Unionville‑Chadds Ford committee previews multiple international student trips, sets votes for next board meeting

Unionville‑Chadds Ford School District administrators and teachers presented four proposed international student trips during the Curriculum, Instruction and Technology committee meeting on Sept. 9.

Noelle Porco outlined a proposed University High School Art program trip to Paris from June 20 to 29, 2025, with an optional London extension. Porco said the itinerary would connect directly to AP Art History curriculum by visiting the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and Versailles. She estimated the cost at about $5,359 per student and said invited students would include Art 1–4, AP Art History and Art3D participants. "It will allow them to really be immersed" in Parisian art and reduce travel time compared with prior Greece/Italy itineraries, she said.

Akili Lannon described early planning for an International Club trip to South Africa in summer 2026, citing curricular links such as teaching around apartheid and visits to sites including Mandela's house. Lannon said the club is coordinating with EF and is starting planning earlier because of the trip's complexity and cost.

Mister Audubard described the recurring Patton Middle School French trip to Quebec City, proposed for Jan. 16–20, 2025, and estimated costs between $1,180 and $1,400 depending on group rates. He noted the trip has been offered for more than a decade and provides language immersion opportunities for seventh‑ and eighth‑grade students.

Audubard also reminded the committee that Cindy Pissarro’s previously presented Peru trip for high‑school Spanish students will be brought forward for the regular board’s approval next week.

Each trip presenter said follow‑up questions will be addressed while the items are scheduled as voting items at next week’s regular board meeting.

What happens next: The committee recorded the proposals and scheduled formal votes at the upcoming regular school board meeting, where details such as final itineraries, participant selection and exact costs will be finalized.