8th Grade Class Trip

8th Grade Class Trip
Posted on 04/15/2020

April 15, 2020



Dear HMS 8th Grade Students, Families & Faculty,


I am saddened today to inform you of our decision to cancel the 8th grade year-end trip to Gettysburg and Hershey, PA on June 11-12, 2020.  Although we are still two months from the event, it is necessary to make this call now. The necessary planning and preparation required for a trip of this magnitude which would normally take place during this time is simply not feasible under the current circumstances.  What’s more, even if school should return to normal session at some point in the near future, it is highly unlikely that conditions would be sufficiently safe and appropriate in June for a group of over 600 students and adults to convene away from home for an extensive period of time in close quarters on coach buses, sharing hotel rooms, and attending a buffet-style dinner/dance, etc.   


Working in cooperation with our tour company, All Aboard Tours & Travel, we are able to ensure a full refund of all expenses by giving advance notice to each of the service providers with whom we have contracted including the Sheraton Hotel Harrisburg/Hershey, the tour bus companies, Gettysburg National Military Park, and Hershey Park.  We are grateful for the wonderful service and support they have provided for our students over the years and look forward to returning in the future.


Each family will receive a full refund of the trip expenses for which they paid.  We ask for your patience as it will take us some time to prepare all of the necessary checks.  We will notify you of the date in June once we have all refunds ready to be mailed home.  


Proceeds from the Yankee Candle Fundraiser sponsored by the Home & School Association that were applied to individual student accounts for the trip will be refunded to the HMS-Home & School Association (HSA).  At a future date, the HSA will determine how it wishes to use those funds. If it is possible to sponsor an alternate event for the 8th grade students prior to the close of this school year, these funds may be used to support that.  Alternatively, funds may be forwarded as a gift to the HHS Class of 2024 to benefit their future student events, activities or scholarships on their behalf.  


Finally, I know how important this trip, and this tradition, is to our students.  The Hershey Trip is not only a right of passage and celebration of this culminating moment in their lives, but a special time to connect with their friends and as a class - the future high school Class of 2024.  On behalf of the faculty of HMS, along with our students, we share the sadness in the loss of this time together. But, we know that there are brighter days ahead and many, many wonderful adventures and memories with friends yet to come all throughout high school and beyond.  


Until we are together again, please continue to be safe and well and keep up with your school work.  Though we may be separated physically, we remain HMS - stronger together.


Sincerely yours,


Joseph Trybulski, Ed.D.

Principal