For many years Boothbay High School has believed that students should be exposed to a variety of cultures. What better a way to do that than to travel? In the past there have been trips to Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Great Britain, and Costa Rica. In 2005, there was a trip to New York to view the remnants of 9/11 and to pay respects to those who had perished.
And what, you might ask, does this do for our students? The students are exposed to a new language and to a different culture. It is an eye-opening experience that should be a requirement for all students. Although it is costly, students can generally travel overseas at a very reduced rate when participating in a school sponsored trip.
In Feburary,2005 students took a trip to Spain with the Spanish teacher Mrs.Bart. It was an experience of a lifetime for the 20 students.
If you would like to find out more about Spain then go to this website... Spain
Our trip to New York this year, 2002 of February vacation, was a cultural experience for 15 students who were immersed in the arts, theatre and historical attractions of New York. These students went with Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Lewis, our music and art teachers. The students attended many events and sites some of which are the Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast, Rockafeller Center, Time Square, Ellis Island, ABC Studios, Ground Zero, the Empire State Building and Central Park. They got to see the John Lennon Memorial and found out where Yoko Ono lives, following this eventful day, they ate at Planet Hollywood. The trip was six days of fun that will be remembered by the students and teachers for a long time to come.
If you would like to find out more about New York then go to this website...
In our Boothbay Region High School there is a program called the German/American Partnership Program (GAPP). A student is required to be in at least level 3 of the German classes. The student fills out a paper and then the German teacher, Mrs. Baade, decides who will be matched up with the German participants. This process begins in the spring of the year before the trip is scheduled. In the fall of that year the German students come to live at the homes of their American partners for 17 days. They also go to New York and Boston.
Then in April the American students go to Germany for three weeks. They first arrive in Berlin and stay for a week. They visit the Holocaust Museum and others. They also go to the disco and the movies. Next they travel to Bad Harzburg and live with their partners for the remaining time.
Through this program students not only learn about another culture, but also another way of life. In the past many life long relationships have been founded on this trip. This year has been a bit of a struggle because of the 9/11 event but some of the students still went at a later date to Germany still able to enjoy their trip. Students were still able to also adopt a new family for the three weeks that they were in Germany this year.
If you would like to find out more about Germany then go to this website... Germany
In April of 2000, 24 students from our school took a ten day trip for the first time to Ireland. The chaperones were Mr. Carlson, Ms. Blake, Mr. Prouty and Mrs. Stevens. Ireland is a beautiful island tucked away in the north-west region of Europe and the students who participated in this trip discoverd its amazing beauty through all of its historic sites such as the Cliffs of Moher, the Giants Causeway, the Klymore Abbey, the Bunrathy Castle, the St. Patricks Cathedral and the Blarney Stone. This fun spring getaway turned out to be an adventurous cultural experience. The students did many interesting things such as kissing the Blarney Stone which is supposedly a good luck charm for all those who kiss it. All of the students thoroughly enjoyed the trip and hope to one day return on their own.
If you would like to find out more about Ireland then go to this website... Ireland
For many years there was another tradition at Boothbay Region High School . Every year, French students would travel to Quebec City, Canada in the spring. Since 1989,however, French students have had the opportunity to travel to Paris with Mr. Landry. The trips in April 1989, April 1991, June 1993 and June 1996 lasted for nine days.
Students were taken to all the sites of the city, including Versailles, Claude Monet's house in Giverny (which is now a museum), the Eiffel Tower, l'Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, etc. Students were also allowed free time to experience first hand the food, language, people, and unique culture of France.
The final trip to Paris was thought to be in June of 1996 as Mr. Landry resigned as the French teacher, taking position at BRHS as the Technology Coordinator. Due to a little coaxing by former students, Mr. Landry took another trip to Europe in June of 1999. This trip was a bit different as the students spent three full days in London, took the "Chunnel", and then spent five full days in Paris.
In April of 2001, the current French teacher, Mrs. McNulty and art teacher, Mrs. Lewis, took their first trip to France through the high school. It was a nine day trip which included visits to the Loire Valley, Giverney, famous Chateaux's, and other popular sites.
In June of 2002, Mr. Landry took another group to Paris, followed by an April 2003 trip led by Mrs. McNulty. In June 2004, Mr. Landry took a small group of students and adults on a different trip. The group spent the first night in Paris, then went on to spend the next 3 nights in St. Malo and in the Loire Valley. On this excursion, the group was able to visit the Normandy Beaches and the WWII museum & cemetery. The group also visited the famous Mont St. Michel, Leonardo daVincis' home, a winery, etc. The last 3 nights were spent in Paris.
In April of 2004, Mrs. McNulty took another group of BRHS students to France over spring break.
If you would like to find out more about France then go to this website... France
In 1997, two of the BRHS teachers, Mr.Saunders and Mr. Williamson (who have moved to other schools), felt that the school should offer a trip to Europe that did not have to meet language requirements. They devised a trip to London. The trip was ten days filled with tons of group activities. The trip consisted of two plays, a trip to the British Museum, a walking tour of the city, and various other activities. There was also an optional trip to Stone Henge and Bath. Hopefully there will be more trips to Great Britain in the future.
If you would like to find out more about Great Britain then go to this website... Great Britain
During February break 2001, 21 Boothbay students travelled to Italy for a 10-day cultural experience replete with historic sights, delicious gelatto(italian ice cream) exposure to the Italian language and Italy's wealth of beautiful art and architecture. The travelers began their trip with a long, 8-hour flight to Milan, where they boarded a bus to Verona. After visiting the supposed balcony of Juliet, the group ventured to Venice, where their visit coincided perfectly with the festive and flamboyant Venetian "Carnival" celebraton. Surrounded by pigeons, revelers and 1000's of tourists, the students enjoyed a glass-blowing demonstration, historical tour, gondola and hours of exploration. After Venice, the tour continued to Florence, where the activities included a visit to Michelangelo's original David, and a day of museum hopping-students viewed works in the renown Academy, Bargello and Uffizzi collection. Some students took advantage of the optional climb up the grandiose 'Duomo', braving hundreds of winding stairs to get a spectacular view of the city from the building's top.
Following the Florentine experience, the Boothbay entourage got a taste of the peaceful tranquility and old-world atmosphere of Assisi and the beautiful St. Francis' Basilica as well as a comprehensive tour of the historic ruins of Pompeii.
The trip continued in Capri, where students explored the villages of Capri and Anacapri after taking a chair-lift to the top of Capri's highest mountain and getting a fabulous view of the surrounding turquoise water, dramatic cliffs, and tiered gardens.
The Italian experience was concluded in Rome, where travelers entered the Colosseum, toured the historic Roman Forum, glimpsed the ceiling of the Pantheon, the Spanish steps, and the famously impressive Sistine Chapel ceiling. Students also got a chance to toss coins into the Trevi fountain, which, as legend has it, ensures your return to Italy in the future. With those hopes, the students returned to the USA via flight to Milan and then to Boston.
If you would like to find out more about Italy then go to this website... Italy
Next year the Boothbay Region High School students will be traveling to Costa Rica, in Central America for the first time with teacher Senora Clark. From the looks and sounds of it, it will be a fun and exciting trip for the Spanish students for the year of 2006. Only Spanish students will be able to attend this trip. Other exciting news is a trip to Italy with Mrs. Lewis. This trip will be available to any student. The students will be departing during February vacation,2006. It will be a trip that any student would be looking foward to. The things that students are always aware of is the exposure to culture, surroundings, language and even the people, is what makes any trip so enjoyable. So, pack your things and be ready to experience something you've neve experienced!