This fall, students from many different classes at Saint Joseph High School got to venture outside of their classes and experience hands on learning through a variety of field trips. Emphasizing the importance of connecting the real world to their education.

The AP English Language students kicked off the quarter with a visit to the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame. They explored how visual art communicates complex ideas and emotions, as well as the deeper meanings and morality behind each piece. This visit emphasized a key message in AP English Language by encouraging each student to think and develop their own beliefs about art works. Together, they got to work to become their own individual critics. They saw key pieces like one of the 50 red flags by Andy Goldsworthy, as well as the famous Memento Mori.

Following that, the Project Lead The Way Engineering Design and Development class traveled to the Engineering Innovation Hub at Notre Dame. They got to experience the cutting edge equipment and laboratories used by the undergraduate students at Notre Dame. They got to explore and observe advanced equipment and see how tools help shape future engineers. This field trip helps cement the key message that the Engineering Design and Development class focuses on, developing the future. Through the first hand observations of the processes, it helped spark creativity and drive forth a new generation of engineers.

To conclude the field trips, senior art students traveled to Chicago to visit the Art Institute of Chicago. Furthermore, they also experienced the true Chicago experience by eating classic deep dish pizza from Giordano’s and catching some rays at Millennium Park. This field trip cemented the key notion thatart should reflect cultures. By experiencing a tase of authentic Chicago culture, they developed a new sense of creativity, connection and cultivation.

Through these trips, Saint Joseph High School has helped expand the knowledge and culture of their subjects. It shows the dedication that Saint Joe has towards developing critical, innovated and cultured students. Cementing the idea that experience is fundamental to the success of learning.