Passport Queries

Please note that all students and adults travelling to America need authorisation to travel. This is gained by the ESTA form. The form lasts for 2 years or until the passport that it is connected to expires, which ever is the sooner.

Your passport needs only to be indate for the time in the USA. So it is perfectly fine to have a passport that expires on the 18th February 2012. The only slight anoyance is that the 14$ ESTA would also then expire. So unless you plan to travel to the US again in the next 12 -24 months then there is no need to replace your passport. Here is an extract from the fco :-

Does my British passport have to be valid for six months beyond my date of departure from the United States?
No, if your passport is not valid for at least six months beyond your date of departure from the United States, it will not affect your eligibility to travel. The United States has an agreement with the United Kingdom automatically extending the validity of a passport for six months past the passport's expiration date. Therefore, your passport need remain valid only for the duration of your stay in the United States.
If you are travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program and your passport is not valid for 90 days, you will be admitted into the United States until the date on which the passport expires.

Please ensure your passport photocopies are in school along with your valid ESTA form asap.

WV Opening Day

Waterville Valley turned on the snow guns on the 18th November as temperatures dropped well below freezing. Coupled with this some efforts by mother nature and we have an open resort for the 45th season.

Check the opening day video here:

Ski season 2011/12 is officially here! If you want to see some FIS World Cup skiing action, this can be seen this weekend on British Eurosport from around 5.00 pm on Saturday 26th November. This will now be weekly feature from now until March on Eurosport.

Trip Information Update

Please remember, all payments for the trip are to be complete by the end of November and that all paper work is in school asap. Please make a copy of the ESTA form when you get authorisation and hand it in to school with any other outstanding paperwork.

We have had confirmation from American Airlines that the ski carriage, 1 boot bag and 1 ski bag, is charge at $60 per set. If you are serious about taking all your own equipment then contact Mr. Hinks or Mrs. Wood at school urgently.

A ski training up date will be issued week beginning 28th November.

Post Information Evening

Thank you to all parents and students who attended the evening. It was good to meet you all. I hope it was useful and put your mind at ease.

We will be looking in to matters regarding ski carriage and cost. We will report back soon. Regarding the carry on baggage, no weight limit, this is American Airlines current status on the matter:

You may bring the following onto the aircraft:

• One carry-on bag. Total dimensions may not exceed 45in / 114cm (length + width + height). Length shall not exceed 22in / 56cm, width shall not exceed 14in / 35cm and height shall not exceed 9in / 23cm. The bag must fit in the baggage frames located throughout the check-in area at the airport. A garment bag that fits in the baggage frame will count as your one carry-on bag.
• One personal item, such as purse, briefcase, laptop bag or a similar item such as book bag or shopping bag. Total dimensions may not exceed 36in / 91cm (length + width + height)

Just a couple of points to remember:

• Please complete the ESTA form asap and send a copy into school.
• Full payment is needed for the end of November.
• Training and recreational ski sessions have been booked and the letters must be returned by the the end of next week.
• Ski hire forms need to be back into school before the 16th December.

One parent made a good suggestion of a ski shop/brand called Dare2b. They have a store in Birmingham and have online facilities too. Click on the following link to view, Dare2b.

Information Evening

This years information evening will be held on Wednesday 16th November at Queen Mary's High School in the Richardson Hall. The evening starts at 6.30. The evening is designed to ensure parents and students are fully informed about the trip. Information will be shared about the resort, hotel and planned activities.

Clothing is always a worry for parents, especially if this is your son or daughters first time. Here we hope to help reduce the burden and offer some cost saving ways to kit your children out. Kit is always readily available from specialists, like Ski Warehouse, but at this time of year, Lidl, Aldi, Decathlon and TK Maxx have some fabulous offers too. Parent will also get a brochure and optional order form from Ski and Sport who also have some fabulous offers and also offer the hiring of key clothing and helmets.

Finally I would like to remind all parents that the balance for the holiday, £1072, is due at the end of November and it is essential that we have all the relevant information for your son/daughter. This includes:-

1. A photocopy of a current passport valid until March 2012.
2. All medical forms complete and signed.
3. Ski statistics sheet complete, height, weight, shoe size and ability.
4. Code of conduct form signed.
5. A photocopy of the completed and up to date ESTA form. ($14 fee online)

The ESTA form will be explained during the evening but for parents wishing to make a start on this form you can do it by clicking on the following link. Remember you do not need to fill in the optional content, only the red * sections. (ESTA)

Trip Details

[Departure 11th Feb Return 17th Feb]

[Airport - London Heathrow (LHR) - Boston Logan International (BOS)]

[Flight BA/AA - No. AA109 outbound No. AA156 inbound]

[Hotel - Valley Inn]

The Valley Inn & Red Fox Tavern

PO Box 1

17 Tecumseh Road

Waterville Valley, NH 03215

If you require any further information please contact Mr. Hinks or Mrs. Wood at school.

Let it snow!

As we enter the month of November we have just under 14 weeks to go to the next QM ski tour. This year we join forces with our brothers, Queen Mary's Grammar School. This years trip is a mix of boys, girls, 'old' girls and boys and staff. We are happy once more to work with Activ4 who are providing us with a great North American tour to New Hampshire. We will be staying at the Valley Inn in Waterville Valley and skiing on our doorstep at the Kennedy renowned resort of Waterville Valley.

Already the FIS World Cup has begun in Solden, Austria and some great snowfall has been seen in some Europe and North American resorts. Several mid west resorts are already open for the 2011/12 season!

Waterville have been priming the snow cannons and have had some snow fall already these past few weeks. See pictures above and below.

Information Evening

We will be holding an information evening at some point during November. Information will follow via a letter early in November.

Ski training

For those skiers who have never experienced the mountains on skis before; over the next 2 months we will be hopefully providing up to 4, 2 hour ski sessions to cover the basics to help maximise the experience once we get to the mountains. We usually use one of 2 dry slopes in our area, Ackers Adventure, Small Heath Birmingham or Telford Ski and Snowboard Centre, Madeley Telford.

Not on the 2012 tour?

If you missed out on the 2012 tour do not worry as you will be in for an awesome treat Easter 2013. Keep checking back for further information.

Final Day - day seven

Well, the final day has arrived. It has been quite busy with breakfast at 9am followed by a trip to Pike Place Market. Everyone was really keen to visit the original Pike Place Starbucks where it all began in 1971.

The market was fascinating with a large variety of gifts and fresh foods available.

After a browse around the market, students and staff continued sight-seeing and shopping. There was a really old-fashioned magic shop below the market. Around the city was some impressive architecture and alternative coffee houses.

We are now in the airport waiting for our flight, which has given us chance to try Tully's coffee. Opinion is divided - some actually preferring Tully's to the more famous world renowned brand.

'Remember, if you don't ski this year, you will be one year older when you do.' Warren Miller.

Day 6

Well we awoke this morning to mid winter conditions -'blower'. Miss Briggs thought she might miss her shopping extravaganza. After our last breakfast at the Alpine Inn we loaded the coach and set off for Seattle at 9.10 am.

We arrived at the Quality Inn & Suites shortly after 11.00 am. We quickly dropped our bags and set off for the monorail just around the corner. Having arrived in Westlake Central we all parted different ways ready to bag a bargain.

On the cards were places like Abercrombie & Fitch, Urban Outfitters, Juicy Couture, Macy's and of course Starbucks and the Cheesecake Factory.

Fully laden with bags we returned to check-in and have an evening meal before our sunset experience at Space Needle. Here are some photos from our exhausting day!