From the pictures of the 6th grade field trip to Gettysburg, it is there for all to see that learning and play can comfortably accommodate one another. From Pickett’s Charge to Pickett’s Buffet and from Little Round Top to go-cart racing, the girls (and moms) are at full throttle. By the way, there was also swimming and the most amazingly knowledgeable battlefield guide, Joanne Lewis. All in all, a great time was had by all! (Don’t miss the moms racing around in the go-carts!!!!)

Click on the picture above to see photos from the 6th graders’ trip to Gettysburg.

Ms. Duncan, the Village School Latin teacher, took seven of our girls along with one parent to Rome over Spring break. Here’s her report:

Our trip to Italy this spring break was quite an adventure! After we touched down in Rome, we walked to a few sights around the Pantheon and in the Piazza Navona, featuring the enormous and beautiful Fountain of the Four Rivers of Bernini. We spent the next day in a walking tour of other sights: the monument to Vittorio Emmanuele, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, and Roman Forum. On our fourth day, we visited the Appian Way, then the Vatican Museums to see the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. After that, we sped up to Florence for a glorious day by the Arno, paying our respects to Michelangelo and Brunelleschi. Our last day in Rome, we toured the ruins of Ostia Antiqua and then enjoyed la dolce vita in Rome with some free time. Finally, we took off for the ancient city of Pompeii with its famous ruins, Sorrento with its fantastic vistas, and the island of Capri, a resort since the Roman emperors. All in all, a pretty grand tour!

Click on the picture above to look at pictures from the trip to Rome.

On March 25, the Village School finally took its weather-postponed field trip to the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport. The girls toured the museum, saw various aircraft from throughout the history of flight, and saw a trainer space shuttle. They also watched the IMAX film, To Fly.

Click on the top picture to see video highlights from the trip and the bottom picture to see photos.

From model helicopters to the Wright brothers to flying our Super Delta Dart airplanes and (of course) even ice skating, interdisciplinary days were a success. In spite of weather that precluded a trip to the Air and Space museum at Dulles Airport, we managed to have an enriching and enjoyable three-day experience. On Wednesday, we had films, speakers, skit writing, and hands-on projects to fill the day. Every student built a balsa wood and tissue paper model airplane, each plane powered by a rubber band driven propeller. On Thursday, model planes were decorated and students performed their skits, all of which depicted important events from the history of flight. Ice skating filled Thursday afternoon. Friday morning, students built and flew many designs of paper airplanes – from simple to quite sophisticated. Friday, the entire school traveled to UVA’s Slaughter Recreation Center where we tested our planes. Numerous planes flew the length of the gym (about 100 feet) and would certainly have gone further had space allowed. Others flew in a more circular pattern and managed to stay aloft for nearly 30 seconds. And then, many others had flights of a somewhat shorter nature. In all, it was a good time with much learning.

Click on the top picture to watch a video of the girls making and flying their model airplanes. Click on the bottom picture to see photos from the experience.

The 5th graders and their adventurous mothers had a lovely time in Jamestown. The girls spent the first day on tour at the museum and visited the original site of the fort, where they had a chance to watch the excavation of a well created under John Smith. Our tour guide was impressed by our students’ questions. The fifth grade ended their exciting first day at the water park in Great Wolf Lodge. We also saw many wonderful animals in the life exhibits at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News, where we learned about prehistoric sharks and native wildlife, before finally heading back home.

Click on the picture above to watch a video of the 5th graders’ trip to Jamestown.

Click on the picture above to see more photos from the 5th Grade’s trip to Jamestown.