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Students describe 109‑student JMS Travels trip and preview proposed service trip
Summary
Middle-school students and chaperones reported to the board on a recent 6‑day Washington, D.C./New York trip involving about 109 students and multiple chaperones, and outlined plans for a proposed Dominican Republic service trip focused on coral-reef restoration.
A team of JMS Travels students and chaperones presented details of a recent multi‑day trip to Washington, D.C., and New York, telling the board how the program has expanded and outlining a proposed future service trip.
A JMS Travels presenter summarized the trip: "6 days, a 109 students," noting it was the program’s largest trip and that three buses and multiple chaperones were used to manage logistics. Presenters said JMS Travels has taken roughly 294 students on similar trips over the program’s history and that the recent itinerary included memorials, museums and other educational sites.
Students gave short reflections on highlights. Macy, an eighth‑grade student, described flights, museum visits and walking tours as memorable parts of the trip. "My favorite thing overall in the trip was visiting all the museums," she said. Allie Johnson, another eighth‑grader, described visits to the Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
A parent who spoke at the meeting praised the program’s communication and chaperone support, saying regular updates and pictures helped keep families informed and calmed anxiety.
Program leaders asked the board to consider approving a longer‑term rotation of international, domestic and service trips. They proposed a Dominican Republic service trip for next March that would include about 18 hours of organized service focused on coral‑reef restoration and related environmental work; leaders said they will bring formal approval materials and an informational meeting for families if the board is supportive.
Why it matters: The trips provide experiential learning outside the classroom, logistical experience for students (public transit and travel), and in the case of the proposed Dominican Republic trip, service‑learning opportunities.
What’s next: Program leaders said they will bring formal documentation for the proposed service trip and an informational meeting for interested families following board approval steps.
(Attribution: quotes come from JMS Travels presenters and students who introduced themselves during the presentation.)
