Music teacher Emily Chu is sponsoring trips to Disney World and Ireland.

by Rachel Themistokleous ‘26

Music teacher Emily Chu is bringing back student travel trips, with one to Disney World and one to Ireland. Many years ago, Sherwood was known for these opportunities when it had an “International Studies” signature program. More recently, recently retired French teacher John Falls honored this tradition by taking students to France, and now with Chu taking the lead, student educational trips are making a return.

Chu is organizing these trips because she thinks it is beneficial for students to travel. “Traveling at this age is super important because… it teaches you responsibility and how to be an independent person,” said Chu.

The trip to Disney World will last five days, taking place from March 20 to March 24. The cost will be $1,300 per student, and buses will transport students there. This trip is strictly for students in the music department, and it was chosen due to its imagination campus. Within this, stu-dents will get to work with conductors from Disney World to expand their musical knowledge. They will learn how to sight-read music and create their own recordings with what they learned. Students will also get to enjoy the parks and other activities Disney has to offer.

The second trip to Ireland is a part of the Education First (EF) program run by a teacher at Kennedy High School, who does tours for this program of ten. The invitation for this tour was extended to Sherwood, and Chu happily accepted. This trip is open to anyone who wants to join, will last nine days, and costs $3,800. There is no set date for the trip yet, but it is confirmed to take place in late June and early July. The EF program covers most expenses, including hotel and transportation costs. On the trip, students will start by exploring the capital city Dublin and then branch out to other towns. They will also have many opportunities to attend tourist experiences and see places such as the famous Blarney Stone and numerous animal sanctuaries.

Chu enjoyed traveling to different places and gaining a new perspective of the world as a kid. “I’m in a place [when traveling] where I don’t know anyone…[and] I get to challenge myself to explore different parts of myself,” said Chu. She took this chance to allow students to experience the same opportunities she had, and expand their understanding of the world around them. She feels that trips are also a good way to bond as a community, while making meaningful friendships and memories one can carry with them for the rest of their life.