WAIMEA — Ten Waimea High School students will travel to Washington, D.C., March 4-12, for an intensive, face-to-face look at our government in action. They will participate in the Close Up study tour with other students from Hawai‘i and from
WAIMEA — Ten Waimea High School students will travel to Washington, D.C., March 4-12, for an intensive, face-to-face look at our government in action. They will participate in the Close Up study tour with other students from Hawai‘i and from across the country, a news release states.
The non-partisan, non-profit Close Up Foundation was started 40 years ago “to educate and inspire young people to participate in our democracy” by using our nation’s capital as a learning and living laboratory.
To help assist students traveling to D.C., the ‘Ele’ele McDonald’s has agreed to donate a percentage of all purchases made at their restaurant on Thursday, between 5 and 8 p.m. (Please note that gift cards may also be purchased at this time.)
Accompanying the students will be Dalton Matsuyama, Waimea High School teacher coordinator, and Ka‘aina Hull, course instructor, the release states. Matsuyama, who originally participated in the Close Up program as a student, believes the experience is an excellent way to expose students to our country’s history, get a first-hand view of government at work, as well as discuss and debate important issues that our country currently faces.
To prepare for the program, students attend evening classes, completing a college level curriculum. Upon their return, they will submit a Daily Journal, an essay, and portfolio. By fulfilling all these requirements, students will receive credit in Social Studies.
In addition to visiting our nation capitol’s historic government centers, monuments, and museums, the students complete a demanding and challenging series of modules. They dialog with lawmakers, media, and fellow students, learning to use their voices in solving today’s issues. And they return to their communities inspired to engage as citizens and to help make the world a better place.
Visit www.CloseUp.org for more information, or e-mail Matsuyama at Dalton_Matsuyama/waimeah/hidoe@notes.k12.hi.us, call him at (808) 338-6810 ext. 178 or write to Waimea High School. P.O. Box 339, Waimea, HI 96796, Attn: Dalton Matsuyama.
