What's Happening in the Middle School?
The Annual Eighth Grade Trip To Washington, D.C.
From MS Science Chair Susan Bralower
In mid-November, SLS eighth graders boarded buses to head south for their three-day trip to Washington, D.C.—led by history teacher Chris Phelps. The primary purpose of this annual trip is to take learning out of the classroom and gain a deeper understanding of 20th century events including World War II, the Great Depression and the three branches of government.
In October, students studied the functions of the Federal Government. They also met in small groups to research monuments we would visit including the MLK Memorial, the Vietnam and Korean Memorials, the Holocaust Memorial, and new this year, the Disabled Veterans Memorial. In addition to visiting these sites, we went to Arlington Cemetery, the Newseum, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials and the Air and Space Museum. Eighth grader Phoebe Kurth reflected, “I liked going to the different monuments and learning how American history came together. I liked how the theme of unity was common to many of the monuments.”
The secondary purpose was the class bonding experience during our time away. As a collective experience, students walked away both intellectually stimulated and socially connected. A unique aspect of this year’s trip was the opportunity to speak with Alice Hill who works in the White House’s West Wing. (Hill is also the aunt of eighth grader Sadie Vehslage.) Gathered outside of the White House lawn, Hill shared her firsthand experiences which helped the students’ understanding of the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of government.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
