Service and Spotlight: A Tale of Two Spring Vacation Journeys | News | Portsmouth Abbey School, Rhode Island

Two unique journeys defined this year's school-sponsored spring vacation trips - each offering students a unique way to grow beyond the classroom. While one group traveled to St. Anne's Mission in Arizona to take part in meaningful volunteer service, another shared their talents on stage at Walt Disney World as a part of an awarded choir performance. Though their destinations and experiences varied, both trips gave students the chance to connect, contribute and create lasting memories in their own distinct ways.

St. Anne’s Service Trip in Arizona

The Portsmouth Abbey School service trip to Klagetoh, Arizona, was a powerful and memorable experience marked by service, cultural immersion, and meaningful connection. After arriving in Phoenix on March 17, the volunteer group traveled to St. Anne’s Mission in the Navajo Nation, where they spent the week working and building relationships within the community. Eleven students participated in the excursion, led by faculty chaperones and volunteer directors, Dr. Marc Lavallee and Ms. Mary Catherine Pietropaoli.

Students began by assisting with food distribution and the Klagetoh Chapter House, then traveled to Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico, for the Feast of St. Joseph, where they witnessed traditional Pueblo Dances and learned more about the Laguna tribe and their culture reflected in a local flea market. Back at the mission, much of the group’s work focused on rebuilding a porch for Sr. Monica, one of the religious who lives and works at the St. Anne Mission, tearing down the original porch in place of a new one. Another group of students assisted a local farmer with neutering and docking newborn rams. Students cite caring for the lambs as being just as fun and fluffy as you would imagine it!

A highlight of the trip was visiting the Canyon De Chelly near Chinle, Arizona, where students hiked 1.5 miles into the canyon to experience its breathtaking beauty and 13th-century pre-Pueblo cliff dwellings. To this day, Canyon De Chelly serves as a sacred site to the Navajo people, and a small number of their tribe continue to live and farm within the canyon. Sunday Mass in the mission’s historic chapel, followed by a Navajo smudging blessing, was especially impactful for its authenticity and intimacy.

Throughout the week, students also supported local families with projects like hauling water for an elderly couple and cleaning vandalized properties. Evenings were spent playing sports with local children and having daily team reflection, deepening both friendship and understanding. "The students revealed exceptional insight during these conversations," said Pietropaoli, "including a sensitivity to both the joy and hardship they encountered on the Navajo Nation."

Right: Students hiking in Canyon De Chelly.