Wilmington Students Travel To Spain For Exchange Trip

Below is a press release from Wilmington Public Schools:

WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington High School students traveled to Almería in the south of Spain for a 15-day exchange trip April 11-25, 2026.  While in Almería, students attended classes at Centro Educativo Agave, a private school for students ages 3-18, where they were immersed in Spanish language and culture.  Centro Agave students visited Wilmington in September and had stayed with host families here; Wilmington students stayed with these hosts in Almeria and were exposed to Spain’s vibrant culture firsthand through this immersion experience.

Spanish teachers Terresa Pietro and Meghan Burns, along with 12 of their students, attended classes with their hosts and were taken on various excursions by their hosts.  Some saw the local soccer team play, some snorkeled and visited the beaches, a few visited the Tabernas Desert, the only desert in continental Europe which was the filming site of many westerns; others cooked with their host families, and many went to restaurants to try authentic Spanish dishes.  The experience of living with Spanish host families had a profound impact, evidenced by an emotional goodbye on the students’ last day.

Wilmington students had the opportunity to take several field trips with Centro Agave students over the course of the two weeks.  They visited Los Millares, a 5,000-year-old archeological site, with the fourth graders.  Another day they traveled to Cabo de Gata, a natural park at the easternmost point of Andalucia, with a lighthouse and salt flats, where they hiked and swam in the Mediterranean with the 10th graders.  A third field trip took them along with the 11th graders to the Alcazaba, a walled enclosure at the top of a hill overlooking Almería and its port, dating back to the 10th century when most of Spain was under Muslim rule as part of the Islamic Caliphate of Cordoba.  The Alcazaba includes a castle built after the Christian Reconquest of Almería by Ferdinand and Isabella and has been the filming site for many movies and TV shows.

Wilmington students also took part in an excursion to Granada, where they toured the Alhambra, a beautiful Islamic fortress and palace dating back to the 13th century and the most iconic monument in all of Spain.  Additionally, en route to Seville, they toured an olive oil factory in Alfarnate and had a luncheon at a private home.   The students’ last two days were spent in Seville, which allowed them to experience Feria de Abril, Seville’s April festival with colorful flamenco dresses and horse-drawn carriages.  Students also visited the Plaza de España, a lovely square made for the 1929 Ibero-American Expo showcasing each province of Spain with its own pavilion.  They also toured the Alcázar of Seville, a Moorish fortress which was the filming site for parts of Game of Thrones, and the Cathedral, where they saw the tomb of Christopher Columbus, and climbed to the top of La Giralda, its tower, for beautiful views of the city.

WHS Junior Cooper O’Shea said: “The exchange was the best thing I have ever done. Getting to learn about authentic Spanish culture allowed me to make lifelong connections.”

Junior Angelina Vo said: “This trip offered something so uniquely different from any other traveling experience presented by Wilmington High School. I not only had every opportunity to make friends for a lifetime, but I also had the chance to immerse myself in language.  This trip has greatly advanced my confidence and gave me a once in a lifetime experience.”  

For more information about the WHS Student Exchange programs and how to get involved as a host family or supporter, please contact Terresa Pietro at terresa.pietro@wpsk12.com.