Have you ever wondered what your teachers do during their summer break? While students get a well-deserved three-month break, so do their teachers — and they have some exciting plans lined up! Here’s a glimpse of what Poly teachers have planned for their summer months.
Poly Upper School Math Teacher Caitlin Hart-Loi shared, “This summer, my husband and I are going backpacking in Europe for five weeks. We bought Eurail passes and we’re going to nine different cities in Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, and Germany!” Their itinerary includes stops in “Milan, Venice, Trieste, Reheca, Ljubljana, Bled, Salzburg, Munich, and Innsbruck.”
Upper School History Teacher Virginia Dillon is also venturing outside of New York and plans to have a mix of local and international travel. “This summer, I’m gonna go camping in Virginia with my kids… [and then we’ll] visit some family in Michigan,” she stated. The family’s “big adventure” is their trip to the Nethermead Forest in the 100 Acre Woods in England, which she and her family call “Pooh’s Woods.” “The Pooh books are based off of Winnie the Pooh, and my kids have been really enjoying it.” The Winnie the Pooh stories inspired the trip, Dillon noted.
Middle School Math Teacher Danielle Rauch explained her more laid-back approach to summer. “I am going on a little trip with just me and my husband to Tennessee to do some hiking in the Smoky Mountains,” Rauch said. She also noted that she and her husband plan on spending most of the summer resting and preparing for their second baby. “We’re mostly just sticking around, relaxing, and getting ready for another member of our family,” Rauch added.
Max Shmookler, Upper School history teacher, plans to upgrade his apartment’s furniture by hand. “I’m thinking about some built-in closets and shelving along with a new kitchen table, probably out of cherry wood. And maybe a bedside table out of oak and ash,” Shmookler explained. “I’ve been setting up a home hand-tool workshop over the last two years, so I’m really excited to have the time to use it.”
Lastly, Upper School English Teacher Sarah Barlow also plans to travel while spending quality time with her family. “I’m going to my cottage on Lake Ontario that my great-grandparents bought in 1903.” Joined by her immediate and extended family, Barlow looks forward to “swimming in the lakes, sailing, canoeing, cooking fresh food off the farm, lying in the hammock, reading, and playing a lot of games.”
Just like students, our teachers enjoy their summers in fun and meaningful ways; whether that be exploring bustling cities in Europe or quietly appreciating family. So don’t be surprised in September if your teachers return with a few exciting tales of their own summer adventures.
