Kingston Middle School would like to thank the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe for a generous grant that allowed 160 seventh-graders to take a field trip to the Tacoma Museum District on Feb. 17.

Field trips make a difference in our students’ education — they provide memorable experiences that bring classroom lessons to life. In particular, our seventh-graders are studying Washington State History, so a visit to this history-making city was a natural fit. Some students even expanded their geography knowledge as well. While crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge on that beautiful, sunny day, several students exclaimed, “What’s that mountain?” For those students, seeing Mount Rainier from a closer vantage point was an eye-opening experience. Sometimes, the biggest learning can come in those unexpected moments.

These opportunities don’t come cheaply, though. Admissions and travel expenses add up quickly for an entire seventh-grade class. Happily, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe values learning and is willing to provide support beyond the “basic education” that state taxes provide. For that, Kingston Middle School asks the North Kitsap community to join us in expressing our heartfelt thanks.

Lynn Atherton

Kingston