King Teachers/Staff Lead DC Trip for 195 8th Graders

A King Middle School tradition was resurrected this year thanks to teachers Victoria Edwards and Mya Hotter, who organized and led 195 of King’s 8th grade students on a five-day trip to Washington, D.C. in April. Galvanized by the idea that there is no better way to appreciate the 8th grade lessons of American history and civics than to visit our nation’s Capitol and set foot in the halls of Congress, the whole King community helped support the return of this special trip.

The King students joined with students from Alaska, Montana and Oregon to participate in Close Up’s middle school program. Students learned about how laws are made, visited a number of historical sites and went back in time to the center of one of America’s first colonies in Williamsburg, VA.

One of the highlights of the trip was the visit to the new National Museum of African American History and Culture – an especially moving experience for students, parents and chaperones alike.

A special shout-out goes to King staff and faculty members Paula Carpenter, Diamond King, Shannon Brown, David Gold and Rachel Manandar, and to the 13 parents who made the trip possible by serving as chaperones.