From April 30 to May 3, eighth-grade students embarked on a four-day educational trip to Washington, D.C. to explore American politics, history, and culture. Accompanied by eighth-grade coordinator Noreen Jafri and chaperones Dina Congregane, Dorri Ramati, Lee Nicholls, and Henna Tailor, the students enhanced their educational experience by visiting significant landmarks.
On Tuesday afternoon after a delicious pre-ordered, take-out lunch on the Mall from Little Beet, the itinerary kicked off with visits to the popular American Museum of African American History and Culture and the Spy Museum. The group soaked in the vibe of the nation’s capital at the Washington Monument and WWII Memorial, and enjoyed fresh choices at District Taco before arriving at the SpringHill Suites.
On Wednesday, after a fascinating tour of the Capitol Building, the students and chaperones assembled in the Gallery and were delighted to watch the opening ceremony led by the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. Later at the delicious pizza lunch at We The Pizza, students excitedly watched a live stream of the remaining proceedings. With the Supreme Court as the backdrop, eighth graders enacted the process of passing a law. At the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, eighth graders delivered speeches of past presidents and admired dresses worn by the first ladies, Prince’s guitar, and Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz. The itinerary featured a diverse range of activities, including a stroll through the lush displays at the Botanic Gardens. The National Portrait Gallery offered an area for students to read books illustrated by award-winning artists. The evening meal offered international flavors at Ballston Market Food Court before the day wrapped up with a drive-by of the Iwo Jima Memorial and a solemn visit to the Pentagon 9/11 memorial.
“We saw so many memorials and monuments and we spent a lot of time at these places. I loved the trip,” Anish Rangavajjula ’28 said.
Thursday’s highlight was the tour of the White House and seeing the Vice President’s motorcade arrive. The 90-degree temperatures were draining but didn’t stop the group from rubbing Einstein’s statue for good luck, visiting the WWI memorial, Black Lives Matter Plaza, or reading inspiring quotes at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Eighth graders were fascinated by the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights, admired the gorgeous interior at the Library of Congress, which houses Thomas Jefferson’s Library and the Gutenberg Bible, and enjoyed lunch at the L’Enfant Plaza. The group adjusted some of the outdoor itineraries, swapping instead with the National Gallery of Art, the only museum in the USA to display DaVinci’s artwork, and a driving tour of Embassy Row. After dinner at Eat BRGZ the group returned to the hotel to pack for the journey home and celebrated with a game night in the hotel conference room.
“I think D.C was a very fun trip. I really got closer to people I didn’t talk to much before, through chaperone groups and my roommates. I also saw many things in DC I had never knew existed, such as the Library of Congress and museums,” Arshi Goel ’28 said.
On the final day of the trip, students had an early lunch at the USDA food court which is newly opened to visitors and reported that their sushi is not bad. Students reflected at the Holocaust Museum and Lincoln Memorial and stopped for dinner at the Delaware Rest stop. It was a whirlwind of a trip, filled with values to ponder about and memories to cherish.
“The DC trip was probably a highlight of this year and I enjoyed it a lot,” Britton Gehl ’28 said.
“I think we were incredibly fortunate to be able to see things like the White House, a House of Representatives meeting, and even the VP coming to work,” Diya Kothari ’28 said. “The memorials were touching and the museums were interesting and interactive. This trip was definitely the most memorable out of the three Middle School trips. I had the most fun, learned the most, not only academically, but in life, and enjoyed the time with my friends.”