A group of 39 excited Charles Henderson High School art students and teachers, parents and community members left Troy Saturday afternoon for 10 days in Italy and France.

The Italy and France 2009 Spring Break in Europe group was led by Pam Smith, CHHS art teacher.

Smith is a veteran traveler and has led school tour groups for more than a decade. This tour is not her first to Italy and France but it will be her first trip to the South of France.

So, the excitement of a totally new experience will also be hers.

“We’re all very excited about this trip,” Smith said.

“Most of the parents who are going with us are parents of students who traveled with us. They went along with their children and are still traveling with us. We have several parents who have been on every trip with us since 2003 when their children were seniors.”

The group will tour all of the major tourist sites in both countries and some off the beaten path sites as well.”

The 2009 Spring Break tour group is made up of 18 senior art students, who have all helped to earn money for the trip.

“Some of the students have taken part time jobs to help with the expenses of the trips,” Smith said.

“Some of the parents have taken part time jobs in addition to their regular jobs so a lot of planning and effort has gone into the trip.”

The students earned money for the trip by participating in art-related activities.

“I wanted the students to earn money by using the skills they have learned in art class over the years,” Smith said.

“We had art workshops and Art Saturdays where the students taught art to elementary students. We also designed and sold our own greeting cards.

“Those fundraisers allowed the students to use their art skills while raising money for the trip,” she said.

“Having helped pay the expense of the trip will make it more meaningful for the students and the activities they taught benefited others. Those are the best fundraisers to have.”

The 2009 Italy and France Spring Break in Europe tour group will return to Troy on Monday, March 23.