Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Students of the Mercer (Wis.) School’s Advanced Placement European History class pose at the top of the Duomo, a cathedral in Florence, Italy, in April. Pictured are, from left: Brian Kich, John Michael Klopatek, Lucas Huybrecht, Danielle Miheve and Tanner Hiller.
MERCER, Wis. — The Mercer School’s Advanced Placement European History class spent nine days in Italy in mid-April. The kids, Tanner Hiller, Danielle Miheve, Brian Kich, Lucas Huybrecht and John Michael Klopatek, visited many historical buildings, saw classic pieces of art and experienced Italian culture.
The group spent two days in Venice, where they visited the Doge’s Palace, visited St. Mark’s Cathedral and went to the top of the clock tower. The group went for a gondola ride, and of course, shopped for Venetian glassware.
After Venice, the group took a bus to visit Florence for two days. While in Florence, the kids went to the top of the Duomo and visited the nearby Campanile and the Baptistery buildings, all part of Florence Cathedral.
The kids also visited the Basilica of Santa Croce, which contains the burial sites of Niccolo Machievelli, Michaelangelo, Galileo Galilei and Dante. The kids studied statues at the Palazzo Vecchio and the original David at the Academia Gallery.
After leaving Florence, the group took a bus to the medieval town of Assisi, where they visited the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi and many Roman ruins.
The students finished their bus ride when they arrived in Rome for three days. While in Rome, the students visited the Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine, the Monument to Vittorio Emmanuelle II, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and the Roman Forum. The students toured the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.
The kids really enjoyed visiting the Capuchin Crypt, where the remains of dead friars decorate five different crypts.
The students fundraised for two years to assist with paying for their trip. Many local community members and business have donated items or attended fundraising events for this trip.
On Wednesday, the kids will host a spaghetti dinner at the school from 5 to 6:30 p.m. At 6:30, the kids will present a travelogue of their trip. All funds raised at the dinner will go towards a student trip to New York City in the spring of 2014.
The Advanced Placement U.S. History class will visit New York. Students are currently selling spreading petunias, geraniums and pansies as a fundraiser. Anyone interested in ordering plant for a June 1 arrival may call the school at 715-476-2154.
Debbie Hohner is a social studies teacher at Mercer School.
