By Tracey Taylor - St. Brendan HS
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
To the Southernmost Point: St. Brendan High teachers Daisy Cruz and Susana Gallarreta pose students from the Champagnat Program at the historical Florida landmark. The group journeyed to the Keys as an extension of interdisciplinary learning.
MIAMI | Most Floridians visit Key West for the sun and the fun, but 19 students from St. Brendan High School’s Champagnat Program visited to connect with Key West history, literature, maritime science, and biology.
Truman’s Little White House and
Hemingway’s Home were two of the historical sites that the students were
schooled on. They received a great deal
of insight into the Key West life of the 33rd President of the United States,
as well as the life of the Nobel Peace Prize winning author.
“I was amazed at all the history
that Key West has,” said freshman Carolina Parets, who had never been to Key
West. “My favorite stop was Truman’s House. The tour guide was so knowledgeable and gave us information that we won’t
find in our textbooks.”
The visit also included a stop at
the Key West Aquarium where students learned about the vast creatures of sea
and marine life. That was followed by a stop at the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory,
where students were given the unique opportunity to observe the anatomy,
physiology, lifecycle and feeding of the butterfly.
Sophomore Matthew Morales said he was
very excited about the trip. “I enjoyed being with my friends outside of the classroom,
and truly felt very calm and at peace when touring the Butterfly Conservatory,” he said.
The educational trip ended
with a little rest and relaxation at the historically famous Southernmost
Point. The students also took a stroll
along Mallory Square, where they were entertained by numerous street performers. On the bus ride home, the students shared
personal experiences of the trip showing interdisciplinary learning.
“This trip was a great cultural experience for
the students, and it was pleasing to see the students engaged in the learning
process outside of the classroom,” said Champagnat Director Daisy Cruz. “We are
looking forward to next year’s scholarly and cultural journey.”
