Hello Mrs. First Lady

Steph and Kathryn enjoy the last few hours of the trip outside the White House. Shortly after we were stopped by Secret Service to let Michelle Obama's three-car motorcade turn into the driveway.

Engaging a Protester

Outside the White House, students walked through Lafayette Park and met Conception Picciotto, who has been protesting in the park every day since 1981. For some seeing a person with such strong convictions that she would devote her life to a daily vigil was an eye-opening experience.

Students engaged her with curiosity, respect, and an open mind. They listened to her express her opinions, asked a few questions, and read her signs. Most importantly, however, as they walked away, they made their own opinions about her cause.

At the Pentagon

Tour guide Jim Hoffmaster explains to student about the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. There are 184 benches, each one inscribed with a name of someone who died either on the plane or in the building on that day.

Shakespeare, Act II

The actors and actresses of bus 2 enthusiastically took the stage this morning to try their hand in some of Shakespeare's greatest death scenes. Here, Mary Kate and the boys reach their end in a graceful and dignified manner. In the next scene Tim suffers through a dinner of hot coals.

At the Folger Shakespeare Library

Students show off their acting chops.

The Bieber Bus

What has been one of the biggest highlights of the trip? The Lincoln Memorial? The changing of the guard at Arlington? Right in front of us seeing the Congressional police pull into the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and K Street with two big, black SUVs to halt traffic so they could escort Speaker of the House John Boehner into a meeting?

No, it's the Bieber Bus. Check the students' cameras and you'll find lots of poses in front of the bus. More fun, however, is seeing other tour groups pull out their cameras to snap pictures of our bus in the hopes that perhaps they can catch a glimpse of Justin Bieber himself.

Arlington Cemetary

Buca de Bepo

On Thursday night we fared far better at Buca de Bepo for our evening dinner. The students recharged on salad, different types of pastas, chicken parmesan, and some massive cookies for dessert! All of this was well deserved after the very long day of touring!

Performing at the Folgers Shakespeare Theater

Dan, Harry, Perry, and Nic pester Devin in a segment of "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar." For just one take the performance was done quite well. The other students stood about before the stage as they would in an everyday Elizabethan performance while nobles (Maddi and Victoria) were poised on the stage itself to take in the play while showing off their extravagant wealth and power! Don't miss the actor commentary in the audio link below along with pictures.

Nobles on stage, enjoying the show

Rehearsing their lines

The official performance commentators

Receiving their constructive criticism...

The gallery captivated by the performance

Lincoln watches over the students.

Honest Abe

The boys discovered a house divided against itself cannot stand.

An Evening with Abe

Both groups are wrapping up their day with evening tours of the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials as well as the FDR and Lincoln Memorials.

A Family Connection

At Arlington National Cemetery, Dan was able to find a relative.

The Eternal Flame

Students on bus #1 pay respect to John F. Kennedy.

Parker Acts Up...In a Good Way

It was a good day to be an English teacher. First the Library of Congress, next the Supreme Court, and then the Folger Shakespeare Library. A full morning in which words and ideas were the center of attention.

The Folger Library was a particularly special highlight to the trip. Having spent nearly eight weeks reading, studying, and acting Romeo and Juliet, the chance to learn a little more about Shakespeare and to see 10 original First Folio editions of his works meant a lot to many of the students.

However, it was the opportunity to act a little on an Elizabethian-style stage that the students will probably remember most. Everyone got up on stage at least once (even the chaperones) and tried their hands at different types of "death" scenes, Shakespearean phrases, and mini-versions of some of the more famous plays - including Romeo and Juliet.

It was especially gratifying to see student participate with enthusiasm and with a confidence in the language. Their willingness to have fun with the scenes and to cheer each other on should be commended. It was a great time that I know they (and the general public who were in the balcony watching) will remember for a long time.

Death at the Hand of Shakespeare

Students are trying their hand at different forms of death on the Shalespearean stage.

Yup, TJ Read Romeo & Juliet, Too

At the Library of Congress, everyone seemed pretty impressed with the architecture inside and outside of the building. We first looked down into reading room, which Dan D. immediately recognized from National Treasure. Then, we explored the Thomas Jefferson exhibit in which we were able to find his original copy of Romeo and Juliet from his personal library.

At the FDR Memorial

Thank you U.S. Marines for your service!

Sophia and Katie pause in front of the Iwo Jima memorial to watch the Marines raise the flag. A small group of Marines were practicing ceremonial marches in the park behind us that was interesting to see.