Editor’s note: We got this report from Menlo-Atherton High School teacher Chris Rubin, who heads the school’s Academy Program (explained in this 2012 post).
“What a day! We traveled to San Francisco to celebrate our Academy students who had earned a 3.0 or above during the third quarter. We got a perfect day. Not only did we hit no traffic on our morning bus ride from M-A to the city (minor miracle), but we got perfectly blue skies and warm weather for our trip.
“When we arrived in the city, we picked up bikes for all of the students at Pier 40. We then rode along the Embarcadero waterfront, under the Bay Bridge, past the Ferry Building, through Pier 39 and Fishermans Wharf over the hill at Fort Mason and along the Marina Green before arriving at Crissy Field.
“Although not a long stop, we did have time for a festive barbecue lunch with the Golden Gate Bridge as the backdrop. Some students threw a football, others dipped their feet in the Bay while many of us rested up for the return trip.
“On our way back, we couldn’t pass by Ghiradelli Square! Students got to see the chocolate making process in person and, of course, sample the true “World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae” you can only find at Ghiradelli in San Francisco. We then cruised back to Pier 40 by bike, boarded the bus and headed back to campus.
“Honestly, yesterday was one of the best incentive trips I have ever been a part of. As hard as it is to believe, some of our students, ages 15-18, had still never been to San Francisco and most had never seen many of the sights we passed on our ride. We even had one student who said they had never been on a bike (except for once when he was 8). Although that made us a little nervous at first, he was cruising right along by the end of the day with support from his teachers and the other students in the program.
“Thanks to the generosity of the Menlo-Atherton Alumni Committee [which provided some funding], I feel confident saying that yesterday we created one of the most memorable experiences of these students lives! My hope is that by continuing to offer experiences like these for our students hard work, students will be motivated to continue finding ways to be successful in high school and will pursue college and career choices they may have never thought possible!”