THE LATYMER SCHOOL HASELBURY ROAD
Founded 1624 EDMONTON
LONDON N9 9TN
Tel: 0208 807 4037
HEADTEACHER e-mail: office@[Link]
Mr Mark E Garbett MA [Link] NPQH [Link]
Dear Parent/Guardian, 15 May
2009
Planned Trip to Los Angeles – February Half Term 2010
Following the success of the last two Los Angeles trips in 2006 and 2008, I am proposing to
organise another trip for students currently in Year 11 and Year 12.
We hope this curriculum-inspired trip will provide a fantastic cultural experience for the
students, who should gain enormous benefit from the activities we plan to offer, both from a
personal and an educational perspective. The A level Media Studies course offers units that
require students to be able to think widely around the subject, and to tackle film and
television from different perspectives. Units on the Film Industry, Television Drama, Music
Industry and Censorship are some of the areas of A Level study that will benefit from a
‘behind-the-scenes’ understanding of the workings of Hollywood.
Activities are likely to include: studio tours (Universal, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros), a coach
tour of the homes of the Stars, a live TV show recording, theme park visit, sightseeing (for
example Hollywood Museum, Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Mann’s Chinese Theatre, the Getty
Centre, and LA City landmarks), cycling/rollerblading/swimming at Venice Beach and people
watching/window shopping at such locations as Melrose Avenue, Santa Monica and Rodeo
Drive in Beverly Hills.
We will fly from Heathrow on the morning of Friday 12th February 2010, returning on Friday
19th February, and hope to stay at the Roosevelt Hotel in the heart of the Entertainment
District on Hollywood Boulevard. The estimated cost is likely to be £1,200 although it is
impossible to confirm exact figures at this stage –this will depend on final numbers and the
exchange rate. Students will also need up to $200 for food and general spending. We are
intending to take a party of up to 40 pupils, who will be accompanied by a minimum of 4
experienced members of staff.
The cost will include:
Return flights from Heathrow to LAX airport (inc. airport taxes)
6 nights accommodation on a room only basis.
Fully comprehensive insurance
Coach transport to all pre-organised activities
Entry to all pre-organised activities
1 special occasion group meal
Organisation of payments
Firstly, we need a general idea of the level of interest in the trip and would ask the students
to register their interest by returning the attached form as soon as possible and no later than
Friday 5th June. If the trip appears to be viable, I will contact you to ask you to pay a
refundable deposit of £300.00 to secure a place on the trip. This will be due by the start of
the Autumn Term 2009. I am aware that many of you are going on the Barbados Sports Tour
this summer, so no further payments will be required until the Autumn Term. There will then
be 3 further payments required of approximately £300 each, in September, October and
November 2009. There will be an information meeting to go through all the details of the trip
for parents/ carers and pupils in November.
By paying the deposit of £300, you will be committing your son or daughter to taking part in
the trip and paying the total sum due by the end of the Autumn Term 2009, unless they take
up a place at another school and do not return to Latymer in September. In this situation,
your deposit will be returned to you immediately.
To register an interest in the trip, please return the form below to Mrs Blackborow no later
than Friday 5th June 2009. Please note that if there are more applications than places, a
priority allocation system will be used - Priority 1: Media A level students in Y12/13 (2009-
10), Priority 2: ex-media students in Y12/13 and Priority 3: non-media students in Y12/13.
Yours sincerely,
Nikki Blackborow
Head of Media Studies
The Latymer School
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February Half Term 2010 Trip to Los Angeles
Please return slip by Friday 5th June at the latest. Please print details clearly.
Name of pupil: …………………………………………………………… Current Form: ………………
Pupil email contact: ……………………………………………………………………………….
I hereby register interest in the 2010 LA A level Media Studies trip and am willing for my son
or daughter to take part, assuming a) the trip is viable and b) my son/daughter is still at
Latymer in September
Signature: ………………………………………………………………………………. (Parent or Guardian)
Parent/guardian email contact: …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Additional information: (please circle an appropriate answer)
I am planning to take Media AS in September Yes, definitely Possibly No
I am planning to take Media A2 in September Yes, definitely Possibly No
I am planning to stay at Latymer in September Yes, definitely Possibly Unlikely
My intention is to come on the trip to Los Angeles Yes, definitely Possibly Not sure
If possible, I would like to reserve my place immediately Yes No
I would like to express an interest but not reserve a place just yet Yes No
