Farmington Third Graders Get Hands-On Lesson in City Government

On Thursday, May 4, City Hall hosted seven Farmington Elementary third-grade classrooms. Loaded on to buses at the school, the students traveled the short distance and arrived at City Hall to expectant staff waiting on People Street, outside of Council Chambers. City staff members, Germantown School Board member Lisa Parker and Farmington PTA Legislative Chair Natalie Williams played hosts and each led a classroom to the seven information stations set up around City Hall.



Park Rangers entertain kids at City HallMr. House’s class started their tour with the Parks and Recreation Park Rangers on People Street. The Park Rangers showed pelts of fur from animals that roam the parks here in Germantown. Rangers loved having the kids ask questions about the bones and skunk pelt found on the Greenway that are all a part of the natural circle of life in the wild.



Next, the class went into Council Chambers where Aldermen John Barzizza, Mary Anne Gibson, Rocky Janda and Forrest Owens sat in their chairs to answer the thoughtful questions from the third grade Citizens to Be Heard. Among the student’s questions were “What do you think of pollution?” to “What is your favorite thing about being an Alderman?” It was hard to tell who was enjoying the exchange more, the Aldermen or the students.



 

Next up was a trip to the barricaded parking lot behind City Hall. Students had a mini Touch-a-Truck experience with the Police Department, Fire Department, Public Works and the ever-popular Waste Pro garbage truck. Students visit with Police officers



Students ended the tour by visiting with Mayor Mike Palazzolo in his office. The Mayor answered questions from the students concerning what they should study in school to be Mayor and the Mayor asked what the students liked best about the City.

Organized by City Executive Administrative Assistant Leslie Acerra and Farmington PTA Board Member Natalie Williams, the goal was to give students a true, citizenship experience making government real and accessible. “I wanted the children to see the staff and City workers behind Germantown that make it such a great place to live,” said Natalie. Leslie was “just glad everyone had a good time.”
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