Skip to main content

Rome ...

... was a little cold for the group's first few days of exploration.  A visit to San Luigi dei Francesi designed by Giacomo della Porta and built between 1518 and 1589 was followed by an extended lunch in the beautiful and famous square, Piazza Navona, which is right near-by, where the boys admired masterpieces by Bernini, della Porta, and Borromini.

After lunch and some sketching, the boys visited the only Gothic church in Rome, the Basilica Santa Maria sopra Minerva.  The church is so named because it was built directly on the foundations of a temple to Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, built by Pompey c. 50 BC.  The basilica that stands today was begun in 1280.  Gelato finished off the afternoon before the group headed back to the hotel.  For the first meal in Rome, all sang happy birthday to Brad D. and almost everyone managed to stay awake during the three course meal--a record, almost, in and of itself--a long, but exciting day was had by all.

At the Colosseum, Flavian Amphitheatre, on day two, after hearing Coach Morales' incredible history of sports lecture, the group realized they'd been "robbed."  A few passports and travelers checks were stolen.  Everything, though, is under control.  Families affected have all been contacted.  Checks and passports are being replaced.  All are healthy and in great spirits.  Ah, the excitement of Rome!

Photos are from the public domain.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NE Patriot Tom Brady at Saint David’s

Last night, Saint David’s was honored to have one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, four time Superbowl champion and three-time MVP winner Tom Brady, as the guest speaker for our Alumni Parents Council Lecture Series. Tom, who is the father of one of our Saint David's boys, addressed a standing-room-only audience in Hyman Hall comprised of our eighth graders, alumni, alumni parents and faculty. Friendly, introspective, witty, and wise, he directed his talk to the delighted eighth graders in the front of the room, and focused on the topic of leadership. “You are the young men and leaders of Saint David’s,” he noted. Tom debunked the perception that leaders are born not made, and credited his leadership abilities to “standing up to and facing fears” and to “cultivating a mental strength,” which he cited as “more important than being physically strong.” He also stressed the importance of working hard, honoring teamwork, believing in oneself and being a good lis
Post a Comment
Read more

Digital Universe Unit With AMNH-Hayden Planetarium Kicks Off

The second year of our unique partnership with the American Museum of Natural History-Hayden Planetarium kicked off on Friday when the sixth grade had their first session of the Digital Universe unit. The session included a private viewing at the planetarium in which boys were able to explore the entire universe. They and their teachers were invited to view the show from the vantage point of the floor in the center of the round theater, staring up into the apex of the dome. What an amazing perspective! Museum educator and astro-visualization expert Nathan Belomy took the boys on a tour of the observable universe, allowing them to get a feel for the scale of distance and size in the universe. In a fun activity related to scale, the boys set down  a volleyball (representing the sun) at 79th Street, and walked for blocks down Columbus avenue with the planets in our solar system represented by a variety of smaller objects – a cupcake sprinkle, a marble – predicting and then measu
Post a Comment
Read more

"Lord of the Flies" Survival Game

Seventh graders are immersed in an "island survival" adventure related to their study of William Golding's 1954 classic Lord of the Flies . The novel tells the story of a group of school-age boys marooned on an uninhabited island, where they struggle to survive without a government or rules. In this creative, unique activity that spans 10 class sessions, our boys are assigned to belong to one of two "tribes." Using knowledge gained from history classes in the fall, they first determine what type of government system to adopt. During the simulations, they strategize methods to overcome obstacles and acquire resources such as wood, food, shelter, and water. The simulation requires the boys to negotiate, debate, and reflect critically on their decisions as they face challenges to their survival. In journals, they regularly write about their thinking, their decisions and consequences. Writing skills are further developed and honed. In addition to analy
Post a Comment
Read more