It was a once in a lifetime experience, as Sleepy Hollow Middle Schoolers boarded a bus with their peers and headed to Washington D.C. for their eighth-grade trip. There was tasty food, sightseeing adventures, and a whole lot of fun.
Buses departed from the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns at 6:30 a.m. on May 8 with a total of 146 students, 13 chaperones, a traveling nurse, and three bus drivers. Once they reached their destination, the students stretched their legs and began their day at Arlington National Cemetery, then took a tram tour where they saw the changing of the guard before seeing the memorials and the monuments.
“There were a lot of moving parts, but it was a great trip,” said Deidre Sullivan, eighth grade Science Teacher. “We saw the Vietnam War, Korean War, World War II, Lincoln, Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorials.”
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The students walked seven miles on the first day before heading to their hotel. The next morning, they woke up eager to start their first full day. Museums were on the top of their list as they headed to the Spy Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
“My favorite part was the Air and Space Museum because I love to see all the planes and go on the rides,” said student Noor I.
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“It was fun at the Air and Space Museum. We saw the Enola Gay, which was the plane that dropped the atomic bomb,” added Saralynn M.
They ended their day with a trip to Dave and Busters for some food and a ton of games.
“My favorite part was Dave & Buster’s because it was fun to go and play games at the arcade after walking all day long,” said Scarlett J.
“Some of us like video games and bowling and we had chaperones vs the students, it was a different atmosphere,” added Ms. Sullivan. “I think for the chaperones it was more about getting to know the kids outside the school. We see them as students but outside we get to see their true personalities. Just being able to see them outside school and strengthening those bonds.”
On the final day of the excursion, the group headed to George Washington’s Mt. Vernon, where they received a tour, walked the grounds, and had lunch.
“My favorite part from the DC Trip was when we went to JFK‘s grave. I just thought it was really cool to see where the former president was buried and seeing the capital in real life just because of all of its history,” said Lea G.
The group headed home, exhausted but happy to have had the opportunity to bond with one another and receive an immersive history lesson.
Keira L. said she could envision herself returning to Washington D.C. with her family. “I would want to take my grandparents so they can see everything and visit Arlington and the monuments.”
“The trip was phenomenal, and everyone had a great time,” added Ms. Sullivan. “Just opening their eyes to see what’s out there in the world proves why field trips are so important.”
