Ten students and two teachers ventured off to the sandy beaches of Puerto Rico for this year's spring break. This is the 4th time Proctor has taken a trip to this island in the past 12 years.

This one, however, is the first trip since Covid-19 and many seniors felt great joy as they have been asking to go since freshman year. 

“I was really happy to be able to go before I graduate,” Kaden Austin said. 

Whilst on the trip, the group did many things from touring Old San Juan, seeing the Yunque Rainforest, going to the beach, snorkeling, and eating delicious local foods. 

“I liked snorkeling a lot, specifically (seeing) the sea turtles because they moved,” said another senior, Mitchell Knowles. 

The El Yunque Rainforest had a visitor center where they got to watch a film on the discovery and preservation of the rainforest. Afterwards they went up to a lookout tower on top of one of the mountains. The view from the very top showcased the great trees below and in the distance you could see the bright blue ocean waters. 

The food they ate on multiple occasions was mofongo (a dish made of mashed plantains), sweet plantains, and their favorite drink, the pina colada (virgin, of course). 

The overall tour of the island, led by tour guide Gustavo, was very insightful for all participants and led to many fun facts being shared. 

Some of the most interesting facts they learned were that the Pina Coladas were first made in Puerto Rico, San Juan is the oldest European settlement in the U.S., and the El Yunque Rainforest is the only tropical rainforest in the United States. 

To be eligible to go on the trip, students had to have taken at least two years of Spanish with the intent on a third year. 

Ms. Garcia shared that she hopes to go on another trip in the future if enough students continue taking Spanish.