Bus B, United #526

An update: Bus B, United Flight #526 has landed and students are en route to Westford!

Fabulous Friday!

We started the day off again at Hambuger Hamlet in Arlington, followed by a trip to the Marine Corps/Iwo Jima Memorial. Students discussed the significance of "Semper Fidelis," as well as a primer on the Battle of Iwo Jima. This was followed up with visits to the a World War II Memorial and Jefferson Memorial. Students were excited to see the secret service agents and vehicles, likely getting the area ready and secure for Memorial Day celebrations. Students spent their morning and afternoon checking into the remaining Smithsonians (we went to Air and Space and American History).

Certainly one of the most moving experiences was participating in the permanent exhibit in the Holocaust Museum and Memorial. Students were incredibly respectful, thoughtful and serious. Despite being tired, students took the experience very seriously. All the chaperones (myself included) were very proud of students for their preparation to view the memorial from school, excellent behavior and respect they demonstrated towards survivors and all visitors. At the Air and Space, some students explored airplanes, others Amelia Earhart, and still others the Wright Brothers and planetary systems. Some folks (myself not included) elected to participate in the flight simulator...what fun!

At the American History Museum, highlights included the exhibit on classic cars and the original flag from Fort McHenry, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star Spangled Banner." It was quite moving! At this point in the trip, buses are splitting up for dinner and to take flights home to Logan and Manchester.

The best way to check on your child's flight is by checking online with Massport (Logan) and Manchester Airports. Please be sure to have the correct flight numbers, as some have changed from original lists. Those flights are as follows: Bus A: US Air #2048, scheduled to depart @9:00, arrive @10:24. Bus B: United #526, scheduled to leave @10:10, arrive @11:50 Bus C: JetBlue #690, scheduled to depart @8:35, arrive @10:07 Bus D: Southwest #215, scheduled to depart @9:15, arrive @10:35 Students will be encouraged to call/text home when they land. Signing off!

Thursday Evening

The Newseum: part of the Twin Towers

Our visit to the Newseum was enjoyed by all!  This museum is based on the study of news (hence Newseum) and the first amendment.  We all began our visit was a trip into the 4D movie theater (ask your child what made it 4D and not just 3D).  The Newseum included many fun, informative, moving and exciting exhibits, including newspapers from the 17th century to present day, a variety of movies on the history of media in America, a "New Media" room - Twitter and Facebook in the media, a piece of the Berlin Wall, a piece of the Twin Towers from Ground Zero in New York City, as well as a working news studio where students could film and record their own news report!  

The new MLK memorial

Next up, students visited the MLK and FDR memorials, both on the Tidal Basis, making for a beautiful walk beneath the cherry blossom trees, a gift from Japan to the United States.  Though we missed the blooming season of the cherry blossom trees, it was nevertheless beautiful!   

Students were next treated to dinner at MaGill's an all-you-can-eat buffet style restaurant.  Students could choose from a variety of foods to their liking, and even end it with soft-serve vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles (like myself).  Within the restaurant was an arcade, so many students had a blast playing arcade games while other students finished up eating dinner and prior to heading back to the hotel.  

Students eagerly awaiting to board the Cherry Blossom!

After a chance to freshen up and change their outfit if needed at the hotel, we all drove to beautiful Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, located directly on the Potomac River.  We boarded the Cherry Blossom Cruise Boat, where students had a fantastic time talking, singing and dancing.  The boat is three levels: the bottom level was dancing, the middle level with tables for talking, and the top level was a deck.  Chaperones spread out to provide supervision, even through the rain up top!  We were lucky enough to escape the day without any showers, so the quick passing ones during the cruise were no problem at all!  For those interested students, a view from the roof deck provided a great view of planes taking off and landing at Reagan National Airport, which is located right on the Potomac River.  

Students are now tuckered out and fast asleep, but I wanted to make sure I caught you all up on our fantastic day!  Until tomorrow, signing off!

- Steve Guditus

Thursday Morning

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Thursday's Washington Area weather forecast called for scattered thunderstorms, and wouldn't you know it, my small old umbrella broke yesterday (I should have brought my nice, new, big YMCA umbrella - I knew it!).  Luck was destined to be on Stony Brook's side today...gorgeous, blue skies, barely a cloud in the sky!

Resting place of JFK

We began with breakfast at Hamburger Hamlet - a simple but tasty breakfast buffet of eggs, sausage, homefries, french toast, cereal and fruit.  After departing breakfast, we drove past the Pentagon from I-395, and headed to Arlington National Cemetery.  Students were incredibly respectful the whole way through Arlington Cemetery, and man did we get some good exercise!  If you have never been to the Cemetery, it is quite hilly, and the only transportation through is a paid tram for tours and government/approved vehicles.  As a result, students are dropped off in the parking lot, and took quite a hike up to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Students witnessed the playing of "Taps" at 9:15am, and then a wreath laying ceremony at 9:30am.  It is here, on the side of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, that the eighth grade teams found their names: Victory, Peace and Valor.  Students continued their tour to the monuments honoring the Challenger Spaceshuttle, and visited the tombs of JFK and RFK, both sitting at the bottom of the hill of the home of General Robert E. Lee.

After our photo-opp at the Capitol Building, students had a variety of lunch choices at National Place.

We're now off to the Cherry Blossom Boat Cruise in downtown Alexandria, Virginia.  More to come soon!

Goodnight, Wednesday

The Natural History Museum's Wooly Mammoth

Wednesday closed out beautifully after a little rain. 

After a wonderful close to our time at a Smithsoanian (some groups visited American History today and will see Natural History later in the trip; other groups saw Natural History today and will see American History later this week), and a meeting at the Wooly Mammoth, students proceeded to Carmine's for a delicious family-style meal.  As we exited the coach buses, the sky began to open up, just as Washington commuters were driving home and running from the Metro stop.  As you can see in the picture, it was a bit wet while we waited for our table, as Washingtonians rushed by! 

Ms. Donegan giving Carmine's the thumbs up!

Dinner was certainly worth the wait.  The menu inclued generous plates of salad, garlic bread, spaghetti and meatballs, followed by chicken parmesan and a double-chocolate chip cookie for dessert.  Students were complemented multiple times by both fellow diners and the restaurant staff for their expectational behavior.  Our students are representing Stony Brook and Westford well!

From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

Following dinner, students visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and Korean War Memorial.  With Memorial Day being this weekend, the two war memorials were filled with many keepsakes and messages from loved ones; it was very moving, and students took the experience very seriously.  As luck would have it, the rain stopped for our outdoor visits to these three memorials...and more to come this week.

Students headed back to the hotel, most falling right asleep after catching the season finale of American Idol and/or the Celtics game.  Students are fast asleep at this point, with security guards patrolling the hallways to keep students safe. 

Signing off, until tomorrow!  Goodnight!

Wednesday Afternoon

Stony Brook School at 4:00am!

Live, from the Smithsonian Museums on the Mall in downtown Washington, DC: an update for the Stony Brook Washington Trip!  My apologies for the lack of frequent updates: it is quite difficult to find free wi-fi in this city!

If you were around for the bus departures this morning, you know that our coaches were late arriving to shuttle us to Logan and Manchester Airports, but all four buses made it in time to board all flights.  This made for a bit of an anti-climactic morning, as we were waiting around for about 45 minutes before buses finally arrived.  Boy, it sure is dark at 4:00am! 

Adorable family of gorillas

After landing in a staggered manner for both time and Washington area airports (Dulles, Reagan and BWI), we all successfully rendez-voused at the National Zoo, where students had a fabulous time, seeing many animals, ranging from zebras to cheetas, cobras to pandas (many students were so excited about the pandas that they texted pictures of the pandas home!).  In fact, one highlight was the Reptile House, where several of us witnessed an anaconda consuming a live rabbit!  The Zoo was capped off with a fantastic bagged lunch from PotBelly's (a local sandwich joint) that included fruit, water and a snack.  Students certainly seemed satisfied. 

The pandas send their love home to Massachusetts!

After the Zoo, students were treated to a tour of embassy row, which included pauses from the bus of many embassies, including Uzbekistan, Ireland, Greece and Finland.  Students viewed the National Cathedral as well as the Islamic Center from the exterior and took some pictures of those landmarks as well.  Students were able to walk or drive by Ford's Theater, as well as stop in Lafayette Park to see the White House from the North Side, on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The White House, North Side

Finally students spent time in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, where they were wowed with oldies-but-goodies exhibits such as gems and minerals and the Hope Diamond, as well as new exhibits such as X-Ray Vision, Ancient Egypt, and Early Humans. 

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

Soon, we will be departing for dinner and some memorials.  An update will be posted as soon as I can find time and wi-fi!  All is well, and students are having a fabulous time!

Landed Safely!

All four buses, A, B, C and D have all landed safely and we are en route to the National Zoo. More to come soon!

2012: Gearing Up!

We are so very excited for our Eighth Grade Class Trip to Washington, DC! All students participating should plan to arrive at Stony Brook School at 3:00am sharp on Wednesday morning, May 23, 2012.  We must depart promptly at 3:30am in order to catch our flights out of Logan and Manchester Airports.

Please be sure to have your child well-rested, hydrated and packed the night before.  To check the most up-to-date flight departure info, please visit Logan Airport's Website and Manchester Airport's Website.

• US Airways #2021 from Logan to Reagan (6:00am scheduled departure)
• United Airlines #282 from Logan to Dulles (5:50am scheduled departure)
• JetBlue Airlines #1249 from Logan to Dulles (6:50am scheduled departure)
• SouthWest Airlines #1193 from Manchester to BWI (6:05am scheduled departure)

We are going to have a great time and learn lots!