Wiesbaden High School students pose for a photo opportunity during a field trip to Berlin May 7, 2025. (provided by Celia Overson)
May of 2025 started off in historic fashion for 19 Wiesbaden High School students who were afforded an amazing opportunity to take a four day excursion through Berlin, for a “Global Studies” class, May 5 - 9.
The trip, led by 12-year Wiesbaden High School veteran teacher Patricia Schlacter, gave students the chance to see the famous landmarks of Berlin, including the Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, TV Tower and more
“It means a lot to me because it’s what I spent my whole career doing, trying to get my kids to get real and pertinent experiences,” said history teacher, Patricia Schlacter.
“Initially, the kids will remember the friendships they made and the train ride, just the travel experience,” added Schlacter, “but it has always been my goal that students look back at these experiences 5-10-15 years later and can attach meaning to the things they study in school and have a deeper understanding.”
Wiesbaden High School students, chaperones and teachers visit the Berlin Zoo during a field trip May 8, 2025. (provided by Celia Overson)
Accompanied by five adult chaperones, students learned about life in East Berlin before the wall came down.
“My takeaway was learning about the Cold War through the eyes of the students and the questions and views that they took on the war,” said chaperone Amanda Moser, a substitute teacher at Wiesbaden High School. “I learned from the students. I hope that they got a better understanding of the aspects of the Cold War, so that they can learn from history and not repeat it.”
The experiences with friends are really what made the trip for sophomore James Whiteker, “Berlin was awesome. So many beautiful sights, the water was a little murky but other than that it was a blast.”
The students went on a three-hour bike tour around the wall and visited the Berlin Zoo and took in the neo-renaissance and baroque architecture of the Berlin Cathedral and French Huguenot Church.
The Wiesbaden Community Spouses Club provided a generous donation towards the trip, which made the students’ lodging and dining experiences much more comfortable.
To learn more about the city of Berlin and its magical history, visit: www.VisitBerlin.de.
