Last week, the Class of 2028 attended their grade trip to Cinemart Cinemas, located on Metropolitan Avenue. Students were given the option to watch one of three newly-released movies: Venom: The Last Dance, Red One, or The Wild Robot.
The trip was organized by the Freshman Grade Leaders and the Freshman-Sophmore Co-Presidents, Jordana Lo and Aki Benjamin. Coordinator of Student Activities Jaime Baranoff provided students with information about the trip via email, including an interest form for seating preferences in the theater and movie selection.
The trip began with students boarding five yellow school buses and heading to Cinemart Cinemas. Upon arrival, students received popcorn and a beverage before heading into the theaters to enjoy their selected movies. Despite the planning, a mix-up occurred when some students entered the wrong theaters, which led to uneven seating arrangements. Some theaters ended up with more students than seats, while others theaters had empty spots.
Additionally, an unexpected issue arose on the way back to school. While five buses had transported the students to the theater, only four were available for the return trip. This resulted in overcrowded seating, with many students having to squeeze three to a seat. Freshman Ye Chen Li said, “There were so many people in one bus. [It] was so crowded that some people had to sit with two other people in one seat.”
Despite the challenges, many students found positive aspects to the experience. “Although sitting in an overcrowded bus was rather difficult to endure, the close proximity I had to my other classmates made it easier for me to bond with them, especially since we were all in the same situation,” said freshman Sadia Islam.
In the theater, students seemed to enjoy the opportunity to relax and connect with their peers. “Watching this movie alongside my peers increased the whole experience’s appeal by a lot,” said Julian. “Nobody was disruptive and everybody smiled and laughed, creating a very memorable trip.”
Freshman Joshua Garcia added, “We had a fun time goofing around in the theater for a bit, and it gave me a better sense of what trips at [Townsend Harris] are like.”
Sophomore Co-President Jordana Lo reflected on the trip, saying, “The freshmen had the opportunity to build a stronger connection with their peers, and it was heartwarming to see them enjoying themselves.”
