Florence students set sights on Spain and Portugal through new travel program

FLORENCE, Ala. — Florence High School is expanding global learning opportunities for students through upcoming international travel experiences, including a planned trip to Spain and Portugal.

Spanish teacher Laura Butler, who is in her first year at Florence High School, is leading the effort to bring educational travel opportunities to students and their families.

“At my previous school, I was able to lead groups of students out of the country on educational tours through EF Tours,” Butler said. “Students learned so much about the world, its people, and themselves.”

Butler currently teaches Spanish II, III, IV/AP, and dual credit courses and said she hopes to extend those same opportunities to students at both Florence High School and Florence Freshman Center.

This summer, Butler will travel to Italy with a group of Florence students on June 1. Plans are already underway for a future trip to Spain and Portugal, open to all students, not just those enrolled in foreign language courses.

“These trips are open to any and all students,” Butler said. “The dream for down the road would be to offer scholarships and grants to any student wanting to go, to be able to go.”

Florence High School will host an informational meeting for the Spain and Portugal trip Thursday, April 23, at 6 p.m. in the Florence High School Commons. It is open to all freshman center and high school students, as well as their parents.

Butler said she hopes to continue offering travel opportunities for future trips.

For those unable to attend the meeting, more information is available here.

By Jeremy Jackson