Lyons Township High School prepares to go on its first trip to Mexico since the COVID-19 lockdown canceled two of their previous trips. 

From March 16-30, 36 students will travel to Cuernavaca Mexico with two school chaperones. Upon arrival students will live with a Mexican host family and one LTHS roommate of their choice. Students will also be provided with three meals a day with their host family and many exciting excursions.

 “[Students] improve language skills and experience cultural immersion in another country on a smaller scale before participating in a semester-long program during college,” Spanish teacher and trip chaperone JoEllen Gregie said. 

Any student in 2A Spanish or above is eligible to apply for the trip no matter their Spanish speaking ability. Some factors that go into choosing students are their grades, teacher recommendations and behavior. 

“As long as a student meets the qualifications for the trip, the 24/7/2 (two weeks) will serve to improve everyone’s Spanish skills,” Gregie said.

The trip costs $2,450 plus airfare per student. Planning for the trip begins the school year prior and does not stop until everyone is home from the trip, Gregie said. Planning includes speaking with the school in Cuernavaca, booking airfare, picking students and much more. Although LTHS plans most of the trip, the school in Cuernavaca has a housing department that takes care of matching students with host families. 

“Since the exchange trip is being run through our World Language department, I try to be as helpful as I can in supporting our teachers and students with planning and organizing,” Fine Arts Division Chair Gerry James said. “Our amazing chaperones do most of the work.”

Not only will students get to see the sights of Cuernavaca, but every Monday-Friday they will attend school from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Universidad Internacional private high school for extra Spanish. 

“We hope our students are exposed to the intricacies and daily life of the same cultures they study here in school,” James said. ”We feel this is truly an immersive part of the learning experience where students get a unique opportunity to travel with classmates and guides and learn these new areas.”

Students also are taken on excursions after school and on the weekends, which include Teotihuacán, Chapultepec Park, Castle, Zócalo, Bellas Artes, Frida Kahlo/Dolores Olmedo Museum Taxco Las Estacas, Tepoztlán, Nuestros Pequeños, Hermanos Orphanage and Salsa dancing lessons. Students go on these trips with their host families, LT roommate and chaperones. 

“This trip is educationally fun,” Gregie said. “It combines language learning with culture, travel, meeting new people and making connections.”