On March 18th, 2026, most students visited White Memorial Preservation Center while Juniors remained at ACE to take the SAT.
A teacher organizing the trip, Katja Pieragostini, explained “In the past, seniors have wanted to come.” So, as a part of the program that came with the SAT test, as it had been happening, organized and set at the Alternative Center for Excellence, for most juniors and sophomores, the trip commenced, as the bus left around a quarter after 8 A.M.
The center is known for its serene and hinged trails along its pond and more. The students had also grown to know its protected wildlife habitats, which offered a calm and melting mix of mind and setting that immediately set it apart from a typical school day.
Surrounded by outstretched trees and the sounds of loose chirping, the students gathered near the entrance as they passed by the occasional dead branch, ready to begin their field trip and explore what the center had to offer.
While their time went by, the students learned about animal trickery, a topic that intrigued a few, along with the introduction of a snake. They were allowed to pet and hold her intermittently, much to the alarm of a few students and a chaperone, most of it, a little jester.
A guide spoke on how different animals use clever, much to others; cunning strategies to survive, such as camouflage, mimicry, and distraction techniques. An example given was that some insects can imitate leaves in the appearance of their fur or skin to avoid predators, while certain animals feign being injured to lead threats or predators away from their nests, where their offspring would be. A few students were especially interested in how these behaviors were exhibited in certain videos in the presentation, and how they aligned with the basic behaviors of the snake brought out.
Katja revealed, “We couldn’t go to the pond because it was too cold.” So, students explored the exhibit by participating in a scavenger hunt. Those who did not do the scavenger hunt took pictures, chatted, and went to the gift shop.
Once the students were gathered again, the trip home was as eventful as the trip to the preservation, and students spent their last class period chatting or not disrupting the fellow students that did not go on the trip.
According to Ms. Pieragostini, “—instead of having the kids there every year, Ashlee,” one of our math teachers, “suggested going to the aquarium.” This could be the future and controlled setting or settings of trips for the Alternative Center for Excellence. ACE senior, Valentina Civitano agrees with Katja that “we need a change of scenery” for future SAT day trips.
