DJDS School Trips Take a Turn Next Year

Following the cancellation of the Hebrew Immersion Program (H.I.P.), Denver Jewish Day School’s class trips are taking a turn.

The Hebrew Immersion Program, a month-long trip to Israel for sophomores, has not been able to go for the past two years due to the October 7 war. Because of this, next year the current juniors, sophomores, and freshmen will all be due to go on this trip. However, not all can go at the same time, so it has left many students wondering who will go and what the other trips will be?

In past years, when the eighth grade went on a trip, it was on a bus. For example, last year, they went to New Mexico- the year prior, to Durango, Colorado- both bus trips. However, as of now, the plan for next year will be that the eighth graders might be going on a plane trip; either to Atlanta or New York. 

As for the ninth graders, however, they are expected to keep the tradition of the Los Angeles trip alive. “This trip rarely ever changes and it’s an awesome trip to start high school,” said Maya Karlitz, a freshman. 

While it has remained that 10th graders go to Israel on H.I.P., the cancellations have pushed this back. Next year’s 10th graders are not expected to go to Israel. Instead, next year's 11th and 12th graders will go to Israel, as they have waited longer and have priority. 

As a substitute, next year's 10th grade will likely be going to Washington D.C., the nation's capital. This will mirror this year’s 10th grade class, who also went to D.C. “I enjoyed this trip [to D.C.], although it was sad I didn’t get to go on H.I.P., I enjoyed all of the things we did,’’ said Kaitlin Schatz, a sophomore who went on the D.C. trip. 

While the 11th graders made a somewhat last-minute class trip to Mexico City, the H.I.P. trip is expected to go next year with the current 10th and 11th graders, who are eager for this trip after a long wait. “I’m so thrilled to be going on the H.I.P. trip next year after a very painful two-year wait,” said Eden Bichachi, a junior. 

Now, the sixth grade trip to YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch, CO, and the seventh grade trip to Colorado Springs remain the same and as for the seniors, the trip remains uncertain.