SE Valley Times

On March 6, students from the National Honor Society at Mesquite Junior High visited Gilbert Elementary to engage with kindergarten through second grade students for Dr. Seuss Day. The event is an annual tradition aimed at building community ties between the two schools and inspiring students about their educational futures.

During the visit, National Honor Society members read classic Dr. Seuss books to the elementary students and conducted activities related to each story. The activities included creating elephant hand paintings inspired by 'Horton Hears a Who,' making parachutes from 'Oh, the Places You’ll Go,' and crafting Cat in the Hat paper plate masks. The students also participated in various games and crafts.

Jake Bundy, a student from Mesquite Junior High, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, saying, "It was fun. The students were really excited for us to be here, and I definitely want to come back. The teacher was nice, and all the students were great."

Another Mesquite Junior High student shared, “I loved spending time with all the kids; they were so sweet. I think it’s great that they are now more excited about eventually going to junior high while we get a chance to be role models for younger students.”

The tradition of celebrating Dr. Seuss Day, now in its tenth year, was set up to bridge the gap between Gilbert Elementary and Mesquite Junior High. Taking advantage of their close location, the schools have created several initiatives for collaboration. Each year, Gilbert Elementary students reciprocate the visit with participation in the Jingle Jog, an event held on the last day before winter break.

Justin Sremba, Principal at Gilbert Elementary, remarked, “These events provide a valuable opportunity for our elementary students to get excited about their future in junior high, while offering leadership and mentorship opportunities for our older students. We've built a strong relationship with Mesquite Junior High, and it's wonderful to see the positive impact on both schools.”

Gilbert Public Schools focuses on delivering engaging opportunities that promote student excitement and readiness for the future. Dr. Seuss Day is an example of the initiatives occurring across their campuses. More stories about similar events can be found at GilbertSchools.net/About/News-Events.