The American Studies classes better known as “AmStu” took a day trip to Philadelphia on April 26. Students gathered at the gyms at 6 AM for departure and returned to campus around 4 PM. The students were originally scheduled to take an overnight trip to Washington D.C. on March 5-6, but the trip was canceled due to a snow storm. In an effort to make it up to the juniors, the American Studies teachers planned a Philly excursion.  A week prior to the Philadelphia trip, the students were handed a slip of paper during one of their AmStu classes with a list of attractions and were asked to number their top 3-4 choices. Teachers then sorted out the students and placed them into groups for the trip based on the students’ preferences. On the day of the trip, the groups split up and visited their assigned attraction including the Liberty Bell, Liberty Hall, the Ben Franklin Museum, or the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  All of the groups, except the group that went to the art museum, regrouped at the Constitution Center as a second attraction. Later, everyone met at Reading Terminal Market to grab lunch before heading back to school. “I think it was a good trip. Obviously I would have preferred an overnight in D.C., but since that couldn’t happen I think Philadelphia was a good alternative,” said Rina Pizzuti ‘16, “It was also a great opportunity for all of the AmStu classes to spend time together since that’s not something that we can do often.” Many students enjoyed the trip. “I thought it was really amazing that I was able to put what we learn in the classroom and visualize it,” expressed Sydney Prince ’16.

by Vicky Disalvo