Washington DC 2017
Jonas Clarke Middle School
Day 1 - Wednesday April 26, 2017
Well we made it to the nation’s capital! The day was certainly not without its challenges but what fun would that be? After a very early, but smooth start, all the students made it to the airport and onto their flights! Some were closer than others – traffic, construction and long security lines made it challenging for sure! Once in DC, we were a little disappointed to see scattered showers and clouds, nevertheless, the kids were excited to get out of the airport and to our first destination - Arlington National Cemetery.
The busses met their tour guides and the groups made their way up through the cemetery learning all about the customs, rituals and rich history that make this cemetery such an incredibly special place. Even in the rain this national landmark was gorgeous. We learned about the different markings on the tombstones and we saw where President Kennedy and his brother RFK were buried before making our way over to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to witness the changing of the guard. We also learned that just recently the fourth female Tomb Guard Sentinel was appointed, although we did not see her at the post. Many students also witnessed the Caisson Platoon, a team of horses and several servicemen that carry the remains of a U.S. serviceman to his or her final resting place. Nothing can prepare you for the emotion that this ceremony and the other sites at Arlington National Cemetery provides. The kids were extremely respectful and well behaved throughout the entire visit.
We then boarded the buses and took advantage of a little bit of extra time before lunch to visit the United States Marine Corps Memorial, a bronze monument representing the Marines raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi on the morning of February 23, 1945. After that we were off to lunch at the Reagan building. We were starving! After lunch we went to the Holocaust Museum, where there is simply so much there to see, it is difficult to take it all in. Five floors of walking, listening, observing, and reflecting on the rise of Nazi Germany, the creation of the concentration camps, the ending with the liberation of these camps. Some very strong emotions!
Since the Holocaust Museum is such a serious and somber experience for the students, we took advantage of our incredible location, adjacent to the National Mall, and the warm, sunny weather that greeted us when we exited the building. In no time, we were walking around the Washington Memorial, the WWII Memorial, the MLK memorial, and the other memorials that surround the beautiful tidal basin.
After a delicious dinner at Bertucci’s and some more night-time memorial touring, we are safely back in our hotel and looking forward to a good night’s sleep! Tomorrow we see the White House, the United States Capitol, and get our group picture taken there. It’s going to be another full day. The students are excited to be here and although tired, they are having a great time and soaking it all in. It’s been a great day!
Day 2 - Thursday April 27, 2017
Well the weather today could not be any better! Sunny skies, a great night sleep, and an incredible breakfast was exactly what we needed to start the day and set up for our Jonas Clarke Middle School 2017 Picture in front of the United States Capitol. After the group picture, the various student groups staggered their activities until it was time to tour the inside of the U.S. Capitol. During that time, some groups ventured off to the beautiful United States Botanic Garden, an incredible living plant museum that clearly demonstrates to all visitors the importance of plants to the well-being of humans. Other groups visited some of the memorials, the White House, and even the Library of Congress. One group who decided to tour the exterior of the Capitol and examine some of the architecture as well as observe the environmental protests occurring happen to see Senator Edward Markey speaking at the event. They waited patiently and then identified themselves as his constituents - he was more than happy to speak with the group and take photos.
As you can see by the pictures these groups had a pretty amazing morning, and it did not stop there. Each group toured the U.S. Capitol, an event JCMS students have not been able to acquire tickets for in the past few years. In doing so, the students saw the new visitor center and “Emancipation Hall, named to recognize the contributions of enslaved laborers who helped to build the U.S. Capitol. Students also viewed a plaster model of the Statue of Freedom, the statue that sits atop the rotunda. The best part of the tour however was the crypt, the area which lies below the famous Capitol rotunda, as well as the rotunda itself. During the tour we learned about the Neo Classical architecture with the doric, ionic, and corinthian columns, the domes, the arches, and the incredible artwork that chronicles the important historical events that mark the beginning of our nation’s democracy. After this tour, students were ready for a great lunch at National Place food-court.
After restoring our energy, we headed out to explore the Newseum, an extremely kid-friendly and engaging museum that utilizes many interactive features to promote free expression and the five freedoms identified in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. During our visit we saw the top of one of the World Trade Center towers and read all about 9/11. There is also part of the actual Berlin Wall and an excellent 4D movie all about journalism and the importance of freedom of speech. Of particular interest to our students were two exhibits. One on the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and how the global team of journalists and photographers captured the wonder of the various Olympic sports and experience. The second exhibit was dedicated to the Boston Marathon Bombing and the role the press played in assisting the apprehension of the suspects. On the lighter side, some students tried their hand as a news reporter on video! We have some great talent here and most definently some future broadcasters.
As usual the dance and boat cruise was a great success. The weather was perfect and students enjoyed the upper levels of the deck with beautiful views of the illuminated Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the Capitol from the Potomac River. All had a great time.
Day 3 - Friday April 28, 2017
Well, we all made it back safely, some on time and some a bit delayed – but all have now arrived home. We hope everyone had a great time in D.C. with their classmates. Our last day was fast and furious but we still managed to see and do a great deal! Most of the groups began the day visiting the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial, otherwise known as “the big three”. They are all very close by to each other around the reflecting pool. It was a beautiful day to walk from one to the other.
At the Korean War memorial we saw a group of veterans who had arrived to visit the memorial via the Honor Flight Program. This program is a non-profit group that works hard to make sure veterans of the different wars have the opportunity to see the memorial from the war they fought in and experience their nation’s capital.
At the Vietnam Memorial we walked along the wall and learned that it is actually a calendar and the tour guides talked to the kids about how to find a loved one’s name and what the symbols next to their names meant (missing in action etc). We saw flowers and notes and saw how this is still a place where family comes to honor those who sacrificed their lives in this war.
After visiting the Big Three, all the groups made their way over to the Smithsonian Museums and decided to venture to a variety of the institutions. Some went to the American History Museum, some went to the American Indian Museum, however most went to the Air & Space Museum and enjoyed the lunch at McDonalds as well. After a bit of substance in the tummy and some exploration, all the buses made their way to their respective airports for their flights. The students were absolutely wonderful to travel with. They listened, helped each other and were more than respectful throughout the process. Jet Blue flight attendants event commented, "This is the most orderly boarding of a school group we have EVER had - your students are amazing!" I cannot tell you how much fun we had on this trip with these students. We laughed and laughed with them for three days. They were very well behaved and really lived up to our expectations (and more). This is why we sacrifice our sleep for three days! I hope they had as much fun as we did. It is always fun to get to know our students outside of school. Thank you for letting them come with us!