LAPLACE — This fall, students from St. Charles Catholic High School in LaPlace embarked on a journey to the French Quarter. This field trip served to enrich the students’ French education and immerse them in Louisiana’s unique culture.

Led by French teacher Kate Abreo along with her fellow faculty members Melissa Roussel and Sarah Faucheux, the group explored everything from the history of New Orleans Jazz to the stunning frescoes within the St. Louis Cathedral.

After arriving in New Orleans, the students made their way to the iconic Café Du Monde where they enjoyed fresh beignets and café au lait (coffee with milk) before trekking to the Jean Lafitte National Park Visitor Center. Once they arrived, park ranger Hunter Miles Davis presented on the variety of cultures that blended together to create New Orleans’ music, food and overall unique flair. Ranger Hunter kept the students engaged throughout his presentation as he put his musical prowess on display. French II student and drumline member Morgana Lee excitedly recalled her time at the visitor center stating, “It was really intriguing to learn about the origin of the drum and, well, a lot of music in general… I really liked being able to do the ‘bam-boo-a clap’ that [Ranger Hunter] taught us.”

The group’s next stop was the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral. Here, students took part in a guided tour in which they learned about the historic Church’s rich background. French III student Lily Bordelon expressed the importance of this segment of the trip to her saying, “Having never been to St. Louis Cathedral, this was a very authentic experience for me. I have always been one to love architecture and the history etched into them, so the amount of detail shown through the tour we took was something that stuck with me. From the symbolism of the Theological Virtues to the beautiful frescoes adorning the ceiling, everything tied the building together perfectly… They have even created a room devoted to Venerable Henriette Delille, a devout Catholic of color that is going through the process of becoming a saint.”

With the sound of jazz wafting through the air, students then headed across the street to enjoy their lunch in Jackson Square before finishing off their day with a trip to the French Market.

From the French students of SCC, thank you to all the teachers and staff who made this fun and culturally immersive field trip possible.