Over spring break, a group of SVHS students, teachers, and community members traveled across the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy as part of the school’s annual Europe trip. The trip, organized by the history teachers, gave students the opportunity to experience new cultures, visit famous landmarks, and create lasting memories.
Throughout the trip, students explored major cities, visited well-known sites, and adapted to life in a completely different environment. From walking through historic streets to trying new foods, each day brought new experiences that many students had never encountered before.
For student Abi Carrillo-Zarate, one of the most memorable parts of the trip was visiting Notre Dame in Paris.
“I don’t really have a favorite place because I liked all of them but I did really love seeing the Notre Dame church in Paris,” she said. “It legit brought tears lol, it was just really pretty, and it was stunning seeing how beautiful a church can be. I would definitely recommend this trip because you make so many fun memories and inside jokes, plus it’s Europe, I mean who doesn’t wanna go there!”
Another student, Kenlee Frome, said one of the most memorable moments happened during a night in Rome.
“I think the moment that stuck out the most was when we went around Rome at night and just wandered around,” she said. “I loved it when we started dancing in the street to a guy’s music.”
She also noted that one of the biggest surprises during the trip was the weather. “The thing that surprises me about Europe is how cold everything was. Like I thought, when we got to Paris, it would be warmer than Germany, but it was not.”
Trip leader Mr. Kabonic said the students are the reason he continues to lead the trip each year.
“What keeps me coming back to lead the trip? You guys,” he said. “My favorite thing about taking high school kids on this trip is seeing it through your eyes for the first time… seeing how what you learned in school or read about in stories suddenly becomes real and connected to a place that you are standing in.”
A portion of the SVHS travel group gathers under Rome’s glowing ancient arches. The nighttime visit became one of the trip’s most unforgettable moments.
By the end of the trip, students returned home with new friendships, unforgettable memories, and a deeper appreciation for the world beyond their own community. The annual Europe trip continues to be a unique opportunity for SVHS students to explore, learn, and grow outside of the classroom.
