With a grant from the Chatham Education Foundation, Perry Harrison Elementary and Moncure Elementary were able to come together for the first time on March 5, 2025, for an in-school field trip called Science Fun for Everyone. First grade students were all given their own individual science kits and they became geologists as they observed soil samples and reviewed layers of soil. They then got to excavate minerals, gems, and fossils. “This was definitely a highlight of the day,” said Melissa Hodge, first grade teacher at Perry Harrison, “Especially since each student was able to take home all of their findings.”
Besides excavating together, the first graders also got to eat lunch together; then the students from Moncure got a tour of Perry Harrison. “The Moncure students loved exploring Perry Harrison’s awesome outdoor activities which are very different from those at Moncure,” Hodge said.
For the students, one of the best parts of the field trip was making new friends. And the same could be said for the teachers and chaperones. “It was awesome to see One Chatham in action,” Hodge said. “It was most definitely a 10/10!”
In future grant cycles, Chatham Education Foundation will use this project as a model to further the #OneChatham philosophy and bring more schools from across the district together for innovative programs.