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Fantastique French Trip
From Middle School Humanities teacher Sarah Dormady. She wrote about the St. Luke’s trip to France in early June. We are so grateful our students were home before the July 14 tragedy in Nice. Our hearts go out to the families who have suffered.
What a whirlwind trip as SLS stormed Paris! After smooth sailing through security at JFK, nine SLS students and two chaperones boarded a plane bound to Paris, France. Upon arriving, students were greeted warmly by their host families and were whisked away to get settled in their home away from home for the next 10 days. The SLS crew reassembled at our partner school in Paris, Saint Michel de Picpus, refreshed and ready to explore the cobblestone streets of Paris. The first stop was the famous Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe where students climbed to the top for a stunning view of the city of lights. Students got a lay of the land via the hop-on-hop-off tour bus from which they saw the major points of the city.
One of the highlights of the time spent in Paris was visiting the artsy neighborhood of Montmartre where we strolled uphill to the gorgeous Sacré-Coeur for another incredible view from an entirely different perspective. Students then enjoyed a traditional lunch at a Parisian café while exploring the rows of artists working in the Place du Tertre.
The visit to the grand palace of Versailles was outstanding. The Hall of Mirrors was opulent and exquisite. Exploring the expansive grounds of the palace was indeed best done by bike, which was both fun and adventurous. We took a break for a picnic lunch at the far end of one of the beautiful canals.
While in Paris, on our last day in the city, students also had the unique opportunity to visit the Assemblée Nationale which is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. What made this so special was that all guests have to be hosted by a député (congressperson) or government delegate, and for us, this was set up by one of our host parents who works there!
The last stop on our French adventure was a visit the beautiful beaches of Nice. This felt like true vacation. We explored the city by mini train and swam in the crystal blue Mediterranean. We spent the last day in Monaco where we visited the Grimaldi palace where Princess Grace Kelly once roamed the halls, and the world famous Monte Carlo casino.
Students and teachers had a great time being able to visit our friends at Saint Michel de Picpus, live like a Parisian for almost 2 weeks and exploring all that Paris has to offer.
To see some of the great adventures they had, view the extensive St. Luke’s in France June 2016 photo gallery.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 40 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 Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
