Fontbonne Students Travel To New York City

Fontbonne Students Travel To New York City

Students in our Liberty, Justice and Security course traveled to New York City on Thursday for a day of learning and adventure.  The 27 seniors hit the ground running first thing in the morning.  Upon arriving in the city,  the girls hopped on the Metro and headed for Battery Park.  They boarded the "Lady Liberty" to Ellis Island.  The girls were greeted by their personal tour guide, a ranger at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. They immediately dove into the "Immigrants at Work" program. The students explored how Ellis Island immigrants found jobs when they first settled in the U.S., what it was like for them and they discussed the differences back in 1892 compared to present day.  They also analyzed whether immigration is beneficial or detrimental for their community; tying into themes of immigration and economy in both the past and present.  After a quick lunch break the girls were given free time to explore the museum on their own. 

The next stop was Liberty Island.  The girls were excited to see the Statue of Liberty up close.  They walked the perimeter and took time to take several selfies with Lady Liberty.  Many of the girls remarked visiting Liberty Island was a special experience for them.   It was remarkable to be in the presence of the universal symbol of freedom and democracy. 

The students then traveled to Lower Manhattan and visited the 9/11 Memorial.  It was a powerful experience for the girls; most of them were born after the September 11th attacks.  As the students approached the sacred ground, teacher Cynthia Gadziala reminded them it is a hallowed place of remembrance.  She shared the importance of honoring those killed on that day. The girls solemnly read the names and noted the white roses placed in remembrance of the victim's birthdays.  It was an emotional ending, but a critical stop for the students while in New York City.

Keeping with the hustle and bustle of the city, the girls then grabbed some dinner and headed back to Penn Station.  It was a fun, memorable and an educational experience for all!

This is the course that was featured on WCVB as an A Plus last month.  If you didn't get to see the piece, here's the link.