Brookwood eighth graders explore history and leadership in Washington, D.C.

Published 1:05 pm Thursday, March 5, 2026

THOMASVILLE — Brookwood School’s eighth grade students returned last week from their annual trip to Washington, D.C., a multi-day experience designed to extend classroom learning into the places where American history continues to unfold.

The group began with visits to the National Portrait Gallery and Ford’s Theatre, grounding their studies of leadership and the presidency in the stories of the individuals who have shaped the nation.

On Sunday, students toured the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial before attending worship at the Washington National Cathedral. The afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery included observing the Changing of the Guard and participating in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Civics came into focus during visits to the National Archives Building, where students viewed the nation’s founding documents, and the United States Capitol, where they toured the building and observed the House galleries. At the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, students moved through exhibits that challenged them to consider the consequences of prejudice and silence.

Additional stops included a guided tour of The Pentagon and time at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, connecting their study of the founding era to the physical spaces where it unfolded.

While the itinerary was full, the week also created space for shared experiences, such as walking the National Mall, navigating the Metro, skating in the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Art, and attending a NHL game together.

The Washington trip remains a defining part of the eighth grade year at Brookwood. It asks students to engage seriously with history and government while also learning to represent their school community beyond campus. They returned with a clearer understanding of the structures that shape the country and a stronger sense of their place within it.