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Day 5

This was a beautiful day in DC. We all packed our stuff on time for an 8 am departure from the hotel. Our first stop was Lafayette Square in front of the White House. Straight away, students observed the Secret Service agents in action and all of the other security measures taken to protect this area. We paused first at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which houses the Vice President’s main office and most of the White House staff. Jim pointed out where the Oval Office really is, which is not at all where Hollywood makes it look in the movies! In addition to taking some good group photos, students were able to take their own pictures through the new fences. On the way back to the bus, we were able to peek through to the US Press Corps cabanas where members of the press can be ready to broadcast live at a moment’s notice. 

Next up was the Jefferson Memorial. This memorial was largely constructed during the FDR years and modeled after Jeffereson’s home in Virginia, Monticello. This whole area is being worked on as there have been issues with flooding over the sea walls. They are also building a new educational space for the memorial, which looks like it will be terrific when complete. It was chilly on the tidal basin despite the spectacular sunshine!

From here we hopped back on the bus to get over to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. We navigated the lines fairly quickly and started by touring the permanent collection, which occupies the underground floors of the museum. The museum’s building is an architectural marvel and Jim told us the story of how they had to build an underground moat around the foundation to keep water from leaching through. We could have easily spent the entire rest of the day in this amazing museum. 

With limited time remaining and issues around Friday afternoon traffic, we started making our way toward Baltimore. We stopped again for lunch at a food court, where there was something for everyone and access to a CVS for pre-flight snacks etc. 

As we started on the road to Baltimore, we saw a few more sights, like the Cuban Embassy. Jim, who has been just about everywhere and met just about everyone, had some great stories about this place for the chaperones. We traveled by the Cultural Centers for several nations including Brazil, Guatemala, and Mexico. 

By this point just about everyone was sound asleep on the bus so we took off for BWI in hopes of being ahead of the traffic. We arrived to find a perfect spot for the bus and said our goodbyes to Mikey D. and Jim, who most certainly became a part of our Bentley family this week.  Upon goodbyes, we made our way through the check-in with zero issues (apart from some intense TSA agents) and had plenty of downtime before boarding the plane. 

There is much more reflection about this trip to be had. Please continue these conversations at home! There are many more opportunities for students to make connections with what they have seen and learned this week. While hard to believe in certain moments, opportunities to vote, to join the military, and to participate in other civic responsibilities lay just around the corner for them!

Undoubtedly, this was a fantastic week and a special opportunity for Bentley’s 8th Grade. We are grateful to all of the parents for making this happen in partnership with the Workshops Foundation. 

Day 4

It was a bright and early morning. Students once again looked terrific in their professional dress! The day started with tours of the World War II and MLK Memorials. It was a beautiful morning to walk around the National Mall and adjacent to the Potomac. 

We had 10:15 entrance to the Holocaust Museum, a stop we took importantly. Students had time to move through the chronological exhibit at their own pace. Many students were making deep connections with what they saw. Several also reflected on the book they are reading in English class, Night by Eli Wiesel. We will continue conversations around the Holocaust this spring, both through a guest speaker visiting in May and Advisory curriculum in the weeks to come. 

From here we took a quick trip back to the Capitol Building to take our rescheduled photo. We were all amazed at the efficiency of the photographer's team and we’re looking forward to getting copies of this panoramic shot soon. 

Lunch today was a hit. We stopped at a nice food court called Western Market in the area around George Washington University. There was a little something for everyone. Ramen, pizza, falafel, bagels, sushi, Chipotle! You can’t go wrong here. 

After lunch we made our way to the Embassy of Japan’s cultural center. Here students learned a little bit more about Japan, the islands within the Japanese archipelago, and Japanese culture. We had a great presentation from our host, Gabby.  Students had a chance to make cherry blossom origami and see some beautiful artwork in the spirit of the Cherry Blossom Festival. They even met a therapeutic robot named PARO, who for a time was used throughout Japan. The robot is white seal, and was designed to allow the benefits of animal therapy to be administered to patients in environments such as hospitals and extended care facilities where live animals present treatment or logistical difficulties.

From here we went over to the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum. Another amazing place with a little bit of something for everyone. From prehistoric creatures to mummies to an insect zoo to the Hope Diamond, we had lots to look at. On the way back to the hotel we made a quick stop at the US Marine Corps Memorial, Iwo Jima. Students came to understand the significance of the island and a little bit about the sculpture’s design. 

We ran into the hotel to change clothes and headed back out to see Embassy Row on the way to dinner. It was neat to test our knowledge about different flags and better understand how embassies work. 

The night concluded at Pinstripes in Georgetown, where we had our last family-style meal of the trip. Salad, make your own sliders, mac & cheese, oh my. Students also got to test their bowling skills. It was an amazing last night together. 

It’s hard to believe that it is our last night. We’re looking forward to seeing you all at the airport tomorrow!

Day 3

We had another jam-packed day today. Inclement weather did mix up the original plans, but we made the most of it!

Students were up and ready to go in professional dress at 7:30 am. They looked sharp! Bus driver, Mikey D. was ready and waiting right outside the door after breakfast. The first stop was the U.S. Capitol. It was raining but this time we were ready with new I ♥️ DC umbrellas provided by Workshops.  

We got extremely lucky with our timing and walked right in to begin the orientation video and tour of the Rotunda. Our docent, Hal, was fantastic and complimented the students’ thoughtful questions on multiple occasions. Walking up the steps from the crypt to the Rotunda, it was amazing to see jaws dropping and eyes widening. Our tour was approximately 30 minutes and included Q&A about the function, history, architecture, and art of the Capitol. It was great to hear students able to harken back to their fourth-grade studies about Junipero Serra and other state history while taking in a lot of new information. 

From there, we went over to the Supreme Court Building. Unfortunately, we were not able to secure an appointment with a Justice. Much of DC is on break this week with Congress not in session. That said, there was a lot of wisdom shared! Mr. Scott and Mr. Schug have offered special prizes, bronze disks featuring the likeness of Abraham Lincoln, to any students who can memorize the names of the nine sitting justices by Friday. Stay tuned. 

As more rain set in, we switched gears and headed for the National Gallery of Art for lunch and indoor exploration. Everyone found something tasty is the Cascade Cafe before heading out to explore. If you’ve never been, the National Gallery has a little bit of something for everyone. Students mentioned seeing works by Jackson Pollock, Frida Khalo, Degas, Rembrandt, and DiVinci! It’s always fun to ride the moving walkway to the East Wing, which was designed by the artist Leo Villareal, who also designed the lighting across the Bay Bridge. 

Unfortunately, the professional photographer needed to postpone our photo today due to weather and the possibility of lightning, so we traveled over to the American History Museum to check out some of the nation’s best memorabilia, including the original Star Spangled Banner, Abraham Lincoln’s top hat and Dorothy’s ruby red slippers from the Wizard of Oz! This is another place with a little bit of something for everyone. Some students decided to check out underwater VR while others enjoyed things like a sunken and preserved gunboat from the Revolutionary War and/or many objects from the Industrial Revolution. 

Our last stop of the day was Capital One Arena, where we got to see the Wizards play the Lakers. We were so fortunate to get these tickets and even more fortunate to have a Bentley alum, Dr. Kathy Evans, meet and greet us for an early entrance experience during warmups. Kathy attended Bentley from kindergarten through twelfth grade and fondly recalls learning from Mr. Schug! Kathy continued from Bentley to study Biostatistics and is currently leading Research and Information Systems for the Washington Wizards. From her LinkedIn:

"Monumental Basketball supports the Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics, Capital City Go-Go, and District Gaming under one larger umbrella within Monumental Sports. I run the Research Group.

We own critical systems which provide analytical support across basketball operations and promote rigorous statistical and data driven decision making. ​We facilitate the use of data driven decision making across Monumental Basketball including the Front Office, Coaching, Scouting, Player Development, Player Performance, and Medical.

About 80% of our efforts are focused on the Wizards with much of the rest of our time spent supporting the Mystics as the two seasons are complementary. We are able to give the Mystics a unique edge in the WNBA and test/develop new systems, methods, pipelines, and reports."

We are so grateful for the effort Kathy Evans made and for the extra hoops Kathy Wimbush and the Workshops team went through to get these tickets. Not sure many of us will get another chance to see The Labron James play live. 

Tomorrow is another early day! We’re off to sleep.

Day 2

They say April showers bring May's flowers but to some extent, it seems like the flowers are already here! Rumors that the cherry blossoms peaked last week were sadly true, though that did not stop us from enjoying many sights and good spring vibes today. The day began with a buffet breakfast in the hotel, everyone seemed relatively happy with eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, juice, and various toast! 

Our first stop on the bus was to see the Vietnam War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Korean War Memorial. Students were able to see and feel the energy of so many things they’ve heard, read, and seen on TV. Tour guide, Jim, is clearly an expert and keeping on our toes with new trivia at each turn. While the Lincoln Memorial is undergoing renovations to add a new museum below, it was still a great experience. 

From there we loaded back on the bus to head across the river to Arlington National Cemetary. As we climbed the hillside toward the Arlington House we stopped and spoke about the burial places of many familiar names including Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, President John F. Kennedy,  Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., Robert F. Kennedy, and  Edward M. Kennedy. We were fortunate to climb all up to the top this year. This is where the familial home of General Robert E. Lee during the Civil War sits. This property was seized by the Union Army at the end of the war and turned into a military cemetery. This house has a fascinating history, tied to three important families in the nation's history – Washington, Cutis, and Lee. Originally built for the adoptive son of George Washington, George Washington Park Custis, the home was later passed down to Mary Custis who married Robert E. Lee. 

From this memorial, we hightailed it over to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In addition to witnessing a changing of the guards, were lucky enough to be part of a wreath-laying ceremony on this trip. Ariel, Edie, Solomon, and Uchenna did an amazing job representing Bentley in this very disciplined event. We'll have more photos and videos of this to share!

After the ceremony, we headed back to the bus, which then traveled south along the Potomac River to Mount Vernon. Students were able to enjoy a few free moments in the food court and gift shops. Our appointment into the historical home of George and Martha Washington was perfectly timed with the rain. While we didn’t quite get the full scope of this property or its views due to the rain and fog, we did have fun and have a few soggy pictures to prove it! 

Our final monument of the night was the Kennedy Center, where we were entertained by a murder mystery, who done it, interactive show called Shear Madness. Everyone was tired, but they kept us on our toes and laughing throughout. 

Our final stop of the night was Carmine’s Restaurant. Delicious family styles Italian was enjoyed by all. 

Day 1

We started the day at a very busy Oakland Airport. Students were troopers as we navigated unexpected delays and long lines. Fortunately, we made it to the gate in time for everyone to get a good seat among friends. 

The flight was smooth. There are a few bumps but not bad. The airline staff treated us well with several rounds of drinks and snacks. It was amazing to see the students enjoying their freedom of choice and some even chose to get ahead on classwork! 

Upon arrival in BWI, we were greeted by Jim Carr, our amazing tour guide through Workshops Foundation. We’re looking forward to getting to know Jim better this week, but it is clear he has a lot to share. Feel free to check out his background and bio here. Baggage claim was a breeze and Jim seamlessly navigated us to the bus where we loaded our things to be on the road. It was very easy to follow his orange jacket and yellow hat! We then met Mikey D., our driver. He’s a semi-retired high school teacher and seems to get us so far. We’re looking forward to the playlist these two have lined up for us this week!

We wound our way from Baltimore to the District of Columbia, passing familiar sights along the route. Our first stop was Old Europe, a German restaurant in Georgetown with a fascinating history and distinct feel. While everyone was tired and a little out of sorts, we got to enjoy our first of several family-style dinners. Jim, Mikey D., and Kathy were able to join us here for some tasty food and orientations to the week. 

From there we were off to the hotel. Everyone was grateful for the time to settle in and to find their way around our new home for the week. By 10:15 pm students were settled in and most were getting ready for sleep. It’s a bright an early day tomorrow! We’re looking forward to it

We'll be adding more photos as we gather them! Stay tuned.