Block Island School students visit Washington, DC

A bunch of 15 college students, one trainer and an extra chaperone from the Block Island Faculty spent six days in Washington, DC from March 20 to 25, assembly with members of Congress and speaking about key points the USA faces immediately.

In Washington, the group efficiently accomplished the demanding “Shut Up Washington” scholar program. This included spending over 80 hours with college students from faculties nationwide, and utilizing the nation’s capital as a dwelling classroom.
Amira Veldman-Wilson, a senior, stated, “Shut Up was an eye-opening expertise that not solely allowed us to expertise the fantastic thing about our capital however work together with youngsters from all totally different backgrounds. From having considerate conversations on our state’s insurance policies to debating federal payments, we have been
all capable of really take pleasure in this expertise. The journey helped me open up various factors of view and see different issues in numerous methods.”

Jayne Conway, the highschool historical past trainer who organized the expertise, stated, “This program is an unbelievable alternative for our college students to see the world’s biggest symbols of democracy up shut. It exhibits them, in an experiential method, the significance of being knowledgeable and engaged to be able to protect democracy. That is extra vital now than ever.”
Block Island has been sending juniors and seniors to Shut Up each different yr for over 30 years, except for 2020. With the help of the Block Island neighborhood, each scholar who desires to attend this journey is in a position, by way of fundraising efforts by dad and mom and native organizations. For extra info on contributing to the 2024 journey, contact Jayne Conway on the Block Island Faculty.