Balitmore, Gettysburg, & Washington, D.C. Trip

September 2025

This past week, our Civil War Social Studies class brought history to life with an unforgettable trip to Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.

At the Capitol, students were joined by Chandler board member Nathan Pascal and welcomed by Congresswoman Susie Lee of Nevada, who personally hosted the group for an extended visit. Students enjoyed a private lunch and Q&A in the Congresswoman’s office, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of the U.S. Capitol- including areas typically closed to the public, such as the House Chamber floor and the historic Women’s Reading Room, hidden behind a door in Statuary Hall.

Because of the government shutdown, only members of Congress were permitted to provide tours, giving our students the rare opportunity to explore the Capitol without the usual crowds.

Our board member, Nathan Pascal, joined the students on the trip and summed it up better than anyone could.

From Chandler Board Member, Nathan Pascal:

Dear Members of the Chandler School Board,

I wanted to take a moment to share a short debrief of feedback as a board member of the incredible experience our students had in Washington, D.C. this week.

Quite simply, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for everyone involved — an experience I’m confident the students will look back on with great pride and fondness as they grow older.

In the company of Congresswoman Susie Lee of Nevada, our students demonstrated outstanding poise and maturity. They engaged her with thoughtful, well-prepared questions that reflected a sound understanding of government and civics — a true credit to the excellent teaching they’ve received at Chandler.

Congresswoman Lee was exceptionally generous with her time, spending nearly four hours with us. This included a Q&A lunch in her office and a personal tour of the U.S. Capitol, which she attended alongside our group. Because of the government shutdown, only members of Congress were permitted to provide tours, meaning we had the rare privilege of exploring the Capitol without the usual crowds.

This unique access allowed our group to visit areas typically off-limits to the public — including the House Chamber floor, where students were able to sit, ask questions, and learn directly about the legislative process from Congresswoman Lee. We even got a behind-the-scenes look at the historic Women’s Reading Room, accessible only through a hidden door in Statuary Hall. Along the way, we also crossed paths with several well-known members of Congress, such as Representative Ro Khanna and others.

Experiences like this perfectly illustrate what makes Chandler so exceptional. The way our students represented themselves and Chandler — with respect, curiosity, and confidence — was truly inspiring. I could not have been prouder, and I’m certain Congresswoman Lee was equally impressed.

Warm regards,

-Nate Pascal