I was happy to join the eighth grade students of Father John V. Doyle School on a fun-filled, as well as educational, class trip to Washington, DC at the end of April!
Our first stop was the Jefferson Memorial followed by the Holocaust Memorial Museum. Students had been prepared through their Social Studies and Literature classes for this moving experience. After dinner, a guided nighttime tour brought us to the Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Women's Memorial. Each evening, students would gather back at the hotel to discuss the day's events and write in their journals in order to gain a deeper appreciation of all we were experiencing.
Our second day started at Arlington National Cemetery where we toured the grounds and visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. From there, we were able to have lunch and explore two of the Smithsonian Museums - the American History Museum and the Air and Space Museum. We had just enough time to also visit the FDR Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial. After dinner, we had fun rubbing elbows with the rich and famous at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum! A few of our students even created wax versions of their own hands!
The weekend proved just as busy as we toured the Newseum and the Capitol Building before photo stops at the Library of Congress and U.S. Supreme Court. Later, friends relaxed by sharing dinner and an evening of bowling!
Celebrating the Eucharist together at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception was the perfect way to begin the last day of our trip. We were all impressed with the beauty and history of the Basilica. Our last stop was the National Zoo, where we encountered pandas, lions, reptiles, and more!
Students in grades preK through 7 prayed for our successful trip and welcomed our tired students when we returned back to school on Monday morning! Mr. Godin, Mrs. O’Keefe, and I are very thankful for all of our parent chaperons and volunteers for giving of their time to offer this wonderful experience to our students!
As always, Thank You for your support of Father John V. Doyle School!
Mrs. Jae T. Smith
