“Bring Your Child to Work Day” is a day that revolves around parents taking their children to work to show them what their parents do while they are at work. Usually, it is a day where kids don’t have to go to school. This year at Prep’s “Bring Your Child to Work Day,” thirty-one children participated in a structured day of school, mirroring that of a typical Prep student with the children attending scheduled classes, break, and lunch. However, this was not a typical school day.
The day began with a session on silkscreen T-shirt making, a method of printing designs or graphics on a t-shirt, led by Ms. B. White and Ms. Russell. Following this, Ms. Howard conducted a slime-making workshop during second period. During the break, Ms. Smith provided snacks. Afterwards, during third period, the college counseling office featured a “Fun Tour” of the entire campus with candy or other prizes at each stop. During fourth period, the students ate their lunch with their parent. Simultaneously, Ms. Hepburn facilitated a newspaper-making activity, incorporating Polaroid photography to capture whatever their imagination pleased.
The educational activities continued into fifth period with Mr. Rothenberg’s improv theater activity. Drawing on his prior experience, he helped the children create their own theatrical performance. This was followed by Dr. Hendren’s chariot races during sixth period, in which the children raced in actual chariots used in Prep’s annual Chariot Race. A highlight was seventh period in the music studio, during which Mr. Gaiser and Mr. Simpson introduced the children to music recording. They had the opportunity to play around with the machinery and they primarily sang popular songs by Taylor Swift and Lizzo. The day concluded with Dr. Balbach’s science activity during the eighth period, where the children learned how air feeds fire through a controlled experiment in the residential fireplace.
The most popular activities, as per the children’s feedback, were the music studio recording, the school tour, and the theater improv sessions. “Bring Your Child to Work Day” at Prep proved to be a unique experience, providing the children, our “Mini Hoyas,” with a unique opportunity to see where their parents work and have an unforgettable experience.
