Over spring break, middle school students traveled internationally to Italy and New Zealand through trips planned by the Wo International Center.
A group of 18 sixth graders traveled to Italy to learn about ancient Rome. From Naples to the Sorrentine Peninsula and then to Rome, students saw firsthand the ancient sites they learned about in their social studies curriculum. Students visited Pompeii, Herculaneum, the Vatican City and the Colosseum, attended gladiator school, walked the Spanish Steps, learned to make gnocchi, and more. No trip to Italy would be complete without throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain. “Every student hopes to return to Rome again in the future,” said Jennifer Roble, a sixth grader English teacher who accompanied students on the trip.
A group of 10 seventh and eighth graders visited New Zealand to immerse themselves in Maori culture and participate in service projects. Part of the trip involved a stay at Tahuwhakatiki marae in Tauranga, a communal and sacred Maori meeting ground. Students visited a permaculture farm, planted a garden of native plants, and hiked the hills of Papamoa. They also spent time at Southwell School in Hamilton, where they experienced life as a boarder student, attended classes and made new friends. “We are grateful for the opportunity to travel internationally this spring break,” said seventh grade faculty member Lorelei Saito, who went on the trip.
