Teacher Chris Crews and trip participants gather for a group photo in New York City’s Central Park.
A group of 54 Carlson and Trenton High School students and chaperones traveled to New York City this spring for an action packed two nights and three days.
The group arrived in Manhattan to visit Penguin Random House Books and 2007 THS Alum Kelly McGauley. McGauley serves as The marketing manager for Random House Children’s Books. McGauley gave an inspirational presentation about her path to New York as well as a description of her job. She went on to describe how a book comes to market and all of the channels, research and promotions she uses to make that happen. Students impressed while taking part in a focus group conducted by McGauley’s team.
Students then traveled to stops at Madison Square Garden and Ripley Grier Studios for an eye opening visit. At Ripley Grier, a group was met by Broadway Actress Cassie Okenka, a Toledo, Ohio, native who plays in “School of Rock.” She gave students insight into life on Broadway as well as her own career path.
Students ended the day with shopping on Times Square as well as sightseeing from Top of The Rock at Rockefeller Center. Students averaged nine miles per day walking over the first two days and were tired that first day in the city to say the least.
Day 2 started with a trip by ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island where students explored the history of the park as well as immigration into the United States. Students had lunch in Chinatown and came back to Lower Manhattan for a tour of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Students were in awe taking in the power of both the mall as well as the exhibits in the museum.
The students were also introduced to the New York City Subway System and did all travel either by the subway or on foot. Uncertain at first, our students rode the rails like experts by the end of the day. It was back to Midtown for dinner in Little Italy for a four-star meal.
Day 3 saw students take a walking tour of Central Park with visits to Strawberry Fields and Belvedere Castle to name a few sights. Students were treated to an impromptu performance at the fountain by an ensemble of acapella singers visiting New York with their high school classmates from Wisconsin. The day ended with students catching an amazing performance of School of Rock at The Winter Garden Theatre in Midtown.
THS teacher Chris Crews, who headed the contigent, said the students who went on this year’s trip comprised an impressive group that was complimented as such by McGauley’s staff, the theatre staff at Ripley Grier Studios, our parent chaperones and the bus drive.
“On behalf of the faculty advisers, Mrs. Bechtol, Ms. Paczewitz, Mr. Monaco and myself, we would like to thank the parent chaperones for making this an incredibly fun learning experience for our students,” Crews said. “Thanks to Mike Bulatovic, Dana Castillo, Susan Truitt, Nancy Lasich, Kellee Howey, Charisse Hoffman and Kelly Memering.
“We would also like to thank the Board of Trenton Public Schools as well as the administration for the travel opportunity.”