A dozen QCHS students spent 10 days in Spain and Portugal.
By Gary Weckselblatt
Quakertown Community High School’s first trip to Spain and Portugal since COVID was a total success for the educational experience and relationship building, according to those who took part in the adventure.
“It really helped students open their eyes to another culture,” said Brooke Reed, Spanish teacher at the Sixth Grade Campus, who chaperoned the trip with QCHS assistant principal Kim Finnerty. “I certainly learned a lot. It was sort of a vacation but a lot of learning took place.”
Students practiced ordering food in the native language, explored Roman ruins, open-air plazas and parks, and learned about the history of bullfights, royal weddings and public executions. They even got to see the beautiful Sagrada Familia, the world’s largest unfinished Catholic church.
“They saw a ton of history,” Mrs. Reed said, “and got them out of their comfort zone a little bit.”
The trip was open to all students in grades 9-12. Taking Spanish was not a requirement. In all, 12 students took the trip: Nate Bezila, Icarus Bradford, Nova Crist-Zabari, Grace and Maria Dakuginow, Julia Henry, Kai Kehs, Karlee Kelly, Madison Nelson, Joshua San Jose, Anna Skoken, and Dominic Wright.
The QCHS contingent traveled with students from Kentucky and Rochester, NY. “Though they may not have know each other before arriving in Barcelona, in 24 hours everybody got along, took pictures together, exchanged phone numbers,” Mrs. Reed said. “They formed really great friendships.”
“It was an amazing experience getting to learn about all of the history but at the same time we were still able to enjoy being a kid,” said Madison Nelson, a junior. “On the last night every person got together to say their goodbyes. There was a lot of crying. We’re going to miss each other a lot.”
Next year, trips include London and Costa Rica, then it’s back to Spain in 2025.
Gary Weckselblatt, QCSD Director of Communications, writes about the people and the programs that impact the Quakertown Community School District. He can be reached at 215-529- 2028 or [email protected].