Ekalaka, Hulett, and Alzada schools forge unique learning partnership

A Cross-Border Educational Adventure

In a groundbreaking educational initiative, the Ekalaka School District, the Hulett School District, and the Alzada Country School have embarked on a collaborative project that takes learning beyond the classroom. The three schools recently partnered to organize a series of "home-home field trips" that allowed students to explore local landmarks and cultural sites.

A Geological Journey

The first field trip, on November 25th, took Ekalaka students to the awe-inspiring Devils Tower National Monument. Students were encouraged to use their cell phones to capture photos and conduct interviews, documenting their experiences. Even the bus trip was educational time, Ekalaka Science teacher Mrs. Hammel provided students with rocks on the bus to examine, offering a glimpse into the geological wonders they would soon witness.

"Students were engaged and excited the entire trip, and when they returned, they talked a great deal about meeting students from Hulett and Alzada," said Mrs. Hammel. "Our students worked on a lot of new skills like interviewing people and giving them time to talk without interruption, and they worked on timing a presentation and putting together digital information into one solid piece. It was neat to see them putting new skills together. It would be neat to see them do a similar project and see how they improve."

"Our junior high kids were quite well-behaved and made me proud to take them to another school and represent us!" Mrs. Hammel added.

Aubri and Cortland, students from Ekalaka, both expressed that "meeting new people" was one of the highlights. Kaden, another Ekalaka student, "thought learning about Devils Tower was a benefit." Kira from Ekalaka told us, "It made learning really fun. We should do more field trips."

Ella Wright, an Ekalaka student, added, "The highlight for me was our history project because we got to interview people. The educational benefit for me was learning about the built-in ladder they used to climb the tower. Another educational benefit is the story about the man that was stuck on there for a week."

Cultural and Historical Exploration

The following day, Hulett students made the trip to Ekalaka, where they explored the historic Medicine Rocks State Park. These unique rock formations offer a glimpse into the region's geological past and cultural significance. After a shared lunch, both groups of students visited the Carter County Museum to delve deeper into the region's history and culture.

"Watching the students interact the second day was heartwarming. They seemed nervous the first day, but by the second day, there were definite connections and friendships forming," said Lila Kennah, a science teacher from Hulett. "Seeing Medicine Rocks and learning about the cultural histories of the places we live helps give students connections both to the past and present."

Principal Robert Flock of Hulett School added, "The highlight of the field trip swap day was seeing two schools from different states come together as one. The students from both schools quickly made new friends and spent two days together learning about each other's landmarks. I was also very impressed with the Carter County Museum. The number of artifacts and the information that was presented was a perfect way to end the field trip."

"The educational benefit from the field trips had to be learning the historical value of both landmarks. The students in both Ekalaka and Hulett deserve to know and appreciate the area they are growing up in," said Principal Flock.

"This opportunity for two schools to come together was a success. I am very excited to see how Ekalaka, Hulett, and Alzada can work together to make this a tradition. I would like to see students lead the tour and be more involved," he added.

Superintendent Kapptie expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, "We have so much to learn and share about our own communities. This is a great chance to build connections and get students learning out of the classroom at a very low cost."

Looking ahead, all three schools are exploring ways to expand upon this year's successful collaboration. Principal Flock and Superintendent Kapptie are considering involving next year's eighth-grade students in a more leadership role, allowing them to guide and teach their younger peers. This innovative partnership not only enriches the educational experience of students but also fosters a sense of community and shared heritage.