Westwood teacher reviews Europe 2025 student trip, previews proposed Belize 2027 itinerary and fundraising plan

Miss Wysocki, a Westwood Heights Schools teacher and the leader of the Europe 2025 student trip, reported to the Board of Education about the recent international trip and outlined plans for a proposed Belize trip in 2027.

Wysocki told the board the Europe trip had extensive preparation and fundraising behind it. “We did raise just over $20,000,” she said, and described multiple trainings she attended with the tour company and a series of ongoing meetings with parents, chaperones and tour staff. She said the district will be asked to approve a Belize trip for 2027 and that she intends to travel with students every other year.

Wysocki recounted several on‑trip incidents that required staff attention but said staff handled them. A parent who traveled with the group described one student’s medical episode: “He had anxiety and dehydration,” the parent said, adding that staff escorted the student to treatment and stayed in close contact with the family. Wysocki also described a lost passport that delayed departure for one student and a phone that was left on a plane and later recovered.

She summarized student development as a key outcome: students grew more independent and solved problems on the trip, she said, and the group visited multiple cultural sites in France and Spain, traveled by train and saw museums and landmarks. Wysocki also described specific logistical challenges — extreme heat and high humidity on some days, heavy walking that taxed students and chaperones, and the decision not to repeat a large Renaissance Festival fundraiser because it required adult‑level work from students and little adult support.

On costs and fundraising, Wysocki said prior Europe trips had cost roughly $5,000 per student and $6,000 per adult and that the proposed Belize itinerary would be shorter and cheaper, about $3,000 per student at the time of the presentation. She said the company was offering a $200 early‑registration discount through Oct. 10 and that enrollment and fundraising pages had been shared with families; she said payments are handled through the tour company and that donor contributions go directly to the student’s account with the company.

Wysocki described planned Belize activities including hiking at Mayan ruins (subject to site rules at the time of travel), zip‑lining, cave tubing, snorkeling and a visit to a Mayan village. She said life jackets would be provided for water activities and that alternative participation (staying on the boat) would be available for students who preferred not to enter the water. She noted medical and physical limitations among chaperones — she said she might not zip‑line because of a biceps tendon issue and would remain on the ground for those activities if needed.

Wysocki asked the board for approval to move ahead with recruitment and fundraising; she said an approval item would be brought forward to the board for formal action before final enrollment. She said five students had already signed up at the time of the presentation and that she would run additional interest meetings and seek community partnerships to reduce family costs.

Board members did not take a vote on the Belize proposal during the report. Wysocki said the company and itinerary details would be returned to the board for formal approval at a future meeting.

Ending: Wysocki closed by reiterating that all participants returned from Europe and that the trip produced measurable student growth and multiple teachable moments; she asked board members to forward community partnership leads and said she would circulate the tour enrollment link and fundraising information to staff and families.