On April 14, 2025, the Sophomores visited the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. This field trip was organized by the History Department, and intended to give the students the opportunity to see examples of the Constitution in action beyond the classroom. The Sophomores explored several of the museum’s exhibits such as “Signers Hall” and “The Story of We The People.”

In their American History course, the Sophomores have studied the Constitution and its significance thoroughly. History Department Chair Ms. Stefanie Santangelo commented, “The purpose of field trips is for students to connect their class with tangible, real ideas.” She believes that if students are given the opportunity to engage in thoughtful reflection, they can understand the material on a deeper level, and visiting the National Constitution Center was a chance for the students to experience this. 

Ideally, the Sophomores were able to leave the trip not only with a stronger understanding of the document itself, but also with insights into how the Constitution continues to impact their lives today. Ms. Santangelo explained, “In the news nearly every day, we see examples of how the three branches of government employ checks and balances to preserve and protect the system created by our founding documents.” She hopes that by studying the Constitution and American history, students will be better equipped to analyze and understand these ideas. 

The Sophomores’ response to the trip was generally positive, as they enjoyed exploring the topics they learned in class at the museum. Sophomore Sophie Yao shared, “Seeing the Constitution come to life and walking through the museum, interacting with the thought-provoking exhibits helped me connect the abstract ideas we learned in class to real, impactful moments in history.” 

As the end of the school year approaches, the History Department hopes that students take their experience at the museum and apply it to their discussions in class. Ms. Santangelo further added, “As we head into the final research project, [where students will write a paper relating an artifact to a time period in American History], it would be wonderful for students to choose an artifact that relates to their experiences on this field trip.” Hopefully, this trip gave the sophomores some additional insight that can help them connect more deeply with their chosen projects.