Eighth grade travels to Washington D.C. for annual class trip

For the first time since 2019, Stuart's eighth grade traveled down to the nation's capital for the annual Washington D.C. trip. The first stop was at Arlington National Cemetery where the students reflected on this sacred space and attended the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They then traveled to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. As they were touring the exhibits, they ran into the eighth grade from the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. One of our students had been there two weeks ago on exchange, and we are looking to welcome four students from there to visit Stuart next week. It was Goal IV in action as the girls got to meet each other and connect as a whole grade. Following dinner, the trip took on a new tradition as student groups took turns being tour guides after researching information about various monuments. As we arrived at each of the major monuments, students took turns sharing the history, symbolism, and meaning of each monument. When we arrived at the hotel late that evening, there was still time to have birthday cake and sing some karaoke before some got a good night's sleep. On the second day, students visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The trip ended with a visit to the Natural Science and American History museums on the National Mall. Throughout the trip, the students were able to experience all five Goals of the Sacred Heart and, most importantly, got a chance to bond and grow together after the pandemic pulled us so far apart.