Sandwich School Committee Approves Italy and Japan Student Trips in 7-0 Votes

SANDWICH — May 14, 2025 — Sandwich School Committee reorganizes, approves Italy and Japan student trips on first night of new term. The committee voted 6-0-1 to elect Kevin Sorrell as chair and unanimously chose Danielle Benende as vice chair at its May 14 reorganization meeting, the first session following last week's municipal election that also seated new member Alexandra Higgins. The board then approved two international student trips: an April 2026 trip to Naples and Rome through the Paideia Institute, open to high school Latin students at an estimated cost of roughly $5,000 per student, passing 7-0 on a motion by Benende; and an April 2027 nine-day robotics- and engineering-focused trip to Tokyo through EF Tours at approximately $5,500 per student, also passing 7-0. The committee also accepted a $5,000 Besant Grow the Game grant from U.S. Field Hockey to fund a youth field hockey feeder program, and received word that Sandwich Middle High School has received state approval for two Innovation Career Pathway programs — health care and social assistance, and business and finance — with 56 students currently enrolled across both tracks.