One of Waring’s quietest—and most enduring—traditions on school trips is the simple act of sketching. From the very first travels to France decades ago, Waring students have carried small sketchbooks and pencils in their bags, pausing in cathedrals, museums, cafés, and town squares to draw what they see. The practice is not about producing perfect art, but about slowing down and truly observing: the curve of an archway, the rhythm of rooftops, the way light falls across a sculpture. In this way, sketching becomes another form of learning—an invitation to look carefully, notice details, and connect more deeply with the places we visit.
Please enjoy some sketches and thumbnails by 9th graders in Orléans below:
