20: Class Trip Policy

The 8th grade and 12th grade classes will be allowed to take a class trip in May. Class trips must adhere to the following guidelines and a written request must be submitted to administration in the first quarter.

Class Trip Approval: The class trip sponsor gathers all necessary information concerning the proposed class trip. A written proposal is then presented to the resource development coordinator. This person verifies that the proposed dates do not conflict with any other scheduled school activities. Approval or denial of the proposed date is returned to the class sponsor. The class sponsor then presents the proposal, with the approved dates indicated, to administration. The proposal is then reviewed by the administrative team members. If approved, it is then sent to the school board for approval. At all steps, the class sponsor is kept informed. If a step is denied, then it is returned to the class sponsor indicating the reasons denied. After the reasons denied have been addressed, it may then be resubmitted to administration and the approval process begins again.

Class Trip Destination: Classes will choose a destination based on the following:

  • Eighth Grade:
    • Dallas, Texas, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma or Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • Twelfth Grade:
    • Destination is limited to the continental United States.
    • Beach destinations are not allowed.
    • Cruises of any type are not allowed.

Class Trip Length:

  • Eighth Grade:
    • One day, beginning early on Friday and returning Friday evening.
  • Twelfth Grade:
    • One week, including five school days and one weekend before or after the school days.(7 consecutive days maximum)

Class Trip Requirements:

  • Must include at least one servant project
  • Must include educational activities
  • Attendance at an approved church on Sunday and/or midweek service.
  • Participants must meet eligibility requirements.

Class Trip Sponsors:

  • All sponsors must be approved by the administration and school board.
  • A staff representative from VLA will accompany both trips.
  • Students must be supervised at all times. In confined areas, such as amusement parks, students must honor the buddy system.

Class Trip Itinerary: The class must submit at least two trip itineraries for administration and school board approval.

Fund Raising for Class Trips: Students are encouraged to begin raising funds for their class trip prior to the year the trip will be taken. Classes may raise money by conducing VLA approved fund raisers. For secondary students the number of class fund raisers which are solicited from the members of the church/school body per year is as follows:

7th Grade – 1
8th Grade – 1
9th Grade – 1
10th Grade – 1
11th Grade – 2
12th Grade – 3

Students are allowed to conduct additional fund raisers which do not directly affect the church/school body, (i.e., car wash, garage sale, etc.), with prior approval from the school administration. All fund raisers for the class trip must adhere to established school fund raising policy.

Student Participation: Monies raised from class fund raisers will be used for the designated class trip. Individual credit will be assessed by individual student participation in the fund raiser, (i.e., if a student does not participate in a fund raiser they will not receive credit for that fund raiser). Students who have had excessive or repeated disciplinary actions must be approved by the administration to participate in their class trip. In addition, students who violate VLA or class trip rules may be sent home prior to the completion of the trip. Parents will be charged any additional costs associated with sending the student home early.

Cost of Trip: If sufficient funds are not raised to cover the cost of the desired trip, then the trip itinerary may be adjusted to meet the funds raised. Adjustments to the itinerary must be approved by the administration and school board. Students may be required to pay a deposit to secure their place on the trip. Students may incur out of pocket cash above funds raised, for the following: 1) shortage in student account to cover trip costs and 2) personal spending money, as desired.