DC - WNS | Westside Neighborhood School

Washington D.C. 2024

– Mr. Brannan & the 8th Grade Chaperones

DAY SIX

One peculiar aspect of our hotel stay that our Close Up guides pointed out is the surprisingly unobstructed view of the Pentagon from the Monument Room where we eat breakfast each day. In a city where security measures are as common as politicians, this clear line of sight to one of the nation’s most important military headquarters is somewhat of an anomaly. Most vantage points with such a view have long since been restricted or obscured, yet here we are, able to count the windows on the facade of the Pentagon while chowing down on bacon. 

It begs the question: Is hosting school trips a clever government ploy to annoy potential spies? Picture a nefarious agent, setting up sophisticated surveillance equipment, only to have their view consistently photobombed by excited middle schoolers on a field trip, pointing and exclaiming, “Look, it really does have five sides!” 

Whether it’s a security strategy or just an oversight, it certainly adds an extra layer of intrigue to our accommodations. One thing we know for sure is that a group of middle school kids (not ours, of course) at their worst would be able to annoy even the most grizzled spy into giving up their mission and abandoning their strategic view just to go find some peace and quiet.

Anyway, on to today, our last in DC . . .

Wake up calls this morning went surprisingly well. So did luggage and room checks. Ms. Reimann even commented that this was the smoothest last morning in the hotel in all her years chaperoning an 8th grade DC trip. 

Our first historical stop of the day was Mount Vernon. On the way, one of the buses temporarily lost power, which created a few nervous moments, but the driver was able to troubleshoot it within about ten minutes. The chaperones all crossed their fingers that this would be the biggest hiccup we faced today. 

The historic home of George Washington, Mount Vernon, sits on the banks of the Potomac River. This sprawling 500-acre estate offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of America’s first president. Students toured the iconic 21-room mansion, explored the beautifully maintained gardens, and visited the museum filled with artifacts from Washington’s storied life.

Beyond showcasing Washington’s life, Mount Vernon also provided important insights into 18th-century plantation life, including a sobering look at the lives of enslaved individuals who lived and worked on the property. This living museum offered our students a tangible connection to early American history, bringing to life some of the lessons they’ve learned in the classroom. 

We left Mount Vernon for Old Town Alexandria, which was fitting since Washington was a frequent visitor to its taverns and restaurants. There are even still a few renovated buildings where some of those old establishments used to reside. Having just spent a week immersed in US history, how cool is it that your kids had the opportunity to eat in one of these places? 

By the way, we’re saying they had the opportunity to do so, not that they did. Five Guys, Chipotle, Subway, and Ben & Jerry’s were the most popular locations visited. Perhaps your kids are also immersed in the study of the power of brand loyalty and consumerism as it relates to identity . . . or something like that. Their inquisitive, academic minds contain multitudes. 

After lunch, we celebrated Maddy’s birthday! Mr. Brannan, Ms. Reimann, and Mr. Rothbart hustled to Alexandria Cupcake to pick up an order of 70 cupcakes so all the students, chaperones, and Close Up guides could enjoy a sweet treat in the sunshine. 

That left one final stop on our itinerary, Udvar-Hazy—think of it as the Air and Space Museum’s cooler, bigger cousin. We didn’t have much time here, but the kids enjoyed seeing the planes and jets filling the huge space.  

And that’s it! We crossed the last thing off our itinerary. Well, almost. We’re sitting at the gate for United Airlines flight 2276, currently scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles at 8:09pm. We can’t be certain at this point, but everything looks to be on schedule. We’re sure you’ll track it closely, so that you can be at baggage claim to greet your tired kiddos upon their return.

As we conclude our account of this year’s 8th grade trip to Washington, DC, we find ourselves not reflecting on the culmination of the year but on how we can use this as a springboard.

The past week saw the streets of the capital become 8th grade WNS classrooms without walls, where history books have sprung to life before our students’ eyes. From the soaring obelisk of the Washington Monument to the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery, from heated debates echoing those in the Capitol to quiet moments of reflection at various memorials, our students have absorbed the pulse of American democracy—what it is and what it can be.

The true magic of this trip, however, lies not just in what they’ve seen, but in what they’ve become. We’ve watched friendships deepen, perspectives broaden, and a sense of civic obligation take root. As we look to the months ahead, we see endless opportunities to build on this foundation. This trip will serve as a touchstone, enriching discussions in English classes, adding depth to social studies projects, and bringing new meaning to their SWIM initiatives. The shared experiences of this week will fuel collaborative learning and foster a deeper sense of community within the 8th grade.

So, while we may be leaving Washington behind, we’re carrying forward a wealth of memories, knowledge, and inspiration. This trip hasn’t just been about visiting a city—it’s been about opening doors to future possibilities. As these 8th graders step back into their familiar routines at WNS, we hope they do so with broadened horizons and a renewed sense of purpose.

The year ahead promises to be extraordinary, fueled by the spark ignited in our nation’s capital. We can’t wait to see how our 8th graders will grow, learn, and shine in the coming months. The best, we believe, is yet to come!

With the itinerary completely checked off, let’s turn things over to your kids for a bit to hear their highlights from the trip—

Aryeh:  I liked experiencing the Holocaust Museum. I learned even more than I already knew.

Luna:  Georgetown and Bowlero because I got to hang out and bond with my friends. I also liked going to the Holocaust Museum because I learned a lot about it. 

Nicklas:  I enjoyed playing on the National Mall. We got to play games and see monuments at the same time. 

Charlie:  Just exploring and driving around DC was fun. I learned everywhere we went. 

Bode:  Ben’s Chili Bowl was my highlight. The food was really good. 

Oliver:  Walking around Georgetown was fun, especially the food. 

Siv:  I enjoyed hanging out with my friends during free time and while learning in museums. 

Nini:  I enjoyed the food court we went to in the Reagan Building because it was our first free time. 

Peyton S.:  The bus rides were fun. We got to see sites while driving around and hanging out with our friends. 

Gabrielle:  I really liked walking around Georgetown because we had the freedom to choose where we ate and walk around with our friends. 

Brandon:  I enjoyed seeing the artifacts and exhibits at the Holocaust Museum and African American Museum of History and Culture. I learned a lot

Eda: I liked having dinner in Georgetown and the variety of options. I had a burger. 

Alex: I enjoyed seeing the 9/11 memorial at night. The lighting was cool. 

Talya: I really liked the architecture of all the buildings here. It’s definitely different than the style of buildings we have in LA. 

Stella C.: Sherri the bus driver and Ms. Youngblood’s iPhone screen protector. In all seriousness, though, the wreath laying was the coolest part, and the Sentinel guard was really nice. 

Tyler Ro.: I liked the various memorials we visited. I learned more about important events in US history. 

Madison:  Going to Frederick Douglass House was my favorite thing. 

Zev:  I enjoyed connecting with the people in my hotel room. 

Julian:  Getting able to roam the neighborhoods with my friend was my favorite part of the trip. 

Ile:  Going to a restaurant with my friends on my own was really fun. 

Remi:  I liked the planes at Udvar-Hazy. 

Lily:  I enjoyed exploring Georgetown and Old Town Alexandria. The African American History museum was really cool too. 

Anna:  Going to Georgetown was cool and so was the African American Museum. 

(Apologies to those who didn’t get to include their favorite memory of the trip. See below for why this exercise was disrupted.)

And, uh oh . . . as Mr. Brannan was wrapping up the blog on his phone outside the Udvar-Hazy Center, he got a call from Bus #2. It had broken down near the entrance. With about three hours before our flight was scheduled to leave, this was not the news he wanted. 

Long story short, we made it to the gate on time. It took one of the buses doubling back to get the group left behind and lots of rushing through the airport. It wasn’t the nice, easy end of the trip we’d hoped for, but it was much better than missing the flight entirely. 

We’re all safe and onboard the plane now. While the kids can’t take advantage of it at this moment, there is WiFi, and that’s how we were able to send this off to you. We’ll see you in LA soon!

The 8th Grade Chaperones

Washington D.C. 2024

– Mr. Brannan & the 8th Grade Chaperones

DAY FIVE

The effectiveness of the chaperone wakeup knock seems to be waning. By the time we returned to release students to breakfast, several rooms had turned their lights back out and appeared to have tried to go back to sleep. Well, it is day 5, and we have done and seen a LOT in a short time in DC together. This being our last full day, however, the chaperones made themselves as much of a nuisance as possible at the doors to the kids’ rooms so that they quickly got dressed and fled our presence by heading up to breakfast. 

Once everyone had eaten, we left the hotel to visit the Marine Corps War Memorial. Dedicated in 1954, this memorial honors all Marine Corps personnel who have died defending the United States since 1775. The memorial’s design is based on the iconic, Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Joe Rosenthal of six Marines raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi after the Battle of Iwo Jima. The bronze statue is colossal, and it’s something the kids could feel as the bus approached it, especially when they walked up to and around it.

Here are some things they had to say at that moment—

Alex:  I like the attention to detail. I think I admire this memorial even more because my dad was a marine. 

Gigi:  The optical illusion of the flagpole is neat.

Alec:  They left a lot of space at the bottom to list more wars that Marines might be involved in. 

Our next stop was the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), which stands as a profoundly moving testament to one of history’s darkest chapters. As visitors move through its sobering exhibits, they are confronted with the stark reality of the Holocaust through personal artifacts, haunting photographs, and firsthand accounts of survivors. The architecture itself, with its stark industrial feel and narrow passageways, evokes a sense of discomfort and claustrophobia, mirroring the experiences of those persecuted. Particularly poignant are the Tower of Faces, or A Shtetl, an exhibit showcasing pre-war photographs of a Jewish community later decimated, and the stacks of spoons, scissors, combs, and other personal belongings taken from victims as they were led into camps, all a visceral reminder of the individual lives lost. The museum’s power lies in its ability to transform statistics into deeply personal stories, fostering empathy and reflection. It serves not only as a memorial to the millions who perished but also as a compelling call to action against hatred and genocide in all forms. In the words of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, “Action is the only remedy to indifference: the most insidious danger of all.”

As teachers and groups of 8th graders rode the elevators to the top floor of the museum and opened to reveal the exhibit, an audible gasp filled the air. They were confronted with images taken by US soldiers who liberated the Dachau concentration camp under General Eisenhower’s orders.

This visceral reaction was precisely what Eisenhower had intended, even for generations to come. He had foreseen the possibility of future denial, stating, “. . . there develops a tendency to charge these allegations merely to propaganda.” To counter this, Eisenhower ensured that as much evidence as possible was gathered. His goal was to educate future generations about the “overpowering” horrors he witnessed, hoping this knowledge would inspire action to prevent such atrocities from recurring.

Here are some of the student’s reflective thoughts about their visit to the USHMM:

Karlo: All the artifacts they had made things feel real. 

Summer:  There were a lot of powerful visuals. It was sad. 

Otis:  The exhibits really pulled you in and forced you to look at what actually happened. 

Miles G.:  I like how they used things from the time it happened. 

Bode:  I didn’t realize that there were so many victims from the Netherlands because there was more religious freedom there till the Nazis came. 

Eda:  The videos were a lot. I had to stop watching. 

John: The survivors telling the stories at the end was crazy. 

Zev: It’s weird to think that so many Nazis thought they were doing the right thing. 

Maceo: I agree. Hearing the firsthand stories of the death matches and people losing their toes because it was so cold was brutal. 

Lily: The video on the doctor who was in charge of humane deaths was sickening. 

Annika: Being able to listen to the actual audio of people from the camps gave a next level intensity I wasn’t expecting….

Noa: What stood out the most was being able to go through the replica barrack and to see what part of the gas chamber actually looked like….

Alex: The weapons that were found and recovered were crazy to see….

Nicklas:  The gas chambers stick out to me, seeing the model of it and the canisters with (Zyklon B) pellets. 

Julian:  It was crazy to see the bags of hair they shaved off people, then sold. 

Stella C.: The photos were really impactful. Toward the end there were photos of the sky and how it appeared from the different camps.

Tayla: I had heard of these stories but seeing it with the photos is so different.  

Remi: The others that were killed with disabilities because they were unwanted by the Nazis stuck out to me. 

Miles S.: The videos were powerful, hearing the stories of survivors. 

Luna:  It was scary seeing how it started, how it unfolded. 

In English, the students will circle back to the causes and effects of the Holocaust as they begin their novel study on Night by Elie Wiesel next semester. Students will continue to answer essential questions about the individual and identity as we learn about Elie and all he endures. 

After finishing our debrief of the USHMM, we went to the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) to first have lunch. The Mitsitam Cafe within the NMAI is a unique museum-like cafeteria that serves Native-inspired cuisines from various regions of the Americas, allowing visitors to literally taste the cultural diversity represented in the museum’s exhibits.

They had bison burgers, salmon, corn dishes, and various root vegetable sides that were all magnificent, among other things. They also had a child’s menu serving chicken fingers and fries. You know your kids best. What do you think they decided to eat? The only hint we’ll give you is that the chaperones had more root vegetables not in fry form and salmon dishes than all the 8th graders combined. 

After lunch, students received their DC Learning Guides and were instructed to visit a particular exhibit that focuses on broken treaties between the United States Government and Native tribes. There was one problem, though. A security guard on the 3rd floor told the first group of kids who asked about it that the exhibit was closed. So, the kids were thrilled that they would no longer have to fill out their learning guide and could just explore the other parts of the museum. 

About ten minutes later, Mr. Brannan discovered the exhibit on broken treaties was open, and that the security guard was incorrect. When the security guard was confronted with this information, they doubled down to say that the exhibit was closed. The conviction the guard displayed made Mr. Brannan wonder if the kids had bribed him. (Parents, I’d check your ATM statements just in case!) or maybe this guard was putting on some sort of performance art by embodying the stubbornness of the US government in recognizing the many injustices they’ve inflicted on the Native tribes in the path of westward expansion. Either way, word had spread too far to try to get all the kids to go back to visit the correct experience and answer a few questions. Mr. Brannan will just have to add another lesson to his westward expansion unit later this year. 

Even though the exhibit Mr. Brannan wanted the kids to study closely didn’t get to be experienced the way he wanted them to, a few kids did make their way through it. The others got to explore the rest of the NMAI, which houses over 800,000 artifacts representing more than 1,200 indigenous cultures with exhibits offering immersive experiences showcasing Native history, traditions, and contemporary life, all told from indigenous perspectives.

After the NMAI, it was finally time to put our study of civic action into action at the DC Central Kitchen. DC Central Kitchen was founded in 1989 by Robert Egger, who sought to ameliorate poverty and hunger through the creation of an organization that was part soup kitchen and part culinary training school. Today, DC Kitchen provides culinary training, lunches for 30 DC schools, and healthy, fresh, affordable food in food deserts throughout DC.  Students were excited to receive their spots throughout the kitchen along the assembly line, cutting vegetables, plating lunches, and boxing everything up for delivery while wearing aprons,  hair nets, and beard nets. That’s right, beard nets. Your kids completely forgot to bring their razors, even though it was listed in the fine print on the packing list. You may not recognize them at the airport, so we’ll encourage them to keep wearing their name tags. Or, maybe there’s another more logical explanation: they saw the opportunity to don an extra accessory to their wardrobe and took it. 

During our entire time at DC Central Kitchen, they were overly engaged and helpful, seeking new tasks to complete when their stations were done. Hear that parents:  if you let your kids dress up like a chef with an invisible beard, they might be willing to help with meal prep. 

After food prepping, we made our way to the White House and Lafayette Park. Fences had already been erected across half the park, extending the normal boundary of the White House grounds more than normal. The fence construction is in anticipation of potential political violence after the upcoming presidential election and during the certification process. Is this the new norm in America? We hope not. 

Waiting in Lafayette Park for us was Mike Zamore, a longtime veteran of Capitol Hill and current National Director of Policy & Government Affairs for the ACLU. He spoke to the kids about his experiences in politics and affecting change, including recent cases with the ACLU related to some of their SWIM projects that are hoping to affect change within the homeless community. 

When he was done speaking, Luna and Gia went up to him to ask a few questions about his career, particularly as it related to the practice of law. They are die hard Mock Trial attorneys after all!

After leaving Lafayette Park, we departed DC for the final time on our trip. For dinner and fun, we went to a bowling alley. The food was . . . well, it was the type of food your kids really enjoy. But, what was even better was they had a great night of bonding together bowling, playing games, and creating fun, lasting memories they’ll remember from their 8th grade class trip long after they’ve gone off to different high schools. 

What a way to cap off our final night in DC! But now, it’s back to the hotel to pack. We’re headed home tomorrow, but there’s still plenty left to see and do. 

Before we return to LA tomorrow, we’ll be headed to Mount Vernon before stopping in Old Town Alexandria for lunch and a brief neighborhood exploration. Our last stop of the trip will be the Udvar-Hazy Center. After that, we head to the airport and cross our fingers that the flight is on time. 

Now, you’ll have to excuse us. We’re headed to check on each room before lights out in order to explain to many of the kids we check on that the reason their bag won’t close is because they bought too many souvenirs. 

See you tomorrow, 

The 8th Grade Chaperones

Washington D.C. 2024

– Mr. Brannan & the 8th Grade Chaperones

DAY THREE

Another beautiful day in our nation’s capital means another beautiful continental breakfast, including eggs, potatoes, french toast, and sausage links. The students were very happy with the french toast. We were warned about temperatures going down into the 50s, which for us Angelenos means bundling up in some of our warmest clothing. While everyone was prepared for the colder weather, it does not conceal our tourist identity. 

We stopped at the Air Force Memorial after breakfast. It honors the service and sacrifices of the men and women of the United States Air Force. The memorial’s most striking feature is its three stainless steel spires that soar skyward, which are designed to evoke the image of the bomb burst maneuver performed by Air Force Thunderbird pilots.

As we wandered through the memorial, Peyton S., Luna, Nini, Stella S., and Gabrielle tried to mimic the spire “bomb burst” formation to varying degrees of success. Other students admired the view from atop the hill where the memorial sits. From where we stood, we could stare down and see the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial where we were on our first night. 

After leaving the Air Force Memorial, we went to Arlington National Cemetery, the most hallowed military burial ground in the US. It serves as the final resting place for more than 400,000 active duty service members, veterans, their families, and people who have performed a great service to the United States. The cemetery is home to the graves of numerous notable Americans, including Audie Murphy, John F. Kennedy and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. After finding out all the historical figures buried there, Karlo followed up with, “You think Mr. Miyagi is somewhere around here?” With its rolling hills, meticulous landscaping, and rows of white headstones, Arlington National Cemetery stands as a powerful tribute to those who have served the nation. 

On our tour of Arlington, we walked up to the Kennedy gravesites. Then the students turned the corner to see the place where many Supreme Court Justices have been laid to rest. RBG remains a key figure in many of our students’ minds, so they eagerly sought out her headstone to pay reverence. 

At this point in time, Mr. Brannan pulled Stella C., Alec, Peyton, and Tyler to change clothes and receive a quick rundown of the rules and procedures of the ceremony from one of the members of “The Old Guard” who take turns guarding the tomb 24 hours a day, known as Sentinels. 

While these soldiers look old and distinguished to the students, they’re starting to look quite young to Mr. Brannan. Either way, they’re the best of their unit to receive such a prestigious posting, and they delivered their instructions to the students efficiently while converting the solemnity of the ceremony in which they’d be taking part. 

Here’s the gist of what they explained: the Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb is a time-honored tradition that allows individuals or groups to pay their respects. During the ceremony, participants place a wreath at the Tomb, followed by the playing of “Taps” and a moment of silence. This deeply moving ritual serves as a powerful way to honor the memory of all unknown soldiers who gave their lives in service to their country.

When it came time for our students to begin the ceremony, they were accompanied by a Sentinel who would remain at their side throughout the ceremony. He introduced himself and asked them where they were from. Turns out he was a Californian too, and had stayed in El Segundo with his wife a few years ago and had a great time. This quick dialogue seemed to ease some of the nerves our kids were feeling, and when the ceremony began, they performed flawlessly. We’d tell you more about it now, but we don’t want to spoil an upcoming Community Gathering where the Wreath Layers will tell the entire school about their experience. 

On our walk out of Arlington, students exclaimed how cool it was to witness the changing of the guard and seeing their classmates lay the wreath. We also stopped at a few more important gravesites along the way, including the Challenger Memorial and Arlington’s Military Women’s Memorial.

Then it was on to lunch at Ben’s Chili Bowl, an iconic restaurant that has been serving its famous chili and half-smokes since 1958. Founded by Ben and Virginia Ali, the restaurant gained fame for staying open during the 1968 riots following Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, serving both protesters and police officers. Ben’s Chili Bowl stands as a symbol of the city’s resilience and a testament to the enduring power of good food and community.

As the kids were getting seated in the back room, Virginia Ali appeared. Your kids walked past her and took their seats. They must have been polite and said hello because when Ms. Reimann had a chance to speak with her, she offered banana pudding and chocolate cake to the chaperones free of charge. 

When the food arrived at the tables, there was some trepidation from some of them of what seemed like a mess of a hot dog. After one bite, though, minds were quickly changed, as they followed in the footsteps of Denzel Washington, Anthony Bourdain, and Barack Obama in becoming fans of the iconic half-smoke.

After lunch, we walked over to the African American Civil War Memorial before boarding our buses, which was a good prelude to our next stop, Ford’s Theater, the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Originally built as a church in 1833, it was converted into a theater in 1861. After the assassination, the building served various purposes before being restored and reopened as a theater and museum in 1968. 

In the basement of the theater, students explored exhibits about Lincoln ranging from his leadership through the early days of the Civil War to his conversations with Frederick Douglass to his assassination, including a display of the derringer pistol Booth wielded to assassinate Lincoln. Then we sat on the balcony of the theater and listened to a park ranger give us an overview of what occurred on April 15, 1865. 

Hold up. A United States Park Ranger giving a presentation inside Ford’s Theater? If that seems odd to you, we agree, but the National Park Service does run Ford’s Theater. Want to hear something even more strange? Well, you’re going to. Ms. Reimann saw Annika with a souvenir from the Ford’s Theater Museum gift store. What was it? A miniature bison. We can only assume there’s a tourist in a Yellowstone Visitor Center gift shop right now confused as to why there are a bunch of stovepipe hat key chains for sale. 

After our stop at Ford’s Theater, we went to the National Mall where students were given a choice to visit the National History Museum, the National American Art Museum, or the National Museum of American History. Since were were split up into different groups at this point, we thought we’d let the students say what they thought of each museum—

NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Gia U: I liked the ocean room and giant whales. 

Maddy: I also liked the ocean room. I thought the exhibit on jellyfish was interesting and liked the giant model jellyfish. 

Alex:  I liked the different corals and sea animals displayed in the ocean area. 

Lucas:  I liked looking at all the fossils. 

Tyson:  The mammal section was insane. This is the coolest museum I’ve been to in a while. 

Peyton J:  The exhibit about cell phones was neat. We made personalized memes, and it showed all the minerals it takes to make one. 

Luna:  My favorite part of the museum was the mammal section. 

Eda:  The gem section was really cool. They had so many different kinds. I also liked the ocean exhibits, even though I don’t really like the ocean. 

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY

Stella C: I liked seeing the cast from Dear Evan Hansen and Prince’s guitar. Stella educated Gabrielle on the importance of knowing who Prince was. 

Annika and Noa practiced Takadimi rhythms with Mr. Rothbart with the original sheet music for The Star Spangled Banner.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

As for the thoughts of the students who attended the National Museum of American Art, well, that museum closed 30 minutes earlier than the others. So, those students got ice cream with their extra time. They all agreed that was their favorite part. 

Since we got caught in some traffic earlier in the day, we didn’t get to have any downtime on the Mall after the museums, so we headed to dinner at Makers Union. Students had actually chosen their meal at this restaurant in advance of their trip to DC, but since most of them had already forgotten the choice they made, the food they received in front of them was kind of a surprise. Luckily, their past selves made choices their present selves liked, so they were happy surprises.

Here are a few of their thoughts:

Tyson – dinner was fun… I loved sitting with my friends. 

Octavio – the food was really good and had fun eating with friends

Gabrielle – it was ok, I was glad I had vegetables. Shoutout to Noa for giving me a lot of fries.

Stella C – it was spectacular! I had a great time with all my peers, especially Talya. Shoutout to the waitress that cleaned up our salt.

After dinner, we went to the Kennedy Center to watch Shear Madness.  We had some time before the play began, so we got to spend some time on the rooftop terrace. The view at night there is pretty great, and looking NNW off the rooftop gave the kids a nighttime view of Georgetown, a neighborhood they’ll get to explore tomorrow around dinnertime. 

When the play was about to begin, we made our way to our seats. Everyone was pretty tired, but once the show began, the kids began to perk up. There’s a reason Shear Madness is the longest running show in Kennedy Center history. It’s ridiculously hilarious in all the right ways while engaging the audience by asking for their active participation to solve a murder mystery.

Once the seeds of the mystery were planted, several members of The Play That Goes Wrong and the Mock Trial team were actively trying to solve the mystery. Other 8th graders also joined in the fun. Remi identified an important piece of evidence that the detective thanked her for, and Ethan pointed the finger at the detective and his deputy as potential suspects.

Here are a few student thoughts from the play:

Alex:  I liked the political jokes, they were funny.

Luna:  I liked it a lot, I didn’t like that we chose the killer. I wanted to figure it out. 

Remi:  I really liked it. 

Tyler Roberts: It was interesting…

The play must have really energized them because despite getting back to the hotel later than at any other point in the trip so far, they didn’t seem to want to go back to their rooms. Of course, in their groggy state tomorrow, they may regret that, as Mr. Shipley and Ms. Youngblood are threatening to carry buckets of water with them during wakeup calls tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow, we’re off to Capitol Hill. Before we head up there in the morning, we’ll deliberate on some current issues important to the students to prepare us to visit the hallowed halls of American democracy. While up there, we’ll walk past the Supreme Court and visit the Library of Congress before eating in one of the cafeterias in Congress for lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll head to Frederick Douglass House, the National Archives, and explore Goergetown before stopping by the World War II Memorial at night on the way back to the hotel.

Washington D.C. 2024

– Mr. Brannan & the 8th Grade Chaperones

DAY TWO

Picture this—because it’s what your kids saw this morning—Mr. Rothbart dancing down the hallway with a Bluetooth speaker borrowed from Jordan S. blasting “Thriller” by Michael Jackson and Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go” as he went door to door, knocking and telling the kids to wake up.

When asked about their wake up call, Eda referred to it as “epic.” 

Dani said, “Thrilling, yet productive.”

John and Jordan S., who bonded about how they started their day watching Paw Patrol, called the wake up call “epic.”

Yesterday, we watched the sunset over the nation’s capital at dinner. Today, we watched it rise over breakfast. The 14th floor from the Monument Room is truly excellent and provided a nice view of the Jefferson Memorial where we’d be later in the morning.

This made it all the more baffling when a group of WNS students posed for a photo not overlooking DC but instead of the side of the building. Some light heckling by Mr. Brannan and Mr. Shipley couldn’t change their mind about the appropriate background for their photo. 

After breakfast, we headed to the FDR Memorial, which covers a big outdoor space near the Tidal Basin, split into four areas that show different parts of FDR’s time as president. You can see statues of FDR, his wife Eleanor, their Scottish Terrier Fala, and everyday people from that time. 

One of the more popular statues to take photos with at this memorial is of men waiting in a bread line. Most tourists join or insert themselves into the line. So did your kids, though it was a bit unclear if they wanted a photo or thought it was the line to enter the gift shop based on how many of them had been asking us about shopportunities already that morning. 

There are also lots of waterfalls and pools, and walls with FDR’s famous quotes carved into them. The memorial tells the story of important events like the Great Depression and World War II. It’s designed so everyone, including people with disabilities, can easily visit and learn about FDR’s life and how he led the country during tough times.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

While students walked through this memorial, they were given some WNS-provided cameras on which to capture photos of interesting design elements, like the cast iron braille and impressions of faces for blind patrons to be able to interact with the exhibit, so they could use it as part of their English/Social Studies Monument Project later in the year. While the students took the assignment seriously and appeared to snap some great photos, they also mixed in several selfies with silly faces. What a joy it will be for Mr. Brannan to download and sort through those photos later! At least this will provide him an opportunity to drop one of the more embarrassing selfie photos into the project explanation slides when the time comes. 

After FDR, we walked over to the MLK Jr. Memorial. At the center of the memorial is a huge stone statue of Dr. King carved out of a big piece of white stone called the “Stone of Hope,” the name of which comes from one of his famous quotes: “Out of a mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” Behind Dr. King’s statue are two other big stones that look like they’ve been split apart. These represent the “mountain of despair.” Dr. King’s statue looks like it’s been pushed forward out of these stones, showing how he emerged from tough times to bring forth a message of hope. Around the memorial, you can read many of Dr. King’s inspiring quotes about equality, justice, and peace. The whole design is meant to remind of Dr. King’s dream for a better world and encourages us to keep working toward it by​​​​​​​ advocating for justice through speech and action. Like at FDR, students took photos of interesting design elements and elements of symbolism incorporated in the design. 

Leaving the MLK Jr. Memorial, students spotted an ice cream truck open for business nearby and quickly formed a long line at it. While many students had transitioned from “I have a dream” to “Gimme ice cream,” we pulled them out of line to the dismay of the ice cream truck owner to debrief with their groups before heading to the Jefferson Memorial. 

The white marble rotunda sitting on the edge of the Tidal Basin is one of the most picturesque memorials in the United States. Jefferson’s statue sits at its center, staring skeptically at the White House to symbolize his skepticism of the potential overreach of executive authority like, say, purchasing the Louisiana Territory without Congressional approval. Of course, we all know that wasn’t Jefferson’s biggest personal contradiction, nor his biggest sin. Still, the lofty words that came from the tip of his pen, inscribed on the marble walls of his memorial stand for something more than any man and certainly offer an ideal any nation should strive to achieve.

The steps of the Jefferson Memorial offered the students their first view of the White House. Many of them excitedly took pictures here with it off in the distance. (We’ll get a better view of it later this week from Lafayette Park!) Many of them also dipped into the gift shop in order to escape the wind whipping across the water. Or was it because they had money burning a hole in their pocket? Hard to know. 

At the Reagan building students were given vouchers to get what their hearts desired for lunch. They also had a gift shop where your students loaded up on snacks and sweet treats that will possibly all be consumed behind closed doors tonight.

After lunch we made our way to the National African American Museum of History and Culture, a museum that takes visitors on a powerful, emotional journey through the African American experience. The museum’s design is intentional, with its lower levels delving into the dark, painful history of slavery and segregation. These dimly lit galleries confront visitors with the harsh realities of the past, through powerful displays and interactive exhibits. 

As you ascend through the museum, the narrative shifts. The middle levels explore the long, arduous struggle for civil rights, filled with both heartbreak and courage. Finally, the upper floors burst with vibrant celebration of African American contributions to culture, arts, and society in fields like music, sports, and politics. The NMAAHC doesn’t shy away from difficult truths, but ultimately leaves visitors with a profound sense of resilience, and hope.

Our students, like the vast majority of visitors, fell silent when they hit the bottom floor, as they were confronted with the horrors of the beginnings of the international African slave trade. Many students stopped to ponder both alone and in groups the thought-provoking exhibits, videos, and interactive displays.

Unfortunately, one of the museum’s curators who was supposed to meet us to walk us through some upper floor exhibits got delayed on their train ride into the city and wasn’t able to meet us on time. Still, the kids got to explore the upper rooms on their own, marveling at some of the sports and music memorabilia. Noa and Haley celebrated freedom for all by dancing the Cha Cha Slide in the lobby.

After a long day of memorials and museum visits, we figured it was time for the kids to let loose. So we headed out to the National Mall for some impromptu PE time. Kids voluntarily ran wind sprints for a bit before Mr. Shipley organized a game of football. Another group of students practiced their volleyball skills for a bit before transitioning to kickball. They really needed to let some energy out (after walking only about 15K steps earlier in the day)! Luckily we’ll be doing the same thing tomorrow.

We then made our way to the National Portrait Gallery where students got to view the Presidential Portraits throughout the years before we ate dinner in Chinatown.

Our last outing, now the night had fallen, was to visit the Korean War, Vietnam Veterans, and Lincoln Memorials. They were wonderfully lit up at night, and with the sun gone and the wind picking up, we wondered how our 8th graders would do. But the cold couldn’t stop us, and the students were full of energy and made the trek with great enthusiasm. Our LA kids did not like the weather, but they quickly figured out huddling together was the best way to fight it, and it wasn’t long before our groups resembled the penguins in Antarctica waddling arm in arm with each other. After a few ran up the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial, the rest followed, and our group spread out admiring Lincoln’s massive statue with a few students commenting on his “judgey” disposition. Mr. Shipley and Mr. Brannan had a pretty good laugh convincing Jack, Blakeley, and Karlo that if you looked closely enough, Lincoln’s eyes would follow you, and they spent about 30 seconds walking around it trying to figure out if this was true.

As we headed back to the hotel, students complained of being exhausted, desiring their hotel room, and that’s when we knew if we kept this up, maybe they would sleep. But alas, once they got to their rooms, they seemed to get another jolt of energy. We’ll see how they’re doing tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow, we have another busy day planned. We’re off to the US Air Force Memorial after breakfast before heading to Arlington National Cemetery where we’ll get to watch Stella C., Alec, Peyton, and Tyler lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Afterward, we’ll head to lunch at a DC institution, Ben’s Chili Bowl. Then, we’ll visit Ford’s Theater before heading back to the National Mall where students will pick a Smithsonian museum to explore. After all that, we just have dinner (where we’ll celebrate Mr. Rothbart’s birthday) before arriving at the Kennedy Center to watch Shear Madness.

Till tomorrow,

The WNS DC Chaperones

Washington D.C. 2024

– Mr. Brannan & the 8th Grade Chaperones

DAY ONE

Greetings from the nation’s capital where your 8th graders are most likely not sleeping even though their 8th grade chaperones knocked on each of their doors to let them know it’s lights out time. Oh well, if today’s any indicator, they can find reserves of energy and excitement despite a lack of sleep.

Now, onto the day’s recap:

Today’s arrival at WNS was eeeaaarrly! We don’t have to tell many of you parents that. You were there. Yet no one was late. Well done, everyone. Mr. Rothbart’s commute down the 405 this morning reminded him of his time driving on the freeway in Thousand Oaks during daytime hours.

Things at the airport continued to go smoothly with the proceedings only interrupted by a timeless WNS 8th grader on their way to DC question: “Will there be time to buy snacks?” and “When do we get our room assignments?” The latter question was naturally asked repeatedly throughout the day.

There was time to buy snacks, but barely. A group of 60 kids takes a long time to do anything, including effectively counting off for attendance purposes. For some reason, it’s one of the few occasions they think speaking loudly shouldn’t happen. However slow it was, we did make it to the plane on time for takeoff.

During the preflight safety instructions, as usual, many people on the plane were not paying attention and/or talking to each other. Some of our students were among them. Some of those students happened to be sitting right next to a flight attendant who was giving the safety demonstration. When she finished, she hit them with a pop quiz. Jack answered his question correctly. (How many exits are on this plane? Eight!) The others did not, and unfortunately for them, quiz corrections are not a policy honored by United Airlines. 

In addition to being on a flight with another school group, we were surprised to find out that Mr. Rothbart’s aunt was also on our flight. Several of our students had the opportunity to meet her and see pictures of her dog Sadie.

As the plane accelerated down the runway, an overhead bin popped open in view of many of our students. No bags fell out initially, but they were rattling around precariously. A gentleman in the aisle unbuckled his seat belt and quickly pushed it closed. As he returned to his seat, many of our WNS kids gave him a round of applause. People who think it’s a bummer to fly in a plane with a large school group should really consider the upsides it can bring. 

Now, as many of the kids looked up in advance, the plane had entertainment options. The bad news was that a device that could connect to WiFi was required to access these options. So, Mr. Brannan passed out their learning guides to give the kids something to do. Strangely, several kids tried to avoid having “something to do” by putting their hoods up or turning their heads away from him so he didn’t see them. Little did they know that he had heard Mr. Zacuto’s squiggly line and growth mindset talks even more than them. While he didn’t succeed at first in spotting each and every one of them, he persevered and within half an hour each kid had their learning guide and a pencil in their hand. 

The rest of the flight went as planned, and we touched down at IAD ahead of schedule. After arriving at our hotel and checking in, we were taken up to the Monument Room for dinner, which oversees a gorgeous view of the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, and the Capitol. Dinner was a buffet, consisting of a taco bar with salad, rice, fajita-style chicken, beef, and the fixins (salsa, sour cream, and cheese). With their option of water, lemonade, tea, and coffee. Of course we had to have a talk with them about caffeine and how it really was for their chaperones. 

Student dinner remarks:

Karlo: “It reminded me of Taco Bell, which I’ve only had once…not too bad.”

John: “The shells were…***whispers*** stale…but I enjoyed it if I say so myself.”

Remi: “I thought they were giving us dessert.”

After dinner, students were broken into their day groups for an opening workshop to discuss the week’s itinerary and talk a little bit about actions of democracy and expectations of respect for themselves and others during their program.

We wrapped up our first night with a visit to the Pentagon 9/11 Monument. The solemnity of this site provided a powerful end to our first day, reminding us all of the significance of the many places we’ll be visiting this week.

As told by the students in the debrief at the end of the day, they felt they handled visiting the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial the best of everything they did. They were professional and demure. The only hiccup was while walking to the site, there was some construction that forced them to walk through the parking lot and down a road. Congregating with each other, they walked in a blob blocking some cars. It took an officer on a loud speaker blaring at them literally six times, “Move left!”, before the group actually cleared the pathway. This made all the teachers and Close Up staff feel pretty good as it proved that not even the Pentagon Security team could get them to first-time listen.

Back at the hotel, we held a brief school meeting to debrief the day and prepare for tomorrow. The students finally received their room keys and all of a sudden experienced a new wave of energy. They were so excited to be rooming with their friends that they left without their room keys. 

Looking ahead to tomorrow, we have a full day planned, starting with the FDR Memorial, MLK, and Jefferson Memorials before lunch. After lunch we’ll visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture, visit the National Portrait Gallery, then explore Chinatown and grab dinner. After dinner, we’ll visit the Lincoln, Vietnam Veterans, and Korean War Memorial.

Stay tuned for more updates from our DC adventure!

Signed, 

Your 8th Grade Chaperones