Unionville High Spanish teachers propose Costa Rica trip; board to vote next week
February 01, 2025 | Unionville-Chadds Ford SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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Cindy Pesaro and Laura Shaw, Spanish teachers at Unionville High School, presented a proposal on Feb. 1 for a student trip to Costa Rica scheduled for June 20–28 and asked the district to place the request on the board agenda for a vote next week.
The teachers said the proposed itinerary, arranged through EF Tours, emphasizes active cultural experiences — hiking, whitewater rafting, ziplining, national parks and beach visits timed to possible turtle hatching — rather than a structured language-immersion program. "While there's not a specific language component, we feel like there will be enough opportunity for [students] to interact with the locals and the tour director, and hopefully will encourage them to use their Spanish," Pesaro said.
The proposal follows an earlier Peru trip organizers described as expensive and narrowly subscribed. Pesaro told the committee the prior tour cost about $5,000 and drew only four students after outreach; she and Shaw said cost was a primary reason for low participation. For the Costa Rica itinerary, Pesaro said the current per-student price is $3,819, and the teachers proposed dates immediately after school ends to avoid cutting into summer breaks.
School staff and board members raised logistics and participation thresholds. Committee members asked how many students are required for the tour to run; Shaw said the provider aims for at least 12 students so the trip will include two chaperones (one chaperone per six students) and suggested a preferred target closer to 15 to allow for late withdrawals. Shaw also confirmed accommodations would be in hotels.
Pesaro and Shaw said they will publicize the tour to students at all Spanish levels and hold an interest meeting; they also noted that travel opportunities for French and German students are well established and suggested alternating lighter, activity-focused tours with more intensive immersion trips in future years.
Board member Mr. Allen noted the presentation would be taken to the regular board for a vote next Tuesday. No formal vote on the proposal occurred at the Feb. 1 committee meeting.
The teachers said the proposed itinerary, arranged through EF Tours, emphasizes active cultural experiences — hiking, whitewater rafting, ziplining, national parks and beach visits timed to possible turtle hatching — rather than a structured language-immersion program. "While there's not a specific language component, we feel like there will be enough opportunity for [students] to interact with the locals and the tour director, and hopefully will encourage them to use their Spanish," Pesaro said.
The proposal follows an earlier Peru trip organizers described as expensive and narrowly subscribed. Pesaro told the committee the prior tour cost about $5,000 and drew only four students after outreach; she and Shaw said cost was a primary reason for low participation. For the Costa Rica itinerary, Pesaro said the current per-student price is $3,819, and the teachers proposed dates immediately after school ends to avoid cutting into summer breaks.
School staff and board members raised logistics and participation thresholds. Committee members asked how many students are required for the tour to run; Shaw said the provider aims for at least 12 students so the trip will include two chaperones (one chaperone per six students) and suggested a preferred target closer to 15 to allow for late withdrawals. Shaw also confirmed accommodations would be in hotels.
Pesaro and Shaw said they will publicize the tour to students at all Spanish levels and hold an interest meeting; they also noted that travel opportunities for French and German students are well established and suggested alternating lighter, activity-focused tours with more intensive immersion trips in future years.
Board member Mr. Allen noted the presentation would be taken to the regular board for a vote next Tuesday. No formal vote on the proposal occurred at the Feb. 1 committee meeting.
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