Fowler Goes to Denver
Fowler Goes To Denver
Savannah Bollinger
A priority of Fowler school district that students highly value is the commitment to experiencing education outside of the school environment. This commitment came shining through on the recent three day field trip to Denver, Colorado, where students were treated to new opportunities not available in our area. 6th-12th graders at Fowler Jr/Sr High School expanded their view of the world through this unique field trip experience.This year Fowler Jr High and High School had the privilege of going on a three day trip to Denver, Colorado. This was an exemplary experience for many of the students, most of which had the opportunity to do things they have never done before. This trip gave them an experience that they will not get at any other school.
The first day of the trip included a six hour drive to Denver and the Aquarium, a Chinese restaurant called Benihana’s, and a professional hockey game at the Pepsi Center. The second day the school went to an art museum, the capitol building, the Museum of Nature and Science, a Mexican restaurant called Casa Bonita, and the mall. On the final day students went to the zoo and then traveled home.
“I am very grateful that I was given the opportunity to be one of the junior high chaperones on the Denver field trip. Not only did the students have a lot of fun on the trip, I felt that the trip provided our students with a cultural learning experience that was completely different than what we see daily in Southwest Kansas. I really enjoyed the hockey game, a first for most of us, and I thought our trip to Benihana was a ton of fun. Thank you USD 225 administrators and BOE for allowing our students to have these experiences,“ Erica Rarden, one of the sponsors said.
“These kind of field trips benefit the students because they see first hand how people preserve history. Places like the Denver Art Museum and Denver Museum of Nature and Science, allow the student a chance to see history in first person and hopefully it inspires them to want to preserve the past for future generations as well. My favorite exhibit was at the Denver Art Museum in the Stampede Exhibit where they had animal carvings from ancient civilizations,” James Guida a sponsor shared.
“My favorite part was going to the hockey game because it was the first time I’ve ever done that and it was intense and fun to watch,” Said Daniel Garcia, Sophomore.
“We believe that in order to lead the world, our students need to learn the world. Our field trips are designed such that students create a personal connection to the things that they may see or study in the classroom. Teachers approach a lesson by ensuring their students have the background knowledge needed to understand the content that will be presented. It is likely that students will study art or read the biography of an artist within their coursework. Having experienced an art museum first-hand will increase their ability to connect to what they are reading about in class,” said Mrs. McDowell, Principal.
After the trip Mrs.McDowell surveyed the students. 22% of students had never seen an aquarium, and 50% visited an art museum for the first time. 23% of students who had never seen the Rocky Mountains will now be able to visualize mountains when they read about them. Students who enjoy cooking now have a new idea about what the food industry has to offer, with 72% experiencing a restaurant like Benihana for the first time. 100% of students had never attended a professional hockey game before and can now verify that hockey players lose a lot of teeth. For 9% of students, this was the farthest they had ever been from Fowler.
Fowler’s School has created a unique education and learning experience that benefits all students. Our students are given new opportunities to experience. I would like to thank everyone who had a part in making this field trip. You made it a pleasant experience for everyone who attended!