‘Non-School’ Trip

To Disney Institute Set For Discovery Students

By Tanjua Damon

Newtown Middle School Discovery students trip to Disney Institute in Florida in January was cancelled earlier this year because of the concerns about the students’ safety in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. Now a non-school trip to Florida is planned for the end of June for the students and their families who still want to go.

After the September 11 attacks, it was decided that the annual January school trip to the institute was not in the best interest of the children’s safety. Discovery teacher John Vouros met with parents earlier this week. That meeting decided that it would be a family trip not related to school if anyone wanted to attend. Twenty-two of the 30 eighth grade students in the class indicated they would go, Mr Vouros said.

The trip to the Institute is part of the Discovery curriculum. While at the Disney facility the students attend workshops where they learn how to make animations as well as use the equipment.

“It’s a five-day program. It’s very educational at the Disney Institute,” Mr Vouros said. “They are taught how to use the equipment. It’s unbelievable. They make animations, characters, scenery, cropping, they learn it all.”

The trip will take place during the summer vacation from June 26 to June 30. Mr Vouros and his wife, Jane, a physical education teacher at the middle school, will chaperone along with parents on the trip. The students and their families will pay for the cost of the trip, just over $1,000 per student.

Mr Vouros said a trip to an Outward Bound facility is being proposed for a school-related trip at the end of May 2002 for students this year.