September 22, 2026

Dear Class of 2031 Families,

The eighth grade team is excited about the opportunity to take your children to Washington, D.C., from October 13-16. We can’t wait to experience excellent museums, monuments and restaurants with the Class of 2031!

We will be partnering with Grand Classroom for our trip. Together, we have created an itinerary full of learning, exploring and fun!

Below is important information regarding the trip. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Required Forms

All students and parents/guardians must sign the DC Expectations and Obligations Form and the Grand Classroom Health History form. All forms must be completed and returned to your children’s advisors by Thursday, October 1.

Trip Information

Students should be at school ready to load the buses at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, and we expect to return by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 16. Our tentative itinerary is as follows:

Tuesday 10/13: 

6:30 a.m Departure

Arrive in DC

Smithsonians 

War Memorials

Wednesday 10/14:

National Monument

White House Photo Stop

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Arlington National Cemetery

Pentagon 9/11 Memorial

Thursday 10/15:

Mount Vernon

MLK, FDR, Jefferson Memorials

Holocaust Memorial Museum

Friday 10/16:

Capitol Tour

Library of Congress

Depart DC

8:00 p.m. Estimated Arrival in Columbus

Dress Code

The school dress code will be in effect for the trip. Students should bring comfortable shoes (as we walk up to 10 miles each day) and a sweater or sweatshirt. Depending on the weather, students should bring a warm coat, a rain poncho and/or an umbrella. Please plan for potential rain and varying temperatures throughout the day.

Accommodations

We will be staying at the SpringHill Suites in Potomac Mills. Rooms will be assigned based on student preferences and the teachers’ discretion. There are three or four students per room. A security guard is on duty throughout the night. Doors will remain closed and locked during this time, and rooms should be quiet.

Packing List

Please review the packing list below:

4 dress code outfits

1 pair of pajamas

4-6 sets of undergarments and 4-6 pairs of socks

1 sweater, sweatshirt or jacket/outerwear (check the weather forecast)

Waterproof jacket/poncho and umbrella in case of rain

Water bottle

Toiletries (travel-size when possible), including:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant, soap
• Shampoo, conditioner, hairbrush
• Any additional toiletries (lotion, lip balm, etc.)

Two pairs of comfortable shoes/sneakers (wear one pair, bring another)

Spending money for snacks/souvenirs ($50-$75)

Cell phone/camera/charger

Medication in a ziploc bag with name, dosage and instructions included (medication must be in original packaging and given to advisors before departure)

Small backpack to hold sunglasses, inhaler, EpiPen, money, etc.

Meals/Dietary Restrictions

All meals are included in the trip cost. For those with children who have allergies or food restrictions, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about the meals, potential cross-contamination of allergens or if you require additional information.

Students may bring up to two snacks per day; however, no nut or dairy products, candy or energy drinks are permitted. The Middle School will provide snacks, water and juice boxes for the trip.

Trip Cost

The cost of the trip includes transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, admission fees, tour guides, hotel security and all gratuities. This amount will be billed to each student’s account, and we encourage all students to attend. If the cost poses a hardship, please contact Head of Middle School Shaka Arnold at arnolds@columbusacademy.org. Should an emergency arise that prevents your child from attending, we will refund any portion of the cost we receive from Grand Classroom.

Medications

Any medications you wish to send with your child must be labeled with the student’s name, the name of the prescription medication, the dosage and the time it should be administered. Please only send the amount of pills needed for the trip. These medications should be sealed in a ziploc bag with their name clearly written on the bag, in their original packaging, and given to your child’s advisor before departure. These medications will be carried by Nurse Hoagland, who will be attending the trip. Please have your student’s emergency medications with them at all times, i.e., EpiPens and/or inhalers. If your student takes daily antihistamines, vitamins or any supplements, please have your student take these medications daily on their own. Nurse Hoagland will have all OTC medications with her in case your student needs anything during the trip. If you have any specific questions about medications or other health-related matters, please reach out directly to Nurse Hoagland at hoaglandb@columbusacademy.org.

Technology

Students may bring cell phones. Phones will be turned in to the chaperones upon arrival in DC.  Students will have access to phones at specific points during the trip. NO PHONES will be allowed in students’ hotel rooms. Chaperones reserve the right to take away a student’s phone if the student is using it inappropriately. Movies, music and games accessed through student phones must not contain inappropriate language or content. Students are responsible for their own phones when they are not held by chaperones.

Student iPads, laptops, gaming systems and handheld video games are not permitted for this trip.

Updates

While we will not be contacting families with updates throughout the trip, we recommend following @columbusacademy on Instagram for occasional photos from our time away.

Cancellations

Each student is expected to participate in the trip, as it is part of the eighth grade curriculum. However, if a student cannot attend, please contact me and the Head of Middle School Shaka Arnold.

Looking forward to a fantastic trip!

Sincerely,

Katie Castle

Eighth Grade Team Leader