The New York Literature class, a senior elective taught by English Department Chair William Martino, recently took a trip to the Empire State on Oct. 23.
The class, focused on literature connected to New York City, takes this annual trip, which is connected to the literature they study throughout the semester. This trip’s itinerary included a visit to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, and time near the scenic Rockefeller Center.
English teacher and Director of Teaching and Learning Heidi Hojnicki accompanied Mr. Martino on the trip as a second chaperone. The students who attended were seniors Liam Davis, Alex Doering, Ethan Genetti, Samaria Gonzalez, Jason Matthews, Jane Morris, Travis Parsons, Austin Perkins, Gabrielle Post, Katie Reale,Betsy Slifka, and junior Matthew Lysik.
Every year, Mr. Martino tries to vary the curriculum for his NY Lit. class in order to find interesting material for students to explore and for Mr. Martino to teach. The only staple in his curriculum is the novel “Bright Lights, Big City” by Jay McInerney. The novel centers around a character’s time in New York during the 1980s. Some years, he has included “Free Food for Millionaires” by Min Jin Lee, a former KO Symposium author.
The NY trip is also connected to specific assignments and literature that the class has studied. For example, their visit to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum connected to an assignment that inspired students to choose a photo from “How the Other Half Lives” by Jacob Reis and then creatively write a second-person narrative, similar to the writing style in “Bright Lights Big City.” “How the Other Half Lives” is a powerful book by Reis that highlights the NYC tenements, which were homes to the city’s large immigrant population. “I think it’s important to go into different neighborhoods and for students to explore the different cultures of neighborhoods in NYC,” Mr. Martino said.
Visiting the Lower East Side Tenement Museum was a powerful experience for students. “It was great to connect the trip to what we have been learning in class,” Ethan said. The museum has preserved and celebrated the culture of immigrant and migrant experience in NYC.
After the visit to the museum, the class took the subway to Brooklyn to try some famous pizza. Later, they walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and got a good view of the city and the Statue of Liberty. They spent some time in Chinatown and walking on Mulberry Street. Students then participated in a variety of activities, from shopping to visiting the Magnolia Bakery to seeing St. Patrick’s Cathedral. “I enjoyed getting to see the different cultures of New York City during our trip,” Katie said.
The trip represents a successful example of how KO classes are learning beyond the classroom. Regardless of what the NY Lit. class’ curriculum will be in 2026, we know Mr. Martino will plan an impactful and unforgettable trip.
