From April 30 to May 2, eighth-grade students embarked on a three-day educational trip to Washington, D.C. to explore American politics, history and culture. They were accompanied by eighth-grade coordinator Noreen Jafri and experienced chaperones Dina Congregane, Jeff Martin, Lee Nicholls and Dorri Ramati. The trip gave students a chance to reflect on their essential question: “When should an individual or group take a stand?”
The journey began bright and early on Wednesday with breakfast prepared by Chef Anibal and the Sage team. Upon arrival in D.C., the students and chaperones enjoyed lunch at L’Enfant Plaza Food Court, then headed to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where students explored thought-provoking exhibits. At the National Archives, students viewed the original copies of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. They took in the view of our capital at the Washington Monument and the WWII Memorial, and had fun with hands-on exhibits at the Spy Museum. After enjoying dinner at District Taco, the group settled in at the Comfort Suites.
Thursday, Day 2, began in the heart of the American government. Students passed through underground tunnels from our Representative’s office to the Capitol Building, followed by a tour of the beautiful Library of Congress, where they saw Thomas Jefferson’s Library and the Gutenberg Bible. Students chose delicious gourmet pizza slices at ‘We The Pizza.’ At the American Museum, eighth graders delivered speeches of past presidents, and admired historical treasures like the first ladies' gowns and the original Star-Spangled Banner. The group spent a reflective afternoon at the Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. and Franklin D. Roosevelt memorials. They ended the day with souvenir shopping and dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, where students spotted memorabilia including Katy Perry’s dress and Bill Clinton’s saxophone.
On the final day, the group checked out of the hotel early to prepare for the much-anticipated White House tour. The warm weather didn’t stop the students from making the most of their final stops, which included rubbing Einstein’s statue for good luck on their next math test, and visiting the WWI, Lincoln, Korean and Vietnam War memorials. The group wrapped up their journey with lunch at Union Station and dinner at the Delaware Rest Stop.
The trip left many participants wishing for more time in the capital. The three days were filled with lessons about civics, friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.
“It was nice exploring our capital, trying foods and hanging out with friends,” Josh Culver ’29 said.
“I learned more about my country's history in depth and used the information learned in history to understand the visuals. I understood all the monuments and sites way more than before, as I have gone 11 times before this,” Arika Shah ’29 said.
“For me, it was sort of a fangirl moment, and I see so much value in visiting the capital and gaining appreciation for those working in the government,” Anika Kumar ’29 said. “I know this is debatable, but I really enjoyed the busy schedule and the walking. It was an experience, and all in all, the itinerary and food on the trip were amazing.”
“I absolutely loved going to Washington, D.C.,” Sofia Vidal ’29 said. “The locations we visited, my buddy, and my roommates made the trip truly memorable.”
“Going on the trip to D.C. allowed me to experience and learn new things about our nation and myself,” Geeta Kumar ’29 said.