Every year before spring break, Haldane High School sits empty. All four high school grades go on their respective field trips. This year, the freshmen attended “Aladdin” on Broadway, the sophomores went to the Bronx Zoo, the juniors toured Washington DC, and the seniors visited Boston. These trips strengthen each grade’s bond , educate students, and provide a much-needed break from school.
Every year, the freshmen board a coach bus and, after a quick visit to the M&M Store and a catered lunch, sit down to one of the many shows Broadway has to offer. Freshman Edie Coleman, who attended this year’s trip to “Aladdin” on March 25, enjoyed the unique special effects; she specifically drew attention to the magic carpet used in the show.
On March 26, the sophomores also boarded a coach bus to New York City, but theirs headed to the Bronx Zoo. Students spent the entire day exploring the different exhibits. Sophomore Eli Hudson said, “I really enjoyed seeing the rhino exhibit, I’d never seen one in real life.”
The juniors’ trip was to Washington DC, a four-day tour from March 24 to 27, packed with as many sights as possible. The highlight for junior Dessa Bellamy-Tarantino was the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “It was the blueprint of what a museum should be,” she said. “It was extremely interactive. It had all these really poignant primary sources, such as drawings from children in the camps and ghettos.”
The juniors also visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Air and Space Museum, the Capitol Building, several war memorials, and more. Bellamy-Tarantino described the National Portrait Gallery: “It was super interesting to see the portraits that my teachers have been using as references for historical figures throughout the year.”
Last year, the seniors visited Philadelphia, but this year they visited Boston. The three-day trip from March 25 to 27 included a tour of Fenway Park, a Boston Celtics game, a visit to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, entry to the New England Aquarium, shopping at Quincy Market, and a dinner cruise. Senior Seth Lunin-Pack commented on the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and said his favorite piece was Modern Rome, a famous eighteenth-century oil painting showcasing iconic Roman sites.
Senior Aine Duggan said her favorite part of the trip was the aquarium: “I loved going to the touch pool with the sting rays.” Th e New England Aquarium is four stories and contains a 200,000-gallon tank hosting more than 100 species. Duggan also mentioned the bittersweet aspect of the Boston trip. “I think I will miss being with all of my classmates,” she said. “I found myself talking to a lot more people on the trip than I would on a normal school day.”
