Abbeville High students spend Easter break touring historical Philadelphia

A group of 13 Abbeville High School Civics and US History students spent their Easter break touring Philadelphia and learning about our nation’s history.
Tiffany Fontenot, who teaches the two subjects at AHS, organized the trip. This is the second time her classes have traveled to the city, following the 2024 trip. The idea for the excursion started with a T-shirt in 2023.
“I wear a lot of t-shirts that coincide with the subjects I’m teaching,” Fontenot said. “One day in 2023, Mr. Phillip Freeman asked me where I would get them and if any were from museums. I said some were, and he said, ‘Plan a trip.’ So, I did.”
Fontenot chose Philadelphia over places like New York, Washington DC, and Chicago because of its relevance to her classes. On their first stop in 2024, Fontenot realized she had made the right decision and that they had to come back.
“Philadelphia is important to the foundation of our country,” Fontenot explained. “It’s where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed.
“The first place we went in ’24 was Independence Hall. The kids were asking and answering questions. Seeing them engaged like that made me realize how important this is for them to see. As soon as we got back, we decided to do it every other year, and started planning ’26.”
First-year principal Jenni Frick immediately threw her support behind the project. In fact, she added a couple of stops and even went on the trip.
“It was my first trip to Philadelphia, so I was delighted to be asked to be a part of it,” Frick said. “One of our favorite lines from Hamilton is the room where it happens. We were actually in the very room where it happened, and it was amazing.
“For our students, it’s always a great opportunity for them to travel and experience the world outside of Abbeville. I think it’s important that they are exposed to that so they can see what is possible.”
Sophomore Madison Frazier was one of the students on the trip. The thing that stuck out to her the most was just how amazing it was that we defeated the British in the Revolutionary War.
“We totally kicked their butts, and we didn’t even have a country or even an army,” Frazier said. “That was so awesome!”
Frazier and fellow sophomore Madison Peltier both said they enjoyed touring the Battleship New Jersey more than anything else they did.
“I liked the battleship the most,” Peltier said. “We got to go explore on our own without a tour guide.”
“The museums are really fun, but they don’t leave you alone,” Frazier added. “We got to go on a real battleship by ourselves.”
Although she didn’t expect it, junior Alexis Hernandez really liked The Museum of the American Revolution.
“I was surprised it was so interesting,” Hernandez said. “But wars are what I do best in class, so that’s what I know the most about.”
While the three girls laughed as they reminisced about the bland food, airport vending machines, and the tour guide that got away, Frick was most impressed with their behavior.
“Frequently, we were told how well-mannered and respectful our students were,” Frick said. “They really unlocked that next level of excellence, and I cannot say how proud we are.”
Frick, Fontenot, and the 13 students are eternally thankful for those who made the trip possible by supporting their fundraising efforts.
“It’s really nice to see the community support these kids so they can have this experience,” Fontenot said. “A lot of these kids will never fly or visit another state again. They are so grateful that people around them said I’m going to help you do this.”
Now that the trip is behind them and life is back to normal, the students wanted to share with the community a word they learned at the Philadelphia museums that perfectly describes their feelings.
“Huzzah!”