AMOS & CELIA HEILICHER MINNEAPOLIS JEWISH DAY SCHOOL

HMJDS 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip - Day 1

HMJDS 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip - Day 1

Our journey began very early, with the 8th grade meeting at 5:15 in the morning to fly on the trip we have been waiting for this entire year. Not many of us were feeling awake yet, but we managed to (mostly) stay awake on the flight from Minneapolis to Saint Louis. From there, we had a connecting flight to Washington DC.

Once we landed in DC, got off the plane, and grabbed our luggage, it was quite an adventure walking across the entire terminal to find the Metro station. As we rode the escalator up to the platform, we felt the warm spring air and sunshine hit our faces.

After two train rides, and a steep downhill trek with all of our baggage, we finally made it to the hotel. On the way we found a sight not often spotted in Minneapolis - beautiful cherry blossom trees in full bloom!

 

We then rode the Metro into Washington DC for the first time, and had a photo scavenger hunt on the National Mall. We all split into groups to find different pieces of art throughout the area. When we found them we took pictures of ourselves in front of the art.

We ate a very early, picnic dinner at 4:30 p.m., right underneath the Washington Monument. As we finished our meals, we played with frisbees until it was time for our monument walk.

 

 

Starting at the Tidal Basin, we visited each monument one by one, stopping for short presentations each of us had prepared in groups for each monument, and to take pictures. We visited the Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Monument, The Stone of Hope commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, the Korean War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool, the Vietnam War Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and finally the Washington Monument, concluding our 10 mile evening walk ... well at least it felt like it! By this point, most of us were tired, and our legs hurt from all the walking and standing, so it was about time we made it back to the hotel. After another ride on the Metro, we made it to the hotel.

 

Posing for a quick photo during the afternoon. Listening to presentations in front of the Jefferson Memorial.
 
Eitan, Zachary and Yoni
presenting at the Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial.
 
Willie, Elliot, Rafe and Isaac
presenting about the Reflecting Pool.
 
 

Alexa, Samantha, and Rachel presenting
about the Washington Monument.

Some of 8th Grade Girls gather for a quick photo!


So far we've had a great, and tiring, first day. We can't wait to share the rest of our adventures in Washington DC.

Signing off after Day 1,

Yoni and Avital on behalf of the 8th Grade Class

  • Eighth Grade
  • Field Trip
  • Washington, DC

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