Gossler Park goes to college!

Following one of the leadership principles they’ve been practicing this school year, third graders from Gossler Park Elementary School “began with the end in mind” as they toured the campus of Southern New Hampshire University. The field trip gave students the chance to start developing a better understanding about the opportunities going to college can provide. 

With support from Granite United Way, Gossler Park has implemented a program called “The Leader in Me,” which emphasizes skills and lifelong habits that are important for growing up to be proactive achievers. Among them, setting goals for higher education. 

When Gossler Park’s third grade team of teachers came up with the idea of introducing their students to college, SNHU wanted to make it happen. Representatives from the university’s admission office gave the children an experience close to what any other prospective student would receive, with the goal of inspiring them to strive for greater academic success and see themselves attending SNHU or any other college of their choice. 

The students started the day with a welcome from SNHU’s dean of the School of Education, Ray McNulty. He talked about campus buildings, living in dorms and the opportunities to study different subjects. Next on the agenda was the scavenger hunt campus tour. 

Led in groups by SNHU students, the third graders were given cards printed with photos of various locations around the university. As they walked the campus, in and out of different buildings, and heard facts about each one, the children checked off the photos they spotted. 

For one 8-year-old in Mrs. Whitmore’s class, there was one specific building she was most looking forward to while visiting SNHU. 

“Are we going to see the library?” Shelby asked as soon as she got off the bus from Gossler Park. The library was the last stop for Shelby’s tour group, and we just had to capture the look of excitement on her face! 

Back at the SNHU Dining Center, the children had a snack, then participated in an activity creating posters that illustrated what college means to them or why they want to go to college. 

Since Gossler Park conceptualized this field trip, we hear SNHU is looking to invite other schools to have their own "college discovery" field trip!