SCS Planning Trip to Philly for 10th Graders

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE - Now that Schoharie high school 11th graders have returned from a successful and "historic" trip to Washington D.C. in the fall, Schoharie officials are planning a trip for the 10th graders in the spring.

Superintendent David Blanchard told school board members at their December 21 meeting that plans are in the works to send the 65 members of the 10th grade class to Philadelphia and the surrounding region in the spring. The trip will focus on history, as did the Washington trip.

The spring trip will not be as long as the Washington one, Mr. Blanchard said. The trip to Philadelphia will be an one overnight trip and will therefore will not be as expensive as the Washington one.

So far plans are for the students to go to Independence Hall, the Museum of the American Revolution and other sites in Philadelphia as well as nearby Gettysburg, Mr. Blanchard told board members.

School officials looked at costs and the trip is feasible, he said. The board gave the go-ahead to move forward with the trip. There are 65 students in 10th grade who are all eligible and expected to participate in the trip to Philadelphia this spring. Early May is the expected date for the trip but details are being worked on now, Mr. Blanchard added.

The members of the 11th grade class traveled to Washington in October.

Schoharie is hoping to make the trip an annual occurrence for 11th graders.

Mr. Blanchard first proposed the Washington trip last June and board members agreed to have the district fund an annual trip to Washington. The trip is planned for about 70 students and their teachers and will cost of about $39,000.

In addition to going to several attractions in the Nation's capital taught the students many life skills. Some students, Mr. Blanchard said, traveled out of Schoharie for the first time. The students were exposed to many different experiences they cannot get in Schoharie. The students and teachers took the train out of Rensselaer to New York City and then another train to Washington. While in Washington, they took the Metro subway to get around to attractions. Those attractions included: Ford's Theater, the National Mall, the White House, the Air and Space Museum, the Museum of the American Indian, the Holocaust Museum, walks to the Capitol, the Supreme Court, and others.

In addition to the presentations to elementary school classes, the students may be helping out in the community raking lawns, cleaning up, painting, and other small jobs in the community. Mr. Blanchard noted that the cost is a big ask for the community and a "give back" is very important.

The community outreach program would probably take place in the spring, he said.