Students report cultural, historical learning after Hawaii trip

Chaperones Janessa Novitzki and Christine Wanovich described a March 22 study trip to Hawaii taken by 37 high-school students, highlighting visits to Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head and the Polynesian Cultural Center as ties to U.S. history, geography and Polynesian cultures.

Novitzki said the group spent a week in Hawaii with activities aligned to U.S. history and geography, and noted the trip included time at Pearl Harbor’s memorial. She told the board the timing was "very timely" because the last surviving USS Arizona survivor passed away shortly after the trip.

Two students who spoke, Olivia Morack and Bray Schultz, said the trip was a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience that taught them cultural history and introduced them to activities such as snorkeling and volcano visits. "It was very inclusive and they welcomed us right away," one student said.

Chaperones noted logistical lessons — early departures in unusual weather, group check-ins every two hours and a cap of 40 students per trip — and asked the board for permission to begin planning a possible Italy trip in a future cycle.

The board thanked the chaperones and students for the presentation and expressed appreciation for the educational opportunities the district provides.