeting for parents/guardians and students on Wednesday, 7th February 2018, in the Chapel at 7.30 pm. Attendance is essential and this is a requirement of all trips, so please put this date in your diary. All students are also expected to attend. We hope the enclosed documents contain all your need to know and answer all your queries but if, having read them, you do have further questions, do contact me. Yours sincerely S Priestland (Mrs) Florence Trip Co-Ordinator Encs: What to do Now: Part 1 Payment Part 2 The Tour Company Part 3 The Accommodation Part 4 The planned Itinerary Part 5 Catering Part 6 St George s Trip Code of Conduct Part 7 Consent: & SG7A updates

3 ST GEORGE S SCHOOL Miss Helen Barton MA Headmistress IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE - SEPTEMBER 2017 What to do now: SIXTH FORM ART TRIP TO FLORENCE Wednesday, 21st February to Saturday, 24th February 2018 Part 1: Payment We intend to spread the cost of the trip over the ensuing 5 months, in 5 equal payments of 140, inclusive of the deposit. You are welcome to pay more than the monthly amount if this proves more helpful to you, rather than remembering the monthly payment. The deposit of 140 will be payable on the 18th October 2017, with the following 4 payments due on 17th November 2017, 15th December 2017, 10th January 2018 and the final instalment due on the 2nd February The only method of payment is the ParentPay system. If you do not have your log in details and/or have not used this system before, please contact the School Finance Office who will be happy to help you. They can be reached on or via at financeoffice@stgeorges.herts.sch.uk. Optional hold luggage payment of 60 (current charge, subject to change), will also be made available. If you wish the student to participate please could you do the following: 1. Pay the deposit of 140 via ParentPay by Wednesday, 18th October Hand a copy of the student s passport to Miss Ainsley, the Art technician (Monk 1) by Thursday 19th October 2017 (via the student). This is essential in order for us to book flights and keep the cost as it is at present. No passport copy = no flight booking! May I also take the opportunity to remind you that an up to date EHIC medical card is essential; please check that the card will be in date at the time of travel. Parents/Guardians of students who do not have a European passport must organise a valid EU Visa for them in plenty of time for the trip. We cannot take any student who does not have the correct travel documentation. Please also ensure that the student s passport will be valid for the duration of the travel period and, ideally, should not expire before the end of March We will require EHIC cards to be handed in at the Florence Information Evening. Any student who arrives on the day of departure without their valid passport and, if required, a valid EU Visa will, needless to say, be unable to travel. In the unlikely scenario of a student being involved in serious misconduct between now and the trip, they may forfeit their place and lose monies already paid. Should a student withdraw from the visit for reasons that cannot be claimed on insurance, they may lose a portion of monies paid due to the cost we have to absorb in removing or changing names on the flight manifest. Page 1 of 6

4 Part 2: The Tour Company Varsity Travel 46 Onslow Gardens, Muswell Hill, London N10 3JX Tel Fax Website: Part 3: The Accommodation Hotel de Lanzi*** Via delle Oche, Firenze Tel/Fax: (055) Website: hoteldelanziflorence.com The Hotel de Lanzi commands an enviable location, directly next to Giotto's Belltower and The Duomo in the very heart of central Florence. Many rooms directly overlook The Duomo and all of the city's touristic sites are within a short stroll. Each of the rooms is decorated in a traditional Florentine 16th Century style but with 21st Century comforts. The hotel benefited from a full refurbishment two years ago. Rooms have televisions, telephones, WiFi, safe and air conditioning. The ensuite bathrooms have a shower and hairdryer. The hotel manager heads a friendly and helpful team. We have found the Hotel de Lanzi to be a very comfortable and popular base for our groups visiting the Florence region. Part 4: Provisional Itinerary for Florence Arts trip The proposed programme, subject to changes, availability of bookings, etc is as follows: DAY ONE Wednesday, 21st February Coach arrives at St George s School Depart St George s School to London Gatwick Airport ETA London Gatwick Airport for check in Flight departs London Gatwick Airport (TBC) ETA Pisa International Airport (TBC). (Please note: Continental time is 1 hour in advance of British time) Coach transfer to Florence ETA Florence - walk to Hotel ETA Hotel, Florence. On arrival at the Hotel: Students will be given their room keys and will have time to settle into their rooms. Page 2 of 6

5 20.20 Dinner at La Grotta di Leo Restaurant, Via Della Scala Guided Walking Tour of Florence. Students will enjoy some stunning views as we walk along the narrow, medieval streets to get to The Duomo and Baptistery, Giotto s Belltower and along the ancient Roman passageway that leads to the Piazza Signoria - the heart of Florence and Tuscany Return walk to Hotel ETA Hotel. DAY TWO Thursday, 22nd February Breakfast Guided Walking Tour of Florence. Participants will enjoy some stunning views as we walk along the narrow, medieval streets to get from the Duomo and Baptistry, Giotto s Belltower and along the ancient Roman passageway that leads to the Piazza Signoria - the heart of Florence and Tuscany Visit to The Uffizi Gallery. The Uffizi is the oldest gallery in the world and was built in 1560 as offices for the Tuscan Administration ( Uffizi translates as offices ). This holds works such as The Birth of Venus and Primavera by Botticelli, Michelangelo s The Holy Family and Titian s Venus of Urbino Meet at Statue of Neptune, Piazza della Signoria. From the central piazza, we will walk the short distance to pass over the Ponte Vecchio - the only bridge to survive the German retreat from the region during WW2. Many pupils enjoy sketching the wonderful view over the River Arno, or the Ponte Vecchio itself Lunch by Ponte Vecchio. Students provided with free time in the local vicinity to buy a slice of pizza or a sandwich Walk to La Specola Museum Visit to La Specola Museum - The Museum of Zoology & Natural History. Located next to the Pitti Palace, La Specola is the oldest scientific museum in Europe & is an eclectic natural history museum which is one of four different sites dotted around the city. Founded in 1771 to publicly display the large collection of natural curiosities such as fossils, animals, minerals & exotic plants. The highlight of the collection are the human anatomical wax figures from the 18th Century used to teach biology & medicine. Copied from real corpses, the realistic wax figures show the internal organs of the human body in graphic detail Walk to The Brancaci Chapel Located in the church of Santa Maria del Carmine. The Brancaci Chapel is famous for its frescoes of The Life of Saint Peter, completed after 50 years in Masaccio s use of perspective & the tragic realism of the figures in The expulsion of Adam & Eve were ground-breaking at the time & placed him at a great level of importance during the Renaissance Walk to Hotel de Lanzi. Time to work on sketchbooks in hotel before dinner Walk to La Grotta di Leo Restaurant Dinner at La Grotta di Leo Restaurant, Via Della Scala. We are currently looking into the possibility of attending the opera on this evening, (optional at a further cost.) This will be confirmed later. Return walk to Hotel de Lanzi. DAY THREE Friday, 23rd February Breakfast Visit to the Baptistry to view the mosaics in the dome, one of the largest domes in the world in its day to be decorated using this technique. The Baptistery Doors built by Lorenzo Ghiberti in Group optional visit to ascend Brunelleschi s Duomo. Page 3 of 6

6 10.00 Time to explore: The Florence Cathedral, Crypt. and t Il Grande Museo del Duomo (open am on the east side of the piazza), the Campanile bell tower, built by Giotto in Inside the Duomo, participants will be able to view the city's ancient medieval clock & the 'Last Judgement' Frescoes by Vasari on the inside of the cupola walk to the Santa Maria Novella Santa Maria Novella The exterior is the work of Fra Jacopo Talenti and Leon Battista Alberti. The interior holds extraordinary works of art including Masaccio's Trinità, Ghirlandaio's fresco cycle in the Tornabuoni Chapel and Giotto's Crucifix Lunch in the San Lorenzo Market region. Pupils will enjoy visiting the ancient San Lorenzo Market, with its stalls selling traditional Tuscan produce such as fine food, lampredotto sandwiches (gluten free available), fine leather goods & tourist items Walk to Accademia Gallery Visit to The Accademia Gallery. Founded in 1563, the Accademia holds many of Michelangelo s most important works. His most famous, David, has dominated the collection since it was moved inside from the Piazza Signoria to protect it from pollution and the weather. This sculpture established Michelangelo as the foremost sculpture of his time at the age of twenty nine. Other masterpieces include The Four Prisoners - four muscular figures trying to free themselves from the stone and The Madonna of the Sea. The musical instrument museum is within the Accademia We will return via the Hospital of Santa Maria Nova - the former orphanage where mothers would place their newborns on a wooden wheel & turn it, never to see them again Time to work on sketchbooks in hotel before dinner Walk to La Grotta di Leo Restaurant Dinner at La Grotta di Leo Restaurant, Via Della Scala Evening Gelato & Walk to Piazza della Republica Walk to The Hotel de Lanzi. DAY FOUR Saturday, 24th February Breakfast and storage of suitcases in Hotel storage room Walk to San Marco Convent Visit to The Convent of San Marco Founded in the 13th Century, the Convent of San Marco contains simple cloisters and monks' dormitory cells decorated with a remarkable series of devotional frescoes from The Life of Christ by Fra Angelico, designed to inspire prayer and contemplation. The intimate cells show the artists mastery of perspective in scenes such as The Annunciation (c.1445) Walk to Hotel Collect suitcases and prepare for return transfer to UK. Walk to Florence Coach Station Coach transfer to Pisa Airport ETA Pisa Airport. Commence check-in Depart Pisa International Airport to Luton Airport (TBC) ETA Luton Airport (TBC). (Please note: Continental time is one hour in advance of British time) Onward coach transfer to St George's School, Harpenden ETA St George's School, Harpenden Page 4 of 6

7 Part 5: Catering The catering in Florence proves to be a highlight for many of the groups that have joined us. Students with special dietary requirements will find the Florence is able to offer a variety of foods for tourists (coeliacs, vegetarians, vegans, will be fine). En Route We ask that students are armed with a packed lunch and refreshments for the outward journey. On the final day, lunch is the final meal provided by Varsity Travel so students should keep 5 for an evening meal. Breakfast A continental breakfast of croissants, bread, butter, jam, coffee, tea or hot chocolate is served either in the main or the group dining room. Lunch For lunch, the Varsity Tour Director will distribute lunch money to students before taking the group to a particularly good area of the city for cafes, restaurants, pizzerias and pasticerias. Students will have a wide choice of food and can either purchase a pannini sandwich and a drink, enjoy a pizza on the terrace of a restaurant or try a bowl of pasta from one of the many good outlets. Of course, every meal should be completed by a visit to one of the many gellaterias where students can choose from 30 different flavours of the best ice-cream in the world. The use of lunch money has proved to be very popular with students as it provides an opportunity to explore, try the local food and converse with the locals who are always friendly and helpful. The Varsity Tour Director will take staff to one of the local trattorias where they will be able to savour local foods such as risotto with cheese, spaghetti alla carbonara or a crusty pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven. Dinner Evening meals are a time for students to experience authentic Italian food in 'La Grotta di Leo' a busy and lively restaurant that is a popular haunt for locals. Students will have a choice of many typical Italian dishes including risotto dishes, a choice from 22 different traditional wood-baked pizzas, canelloni, lasagne, pesto dishes and salads. Mineral water and fresh bread will be served with the meals. Local chianti will be served for staff and older students, at party leaders discretion. This lively restaurant has proved to be immensely popular with our groups and is flexible enough to cope with all dietary requirements. Page 5 of 6

8 Part 6: St George s Trip Code of Conduct All students taking part on the trip must observe the following. Listen and act upon instructions given by any adult member of the group. Fasten seat belts in coaches on every occasion. No chewing at any time. Dispose of litter in bins provided. Listen to the safety instructions on board the ferry and do not disturb other passengers by noisy behaviour in public areas. Whilst there is little traffic in Florence there are some roads and many vespas buzzing in and out on small streets. Remember to use crossing points such as traffic light crossings whenever possible (be aware that in Italy, crossings are interpreted by Italians drivers as optional stopping!) Be punctual at all times. Take note of any timings given. Respect the privacy of others. eg use shower facilities only at times allocated to you. Respect others. Stay in your own room after lights out. After lights out there must be no noise before 7 am the next morning. Always stay in groups of at least three students when given free time. Be polite and courteous to everyone you meet. Do not use bad language. DO NOT BRING OR ATTEMPT TO BUY any illegal or unauthorised item. Minor misconduct overseas would be dealt with on the trip by means of loss of privileges, withdrawal of free time, setting additional work tasks or community service. Serious misconduct would result in severe sanctions being applied. Students may be sent home and parents/guardians asked to repatriate a student at their own expense. Serious misbehaviour may also preclude students from taking part in other School trips, or lead to an exclusion from School. Page 6 of 6

9 Part 7: Consent When payments are made within ParentPay, there is a consent box at the foot of the payment window. By ticking this consent box you are agreeing that: 1. You have received and understood the details of the visit. 2. You agree that the student: a. can participate in the visit and activities described; b. can be transported in the coaches used by the School; c. is in good health and fit to participate in the activities described; d. can receive medical treatment as necessary. 3. You undertake to inform the Group Leader as soon as possible of any changes in medical circumstances. 4. You acknowledge the need for the student to behave responsibly and agree to the establishment's procedures in this respect and understand that the School reserves the right to remove a student from any trip or visit should the student s behaviour cause concern. Please note that in this instance monies would not be returned. 5. If you withdraw the student from a trip once the deposit has been paid, monies will only be repaid if a replacement can be found. 6. You confirm that the details held by the School are correct. 7. You agree to make the payment for this trip in full. 8. The School holds a copy of the student s Data Collection/SG7A Medical Form. You will have completed this in September. It details the student s emergency contact information and all important medical information. It is absolutely vital that trip leaders have accurate information in this regard to hand. Please only complete the reply slip below if there are any changes to the information we currently hold. DATA COLLECTION/SG7A Notification of Changes Student s Name: Tutor: House: Please note the following changes to the details held by the School on the SG7A for this academic year: Signed: (parent/guardian) Date: If applicable, please return this slip directly to the Exams Office asap. Page 7 of 6