Great Brook School eighth-graders return to Washington, D.C.

After a three-year COVID-19 hiatus, eighth-grade students at Great Brook School finally got the trip of a lifetime. 

On Friday, eighth-graders Gavin Lyons, River Allen, Jenna Bergeron and Cate Stahl gave a slideshow presentation on their class’s recent five-day trip to Washington D.C. in front of community members at the James A. Tuttle Library in Antrim.

According to GBS Student Support Counselor Katie Hiers, the school has been doing an annual eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C., for decades. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced the school to put its annual tradition on hold. After GBS students held out for three years waiting for the tradition to return, Gavin said he was thrilled to hear, “You’re going to D.C.”

“I was excited to go somewhere, I hadn’t been anywhere because of COVID-19,” said Gavin. 

According to the students, the five-day excursion in April was jam-packed with visits to the Lincoln Memorial, the Holocaust Museum and the World War II Memorial. Students also had the opportunity to visit the Martin Luther King Memorial, Ford’s Theatre, where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, and the White House. 

As a wrap, students visited Nationals Park to catch the Washington Nationals play against the Baltimore Orioles. 

Cate said the journey helped bring her closer to her classmates and teachers.  

“It was a very good bonding experience to end the four years together,” she said.

For many students, this trip was the first time they had ever traveled outside New England. 

Hiers said it’s fulfilling to see her students have the opportunity to explore American history outside their region and discover new passions along the way.

“It was really good to see it through their eyes,” Hiers said.

According to GBS students and teachers, the school is planning to bring back the annual trip to D.C. for years to come.