Pleasant Valley students were on the move this summer. From South Africa to Japan, and Peru to France, Spartans have made their lasting mark on the world.

Haley Germain, Senior–

Trip Date: June 15th-June 26th.

This summer, Haley Germain traveled through some of the most beautiful cities in France. Accompanied by Madame L, Madame B, and two parent chaperones, she saw Paris, Lyon, Dijon, and Switzerland. They explored cities in France, both big and small and even got the opportunity to spend an afternoon in Germany. Germain says, “I enjoyed eating snails, having a lot of gelato and of course, seeing the Eiffel Tower. I would 100% recommend this trip to other kids, it was the trip of a lifetime.”

Sydney Prochaska, Senior-

Trip Date: August 3rd-14th.

Over the summer of 2017, there were 3 different trips to Peru. Each trip had a similar goal in mind: to help children in need. Senior, Sydney Prochaska visited Lima, Ventilla, and Huacachina in Peru. In the months leading up to the trip, Prochaska helped raise money for the organization Voices for Peru. This organization helps give an education to children who are impacted by violence and oppression in their own countries. In October, there was a poinsettia sale that raised money for the charity and Prochaska also helped by donating suitcases full of clothes and hygiene items for the children. “It was awesome to see all of the kids and to see how grateful they were to go to school when everyone here doesn’t think of school in that way,” Prochaska pointed out. Overall, she would recommend the trip so people can see how different others across the world live and what we can do to help out.  

Samantha Bladel, Senior-

Trip Date: June 14th-June 28th.

Samantha Bladel had an “experience that is different from anywhere else in the world,” when visiting Japan this past summer. Accompanied by Mrs. Sheybani, Bladel explored Tokyo (including districts Akihabara, Shibuya, and Harajuku), Hiroshima, and Kyoto. She also stayed with a host family for a week and went to school. She fortunate to be given the opportunity to teach an English class during one of her days at school. “I would recommend this trip. It was very fun. I didn’t know as much Japanese as everyone else on the trip, so I was nervous as a two year student being surrounded by four and five year students,” Bladel admits. “But English is frequently spoken in Japan, so I got around fairly easily.”

Cassie Brown, Senior–

Trip Date: July 4-July 14th.

Cassie Brown took the long journey to South Africa this summer with chaperones Mike Peakin, Sarah Peakin, and Señorita Risius. Brown visited Johannesburg, Cape Town, and even got to enjoy a safari in Kruger National Park while in South Africa. “My favorite moment was the safari. We saw elephants left and right as well as giraffes and wildebeests,” Brown commented. One particular day, as Brown was heading back from lunch, her and her tour guide saw a pack of lions that were hunting zebras in the distance. Watching the lioness cross right in front of her group was determined as one of her favorite memories. Brown highly recommends underclassmen to go on this trip.

If interested in attending a trip in the future, visit Stephanie Risius in room 149 or Melissa Lechtenberg in room 185.