Trips

France & Italy

Paris and Rome are only a few of the places visited over the March Break by a group of students from Governor Simcoe. Teacher supervisors Mlle. Gerbes and Mr. Dakin, took eleven students and four adults over seas with them to explore and understand French culture. The group went for ten days, in total.

France and Italy were the two countries they explored. The flight was approximately eight hours in length. The group arrived in Rome, where they went to their hotel for the first night. While in Rome, they travelled to the Coliseum and the Trevi Fountain. Bonnie Slobodian, a grade 10 student who went on the trip said, AIt was very big and very beautiful.@ The group then made their way to the Vatican. The Vatican is a country within the city in Rome. It is the smallest country in the world, where the Pope lives.

The group toured the Leaning Tower of Pisa. While in Italy the group also traveled to Sienna. Their next endeavor was to visit France and get in touch with the historical roots of French culture. The group had many excursions planned while touring in France. They explored the city of Monaco and stayed in a hotel that had an unforgettable view of the sea.

Everyone packed up and got onto a train to explore the heart of France. Paris was their next stop. The group traversed through the overwhelming architecture of Notre Dame, and was awestruck by the Mona Lisa in the Louvre.

Mlle. Gerbes said, "The trip was exhausting and exhilarating all at once!" Other places travelled include: Florence, Assisi, Nice, Champs Elysees, and the Eiffel Tower.

Battlefields of Europe

On March 9th, 2007 thirty Governor Simcoe students travelled to Europe for an unforgettable and historical March break.

The students learned about our Canadian historical background with visits to: Dieppe, Juno Beach, Somme, Vimy Ridge and the Anne Frank house. Other places the students visited included the Arch du Triumph, The Eiffel Tower, and a shopping experience of a lifetime at des Champs-Elysees.

At Somme, Vimy Ridge, Dieppe and Juno Beach the students were faced with the reality of Canada=s history. At Somme, we saw the trenches still existing from the battle in 1916. At Vimy Ridge we also saw many trenches and the monument that will later host this year=s 90th anniversary of the battle. Out of all the places visited, Dieppe stands out as one of the most beautiful, showing us an old fashioned way of living. Although in Europe we got our best taste of Canada at the Juno Beach centre. Before we sauntered off to the beach we got to experience the life of a soldier when we went into an old bunker.

The Anne Frank house was by far the most emotional place we visited. It is located right in downtown Amsterdam, where we stood in line for about half an hour. Once inside, you automatically become silent and try to take it all in. So many emotions go through you as you walk through the small house where the Frank family were in hiding for three long frightening years.

The group travelled with four chaperones, one including Mr. Darcy McCardle, who headed up the trip. He thought it was a great success saying, AIt was a trip of a lifetime and the experiences will live with us forever.

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