Rockland School Committee Approves 2027 European Tour for Students
Local High School Fundraisers Net Thousands for Student Activities
ROCKLAND - December 9 - The Rockland School Committee has given the green light for a 2027 student trip to Europe, focusing on World War II history. The nine-day educational tour, organized by EF Tours, will take students to Berlin, Budapest, Prague, and Krakow.
Kristin Walsh, a teacher at Rockland High School and the travel club organizer, presented the tour proposal at the Dec. 9 school committee meeting. The itinerary includes visits to five countries, with a lunch stop in Slovakia.
"This has been a tour I've wanted to do for a really long time," Walsh said. "We had a lot of success with this section of Europe in 2019 on a full tour, and the students loved it."
The tour aims to bring historical content to life for students who have learned about World War II in their classes. Walsh emphasized the educational value of the trip, particularly for those interested in history.
"I'm really looking forward to all the World War II history, some really moving experiences the students have learned about in school in terms of historical content and then get to experience it firsthand," she explained.
Safety measures are in place for the trip, including medical protocols and proximity to hospitals. Emily Whipple from EF Tours assured the committee of their global travel protection plan and 24/7 emergency service team.
The tour is expected to accommodate between 30 and 40 students, with chaperones added as numbers grow. The chaperone-to-student ratio is set at one to six.
In other school news, recent fundraisers for Rockland Schools have proven highly successful. The Phelps PAC, through their "Name the Circle" fundraiser, raised $17,000 after expenses.
Other notable fundraisers included:
- Turkey Feathers: Collected $1,200, with a net profit of $550
- Orion's Give Back Night: Raised $50
- Mr. Rockland event: Netted $612, with Gavin Mattos crowned as the winner
The school committee also approved six new fundraisers for various school groups. These include a Dining for a Cause event at D'Angelo's and Papa Gino's for the Phelps Pack, a Gold Coin Challenge, and a Fun Run to raise money for field trips and enrichments.
The high school girls' basketball team will sell apparel in December, while the French class will sell Hilliard's Candy Bars to fund a trip to Quebec. Additionally, WRPS will host a bowling event at Timberlanes to benefit their scholarship fund.
In other business, the committee approved an amendment to the building rental contract. The change expands the scope of technical assistance available for renters beyond just the auditorium and lecture hall.
Superintendent Alan Cron highlighted the recent Credit for Life Fair, an event for sophomores that teaches financial responsibility. "It's the kind of thing that you often hear people say, 'I wish they would teach kids about credit cards,' and I wish they would teach about, well, this is what we do," Cron said.
The fair, spearheaded by guidance counselor Jill Delaney, partners with local banks to man stations teaching various aspects of financial life.
As the meeting concluded, committee members wished everyone happy holidays and good luck to winter sports teams as their seasons begin.
The next school committee meeting is scheduled for January.