This morning was kicked off with a hearty buffet breakfast at Magill's, ranging from fresh fruit and french toast to eggs and sausage gravy and biscuits (a few brave souls even tried to grits!). In all-you-can-eat buffet situations, eighth graders typically get their fill and then some...and are still hungry in an hour!
Our first stop of the day was The Newseum, a museum of media, current events and the First Amendment. Students were treated to a 4-D (yes, 4-D) movie upon entry to The Newseum, which is located next to the Canadian Embassy. After the movie, students take one of three glass elevators up six floors, past a piece of the Berlin Wall and Ground Zero, to a gorgeous view of the Washington Mall and the U.S Capitol Building. There is so much to see in this museum that it was unlikely your student saw everything - but some highlights might include the Hurricane Katrina Newspaper Display (from around the world), authentic U.S. newspapers from the seventh century through present-day, reporting during September 11th, an interactive news reporting center (student may have purchased their video to download at home), as well as a room of Pulitzer-Prize-winning photographs.
Lunch was next at the Reagan Center, essentially a huge food court (with security!), and many, many options.
Students next proceeded to the U.S. Holocaust Museum - both informative and moving. Students were incredibly engaged in the four-story museum, reading and interacting with various exhibits, ranging from the collection of Holocaust victims' shoes to survivors' interviews.
Next up: our group's picture in front of the U.S. Capitol building, followed by a short hike up Capitol Hill, and to the new Capitol Building Visitor Center - which opened in 2008. If you have not visited the Capitol for a tour recently, it is well worth the visit! We had a great tour - including individual headphone sets for all students - and a stops in the old Senate Chambers with the Secret Echo Whisper used by John Quincy Adams. We also walked past Speaker of the House John Boehnert's Office and viewed the beautiful paintings all around the Capitol Rotunda.
Finally, a quick stop past the White House and a return to the hotel for some time to freshen up, in preparation for the Cherry Blossom Boat Cruise with students from Dover-Sherborn Middle School. A great (and appropriate) time was had by all! Dinner was caesar salad and pizza from a local pizzeria in Alexandria, VA (which is where we caught the boat). The cruise was beautiful - an hour up the Potomac River towards DC, and an hour back downstream towards the Chesapeake.
We are looking forward to a great last day tomorrow!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Wonderful Wednesday!
If you were to ask your student, "How was the trip today?" Their response? "Hot." After a while, I learned my lesson, and realized I needed to ask, "Besides it being hot, how was the day today?" which was typically answered with "Great!", "Interesting!" and "Fun!" Not too bad for a 2:00am wakeup call!
All flights and buses rendez-voused at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, which offered students a wide variety of experiences: from the flight simulator to walking through various space crafts, reliving the Wright Brothers' first flight and exploring the science of light wavelength spectrums, fun and learning was had by all.
After leaving the Air and Space Museum, each bus' tour guide boarded the bus, and provided the students with a great background of Arlington National Cemetery. Here we hiked up the hills to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: we witnessed two wreath laying ceremonies before our own, and Mikaila, Nicole, Bridget and Caroline did a wonderful job laying the Stony Brook School wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider; it was incredibly moving to watch. We capped off our tour of Arlington Cemetery with a viewing of the SS Maine, the Challenger Shuttle Memorial, and finally the graves of John, Bobby and Teddy Kennedy. The view from President Kennedy's eternal flame grave is just spectacular: at the foot of the Robert E. Lee home, and looking out across the Potomac River towards the Washington skyline.
Finally, each bus when on a whirlwind tour of Washington memorials and monuments, complete with information from our tour guide to provide students with context. Students visited the Marine Corps/Iwo Jima Memorial, FDR Memorial, World War II Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Korean War Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial. Unfortunately, the reflecting pool was not there for students to view - it has been drained and is being reconstructed.
Dinner at Carmine's was delicious! It consisted of family-style servings of antipasto salad, garlic bread, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken parm. Fantastic!
We arrived at the hotel in a staggered fashion, with a 10:00-10:15 lights-out call for students...a long day tomorrow, for sure! So far, this has been a great trip! Students are learning lots, and having a lot of fun doing so.
All flights and buses rendez-voused at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, which offered students a wide variety of experiences: from the flight simulator to walking through various space crafts, reliving the Wright Brothers' first flight and exploring the science of light wavelength spectrums, fun and learning was had by all.
After leaving the Air and Space Museum, each bus' tour guide boarded the bus, and provided the students with a great background of Arlington National Cemetery. Here we hiked up the hills to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: we witnessed two wreath laying ceremonies before our own, and Mikaila, Nicole, Bridget and Caroline did a wonderful job laying the Stony Brook School wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider; it was incredibly moving to watch. We capped off our tour of Arlington Cemetery with a viewing of the SS Maine, the Challenger Shuttle Memorial, and finally the graves of John, Bobby and Teddy Kennedy. The view from President Kennedy's eternal flame grave is just spectacular: at the foot of the Robert E. Lee home, and looking out across the Potomac River towards the Washington skyline.
Finally, each bus when on a whirlwind tour of Washington memorials and monuments, complete with information from our tour guide to provide students with context. Students visited the Marine Corps/Iwo Jima Memorial, FDR Memorial, World War II Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Korean War Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial. Unfortunately, the reflecting pool was not there for students to view - it has been drained and is being reconstructed.
Dinner at Carmine's was delicious! It consisted of family-style servings of antipasto salad, garlic bread, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken parm. Fantastic!
We arrived at the hotel in a staggered fashion, with a 10:00-10:15 lights-out call for students...a long day tomorrow, for sure! So far, this has been a great trip! Students are learning lots, and having a lot of fun doing so.
Smooth Flights Southbound
Our 3:30am Stony Brook departure time was successful, and flights from Manchester and Logan were smooth sailing! Students eagerly lined up, alphabetically, received boarding passes, and many were excited to have a quick breakfast before boarding the plane. The plane ride was restful, and when we arrive in BWI and Reagan Airport, we will encourage students to stay hydrated and get ready for an action-packed morning!
A passenger summed up our flight by saying, "Well that certainly adds a new dimension to morning flying! A quiet, consistent chatter." Multiple times, we were complimented by fellow Logan travelers about how polite our Stony Brook students are. A great start to a great trip!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Washington Preparation
We are all very excited for our upcoming trip to Washington, DC! We will see you all at 3:00am sharp on Wednesday, June 8.
Please help your child pack their bag to make sure they are packing appropriate clothing and items and using their space efficiently. Please ensure that students have good walking shoes, and remember: TSA regulations prohibit any liquid items greater than 3 ounces (and those under 3 ounces must be in a clear ziploc bag).
This blog will be updated at the end of each evening, and sooner if Mr. Guditus can find free internet access to update the blog!
Image Credit: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4927530656_edab1538a8.jpg
Please help your child pack their bag to make sure they are packing appropriate clothing and items and using their space efficiently. Please ensure that students have good walking shoes, and remember: TSA regulations prohibit any liquid items greater than 3 ounces (and those under 3 ounces must be in a clear ziploc bag).
This blog will be updated at the end of each evening, and sooner if Mr. Guditus can find free internet access to update the blog!
Image Credit: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4927530656_edab1538a8.jpg
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