Every year, Ms. Dorothy DeNoto and a group of trusted chaperones take a group of Stanners on an educational adventure abroad. This school year, the trip was entitled Rhapsody in Central Europe, with stops in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, and Prague!
Taking place over Easter Break, 46 Stanners and 6 faculty members attended the Rhapsody in Central Europe trip that was supposed to take place in the spring of 2020. The trip sold out then, and sold out again this year! Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are all eligible to attend the adventure abroad, participating in a once-in-a-lifetime tour that includes authentic meals, fun activities, and moments of reflection. Each trip incorporates lessons in the Marist Charism or embodying our faith, all with a unique, cultural spin.
The trip was designed by Ms. DeNoto and run by Passports, a travel company that specializes in educational group travel. It began in Germany, where students saw the towns and cities of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dinkelsbuhl, and Munich. Excursions included the Christmas Museum, the Nymphenburg Palace and Gardens, and zip lining over the Olympic Stadium! The group moved on to Austria, visiting the cities of Salzburg and Vienna. There, students and chaperones alike took part in Viennese Waltz Lessons, and everyone stopped into St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Before making their way to Hungary, group members stopped to sightsee in Bratislava, Slovakia. Activities in Budapest included a river cruise, strudel making, and a visit to the Palace Courtyards and Matthias Church. Stanners spent the end of the trip in the Czech Republic, sightseeing in the city of Brno, then moving on to Prague. Included in this part of the adventure was a visit to Prague Castle and a performance at a black light theater.
Participants of the yearly educational adventure abroad experience days jam-packed with historical views, beautiful churches, and dinners that serve only the best and most traditional foods each city has to offer. Ms. DeNoto shares, “Every student participates in every activity. The trip is a launch pad for future travel, opening their eyes to different cultures, people, and new experiences.” She continues, “Not only do my students have fun, but they learn how to handle their money, how to travel on planes and buses, how to communicate with people that speak different languages, and how to be safe and take care of themselves and each other. There are so many teachable moments, and the students internalize being respectful, responsible, and more aware of being human beings living together in one world.”
Ms. DeNoto has been named an Elite Leader by Passports. She had been asked to give a presentation in Dublin to speak to schools traveling with Passports for the first time. She was asked to attend two more conventions in Paris and Madrid later on this year!
Keep an eye out for Molloy’s next two educational adventures, 2024’s Scandinavian Treasures and 2025’s Balkan Pilgrimage: A Spiritual and Cultural Journey Through Bosnia, Croatia, and Italy!