On March 14, 2025, a group of eighth and ninth-grade Poly students left on a ten-day trip to France. This trip was led by three Poly faculty members: Middle School French Teacher Chris Tutolo, Upper and Middle School French teacher Connor Black, and Assistant Director of Admissions Operations Caleigh Forbes-Cockell. Tutolo had hoped for a trip like this since his first year working at Poly in 2021. “I’ve had this idea since I started at Poly in 2021, but we weren’t allowed to travel due to COVID, same with the next year,” he said. Black and Tutolo began planning this trip in April of 2024. On this ten-day-long journey, the group went to thirteen different cities and towns, either spending the night there or taking a day trip. These places are Paris, Biarritz, Carcassonne, Nîmes, Nice, Avignon, Èze, Monaco, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Le Pont du Gard, Baux-de-Provence, and Lourdes.
The first stop of the trip was Paris. For some students, Paris was one of the most memorable and magical cities to visit. Among these students was Jillian Maura ’28, who said, “The most memorable part of the trip was when we went on the river cruise in Paris on our second day there.” Out of all ten days, this one stood out to her because “we had been on a lot of tours that day, but seeing it all at night with the lights and sparkling of the Eiffel Tower was really cool.”
On day three of the France trip, the group moved to Biarritz. Biarritz was another great experience for students. For Alex Mezhburd ’28, Biarritz was her favorite city she explored on the trip because she went “swimming at the beach and experience[d] French culture.” Roxy Londoner ’29 shared this testament, as she said her favorite part of the trip was “when we went to Biarritz and had an evening on the beach.”
While each city in France held unique memories and moments, each student had a favorite. Maura’s favorite place was Nice, “because it was cool seeing the Mediterranean Ocean,” she said. In Nice, the students experienced a view of the Mediterranean Sea on one side and mountains on the other. For Alessandra Lisk ’29, her favorite place visited was Èze. While hiking up Èze, there were unbelievable views of the Mediterranean Sea. Èze is a small village on the top of a mountain with cobblestone streets.
Although trips like this have an itinerary, there are always points of spontaneity. Tutolo reflected, “I think every trip is not always what you expect, but that’s a good thing. This trip surprised me in ways that make me continue to love travel.” There were a few bumps in the road on the trip. Towards the end of the trip, a lot of people were worn out from moving so often. Students moved from place to place without a lot of sleep, so quickly people grew frustrated.
While on the trip, eighth and ninth graders were able to interact with one another without the Upper and Middle school separation. The students were able to create new bonds, as well as strengthen old ones. Mezhburd said, “A lot of the underclassmen I became close with, and even some of the people in my grade I became more friendly with.” Londoner agreed: “I think I got closer with all of the [students on the trip.” Spending time with the same people for ten days forces you to get to know them better, which can lead to new or strengthened friendships!
This spring break trip was not only a fun experience but also an educational one. The fifteen students were able to practice their French speaking skills. “I became more conversational and I feel like I can speak a little more fluently without stuttering now,” said Londoner. Josie George ’29 said this trip to France improved her French skills because “it allowed me to talk to other people who are more fluent [in French].” Tutolo also said, “I would like to think just with the exposure and immersion, many students improved their French.”
Students were also able to learn more about French culture. Mezhburd said she learned “In the south of France and Paris the people are a lot sweeter than I thought.” Lisk enjoyed the south of France for getting to know the culture. She said, “You can see different cultures come out and different religions.”
Deciding to go on a ten-day trip with your school is a big decision to make. A lot of what goes into these decisions is hope. Londoner’s expectations were high and were met. She said, “I was expecting a lot and I got a lot.”When asked if there was anything she would change about the trip, Londoner said, “I feel like it had good plans.” Another part of deciding to go on the journey is what you want out of it besides a fun time. Mezhburd says she was hoping to “Experience a new culture and become friends with new people.”Londoner was hoping to “become more conversational in French, which I did.” Both Londoner and Mezhburd were able to get what they were hoping to get out of this trip.
Overall, the 2025 trip to France was an enjoyable and memorable experience. When asked if they would recommend this trip to others, the majority said that they would. George said, “I recommend this trip to others who want to explore things and go to many places.” Maura said, “I think if I got the chance, I would go on this trip again.” She continued, “I would recommend this trip to somebody who wants to immerse themselves in a language.” Let’s hope it can happen again so more people can create lifelong memories. “I feel like what we got out of this trip was good and I would love to do this trip again,” said Tutolo. Hopefully, other aspiring students will have the opportunity to enjoy and learn from this trip, just as this group of students certainly did!
