Bullis Blog | Global Studies Trips

Good afternoon from the San Jose airport,  The time has come to say goodbye to Costa Rica. Students are checked in and ready to board their flight. At our group debrief this morning with Dr. Moreno, there were many different emotions - sadness, joy, nostalgia, and excitement at the thought of reuniting with families. Students also shared their highlights with the group - zip lining, white water rafting, meeting students from the Zeta Trece school, and the hot springs at Hacienda Orosi. Eden S. '28 shares her favorite moments from the trip:  My three highlights of this trip are: the beach. It was so much fun, and I played volleyball with my friends. I also loved zip lining with my classmates, and seeing the mountains. We also had a karaoke party on the girls bus singing Party in the USA. I loved the trip so much! Yolanda J. '28 reflects on the highlights of the trip: The hot springs were my favorite part of the trip because they were really calming. Since we had done...

Hello again Bullis families and community!  It is our final evening in Costa Rica, and emotions are bittersweet. Students and chaperones had a lovely day at Playa Mantas and Rainforest Adventure, where students zip-lined, rode the Aerial Tram, and observed the Butterfly Garden. Three students reflected on their final day exploring Costa Rica: Olivia W. '28 writes about the day:  Today, we spent our last day in Costa Rica to the fullest. Starting off with a delicious breakfast at our 2nd hotel, then hopping on the bus to go zip lining. My group went first, and it was amazing. There were 14 different lines leading up to the final one, where we dropped straight down. We then stopped for a snack before heading into the butterfly garden. On the way, we saw a toucan and many iguanas crawling around. We even got to see bats that were hidden under trees. The butterfly garden was beautiful. We saw all types, from a classic blue to yellow spotted. Next, we spent the afternoon with...

Hello parents and Bullis community, Our 7th graders spent the morning as a full group at the Theater of the Sea, learning about the indigenous creatures of the Florida Keys. Students were educated about the differences between saltwater crocodiles and freshwater American alligators—although, when it came to feeding time, it was hard to tell them apart: both heads snapped back and all jaws chomped shut with power. We observed rehabilitated Loggerhead sea turtles and seals. We ended our visit with a 20-minute educational show starring 7 of the most intelligent Macaws and Cockatoos, who wowed us by completing puzzles and solving 5th grade subtraction problems. Our afternoon spent at The Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital in Marathon was truly inspiring; students were educated about rescued Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Green, and the endangered Kemp Ridley Sea Turtles, which are born a dark black color but later turn pale and white as adults. We were awed that Leatherback Sea Turtles, although rar...

Good evening, Bullis parents and community! This morning, we were again greeted by bright, sunny skies as we headed to  Coastal Studies Institute (CSI)  on Roanoke Island, historically known as "The Lost Colony." Here, the 6th-graders delved into the world of marine science via the interactive workshops "The Power of Plankton" and "Ocean ROVers." We concluded the day with some beachside fun, including kite flying, football, and splashing in the waves, followed by a buffet dinner at a local family-owned restaurant.  Please enjoy the following reflections from some of our students and stay tuned for more! Thi N. '30 explains:  One of the most enjoyable activities we had today was to construct a ROVer. We learned about different ROVers and how they can be used in different scenarios. We also learned how to create our own ROVer using available supplies such as foams, motors, and controllers. First, we made a base for the rover. Next, we added a motor...

Greetings from Punta Leona!  Students were awake bright and early this morning and traveled out of San Jose to meet and learn with students from Zeta Trece school in La Fortuna. It was a colorful, exciting, and wonderful experience for all the students and teachers involved.  Here is an overview of how the day went from two of our students.  Ryan H. '28 reflects on the day: Today was definitely an early start to the morning for some, but rest assured, nobody was forgotten. We boarded the buses in front of the Crown Plaza Hotel for the last time. Off we went, driving down the windy roads inbound for the Zeta Trece school in La Fortuna. The nearly four-hour drive was definitely worth it because the views were beautiful. The moment we stepped off the bus, the eyes of the students and faculty moved towards us. The first event we attended was the assembly. As students started to take their seats, many non-Spanish speaking Bullis students started to practice basic words ...

Good evening Bullis parents and community, Dolphins were the clear and obvious highlight of the day for our 7th graders. Our groups visited two different dolphin sanctuaries, where we learned about these majestic cetacea, derived from the Greek word for whale, kētos. Students absorbed information about their relationships and history in helping humans, their anatomical features, and participated in a dolphin training simulation based on reward and motivation. But the best part of the day was actually swimming with the dolphins; they were well-trained hosts who welcomed us to their cove as we hitched rides across the water's surface and stole kisses from the cheeky ones.  We also spent time snorkeling and kayaking, and one lucky group dissected squid in an outdoor classroom at sunset. Tomorrow holds more interactive opportunities with marine life. And more slices of key lime pie! From the journalists in their own words: The wind screamed toward Grace and l as we inched toward...