District 88 provides travel abroad experience for students: Expanding the classroom to Italy

Twenty-nine Addison Trail students recently spent their spring break traveling abroad to Italy with five administrators/staff members from the school, including myself. It was an unforgettable experience for all of us.

To participate in this trip, students went through a rigorous application and interview process. We left on March 23, and part of the group returned home on March 30. Fourteen of our students traveled as part of the Village of Addison Sister Cities program and stayed through April 3. Through that student-exchange program, Addison families hosted 19 students from Il Cartesio High School in Triggiano, Italy, in October, and our students stayed with host families while in Italy.

During our visit, we went to Venice, Florence, Assisi, Rome and Triggiano. Highlights of the trip included:

• Venice: Seeing St. Mark’s Basilica; enjoying a gondola ride (pictured below); taking a Murano glassblowing tour; and seeing a lace-making facility

• Florence: Seeing the David statue and other artwork and learning about the history of the artists
• Assisi: Seeing the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi and making gelato (pictured below)

• Rome: Seeing Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum (pictured below), the Sistine Chapel, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps

• Triggiano: Touring Polignano a Mare (pictured below), Trani and the trulli homes in Alberobello; and spending a day at Il Cartesio High School, where we were able to reconnect with our Sister Cities friends (pictured at bottom)

For myself and many of the students, this was our first time in Italy. It was wonderful to watch as our students soaked in the history and culture of the area. We know traveling abroad provides our students with tremendous benefits and gives them an opportunity to see firsthand what they’re learning about in the classroom. It advances language skills, helps develop an appreciation for different cultures and extends the classroom to the real world. I know the memories and friendships they made will stay with them forever.

The Addison-Triggiano Sister Cities agreement was signed in 2004, and the committee works tirelessly to raise funds to help offset the costs of hosting the Italian students and to provide scholarships for Addison Trail students to travel to Italy. The remaining costs for the student trips are funded by the students and their families, as well as through proceeds from fundraisers.

The Village of Addison Sister Cities Committee is made up of volunteers and is always looking for new members to ensure these experiences continue for the students of Addison. If you are interested in joining the committee, or for more information about the program, contact Marianne Fotopoulos with the Village of Addison at mfotopoulos@addison-il.org.

Thank you for your continued support of District 88.