Whitmore Charter High School Spanish teacher Claudette Casillas took 11 students to three countries this summer on a trip of a lifetime – and to put their Spanish speaking skills to the test.
“It was a great opportunity for my students to be able to see, enjoy and understand different cultures,” said Casillas, who has been teaching for Ceres Unified School District for 11 years. “We have created memories that will last forever.”
Taking the whirlwind tour of Italy, Monaco and France from June 28 to July 10 were Whitmore Charter students Bianca Casillas, Somil Bansal, Gail Genge, Christine Denny, Justice Franco, Truth Franco, Carly Kolsky, Kylee Labaco, Inego Wincestsen, Evelyn Wincentsen and Yulissa Alvarez.
Casillas said the trip was fun and allowed students to not only learn about foreign cultures and history but also put their Spanish language skills to the test.
“Travel improves communication skills. After taking three years of Spanish I wanted my students to challenge themselves and use the language they have learned. Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the world and is the official language of 21 countries. It would allow you to communicate with 495 million people worldwide. What better way to practice your Spanish than chatting with the locals in the country where the language originated?”
Adults chaperoning with Casillas were five parents Osvaldo Casillas, Christine Denny, Nicholl Franco, Maria Guadalupe Alvarez and drama teacher Gail Genge.
Planning for the trip took months. Much of the details were arranged by World Strides, a student travel group and Casillas reported everyone felt safe being led around by a knowledgeable travel director.
“We were treated like kings and queens,” she said.
One of the biggest obstacles for students was coming up with the $6,000 expense per student which was funded by fundraisers, parents and family.
The trip offered three college credits to students, said Casillas.
“I think they liked it all – it was just so fascinating because a lot of my students had never left the state. A lot of them had never been on a plane so to be able to enjoy these different places and countries to them was fascinating.”
The trip began in Rome, Italy for visits to the famous Rome Colosseum, Vatican museum, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.
In Florence, Italy they visited the Academia, founded in 1563 as Europe’s first school to teach drawing, painting and sculpting. On display were works of Michelangelo himself.
The next stop was through Cote d’Azur on the coast of France. There they visited the famed Leaning Tower of Pisa. In the nearby small country of Monaco, the group checked out the Royal Palace and its beautiful gardens.
On the French Riviera, at the foot of the rock overlooking the sea, along the mythical Riviera coastal road between Nice and Monaco the group stopped in at the Fragonard perfumery, one of the first in Europe. They enjoyed some time on a beach in Nice, France.
In Barcelona, Spain students viewed the architectural work of Antoni Gaudí, including the famous La Sagrada Familia Basilica and Park Güell. Inspired by Oriental techniques, elements of Gothic architecture, at La Sagrada Familia students saw Gaudí’s crypt and visited the museum documenting his life and work. Gaudi’s home, called La Pedrera (or Casa Mila), was also a stop where he used twisted pillars, curved archways and warped metal balconies.
The Ceres group also viewed world-famous paintings of El Greco, Goya and Velázquez in the Prado Museum.
“To go there was an amazing experience.”
The group boarded the bullet train from France to Madrid, traveling at speeds of up to 300 mph and faster.
“Once you were in there you couldn’t feel anything,” said Casillas. “It was like you were in a car.”
In Madrid where they toured the Reina Sofía Museum, home to Pablo Picasso’s colossal painting Guernica, as well as the Royal palace.
In Toledo, one of the oldest and most unique cities in Spain, they visited the Toledo Cathedral, considered one of the greatest Gothic structures in Spain. The cathedral houses many art treasures, such as the Transparente, a Last Supper in alabaster, El Greco’s Twelve Apostles, and works by Juan de Borgona. The Treasure Room features a 500-pound, 15th Century gilded monstrance, allegedly made with gold brought back from the New World by Columbus. It is still carried through the streets of Toledo during the feast of Corpus Christi.
They also toured a sword factory.
While the participants did a lot of walking on the trip, the energy level remained high, Casillas reported.
“Italy was very hot, even though they said it wasn’t a hot day for them,” Casillas. “Over there it’s hot and humid.”
Students had the opportunity to take a cooking class and made paella and enjoy Spanish appetizers from cured meats and cheeses.
Casillas is currently planning a trip in the summer 2025 to the Mayan Trail.
