Project Location/Destination: Out of town - Washington DC
Faculty Leaders: Elissabeth Legendre & Katie Jones Espinales
Dates: Monday, March 13 - Friday, March 17
Cost: $2635
Special Considerations:
See below.
Objective
By exploring museums and memorials, and possibly interacting with Washington, D.C.-based Latin alums, students will see, investigate, and discuss historical memory– how do we know what really happened in the past? How do we communicate this knowledge to future generations?
Description
Preparation for our Project Week will begin as soon as you are selected. You will be responsible for researching one of the sites we will visit to create a presentation explaining how American history is represented in various museums and memorials in and around D.C. As we travel to each location, you’ll make your presentation, situating the site in its important historical context. Depending on factors such as time and weather, you may have the opportunity to write or sketch your reactions while actually on site. We may have the opportunity to meet with D.C.-based alums to hear about their lives and work in the city. At the end of each day, you will journal about and discuss how different historical events were memorialized, evaluating whether the site was effective in evoking the emotional reaction of visitors that the architects wanted, and comparing each day’s locations to what you have already learned and those you have already visited. You will have the opportunity to create a proposal for a memorial of an historical event or figure.
Student Requirements and Expectations
In order to gain the full benefit of the Project Week experience and contribute to the learning of your classmates, we expect students to walk one to five miles each day through war memorials, museums, and around the city, to read about and research the places we will visit, to journal each day about the sites and fully participate in discussions, and to make a presentation at a site of their choice.
You will be expected to:
Be flexible, resilient, independent traveler
Ask incisive questions of the experts we may meet
Share what you learn with confidence
Listen with respect and curiosity
Value the opportunity you have been given by following all school policies
About the Faculty
Ms. Legendre has traveled with students many times, including taking students to Washington, D.C. ten times in the last 20 years. She was very sad when COVID canceled the trip for many current sophomores and juniors, and thought this trip might be a great opportunity for those students to experience DC through older and wiser eyes. Every time she goes to DC, she learns something new! She enjoys both learning about and teaching history in situ, and she thinks that actually visiting places she has read about helps history come alive.
Special Considerations
Accommodation considerations - Students will be expected to sleep in shared accommodations.
COVID related information - Some venues may require proof of COVID vaccination or negative test. Students are encouraged to travel with this information and provide it, if required. Please contact the project leaders or School Nurse with any questions or concerns.
Food limitations and allergies - Students with food allergies and food sensitivities should understand that there may be times that food options will be limited. In addition, there may be cross contamination risk of allergens, as there will be times where outside food vendors will prepare our meals. Please contact the project leaders or Nurse Jill Yacu with any questions or concerns.
Scheduling (Out-of-Town) - This project will have time commitment outside of the M-F (8-4) typical school week. Please note that there is an expectation that students are able to attend the whole time the project is running.
Supervision during the day - Students might be unsupervised for short periods of time during the course of the day.
Supervision while sleeping - Students might be unsupervised for extended periods of time during sleeping hours (hotel, hostels, etc.).