Over spring break, 16 PDS Latin students had the opportunity to visit Italy, deepening their understanding of Roman history while immersing themselves in Italian culture for over a week.
A key factor that made the trip unique was its thoughtful planning. Throughout their preparation, Middle School Latin teacher Nicole Mangino and Upper School Latin teacher Amanda Gregory arranged much of the itinerary themselves. According to Dr. Gregory, “What makes this trip different is that it’s not done through a tour company…we like to book the tickets ourselves, book the hotel ourselves, [and] book the museum tickets ourselves.” This approach gave them flexibility for moments of spontaneity, whether that meant adjusting dinner plans on the go to accommodate a large group or trying an extra flavor of gelato along the way.
With their passports, suitcases, and a 75-page curriculum in tow, this year’s participants and chaperones embarked on a trip that took them not only to Rome, but also to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Sorrento, and more. Sophomore Anya Jha noted, “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to Italy with my friends and to experience the culture firsthand.” There, students saw the Colosseum, various museums, the Jewish Quarter of Rome, St. Peter’s Basilica, Trastevere, and several other locations they had previously studied in the classroom. As Junior Sophia Vriesendorp described,“You really get to immerse yourself in the culture of the Romans…I was even learning Italian phrases on the fly.”
Beyond sightseeing, the trip offered hands-on activities that brought students together across grade levels. Dr. Gregory emphasized the importance of human connection within language learning, observing, “As important as it is to see the cultural sites and how meaningful that is, what imbues meaning into experiences is people…this is why it’s so important to build class community.” Her students seemed to agree with this perspective, with Sophomore Max Naumann adding, “I felt like going to Rome really allowed me to further experience Latin and be involved in the language’s community.”
These connections were especially evident when students encountered sites they had already learned about at school. For example, the group was able to personally view Pompeian villas, which was particularly inspiring for students who had completed a research project on these homes earlier in the year. Jha explained, “The trip brought Latin to life…We talk about these places all the time, so it was really cool to see them in person.”
In fact, experiences like this are intentionally built into the trip, as Dr. Gregory and Ms. Mangino revise the itinerary slightly each year to better reflect the students they bring. Whether that means exploring Florence, learning about art history, or even visiting the Italian seaside to understand how Romans once spent their leisure time, every participant’s interests are highlighted.
This year’s attendees enjoyed a memorable spring break, an experience made possible by the extensive planning behind the scenes. In preparation for both the Italy trip and several other programs, the Global Studies team at PDS has been working hard all year to create these enriching opportunities for students. Needless to say, their efforts are appreciated. As Naumann put it, “This trip was incredible. You have to go on the trip if you’re interested in Latin.”
