Mendham Township Middle School 8th graders visit sites in NYC

The 8th grade students at Mendham Township Middle School enjoyed an educational and informative day in New York City on Friday January 11, 2019. The first stop for the group was the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum, where small groups toured the museum and it’s exhibits. Having discussed the event at length in their social studies classes, students deepened their understanding of 9/11 as they explored the historical exhibit September 11, 2001 and viewed remnants of the original World Trade Center and other artifacts. The group also spent time at In Memoriam, the memorial commemorating the lives of those lost on September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993.

The trip also included a stop at South Street Seaport where the group boarded a boat for a narrated sightseeing cruise down the Hudson and East rivers. The cruise passed under the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges and students viewed the Statue of Liberty, while learning about the history of the area. Upon their return, amused students recounted how P.T. Barnum led a parade of 21 elephants over the Brooklyn Bridge to promote his circus and show people how stable the bridge was.

The class was also given a guided tour of the UN, which included the visiting the Great Assembly Hall, the Chambers of the Security Council, the Trusteeship Council and the Economic and Social Council. Students also viewed exhibits on peacekeeping operations, disarmament and decolonization. For many of the 8th graders, visiting the United Nations was the highlight of the trip and what they were most looking forward to seeing. When asked, most students remarked that the most memorable and interesting part of the visit, was looking at the impressive murals, tapestries and artwork that depicted the unity of the human race that were displayed throughout the building. Especially impactful was the“The Golden Rule” mosaic by Norman Rockwell, gifted by the United States of America in 1985 and the Zanetti mural. Students returned from the trip with new knowledge and interest in the "Blue Helmets," the UN military unit made up of uniformed personnel from over 120 countries.

The group also enjoyed a birdseye view of the impressive city skyline from the top of Rockefeller Center and a fun dinner in Time Square. Both students and staff who attended the trip, enjoyed the cold and busy day in the Big Apple, which students are sure to remember as one of the highlights of their time at Mendham Township Middle School.