...from Connecticut You guys are always the best. You'll be happy to know that when we talked about the Quebec trip in all the classes today at the middle school and high school, all the kids agreed that this is the best trip the middle school goes on. The kids chimed in to explain why and tried to encourage their peers to go this year. Some of the kids who went last year at the middle school will try to go on the middle school trip again or the high school trip if they are now at Lyman. Thank you to you and your team for giving our students a lifetime of memories and a love of Quebec and Canada. I look forward to bringing another full bus up from the middle school this year. Shaun Liebskind Teacher, CT, 2006 Thanks so much for always doing a great job. Susan Hudson Teacher, CT, 2006 Oscar is another fabulous individual. A true professional, wonderful, engaging and educational person. Fabulous! Efficient, polite, balanced French and English well for the level of our students great with my son 11 year old son … Martha Venter, Teacher, CT, 2006 Bonjour, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you on the behalf of my students and the chaperones. We had an amazing time in Quebec. The trip was wonderfully organized and a true pleasure. Daniel, our guide, was fantastic. I realized during the trip how important his role really is. He is not just a guide, but an ambassador for Quebec. He made every possible effort to make the trip safe, fun and exciting. He showed true caring in what he did for us. He connected with both adults and students. He built relationships with our teenagers in minutes! An endeavor which takes us, teachers, months or years! He was fun and full of information. He kept all of us interested and entertained with the history of the places, the local folklore and bien sûr, his jokes and music! Most of our kids had never left the US and I am glad that Daniel was the first “foreigner”, the first Québécois that they met. I would not be surprised if a few of them did not move to Canada one day. They sure were ready to do so as we left yesterday! The activities you chose for us were fun and educational. You seem to have mastered the art of “awakening the interest of the kids and letting them long for more”! At no time were they bored or uninterested! They moved enough, visited enough, played enough, learned enough, ate enough new foods, had enough free time, spoke enough French and most of all, laughed more than enough! You made my job as a French teacher easier. I had told the kids of all the exciting places, cultures and people they will meet by traveling and knowing a second language. I had made promises and they had seen my joy, but it is a trip such as this one that has validated me and my profession. I know that I will have a different student in front of me today. One that is eager to learn and to know more! Thank you! To Daniel, to the staff in the office, and to everybody involved in planning this trip, un grand merci du fond de nos cœurs! Marie-Line Bruhl-Wilson, French Teacher, CT, 2006 Hi Mark, The kids and chaperones had a great time on the trip. Great job once again. You can pencil us in for next February. Shaun Liebskind, Teacher, CT, 2006 I've traveled with Jumpstreet a few times now and I always came home happy after the trip. Jumpstreet knows how to entertain kids while giving them a good educational experience. Marianne was wonderful. She knew a lot, connected with the kids and was very energetic. Wonderful guide!!! Susan Hudson, French Teacher, CT, 2006 The tour leader was very energetic and knowledgeable. His energy helped the students get excited about the various sites. Cheryl Gustafson, Teacher, CT, 2006 Mark, After my first trip, there was no turning back... I am having déjà vu as I feel that I wrote this same letter to you at this time last year. As always, Jumpstreet provided us with all that we could possibly need... I am most appreciative of the "life lessons" that you and your tour guides impress upon students. They leave not only knowing about another city in the world, but also understanding and appreciating the learning experiences that travel can bring. Jumpstreet is by far the best tour company in the world! I would travel the world with Jumpstreet! Restaurants were just French enough to give the kids a taste of the cuisine, without being too French to freak them out. Very kid-friendly and food was delicious! Mike was fantastic, extremely personable, spoke enough French to challenge the students and was very in tune with their needs and interests. Amy Criscitelli, Teacher, CT, 2006 Hi, I wanted to drop you a note to thank you for a wonderful long weekend in Quebec and felt that your company provided an action packed and fun tour. Anthony was a terrific guide!! Faith Irwin Parent, CT, 2006 Mark, Just a quick note to let you know that we had a fantastic trip last week! Jumpstreet took care of all the details like always and made our job as chaperones a piece of gâteau! Alex was a spectacular guide that was extremely knowledgeable and personable with the kids. I am definitely glad that we increased our trip from 3 to 4 days, I just can't get enough of Quebec city! I am ready to start planning for next year! The kids have not stopped talking about the trip and what a great time it was and the rest of the students in our school are jealous! I highly recommend Jumpstreet to anyone that asks and I am even working on getting our 8th grade teachers to use Jumpstreet for their trip to Boston! Please keep doing what you do best, encouraging students to travel and learn! Please extend my thanks to everyone in your office that has helped to make this trip possible.... My most sincere appreciation, Amy Criscitelli, French Teacher, CT, 2005 There are not words to describe how happy we all are with our recent Jumpstreet tour. Eloise and Daniel were outstanding tour guides. They kept us energized about everything from walking tours through school visits to the érablière where even I danced myself breathless. Wow. Thank you so very much for making this trip one I will remember as my best Quebec trip . . . so far. Lynne Hawkins, Librarian, CT, 2005 Marianne is a dear, angel, completely competent and absolutely fun! Renee Sylvestre, Teacher, CT, 2005 Marianne was fabulous. She understands teens well. I wish you did France! Thanks for everything. Merry Burke, Teacher, CT, 2005 Les parents et les enfants étaient enchantés de leur aventure au Québec. Surtout Julie - tout le monde a été vraiment emballé par elle. On voulait tous la ramener à la maison!!! Nicole Burnett Teacher, CT, 2005 I want to reiterate how thrilled we were with everything about your organization, from the beginning planning stages to the end. Thank you so much for everything!! Everything was well chosen, appropriate, and even much more fun and interesting that I could have imagined! Very satisfied, in fact extremely happy. All the staff was extremely friendly and helpful every time I called (no matter who I spoke to!) and always made me feel like a valuable client! Also really liked online planner made things very easy and thorough. Kristine M. Cassar, Teacher, CT, 2005 Dear Alex, I've been meaning to write this note for a few months. My daughter was on one of your tours in early November 2004. I sent her without her birth certificate but with marriage certificate. You and the following people were incredibly helpful. Please extend my sincere gratitude. You outperformed and I would without hesitation send my son on your trip when he is of age. Thank you for all your help and professionalism. Sincerely, Sabrina Foulke, Parent, CT, 2005 Dear Mark, As usual you and your co-co-workers did a fantastic job for us. We all had a great time and all the students want to see more of Canada. Marie-Eve was our little (big) sunshine! Tiiu was so impressed with the experience, she is thinking seriously of doing a trip for 10th and 11th graders. Fondly Jenny Amlong, Teacher, CT, 2005 ...from Delaware Our guide Alexandra was wonderful! Fabulous! Incredible! Spoke 3 languages beautifully! Megan Cover, Teacher, DE, 2003 It was all fantastic! We loved Oscar - The students want him again next year! I especially appreciated the security guard in the hall at night. Gayle Fitzgerald Teacher, DE, 2002 Everything was excellent as usual! I would be thrilled to recommend Jumpstreet to anyone! Kevin J. Ruth Teacher, DE, 2002 ...from Massachusetts A big thank you to the entire Jumpstreet team. You never got tired of answering our questions and helping us get what we hope was the 1st of many trips off the ground. We had a most excellent adventure. What I especially like about Julie was her sharing, her life story with the kids. We had 32 young girls on this trip and from Julie they learned you can go to school, travel, have a boyfriend, travel, look for an apartment, travel - do all of the things you should do while you have the time and energy in your 20's. For many of the kids it was their first taste of what else is out there - outside of Braintree. Julie's life and enthusiasm was such positive thing for them to see. See you next year! Kathleen Butler, Teacher, MA, 2006 In one word, this was a fantastic experience and one of the most successful class trips we have had. Nicolas Brindel, Teacher, MA, 2006 Words cannot describe the feeling you left us with, but I will try. We are on Cloud 9--walking on air around the school telling anyone who asks that the trip was awesome, incredible, and perfect--we literally had the time of our lives. Your skill at planning was evident from the start, but my admiration grew as our adventure got better and better. The 4 days ran like a symphony, with the evening at La Cabane à Sucre as the crescendo: my kids dancing their fool heads off as Oscar sang the Chicken Dance in French faster and faster... Please give our heartfelt thanks to Oscar by whom the kids were very touched, as evidenced by their practically tearful goodbyes and unabashed displays of affection--they stood to give him hugs and shouted "I love you" as he disembarked the bus. Now that they are all officially World Travelers (by the power invested in Oscar), anything is possible for them. So many who had not ever left West Springfield before have had their eyes opened in countless ways. They have a new appreciation for their Québécois neighbors, the French language, for traveling and seeing the world, and a new perspective on their own country and hometown. You gave them all that! They will never forget Montréal and Québec. They made memories to last a lifetime. I will never forget their faces as they ran up to me to tell me about some successful interaction that they had en français ("Ms Guyett, Ms Guyett, I asked for deux cuillères and it worked!" or, "I ordered in French!"). It made the whole year come alive, and gave them a confidence that my classes in previous years just did not have. Thank you! Merci! À la prochaine! Katherine Guyett, Teacher, MA, 2006 Alexandra did a wonderful job, the kids and chaperones enjoyed her very much. We spoke a lot of Spanish this year and the students were made to feel very proud of all they've learned so far. Dawn Fillio, Teacher, MA, 2006 We had the best trip ever last week. Everything was perfect! The students have said, "This trip was the best part of middle school". Chapeau! to all staff at Jumpstreet, Lisa (our tour leader) and Jim (our bus driver). Even after three days of going non-stop from one activity to the next, experiencing the Québécois culture, absorbing the language and history, all our students wanted more!!! Christine Goulet, Teacher, MA, 2006 Hello Mark, My son, Cameron had such a wonderful experience visiting in Washington D.C this week. All of the employees of JumpStreet made it a positive trip for all of the students. We wish you continued success with your company. Ever grateful, Carolynn Crawford Parent, MA, 2006 We couldn't really have been happier. Bruce Powers, Teacher, MA, 2006 I have traveled with Jumpstreet for 9 years. They have been very accommodating. Tour guides have been great! Everyone is very professional. What a great group of people and a wonderful tour group! Cannot say enough about Jumpstreet! I absolutely love traveling with you! A Spanish teacher accompanied me this year and she was so impressed with Julie and the activities that she is considering doing a Quebec/Montreal tour. Merci! Gloria Deschene, Teacher, MA, 2006 Bonjour, I have been traveling with Jumpstreet for the last 16 years. I had used other companies before that time but after traveling with Jumpstreet, I have not wanted to look elsewhere. They plan exceptional trips, are always open to suggestions or to changes to the itinerary to better meet a school's needs/desires. The tours are well planned and have a wide variety of cultural activities that require the active participation of the students. As a result they usually delight the students while exposing them to the Quebecois culture, language and history. The guides in a word are DYNAMIC and relate very well to the students. They are all bilingual and provide a lot of new vocabulary for the students. (My students are all beginning their language study and love many of the Quebecois expressions that they learn on the trip and find ways to use them once they return to class.) Karen Coby, French Teacher, MA, 2006 Merci, merci, merci pour un merveilleux séjour à Québec ! Excellente organisation, excursions de qualité et très bons restaurants. Les étudiants sont ravis. Ce premier voyage est un grand succès. Merci à toute l'équipe. Martine Fisher, Teacher, MA, 2006 Certainly, this was by far the best Canadian trip I've taken with students. Denise Morrow, Teacher, MA, 2006 I can't believe our trip is over. You folks at Jumpstreet are as marvelous as I had been told! Nicole Joyaux-Kramer, Teacher, MA, 2006 Dear Jumpstreet, Thanks again for a great trip, it was by far the most enjoyable of our three trips to Washington (Jumpstreet did not plan the first two). I really appreciated how much care you put into the tour and the wonderful way that you managed and interacted with our students. We felt completely confident and taken care of. Neal Brown, Assistant Head of School, MA, 2006 Dear Alex Ffrench, Thank you so much for helping us on our tour of Washington DC. Whether it was on Gunther or when we were out and about on various activities, you always had a joke or a funny comment to say. Once again thanks for the great time in D.C Bridget, Student, MA, 2006 Dear Mark Clarke, Thank you so much for touring with us! You informed us on all the monuments and buildings we toured and passed by. We had a lot of fun with you guys! You made this trip so much more enjoyable and I will never forget it! I can't wait to get all my pictures back and relieve some of the times I had there. I'm glad that Jumpstreet tours are so memorable and I had so much fun on those days jam packed with fun! Thanks again! Hannah, Student, MA, 2006 The restaurants were more than perfect they were excellent, having choices for food was a treat. The girls enjoyed both guides, especially when they took time to connect and talk with the girls. The selection of activities - it was the best. Jumpstreet provided our students and chaperons with well designed, informative, fun trip to Washington, D.C. They have just the right mix of expectations and humour to pull off a great tour for middle school students. All aspects of the trip were the best. Martha Svatek, Teacher, MA, 2006 Dear Mark, I want to thank Jumpstreet for another great tour. We always have so much fun and I get to embarrass myself dancing on the stage of the Hard Rock Café! No matter how many times I go on the trip, I always learn new things (although my “bâton de fleur” skills never improve.) Oh well. I am getting good at biking single file with 7th grade girls who tend to stop and scream a lot. Mike is “famous” at our school. He's great with our students. We appreciate his patience, flexibility and knowledge about Montreal. Cynthia will be a great guide. She's charming and adorable and was also great with the girls. Mike was a great mentor and will help her just as Alex helped him. So, thanks to our Jumpstreet friends, Montreal comes to life even more then it already is. Merci beaucoup! Laura Adams, Teacher, MA, 2006 Hi Mark, Just wanted to let you know how great, as usual, our trip was. Everything is always well planned. It is a concise schedule, yet always feels comfortable and not stressful. We love all of the activities and we really appreciate the flexibility you afford us. The people we work with are great. Mike and Steve were wonderful. You run a great tour company! Thanks Mark. Laura Adams Teacher, MA, 2005 Mark, Our trip was very enjoyable. The reason for its success are; 1) Jumpstreet's attention to detail before and during the trip. 2) Professional, knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides whose energy is boundless and whose love for Québec is contagious. We loved our 4 days with Frankie C. He related so well with the students - very genuine and upbeat. Thank you for all you and your colleagues do to make us feel special. I am already looking forward to next year. Karen Coby Teacher, MA, 2005 The trip was like a well choreographed dance. You have a great product. Keep up the good work. Jaqueline Dufour, Teacher, MA, 2005 ...from Maryland I'm back home again after another PERFECT trip with Jumpstreet. I travel with students a lot and have used other companies and Jumpstreet is the best. Lucy Wise-Gladwell, Teacher, MD, 2006 I would like to let you know what a great time we all had, how smooth everything went and what a fabulous tour guides we had in Eloise and Caroline! The kids really responded to them and they made us chaperones feel like we were on vacation. I can't say enough good things about them. Quebec has a lot to offer but, they are really your asset. Carolyn Brady, Teacher, MD, 2005 We love OSCAR!!! Oscar connected with the students and that was a huge part of why they enjoyed their trip. He shopped with them and ate lunch with us all. Most of all he was one of us and a leader at the same time. Sherry Harkins, Teacher, MD, 2005 I think you were all great. I am appreciative of the flexibility and assistance with planning. I LOVE THE ONLINE PLANNER!!! Sandy Mason, Teacher, MD, 2005 ...from Maine Everything was excellent. Vincent was an excellent guide. He hit it off well with the students from the beginning. He would take the time to talk to them individually, as well as in group form regularly. He really seemed like he cared a great deal about them. Anita Dube, Teacher, ME, 2006 Oscar was a real gem of a tour leader. He switched languages constantly, repeating things in all three languages for the kids. He was authoritative, yet friendly and kind with both chaperones and students. (The teachers loved the fact that he beat us to the punch by asking the boys to remove their hats in the restaurant before we could do it!! - We were very impressed!) He was part philosopher, music expert, professor of architecture, and totally in love with Montreal (which he conveyed to the kids). He was very flexible and accommodating, making some minor changes (letting us take the subway) and flipping the itinerary so we were underground on a rainy day. He was constantly checking in with kids at restaurants and activities to be sure they were happy and engaged. We couldn't have asked for a better tour guide! I was so impressed with Oscar's parting comments to the students. He talked about the importance of travel as a means, not only of learning more about your world, but also as a way of learning more about yourself. His remarks were much appreciated and made a big impression on the adults and students alike. Jumpstreet is a class act. You know how to keep kids happy with the fun and active juggling workshop and the amazing salsa dancing (it is always everyone's favorite activity!!) We cannot say enough about how wonderful it is to have a security guard on the floor at night. This makes a huge difference for the chaperones and ultimately keeps our students safe. Thank you for being a leader in the student tour industry and in keeping the personal aspects from your heartfelt and sincere holiday greetings to the personal updates on your staff and in having Mark always try to catch up with the group to say hello while we're on our tour. Mirna and I won't travel in Canada or to NYC with anyone else! Thanks so much for a wonderful trip! Terresa Farrar, Teacher, ME, 2006 Our guides were exactly the kind of tour leader a group of middle school students need. They had a great sense of humor with the students and made some good connections with them. They spoke just enough French and also it was great that their English was not perfect either because it made the students feel more at ease to try French and not worry about the mistakes they made because people would still understand them. The tour leaders were also very organized through the entire trip. Jumpstreet is definitely the easiest way to go for anybody planning a trip. They made things so simple and the planning seemed to just fall into place with little effort. Rebecca Deschaine, Teacher, ME, 2006 Thanks! We had a great trip. One of our students said that this was the best experience she's had in high school! Kathy Nicketakis, Teacher, ME, 2006 Dear Mark, Alex and Jumpstreet staff, Thank you so much for a wonderful tour and for all your help preparing us for the trip. This was a memorable experience for all the students and chaperones alike. Mirna Henderson, Teacher, ME, 2005 Hi Tom, Mark, Sebastian, Alex, Christine I'm going to sound like a babbling Jumpstreet Tours advertisement, but I just had to let you know that our trip was SUPER. The kids had a great time, the adults did too. Maude Giguère was fabulous. She kept us entertained, and the kids loved her. She helped the kids to appreciate and understand Quebec culture, and brought out enthusiasm in the kids for each activity. Again, thanks for your personal attention, for all the stories and for the special Jumpstreet touch you give to each group. Carolyn Horth, Teacher, ME, 2005 Your pre-tour organization is the best I've ever experienced with a tour company. The students are still talking about the trip. Diane Leclair, Teacher, ME, 2005 Ciao Jumpstreeters Thank you Eloise, J.P., Nancy, night guards, Mark, others behind the scenes for the great tour of Quebec. You showed us the sights, but even better you passionately talked about the preciousness of life, the importance of dreams, and the endless possibilities to do something good. Barb Loken, Teacher, ME, 2005 I am writing to express how much I enjoyed our trip to Quebec City. It was awesome!! Our group had Marianne as our tour leader. I am extremely impressed with how well she handled the group of 35 kids. She has so much talent and so much going for her! I can not get over how well she interacted with the kids. It takes a very special person to do what she did. As a teacher, I look up to and respect people who interact with kids like M.A. does. That being said, I have a great deal of respect for her and the job she did for us. I spent a good part of the trip in awe at what she did with the kids. It was just unbelievable! I admire M.A. and I hope that she keeps doing what she loves to do. Her passion for life and Quebec culture is evident in her work. M.A. taught our kids and me a lot. I thank her "mille fois" for all of. I hope I can come soon to visit and learn more. This was a great experience! If you would, please pass this on to M.A. She deserves a huge pat on the back. Sincerely, Ryan Welch, Teacher, ME, 2005 ...from Michigan After returning from Jumpstreet tour number 7, I can't wait for number 8! Everyone had a great time. It is a memory that will be with my students for a lifetime. Jennifer Quint, Teacher, MI, 2006 Hi (Or should I say, Bonjour?) I just wanted to thank you and especially commend Dan Russo, our tour guide, for the wonderful job he did in making our group comfortable right from the beginning. He was very entertaining and the students really enjoyed his stories and jokes. He always had a smile on his face which made us smile too. His enthusiasm and genuine love for his job came through. He fired up the students and quieted them down when he needed to. We were so used to him cheering us on and firing us up that our bus was quiet for the first part of the ride home; we missed his presence at the front of the bus very much. All in all, it was a great experience, and one that I and my girls (Katharine and Elizabeth) will treasure for years to come. Thanks again, Kathleen Allen Chaperon, MI, 2005 Dear friends at Jumpstreet, A month ago during my 7th hour, the students and I were discussing our upcoming weekend plans in French. After two or three students replied, a group of kids yelled out 'oooh oui' just like they did at the interactive play in Quebec City. This continued and more students joined in with the suspense sounds (un moment de suspense) and the sounds for 'la tristesse' and 'l'amour'… it brought back a lot of memories and made the discussion in French more lively and more fun. Last week in class, I gave the students an assignment and asked them if my directions were clear. Collectively and enthusiastically, they yelled out “Oui, Papa” a tribute to their beloved JP. Today in my 6th grade class we were discussion foreign language classes at Slauson for the next two years. I was explaining to the kids that the differences between 6th, 7th and 8th grade foreign language. One of my students, whose brother went to QC in 2003, told the class, “My brother said one run down the hill on their inter tube in Quebec makes learning all the rules in French grammar worth it in 8th grade.” The trip to Quebec lasts only 5 days, the trip to Quebec occurred almost two months ago. Yet the trips to Quebec with Jumpstreet tours leave a mark on these students for years and years to come. This spring I am taking 8 students to Paris for a week. All 8 of these students went to Quebec with me in 2002. During our meetings to discuss our week in France, these students repeatedly ask if it will be as much fun as Quebec, if it will be as cool as Quebec and if they will want to go back to Paris like they want to return to Quebec. I answer 'no' to their questions. I have told them that I am not Jumpstreet tours. I am not Alex. They will have a great time, but nothing compares to the fun of Quebec in 8th grade with Jumpstreet. Nothing. Tour 2005 was simply fantastic. The itinerary was amazing…JP and Marie-Eve were a blast. I am not sure how you can do it, but you need to sabotage JP's trip to Cambodia and keep him around Jumpstreet for the next 20 years. The students learned more from him in 3 days about respect, courtesy, gratitude and open-mindedness than they have from their parents and peers in the last 13 years. He taught them lessons about life that I didn't learn until I went away to college. He is a gift, and you need to work your magic to keep him around! I look forward to next year. Thank you for all that you continue to do every year to make such a lasting impression and remarkable learning experience for the children of Slauson Middle School. I continue to be so proud to be associated with you and the name Jumpstreet. Have a great summer! All my best, Marci Harris, Teacher, MI, 2005 Cher JP, OK, I have to say that being in Quebec was honestly the coolest thing I've ever done. Can anything possibly compare to it??? Here is what I loved: Inner tubing, singing on the bus after the sugar shack. AND EVERYTHING ELSE! I am never going to forget any of it. Also, thank you so much for being out tour guide… it made the trip even more brilliant!!! You are so fun and awesome. Anyway- Thanks a million much and tell Quebec that it is so WATATATOW! J'adore Québec!! Abby Student, MI, 2005 To Mark, Tom and the Jumpstreet gang, Thank you so much for the T-shirt. I loved the letter too about Gauguin saying that weird horses are the most beautiful! You guys are too cool! Darlene Weltzer, Teacher, MI, 2005 ...from New Brunswick Let’s see now… 8 Jumpstreet trips, approximately 300 students, thousands of kilometres, about 6 different tour guides, a total of 7 different cities visited altogether… I’d say that we’re INCREDIBLY SATISFIED with the pre-trip planning and organizing as well as the trip itself. You are the gem I discovered 8 years ago; I don’t trade gems; I keep them. As my students would (and do) say: “YOU ROCK” Thank you." Janelle Arsenault Teacher, NB, 2006 Just wanted to say thanks for all the assistance in making this trip happen. Our kids had a wonderful time and we all loved Gabby and Lexi. Thanks again, we can't wait to travel again with Jumpstreet. Kari Burkhardt, Teacher, NB, 2006 Gabby was the best we have ever had and her trainee Alexi is going to make an excellent addition to your staff. They were caring, interactive and knowledgeable. I could not believe the knowledge Gabby had as well as the personal stories. If you want a safe, reliable, well organized, fun-filled tour, then Jumpstreet should be your choice for a tour. Our school has with this company 8 times and has never been disappointed. Terry Currie, Vice-Principal, NB, 2006 I have been traveling to Quebec with Jumpstreet with grade 8 and 9 students since 1993 and I cannot imagine doing this with another company. Everything is so well organized and the staff is incredibly flexible, which is necessary when working with adolescents. The guides are very understanding with kids, some of whom are away from home for the first time in their lives. Allan Davis, Vice-Principal, NB, 2006 Alex I was just writing my superintendent of our school district to inform her of the tremendous time we had in Quebec City. For the first time taking kids on a tour, I was very happy and relieved that Jumpstreet tours organized and lead the group for every minute we were in Quebec City. I am making plans for next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I must also say our tour guide Pam made the trip a huge success for the kids and teachers. Within one hour she was calling students by their first names and kept each and every one on their toes!!! I was very pleased with our tour leader. The students we left at school are asking what we like the best and all answers were a list of 4 or 5 things -- NO ONE COULD PICK JUST ONE THING!! All kids and chaperons were delighted with the trip and the professional organization and leaders that made the trip a life long memory for 43 wide eyed grade 8 students. Ron Heatherington, Teacher, NB, 2006 Excellent, wonderful, fantastic…these words do not even touch the job Catherine Saine has done. This was my sixth tour and I have never seen a tour guide so enthusiastic about her job. The students loved her, we loved her…Not only did she guide the tour but she was always there for the chaperones and students. Cat made life time memories for our students. Thanks a million to a young lady who went above and beyond what our expectations were. Carole Lynn Henrichs, Teacher, NB, 2006 Hi! Many thanks to all you folks at Jumpstreet. The pre-tour information and service are above AWESOME. Everyone is so helpful and answers are provided quickly. Once we returned to school, I talked to a number of students who had been on the trip. They were all still excited. The most common word was AWESOME. If I overheard the word in the hall and glanced to see who said it, it was almost always someone who had been on the trip! Ruth Lindsay, Guidance Counsellor, NB, 2006 As you know, we were the first school to sign up with you all those many years ago. We have thoroughly enjoyed our association with your company. Always, the staff has been friendly, efficient, helpful and courteous. I've made many good friends at Jumpstreet, and would highly recommend anyone wishing to organize a trip, be it educational or recreational, to contact them. They are a class organization, providing skilled and knowledgeable tour guides who will look after everything for you upon your arrival, and be at your service until your departure. Leave your worries behind and enjoy the experiences that are yours to explore. Thanks again for all the wonderful years of service and for making our educational trips that much more enjoyable. Thank you Mark and all the Jumpstreet Tours guides and employees!!! Cheryl Wiezel, Principal, NB, 2006 We wish to thank you once again for allowing our students to have an experiece of a lifetime with Jumpstreet. We rest easy knowing how diligently you take care of us, and we appreciate the incredible dedication you show toward our youth. Our students are incredibly important to us; we value them and always look to offer them not only travel experience but life experiences as well. With your company and with your unbelievable tour guides (Go Julie!!!), you simply you make our goal attainable and memorable as well. Thank you. Janelle Arsenault Teacher, NB, 2005 Thank you again for all of your patience and hard work. You and your team have certainly outdone yourselves! Andrea Steeves-Blacquier, Teacher, NB, 2005 ...from New Hampshire Our trip was an exhilarating whitewater ride through Quebec City! Jumpstreet Tours enable teachers and students to enjoy their beautiful city completely. The activities are engaging and meet the discriminating tastes of my 8th grade students. In six years of traveling with them, each tour guide, with his or her distinct personality, has shone. They know how to reach the students and keep their attention with their friendly and kind manner. This is the company with whom to travel. No other tour group can offer the personal care and attention given by the Jumpstreet Tour personnel - from the owners, to the office staff, to the guides. I have enjoyed the varied personalities of all our guides, but Marianne shone above the rest. She was easy-going, kept the kid's attention, and they are still singing the sardine song. I can't say that Marianne was merely competent, polite, and efficient. She rose far above those inadequate terms! Mark, this young lady is a gem. She has a delightful presence and she was VERY helpful, indeed. Lisa Houde, Teacher, NH, 2006 Mark, “Merci!” For everything you did on our 2005 tour! You make Jumpstreet number 1 for sure! The trip was soooooo great and the kids are buzzing about it non-stop, saying it was the best experience of their lives, etc. Truly unbelievable sentiments came out of all this. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You all ROCK! Love, Jennie Cook, Teacher, NH, 2005 Oscar was great he made meaningful connections with kids introducing them to new music and his switching between French and English was perfect. Deborah Miller, Teacher, NH, 2005 Bonjour! I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful time that you showed my daughter and her schoolmates from Bishop Guertin High School this weekend. My son had done a Jumpstreet trip in Jr. High, and she and her friends enjoyed this trip as much as he had 2 years ago. It's amazing how much you fit into a weekend for them. So, thanks again. I'll start saving my pennies for next year, as they've all ready started planning for their trip back! Cindy Sloan, Parent, NH, 2005 We have the highest praise for our tour guides, Marianne, JP and Vincent. Their knowledge and their energy were astounding! The kids and the chaperons loved them. All of the students, from the freshmen to the seniors, enjoyed the activities. Thank you for providing such wonderful opportunities for our students. Susan Smith, Teacher, NH, 2005 ...from New Jersey I just wanted to send you a quick note to thank you for putting together such a wonderful tour for us. I cannot say enough good things about our experience. Daniel was incredible - everyone immediately fell under his spell, he was so well-informed, fun and charming, and related beautifully to the kids. My students are probably singing “Miam, miam, miam, des bons bons légumes…” in their sleep! Daniel and Jim, our driver, were so relaxed from the very beginning, and I knew we were in good hands. We did not have a single problem. The kids learned so much, practiced their French, and begged me to do the trip again next year. Mary Albert, Teacher, NJ, 2006 I would like to thank you and your staff for planning a wonderful staying at Quebec. From our first contact with Jumpstreet we were treated so well. Everyone answered our questions promptly and in a very professional manner. Although our stay was short we certainly saw and did many things. Our students said that they had an “awesome time”. I know that our tour leader Oscar Calderon was a big reason for this. He was fantastic with the students! He was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Many thanks and we will certainly travel again with Jumpstreet. Gale Benn, Teacher, NJ, 2006 We loved the fact that you took us to places that were typically Québécois i nstead of tourist hotspots. The Cabane à Sucre was great fun and the students loved the restaurants. From A to Z, Jumpstreet had everything covered and every question answered before we could even think to ask it. The pre-tour package with sample letters, travel advice and suggestions for the teachers, students and parents was so helpful. Everyone we dealt with, from the office before the trip to our guide and bus driver during the trip, was so nice and extremely patient. It made planning our trip very enjoyable. I found the organization and service to be top-notch. Tanya Boudakian, Teacher, NJ, 2006 We had a nice variety of activities and they were carefully planned over the four days. We managed to discover many aspects of the French Canadian culture, we saw everything that we had planned for and even managed to add in a couple more short visits. I was delighted with my ENTIRE Jumpstreet experience! The service before and during the trip was exceptional. I especially enjoyed always being able to get someone-and even someone nice!-on the phone every time I called. The tour package was catered to my specific needs and I appreciated the group effort that seemed to transpire from my discussions with the various Jumpstreet employees! I absolutely feel that I had my money worth and I would travel with Jumpstreet any day! Alice Fournier, Teacher, NJ, 2006 HELLO ALL!!!!! I just wanted to say "THANKS" you ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!! I am still smiling at the thought of the trip and am amazed at the "HISTORY" lesson I received. You folks are the best and all of your people should be proud of the job you all do!!!!! Thanks again!!!!! Michael H. Myers, Teacher, NJ, 2006 This is perfect for middle school students. It's a wonderful balance of educational and fun activities. Sharon Nachimson, Teacher, JN, 2006 ...from Nova Scotia We had a wonderful time! The events planned were well thought out and your tour guides did an exceptional job in keeping us on track so we didn't miss anything. Julie and Mylène will always be remembered as hard working, kind, energetic, leaders! Bill Fougere, Math and Science Teacher, NS, 2006 Thank you so much. When we deal with Jumpstreet we know what to expect. Everything down to the finest detail is thought of. Thank you so much. Pat Gillis, Secretary, NS, 2006 The Principal is sold on Jumpstreet so my life is easy! Anne Ragot, Teacher, NS, 2006 Dear Members of the Jumpstreet Team, We wanted to sincerely thank you for yet another wonderful trip! As a tour company you were absolutely wonderful in terms of the hospitality and organization. Vincent did a tremendous job with our group! We wanted to let you know how much we appreciated all of your efforts. Thanks for helping to create such memorable moments for our grade 9 students at Ross Road. Sarah Shea, French teacher, NS, 2006 The trip was an awesome exposure to Montreal and Old Quebec City. It was well organized with an awesome tour guide. All the students and chaperones had a marvelous time!! Thank you Jumpstreet!!! Taunya Sheffield, Teacher, NS, 2006 After years of planning these trips, this was by far the most relaxing trip I have done. As you know, this was my first experience with Jumpstreet, and I must say, I was impressed. Our guides, Francois and Anthony were terrific. They related very well to the students, and worked well with the teachers and bus drivers. Our only regret is that the trip is now over. I have attached a draft of an itinerary for next June. Thanks for a great trip. Leander Dover, Teacher, NS, 2005 Marianne, Just a little note to thank you for the wonderful trip. The students loved you, and are still talking about you and the trip. I must say that you have been the best guide I have experienced for school trips. You are a very special person and all week everyone I saw who was on the trip is still very "high" from the experience. You left a lasting impression on everyone. A number of girls cried for at least a half an hour after we left you standing next to boat. The bus was lost without you. The kids even stared to sing Amazing Grace...we were all so sad. Thanks for making it fun and a pleasure. We hope to use Jumpstreet again next year and we will request you for our guide for sure! Merci beaucoup, Ryan Fraser, Teacher, NS, 2005 Hi Sebastian, I wanted to let you know what a fantastic time we had during our week. J.P. was an unbelievable guide. I have recommended Jumpstreet to 4 of my teacher friends as a result of this great experience. J.P. took care of absolutely everything; it got so that I didn't even bother wearing my watch, as J.P. took care of informing the students where and when and what activities were coming up. We teachers were astounded with his level of professionalism, and also by his abilities to relate to the kids. Anyways, I just wanted to say thanks again to you and your company for your tireless efforts to plan the perfect trip. Your goal was achieved, and I look forward to continuing our business relationship in the years to come. Shannon Holland, Teacher, NS, 2005 Benoit was absolutely amazing. He took care of everything, the kids loved him and he made it a very stress free trip for me thanks to Benoit. Jumpstreet was thorough, quick to respond to my queries and the online tour planer was very convenient. Lesley MacKeigan, Teacher, NS, 2005 Hi Mark, A big thank-you for a great school trip. Benoit, the tour leader, really connected with the kids! My daughter Leah was very fond of him and now goes around say salut and whatatatow all the time. I myself went back to work saying it. Really threw them off at the bank I work at. Anyways again thank you for a great trip ,and for the memories that I will carry with me and my daughter Leah. Darlene Mah Parent, NS, 2005 ...from New York This was our third year traveling with Jumpstreet and we will NEVER leave this fun, organized, kid-focused company. Our concerns are always addressed, we feel comfortable and secure at all times, and the activities, meals, hotels, etc. are consistently top notch. Don't look elsewhere...Jumpstreet is THE tour company for schools! Debbie Carlson-Stephans, Teacher, NY, 2006 After having traveled with another company, I can honestly say that I wouldn't really change anything about Jumpstreet. The services provided by your company are truly phenomenal. Every person I spoke with at Jumpstreet was polite and extremely helpful. The interactions with everyone made the planning enjoyable. This trip was a pleasure. Thank you for providing such a professional service! We all agreed (adults and students) that François was fantastic!! He was wonderful with the students and he made sure EVERYTHING was taken care of for us. He was extremely competent, efficient and polite. He spoke a nice amount of French with our students and even taught them some words unique to Canada. The students are still talking about how much they loved François! François was a fantastic tour guide! We really appreciated all his work and the way he treated our students. Cindy Coons, Teacher, NY, 2006 Mark, This last trip may have been our best trip to Canada yet. Everything went well. The students were great and so was Dan. Merci encore et à la prochaine. Lionel Heath, Teacher, NY, 2006 I feel that there is no better fit for our school-like Pioneer and Jumpstreet are one big family. I look forward to our visit every year and seeing everyone again. You always worry that your trips will go smoothly, but with Jumpstreet that is one worry you can put to rest! Thank you to Mark and Tom and all the crew that works so hard year after year. Kim Landahl, Teacher, NY, 2006 Headquarters was helpful every step of the way. As this was my first trip with students I was very stressed and confused but you guys were there for me. JUMPSTREET ROCKS!!! Nathalye Moss, Teacher, NY, 2006 Merci Julie! Montréal was amazing because of you! Thank you for entertaining all of my questions! Patrick, Student, NY, 2006 Jumpstreet has handled our tours for many years and we have always been highly pleased with their service. They are Middle School oriented and the kids enjoy their experiences. We hear from kids that traveled years ago recounting the good memories they have of their Quebec trip. Debbie Pidsadnick, Teacher, NY, 2006 Good afternoon, I recently was a chaperone on a Quebec/Montreal field trip with the Pioneer Middle School. I was amazed at how well organized and energetic your guides were. Nancy Sampson, Assistant principal, NY, 2006 I heard from another parent just yesterday who said her son has still not stopped talking about the Montreal trip...she wonders what kind of magic we must have worked to make him still so excited...I told her it was all Jumpstreet!!!! But thanks anyway for making us look so good!!!!! Patti Slosek, Teacher, NY, 2006 Maude was so energetic and all our students loved her. Once again you made all our travelers fall in love with Montreal! Mary Thumann, Teacher, NY, 2006 To Mel, Sebastian, Caroline, and everyone who made Yonkers' trip to Canada such a wonderful experience. I am so impressed with the welcome, the logistics, the variety and complexity of activities and sites, from lessons in history and geography to stories of Native Americans and legends of Quebec, from climbing the ship's mast and role playing the high town to being blessed at Saint Anne's, from sunflower soup, warm croissants and hot chocolate in a bowl to crepes and honey wine (mead). You made our studies of European exploration of North America come alive with our guides and docents, and the classes of foreign language became authentic as we shopped and ordered meals. Nick and I imitated - or tried to - "Bonjour" and "let me see your shiny eyes and beautiful smiles" and "don't forget to thank Greg our driver". As one student Steve said, "It's so sad that we got so close and now we probably will never see these people again after they gave us so many wonderful experiences in such a short time." Words cannot express my appreciation for all you did, from the pre-planning to Chez Maurice, my first experience to your beautiful city and to a dance club. Thank you. Sincerely, Helene Alalouf Teacher, NY, 2005 Dear Mark, I am writing to thank you very much for the wonderful trip that we had last week in Montreal/Quebec. Every student had a very memorable, pleasant and terrific experience, as did Michele and myself. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your help in making everything work out so well. The students are still talking about "Funky C" and how much fun they had with him -- It was a wonderful experience and I thank you so much for making it such a great time for all of us in "le cercle français de Clarkstown"! "Funky C" was a terrific guide. He was kind and animated with the students. He definitely went above and beyond all expectations to make their trip fantastic. In fact, many of our senior students said the trip really "made" their senior year and sited Francois as one of the best "parts" of their experience. I look forward to next year's trip to Quebec! Thank you again and best wishes! Sarah Bilodeau Teacher, NY, 2005 I love Jumpstreet because your guides were energetic, excited about their city and professional. Listening to them talk and watching them interact positively with my middle schoolers was great, because they could connect Quebec with a real person and not the dry narrations in a textbook. My students also spoke more French on this tour to Quebec than they did last time. It was very good to see. Thank you! Mille merci! Sincerely, Sheila Z. McDevitt, Teacher, NY, 2005 I would like to continue working with you and the gang at Jumpstreet. I have had amazing trips - each one better than the last - and am looking forward to the next. Dis bonjour à tout le monde surtout Eloise! Merci, Leslie Moore, Teacher, NY, 2005 Hi Tom! We had a magnificent time in Montreal. My students loved everything about the long weekend and my chaperones are still talking about it. Jasmine did a fantastic job welcoming our group and showing us the Biodome and Mont Royal. I think the students were a bit sad to see her leave, but got over it when they met JP. He was really a lot of fun...and very helpful, knowledgeable, and supportive! I look forward to working with you again next Spring! Yours truly, Robin Murray Teacher, NY, 2005 Just wanted to say a great big thank you to everyone at Jumpstreet~ we had such a great trip to Quebec City this past weekend! Your tour company is first class all the way~ from the activities, to the hotel, the food, and your tour guide! Mike Johnson was outstanding! He made such a connection with our kids! The whole group loved him! He was so enthusiastic, and so much fun! And he can sing! :) The kids couldn't stop talking about him! Thank you for doing such a great job with the kids! This was our best trip in years! Thank you so much! Betsy Ruotolo, Teacher, NY, 2005 ...from Ohio Our tour guide Caroline was warm, charming, attentive, and passionate about explaining cultural aspects to us. We all just loved her. Thank you for arranging such a wonderful trip for us! Tout a été PARFAIT, better than I could ever have imagined! It was so much fun and we learned so much! And Caro is the best tour guide in the world! We love you Caro! Jumpstreet is the best! I was very happy to be able to go to Quebec, and it was wonderful for the students. They had fun and I think learning first-hand about a different culture will have an impact the extent of which they won't even realize until later. And I couldn't believe I was able to enjoy it too! I never thought I would really be able to enjoy a trip when I had the responsibility of taking students. Rebecca de Coca, Teacher, OH, 2006 Thanks so much to you and to everyone at Jumpstreet for your prompt, friendly, personalized, and professional attention to our group's trip! You guys rock! Kim Johnson, Teacher, OH, 2005 ...from Ontario Bonjour Mark, We have arrived home after an amazing trip with your company. I have been in the hospitality business, hotels and restaurants my whole life before recently becoming a teacher, and I have never had such a wonderful experience. Your staff is exceptional! The planning and training that goes into your product is extremely well thought out and professional. Vicki Aiudi, Teacher, ON, 2006 I had lot of fun on this trip. I love learning the French language and have always wanted to go to Québec. I had a lot of fun dog sledding; I also had a lot of fun tubing. The Carnival was beautiful. I liked the ice castle and sculptures. Claire, Student, ON, 2006 Dan or D2 our tour guide on Bus 1 was fabulous. He kept us entertained the whole time with new experiences like French rap songs, new funny stories and weird jokes. Erynne, Student, ON, 2006 Hi Alex... I just wanted to say what a wonderful trip we had!! Thank you for everything to help make it happen! You guys were outstanding in everything! ...2 thumbs up! Vincent was a great tour guide…all the students loved him. The best was how he made sure he talked and got to know every student on the trip. I know all of the students will have great memories of their trip to Quebec. Thank you!!! You guys run a great company and I am sooooo happy to have worked with you on planning this trip. You made organizing a trip so easy! Jumpstreet Tours is a great company to travel with. Thank you. Kerri Greenwood, Teacher, ON, 2006 Quebec City was basically the best time of my life! We did so many fun things. Our tour guide was THE BEST! Jenna, Student, ON, 2006 Our grade eight trip to Quebec was an amazing experience. I never knew a place could be so beautiful and full of our history. I loved every bit of the trip and I think everyone else did too! I think I liked every part of the trip but one thing that stood out to me was the sugar shack. Leighanne, Student, ON, 2006 Our trip was amazing! We could not have asked for better tour guides and the smiles and laughter throughout the trip were a testament to an excellent experience! Antoni and Dan were exceptional. The students loved them. The staff talked about how they were the best we have had on a school trip. Sharron Mathers, Teacher, ON, 2006 Caroline & Vincent were outstanding. You do a great job of hiring. Jumpstreet guides (Alex, Mike, Caroline, Vincent, etc.) always have a nice balance of fun but maintaining safety. They have a real interest in kids and travel and they communicate that to the students. I'm really looking forward to next year. John Pennyfather, Teacher, ON, 2006 I liked the boat dance aboard the S.S. Louis. It was so fun. Everyone was dancing and while we were cruising down the St. Lawrence we saw the Château Frontenac all lit up. It was so beautiful! Rhianna, Student, ON, 2006 Quebec was such a blast, and I had so much fun throughout the entire trip. I want to go back. Rozalyn, Student, ON, 2006 Thank you for being one of the few tour companies who teaches students not only about the history and cultures of the region, but more importantly about diversity and acceptability of the differences. You rock Jumpstreet! Peter Stratford, Teacher, ON, 2006 Dear Jumpstreet Tours, During this trip I experienced many things that I will never, ever forget!! I will never forget the feeling in my stomach as I peered over the barriers on the bridge over the falls, I will never forget seeing the ACTUAL carnival of Quebec, I will never forget how much fun I had with my friends, and I know that one day I can look back on this trip and still remember it like it was just yesterday. Thank you for allowing me to never forget my last big trip of Grade 8. Student, ON, 2006 Again thanks for all that you guys do to make teachers and students lives so much more rewarding. Take Care Peter Stratford, Teacher, ON, 2005 Frankie C was energetic and enthusiastic. He was great at getting the kids to speak French. You offer an amazing service that is incredibly organized and accommodating! Steve Whiteside, Teacher, ON, 2005 Hi Jas, We had a terrific time on our class trip to Quebec City. Please let Tom and Mark know how thoroughly pleased I was..our guide was exceptional, very informative..you're sooo smart Jas! It was fun. Thanks again!! Diane Wieser, Teacher, ON, 2005