Greetings, Space Explorers!

At last we have a green light for the weekend field trip to NASA

in Houston, Texas. The official launch date will be the fourth Friday of April (Friday, April 22.)

The plan is to gather here at the school at 6AM and car pool from here. We plan to leave Houston around 6PM and return to Salado on Friday evening around 9:30PM. Students will need to provide their own lunch. We will bring a cooler to keep drinks cool. A van is being rented to take the one or two extra students not riding with parents. Please contact Mr. Grant as soon as possible if your student needs a spot on the van.   ALL VAN SPOTS ARE NOW FULL!

A student may bring their family and siblings, if they come in their own transportation.

Students may want to bring a book or video game with headphones for entertainment during the 3 hour 40 minute drive and other down time. Of course, students are responsible for their own belongings. We plan to visit the gift shop, and stop for snacks on the road so some extra cash might be a good idea.

GOOD NEWS! Due to the size of our group, if you send the cash into Mr. Grant at school by April 15th, the cost for the NASA Space Center is only 12.95 for each child and adult in our group!   We need to have the money in to Mr. Grant by April 20th so I can have it all counted and confirmed.

(If you wait and pay at the door, the price is 19.95 for kids and 24.95 for adults. YIKES!)

I hereby allow my son/daughter _______________________ to participate in an extra-curricular field trip to NASA.

If my child should be injured on this trip, I agree to cover such expenses with my own insurance and to release the school and all of its employees of any liability in connection with this trip.

Parent signature _____________________________________

2 emergency contact numbers: _______________ _____________________

Please list the name and age (if a child) of all family members going on the trip.

Please remember that all family members will need their own transportation and must be

chaperoned by their own parent. We need this information to make a final head count.

Name:____________________________ Name: ______________________________________

Name:____________________________ Name: ______________________________________

Name: ____________________________Name: ______________________________________

Total number of family members going __________ x 12.95 = ______________ total cost

QUESTIONS? Try spacecenter.org or call Mr. Grant at home.

LUNCH WITH AN ASTRONAUT

Brian Duffy

Because we are going on Friday, there is a unique opportunity available to our students to have a chance to eat lunch with a real astronaut there at the Space Center at noon.

Here is the advertisement from the web page:

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This casual event gives you the opportunity to hear first-hand stories from a NASA astronaut while enjoying a cosmic lunch prepared by our award winning catering staff.

As a special memento of your visit, you will receive a personalized photograph from our guest astronaut. Ticket price also includes admission to Space Center Houston where you can experience over 400 things to see and do, including a behind the scenes look at NASA on the NASA Tram Tour.

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Lunch will begin at noon with Astronaut Brian Duffy.   The cost is 29.95 for students (11 and under) and 49.95 for adults.

IF YOU PURCHASE THIS LUNCH TICKET YOU DO NOT NEED TO PAY THE 12.95 ENTRANCE FEE AS IT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE FOR THE LUNCH!

My wife is planning to attend with two exchange students, so she can watch over any other students that go without a parent. Please contact us if you sign up online to attend. There are 12 spots still open, so you will need to get online and pay with a credit card to reserve any seats you need as soon as possible.

Anyone not going to the lunch will be eating our own sack lunch outside on the grounds.

The link down below will lead you to the place to sign up for the lunch.  YOU MUST DO IT ONLINE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO GET A PLACE AT THE TABLE.

For more information: http://spacecenter.org/attractions/lunch-with-an-astronaut/   <---------------------    CLICK HERE TO MAKE RESERVATIONS ON LINE

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In Other News: 6 lucky students will go with Ms. Katie Lodrige (The daughter of our own 5th grade teacher, Mr. Steen) who will give us a personal behind the scenes look at the Mission Control Center next door to the Space Museum! Three students from each grade level have been chosen by lottery. There is no cost for this amazing opportunity.