The trip was devised by Jason Lange, Humanities 6 instructor and Assistant Head of Middle School, to supplement the fifth- and sixth-grade history curriculum where students study the Ancient Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and Romans. Mrs. Lynn Terman, fourth grade Humanities instructor, and Scott Hunt, Arnold E. Holtberg Master Teaching Chair, also served as trip leaders.

Highlights of the journey included visits to the Carthaginian salt pans near Motia, the Valley of the Temples near Agrigento, the Greek theater at Taormina, the ruins of Pompeii, and the Colosseum and Forum in Rome. At each location, students connected lessons learned in the classroom with relics from the past.

Mr. Lange believes that travel itself is inherently educational, but he’s quick to remind his students that it’s not a one-way street. He explained, “The boys certainly gained a deeper knowledge of the ancient world and they earned valuable travel experience. More important, they had the opportunity to give something back to the world, too.”

He continued, “There are no finer ambassadors of the United States, of Texas, and of St. Mark’s than these twelve boys. They did their small part to make the world a better place by sharing their kindness and curiosity, their love of learning, and their common humanity with the people of Italy.”