The Eighth Grade Goes to Washington

The Eighth Grade students visited our nation’s capital on March 8. It was an early wake-up call as the students departed at 6:30 AM. Upon arrival, their first stop was the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America. Dedicated in 1898, the Franciscan Monastery is one of Washington D.C.’s most beautiful destinations and home to Holy Land Franciscans who have cared for the people and sacred shrines of the Holy Land for 800 years. The students toured the historic church, catacombs, and walked the Stations of the Cross though the grotto.

After a “picnic” lunch on the bus, they toured the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The weather cooperated and the students enjoyed a walk down The Mall where they paused for a group photo on their way to the National Museum of American History. One of the most popular of the Smithsonian Museums, the National Museum of American History collects and preserves more than 3 million artifacts of our political history and American culture, from the original Star Spangled Banner Flag to modern day Americana. Many students particularly enjoyed the hands-on exhibits that offered first-hand experiences with treasures from our nation’s past.

The students had an early dinner at the National Museum of the American Indian, and then boarded the bus for the trip back down Interstate 95. It was a long, but very enjoyable day for our eighth graders.