A 2019 photo from the Ansonia High School Facebook page.
ANSONIA – Ansonia High School students will be saying ‘arrivederci’ to their friends and family next year as they take off for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy.
AHS Teachers Christine Davis and Karen Phipps received the greenlight from the Board of Education at its Feb. 27 meeting to revive the school’s Global Scholars Program. The program has been on hiatus since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and pretty much grounded the travel industry.
The last trip AHS offered through the Global Scholars Program was in 2019, when 18 students traveled to study abroad in Paris, Florence and Rome.
With international travel restrictions no longer an issue, Davis and Phipps said many students have been asking to bring the program back.
“The Global Scholars program is designed to provide students with an authentic learning experience through study abroad,” Davis said. “Through Global Scholars, students explore global issues, including issues of human rights, diversity and culture.”
Phipps said students who take part in the nine-day trip, which is being planned for students’ spring break in April 2024, will focus on the culture, including art, music, history and customs of Rome, Venice and Florence.
Davis said Italy was selected as the destination for a variety of reasons.
“We wanted the students to be immersed in one culture by staying in one country for a period of time,” Davis said. “By staying in one county, more time can be devoted to seeing the sites and art, enjoying the food and shopping versus time spent traveling between countries.”
Davis said some of the stops on the trip will include a visit to ancient Rome to explore the Forum and Colosseum, and the Trevi Fountain, where students can throw coins in. Students will also visit Vatican City where they will see Saint Peter’s Basilica and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.
“We will participate in an interactive pizza making class and will enjoy gelato, too,” Davis noted.
The tour will also include a stop in Florence to take in the Tuscan countryside of San Gimignano. The final destination will be Venice where students will take a gondola ride through the city and will attend a glass-blowing demonstration by a local master, according to Davis.
The trip will offer both educational and experiential benefits, Davis and Phipps said.
“A trip like this will allow students to discover more about themselves as they grow more confident and gain independence while also learning to appreciate another culture,” Davis said. “We want students to travel and gain valuable experiences. This is a travel-based learning approach to blend both the classroom and experiential learning, while transforming the way students look at the world. It’s also a great opportunity for students who may not have the opportunity to travel abroad.”
The trip is open to AHS freshmen, sophomores and juniors, with an all-inclusive cost of about $4,500 per student, that will include airfare, hotels, private travel guide with 24-hour support, local professional sightseeing guides, transportation while in Italy, daily breakfast and dinner, attractions and activities, all tips and gratuities.
Phipps said a variety of payment plan options will be available to students, and she’s hoping that fundraising efforts can help decrease the per person cost. The cost can also decrease based on the number of students who attend the trip.
Phipps and Davis are currently planning an information session, with a date to be announced soon, for parents, students and guardians interested in going on the trip.
In the meantime, any community members or local businesses interested in making a donation to support AHS’ Global Scholars Program, or partnering to help with fundraising efforts, can contact Phipps via email at [email protected] or Davis at [email protected].
