Upper School Students Hit the Road Over Spring Break

Crossroads student groups traveled to multiple destinations over spring break. In the first-ever international Latin program trip, 21 students in grades 10-12 traveled to Italy to explore historical landmarks including the Colosseum, the Capitoline Museum, Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica. Led by Dean of Teaching & Learning Mercedes Barletta and Latin Teacher Keegan Potter, the trip was planned in partnership with the Paideia Institute, a nonprofit educational organization that promotes the study and appreciation of classical languages. A Paideia teaching associate led the Crossroads group to the various site visits, providing reading materials in English and Latin detailing the history of the spaces as they were described and experienced by ancient viewers. 

“I had such an unforgettable experience in Italy,” said sophomore Talia Schachter. “From gelato runs and getting drenched in the rain to seeing incredible sights like the Colosseum, I’ll always remember this trip.”

French Teacher Armelle Courcelle-Labrousse and History Teacher Paul Case brought 23 sophomores and juniors to Montpellier, as part of an exchange program with the French high school Lycée Joffre, whose students will be visiting Crossroads this October. In addition to strengthening their language skills, students navigated the city using trains, buses and other forms of transport, getting to experience daily life of the host families they stayed with. Students traveled with their host students to school on two mornings to share presentations in English about life in Los Angeles, and spent evenings and weekends learning from their hosts about the country’s culture and customs. 

Other activities included excursions to historical sites like Nîmes (known for its Roman Amphitheatre), Aigues-Mortes (a commune along the canals of the Occitania region), Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau (a pink flamingo reserve) and Pont du Gard (a UNESCO World Heritage site located about 45-60 minutes northeast of the Montpellier).  

Closer to home, the varsity baseball team traveled to San Diego for the Lions Tournament, a competitive high school baseball tournament with over 120 high school teams from both California and out-of-state. The tournament was broken into seven primary divisions, with teams competing in smaller brackets within each division. The Roadrunners played four games over the course of the long weekend, sweeping their bracket and beating Foothills Christian 11-3, Canyon Hills 17-1, Mar Vista 12-0 and Kearny High School 2-1. The team developed a daily routine of eating breakfast together before hitting the batting cages, followed by a team lunch. After each game, they also enjoyed dinner together before retiring as a group to their hotel for the evening. 

In addition to skill development and experiential learning, a common theme for each of the spring break trips was strengthening ties and building community.

“It’s always an amazing team bonding experience,” said Ira of the baseball team trip. “Coaches get to bond with students, I get to bond with them. I get to see them a little differently and the parents are there to support us. It’s really a family event.”