Upper School Spring Break: A Symphony of Cities

By Mr. Robert Burke, Upper School History Teacher

Over spring break, 30 students and four teachers embarked on a remarkable educational travel experience to Germany and Austria provided by EA Tours.  This trip was designed to provide students with a highly engaging historical connection combined with a modern cultural understanding of the region.   

Our journey began in Munich, Germany, where students visited the concentration camp at Dachau and saw directly the methods behind the Holocaust, which left a tremendous impact on their first day.  We then toured the BMW Museum and BMW World in Munich. We later traveled downtown to the historic district for dinner and sights, including the famous Rathaus-Glockenspiel chime.   

The next day we traveled to the town of Schwangau, the location of King Ludwig II of Bavaria’s famous Neuschwanstein Castle.  This castle served as inspiration for Walt Disney’s castle designs.  After lunch, we visited the small town of Oberammergau, known for its historic theater and local artisan woodcarvings.   

After we said goodbye to the Munich region, we traveled to the valley city of Innsbruck, Austria.  We traveled by cable car 7,000 ft into the mountains, giving students a stunning view of the Alps and snow, a first for many Floridians!  We also had time to explore the historic district for lunch before leaving for our next destination. 

“My favorite part about the spring break trip was the Alps,” said rising sophomore Sam Knight,
“because it was something new and the views were amazing.”

We continued our journey into the musical city of Salzburg, Austria.  Students from MVA’s Music Conservatory performed songs in the gardens from “The Sound of Music” and in the courtyard of Hohensalzburg Fortress. Luke Wakim, Julianna Barbieri, Gia Parker, Ashlyn Anderson, Thalia Paris, and Mariana Gonzalez Hernandez sang for the group.  Sophia Liu also performed several pieces on the violin for us!  We had extra time later to explore the historic district, including the local restaurants and Mozart’s birthplace and museum.  We continued in the Salzburg region with a tour in a salt mine (not for the claustrophobic), which turned into one of the unexpected highlights of the trip. “My favorite part was the salt mine tour!” said rising senior Ashlyn Anderson.

Our final stop was in Vienna, Austria.  Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating, but we still managed to do a city tour of historic locations, including the Hofburg Palace, home of Empress “Sisi” Elizabeth.  Students from the Conservatory, along with a few others, were able to attend a performance at the famous Vienna State Opera. By now, students had tried more varieties of wienerschnitzel than they even
knew existed! 

“Personally, the best part had to have been the food, and the cuisine was delicious,” shared rising sophomore Paxton Rivera. “Being able to share a table with friends made it that much better.”

Throughout the trip, students demonstrated an exceptional level of maturity, awareness, and overall eagerness to explore German and Austrian culture.  In addition to the culture, students now have a shared experience, uniting them even further in the MVA community.   

“My favorite part of the spring break trip was getting to know people I originally had no connection with,” said rising junior Julianna Barbieri. “I didn’t have many friends before the trip, but it allowed me to closely interact and get to know the people around me. Because of this trip, I have more friends who support and make me laugh every day!”

The chaperones included teachers Robert Burke (history), Jeanette Nederveen (French), Adrian Wright-Ahern (theatre), and Andres Villa (strings).  As chaperones, we felt absolutely thrilled to share such an experience with outstanding students, developing a core memory for all!

Planning has already started for Spring Break 2026.  We are excited to announce the destination of Spain and Morocco!  If you are an Upper School student or the parent of a student interested in participating, please complete the interest form here or contact Robert Burke at robert.burke@montverde.org.  Learn more about our educational travel provider at EATours.com.