1 day Ago By Zara Barker
Students from Perkins Elementary School in Barrio Logan experienced a unique educational opportunity on Wednesday as they boarded Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship for a field trip.The trip allowed the fourth graders to explore the ship and learn about various maritime jobs, offering them a glimpse into potential future career paths."Education is more than what we learn in the classroom," said Fernando Hernandez, the principal of Perkins Elementary School.
The students had the opportunity to explore the exciting features through the 11 decks of the Nieuw Amsterdam, which can accommodate about 3,000 passengers, including the crew.They visited various departments on board, including the bridge, and got to ask the staff questions about the ship's operations. For many of the students, this was their first time on a cruise ship.
"It felt like we were going to drive the ship," said Joseph Arvayo, a fourth grader. "I was amazed by the pool and the elevator," said Miah Parada, another fourth-grade student. Other students, like Valerie Martinez, were amazed by the all-you-can-eat food available on cruises: "My favorite part about the ship is the food, I had like a bunch of fries, a bunch of sodas," she said.
"I had a hamburger and a pizza.”Along on the field trip were three San Diego Harbor Police Officers. The Harbor Police Department Foundation partners with Perkins Elementary through weekly readings with a cop, and other events including, Fish with a Cop and Shop with a Cop.
Officer Gary Page spend several days a week reading to the students, helping their reading levels while also building positive relationships between the students and law enforcement. "It becomes a welcoming presence and it gives them approval to trust police officers," he said.Principal Hernandez highlighted the importance of exposing students to new experiences, noting that around 35% of the students at Perkins experience some form of homelessness and many of them are isolated due to their circumstances.
"This is how we plant seeds," he said, referring to the potential for the students to see opportunities beyond their current environment. As the cruise ship prepares to set sail for its new port home in Canada, the students from Perkins carry with them new memories and aspirations.All facts from this article were gathered by FOX 5/KUSI journalists.
This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by FOX 5/KUSI staff..
