"What really knocks me out is a book, when you're all done reading it, you
wished the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could
call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it."
The Catcher in the Rye
Holden Caulfield in Chapter 3
December 10, 2009
Dear Parents and Guardians:
The novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger takes place in NYC during
the Christmas season. In the past, in order to make the book come alive for
the students we have participated in a field trip to NYC called “Take a Walk
in Holden’s Shoes.”
The itinerary includes
• The American Museum of Natural History
• Central Park Duck Pond
• Central Park Carousel
• 5th Avenue
• Rockefeller Center
• Radio City Music Hall
These settings are connected to major events in the life of the main
character, Holden Caulfield.
School buses are not available this year into NYC. Therefore, in order to
still experience the trip and to keep costs to the minimum
• Through Metro North Group Sales I can purchase a ticket for each student for
$5.00 one way into the city.
• We would meet at the New Hamburg station at about 7:30 am.
o You would have to provide transportation to the train station.
• Once in the city, if the weather is acceptable we would walk to the American
Museum of Natural History
o The cost for the museum is $12.00
o If the weather is rainy we would take either a bus or subway to the museum;
students would need $2.00 for the transportation
o We would spend about two hours in the museum visiting many of the same
exhibits as Holden
• Walk to the Central Park Duck Pond, discuss the connection to the novel and
eat our bagged lunch
• Walk to the Carousel, a pivotal scene in the novel, and ride the carousel
• Walk to and up 5th Avenue to Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall
• Walk (or take subway, cost $2.00,) to Grand Central Station, the cost would
be more as it would be during peak hours and Metro North does not offer a
discount. The cost is $17.25
• Parent pick-up upon arrival back at New Hamburg
Final Cost (rounded up): $40.00
The other option that was investigated was hiring a private bus. If all
thirteen students attended the trip it would cost about $60.00 for the bus
plus $12.00 for the museum. Final Cost (rounded up): $75.00 Please note
the price would increase with every student who did not attend.
The trip is walk intensive and would take place on Tuesday, December 22nd.
At this time I would like to know if you would give permission for your child
to attend the trip by train with Mrs. McCarthy and me.
Thank you,
Mrs. Diane DiChiara
Please detach and return by Monday, December 14th.
Student Name:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____Yes, my son/daughter will attend the train trip into NYC
_____ No, my son/daughter will not attend the train trip into NYC
The money would need to be collected in advance by Friday, December 18th.
My specific feedback is
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Parent Signature:
___________________________________________________________________________