On Monday 16th February, Mr Soltysik, Mrs Harmer and Miss Munro took 31 Year 13 students on an unforgettable joint Media, Art and Photography trip to New York. What followed was a packed and inspiring itinerary filled with culture, creativity and plenty of memorable moments. Our adventure began with an evening visit to the Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Observatory Deck, where students took in the breathtaking New York skyline. Seeing the city illuminated beneath them created an immediate buzz of excitement and set the tone for the week ahead. 

The first full day included a visit to the iconic Guggenheim Museum, where students explored its striking architecture and renowned collections. This was followed by an engaging workshop at the Paley Media Centre, where students examined the context of the Cold War and explored the American sci-fi television drama ‘The Twilight Zone’, analysing how historical tensions were reflected in American media.

Midweek brought a visit to the Statue of Liberty on Staten Island. Although conditions were foggy, students thoroughly enjoyed visiting this powerful symbol of American culture. The group also visited the 9/11 Memorial to pay their respects, before exploring the vibrant atmosphere of Times Square. Students enjoyed shopping in Target and visiting a range of other popular stores, as well as trying viral food trends across the city. One particularly exciting moment came when our trip Instagram post was recognised by the famous Raising Cane’s restaurant in Times Square, much to the delight of the group. The day ended at Baby John’s Pizzeria, which was enjoyed by everyone. Big John brought plenty of energy and humour, making the experience even more memorable. He was a true delight and provided the perfect end to a busy day.

The penultimate day was filled with creative inspiration and for many students proved to be a highlight of the entire trip. Students first visited the Museum of the Moving Image, which seemed to be a firm favourite venue for most. Here, they explored original animatronics and film props including models from The Exorcist, the original Freddy Krueger jumper and artefacts from Star Wars, including Chewbacca. Students also learned that Sesame Street was filmed at the historic Astoria Studios, the very site where the museum is now based in Queens. This was followed by a visit to the Museum of Modern Art, where students saw Salvador Dalí’s 1931 surrealist painting The Persistence of Memory and Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Despite heavy rain on the final day, spirits remained high. The group visited Grand Central Station and admired its historic architecture before heading to Hudson Yards. Students viewed the striking Vessel building and demonstrated real persistence as they walked the High Line towards Little Island, where they encountered the 16-foot-tall hyper-realistic aluminium pigeon sculpture by artist Iván Argote.

Throughout the trip, students enjoyed sampling famous New York treats including Crumbl Cookies and exploring popular stores such as Aritzia and Alo, even inspiring Mr Soltysik to purchase a new jacket! Students were organised into groups: Mrs Harmer’s Elites, Miss Munro’s Downtown Divas and Mr Soltysik’s Brooklyn Baddies. Mr Soltysik’s group originally named themselves the Leading Legends, however they decided the title was not quite cool enough and opted for a mid-trip rebrand to Brooklyn Baddies.

Special celebrations took place as India and Immy both celebrated their 18th birthdays in New York. The group marked the occasion by singing happy birthday and enjoying cake together at the Tick Tock Diner, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Overall, the trip was filled with laughter and camaraderie. From Mr Soltysik holding subway doors open like the Hulk, to Miss Munro’s memes on the Trip Instagram and Mrs Harmer taking on the role of everyone’s mum, the group quickly felt like one big family. Mr Soltysik reflected on the experience, saying, “Organising this trip was somewhat stressful at the outset, taking 31 students to an entirely different country is not an easy feat, but every one of them has been tremendous and a true testament to our school values. They have demonstrated nothing short of professionalism, and I have thoroughly enjoyed spending every minute of my time with them!”  Students were equally enthusiastic. Maddison said, “I have never experienced a trip as fun as the New York trip. The range of activities meant everyone was catered for and we were able to have a great time the whole trip!” Cynthia added, “I think this was the best school trip I have ever been on, we saw so many iconic places and the food was delicious.” Immy shared, “Wish I could have stayed for longer because I had the best week ever!” Maisy summed it up perfectly, “If you get the chance to go…GO!!!!!”

At the time of writing, 100% of students said they would recommend this trip to future year groups. The students were superbly behaved throughout and demonstrated the school’s values at every stage. Although the itinerary was jam packed, it was an absolutely fantastic experience and a truly special trip for all involved.