Ridgefield Academy Middle School

Finishes School Year With Trip To Quebec

RIDGEFIELD — Middle School students from Ridgefield Academy boarded a bus recently with excitement and anticipation as they embarked on their journey to Quebec City – a place where many of them could practice the French language they study at the Academy year-round.

In the past, Ridgefield Academy Middle School has enjoyed school trips up and down the eastern seaboard. Their past destinations include Gettysburg, Washington, DC, Boston, and Williamsburg to name a few. It was therefore with enthusiasm that the Middle School students responded when Jim Heus, head of school, decided that Canada, and more specifically Quebec City, was to be the city of choice this year. Teachers and families at the Academy were pleased that the youth would have the opportunity to experience, appreciate, and observe first hand the dual French and English heritages which exist so harmoniously in this lovely city.

Amongst the many places the students visited was La Citadel, the largest walled in fort in North America. La Citadel originally overlooked the first settlement of Quebec. The sixth, seventh, and eighth grade tourists also enjoyed several museums, one of which allowed the students to dress in the actual military uniforms of French… and then English soldiers.

They also had fun walking down narrow cobblestone streets and through narrow alleys as they admired the charming buildings throughout the city.

The students expressed partiality toward the Maritime Museum, where they were allowed to climb ropes in true sailor fashion. During that week, the students also took the time to tour the beautiful island L’Orleans, which is a farming community which features lovely old French architecture across the river from Quebec City.

The students returned to Ridgefield on May 25 in time to discuss the trip and what they’d learned during their final week of school, which finished on June 9.