NDSS students stopped by the Eiffel Tower during their European Spring Break trip in March.
By Mandy Moraes, NLPS Staff
Over spring break, dozens of students from Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools traveled to Europe, experiencing art, language, history, and culture firsthand.
Each school group had unique itineraries, allowing students real-world learning experiences.
For example, 28 Dover Bay students traveled to Florence, Italy, and Paris, France, with a focus on visual arts. In Florence, they stayed with host families, which gave them a close-up view of daily life there.
“The homestays were really impactful,” said Michelle Crnkovic, Dover Bay visual arts teacher and trip organizer. “Students got to see what everyday life looks like and experience the culture in a way that you just can’t recreate in a classroom.”
Dover Bay students followed the path of art history, starting with Renaissance works in Florence and ending with modern art in Paris. Students visited galleries, participated in drawing and art history lessons, and explored famous sites such as the Louver and the Eiffel Tower.
For Grade 12 student Samantha Mudryk, the trip was inspiring and felt very personal.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Europe, and I have a very high interest in art, so it was kind of ideal for me,” she said.
Mudryk especially remembers exploring small French towns and visiting a historic castle.
“It was just so beautiful… the history really came alive,” she said.
At the same time, 37 students from NDSS traveled through France and Spain to focus on language learning. They stayed with host families, attended language classes, and practiced French and Spanish every day in real-life situations.
“The idea is to practice your language and learn culture and history,” said Spanish teacher Russ Bueckert. “It’s another thing to order meals, navigate transit, and communicate with your host family.”
Students attended language schools, used public transit to get to class, joined market scavenger hunts, and explored historic places such as medieval villages, the Palace of Versailles, and the Alhambra in Spain.
Both teachers said these trips had an impact that went well beyond academics. Students learned how to get around new cities, handle daily routines, and adjust to new places. These experiences helped them become more confident and resilient.
To help pay for their trips, some students organized numerous fundraisers in the year leading up to their trips.
“We got to see them rise to the occasion,” said Crnkovic. “They became more independent and responsible, really growing as individuals.”
For many students, the trips also helped them build stronger friendships with their classmates.
“I feel way more connected to everyone I went with,” Mudryk said. “It’s really important to experience other cultures and step outside your comfort zone.”
Whether they were studying art in Florence or practicing language skills in Spanish markets, students came home with new perspectives and memories that will last.
“Experiences like this transform students, giving them independence, confidence, and a lifelong openness to the wider world.”