Over half term, Mrs Rosemary Byrne, Mrs Hannah Van Klaveren and I took 19 girls to New York for a fun-filled, action-packed trip to the 'Big Apple' to explore its Art and Culture.
Every day was full of activities and the girls certainly got to know the city as we explored it both on foot and by using the subway. After a late arrival on Monday night we rested up in anticipation for adventure to begin the following day.
Tuesday morning, bright and early, we made our way down to Battery Park where we boarded the ferry to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty and enjoy the views of the city. We continued to Ellis Island where the girls could find their surnames or the surnames of family members on the American Immigrant Wall of Honor.
Once we were back ashore again we made our way to the 9/11 Memorial which was a poignant moment for the girls as the event happened before they were born. I feel that although upsetting for them at times, it was a humbling moment which illustrated the true extent of the tragedy, and brought to life the story of 9/11 with which they were all familiar.
After visiting the memorial we took a quick stroll around the financial district, taking in the sights of Wall Street and visiting the ‘Bull’ sculpture. With our feet aching, we made our way up to the Empire State Building. Unfortunately, the weather was the only thing I could not plan and visibility was poor but that didn’t dampen the girls' enthusiasm one bit.
Wednesday was an exciting day brimming with art! We started with a graffiti tour taking in the sights and sounds of the city followed by a graffiti workshop lead by a practising NYC graffiti artist called ‘Leaf’. During the workshop the girls tried their hand at some spray painting and created an amazing poster which we took home with us. Later we enjoyed the Guggenheim Museum and the Met before taking our seats to watch Mean Girls on Broadway! We finished off the evening with a quick visit to Times Square and then made our way home exhausted after another day of fun.
On Thursday, we took a scenic walk through Central Park which was still beautiful, even in the rain. On our way to MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) we took in a little window shopping on 5th Avenue. MoMA did not disappoint and supplied us with a feast of great masters' work to study in awe.
This trip was a first for the Art Department and has been a real labour of love for me. I was so thankful to have 19 wonderful girls join us and for help and support from Mrs Byrne and Mrs Van Klaveren. It truly was a very special experience for everyone involved.
Mrs Denise Brennan, Teacher of Art