Ram Page visits the Lobos: A day of fun and learning at Bradford Elementary

On April 5, a Friday afternoon, the team from the Ram Page visited Bradford Elementary School. It was a trip full of learning and inspiration. I'm Ethan Mason, a writer for the Ram Page. With me were Ethan Purcell, our editor-in-chief who makes sure our newspaper tells important stories well; Aletheia Sandley, our photographer who takes amazing pictures; and Ellada Gamreklidze, our adviser who guides us to do our best work. Talking about journalism with younger students was exciting for all of us.

Brenda Rodriguez and Alyssa Lechuga, who lead the Photography/Journalism Society at Bradford, invited us to visit. They wanted us to share our experiences and see the great societies at their school.

I talked about the fun of being a writer, exploring different topics and writing stories. Purcell explained how an editor makes sure the newspaper connects with its readers. Sandley shared her love for photography, including a special way she takes pictures of tall things, showing her clever solutions to tricky photography problems. 

The students asked lots of questions about how we choose stories, take photos and even what foods we like and how fast we are.

Next, we toured the school and its societies, each one sparked by its teacher’s love for the subject showing the students' different interests and skills. We were impressed by the Photography/Journalism Society's project, The Bradford Times’ “Lobos Unidos,” a newsletter about school life where students go and interview their friends in other societies and then return with that information to add to the newsletter.

Our visit was a wonderful chance to share what we do at the Ram Page and to dive into the lively activities at Bradford Elementary because, as Rodriguez said, “things get pretty busy around here during the last hour on Fridays.” We saw Justin Flores’ Guitar Society, where students were mastering new chords, filling the room with music that made you want to tap your feet. Over at Zenida Dominguez's Cricut/Digital Art Society, kids were busy creating custom T-shirts with their names and showing off their art skills.

Tori Garcia and Gabby Soria’s Culinary Society was a tasty adventure into the world of cooking. As students observed their teachers stirring pots of ramen noodles, their faces lit up with excitement at the culinary creation they were about to enjoy. Miami Hayes' Coding Society had students glued to their screens, working together to build roller coasters in Minecraft, a testament to their imagination and teamwork.

The melody of “A Sky Full of Stars” flowed from Tara Amaro’s Piano Society, as students pressed the keys with focused determination, learning the song note by note. In Briana King’s ASL Society, the area by the flagpole was filled with the silent beauty of communication, as students learned to sign the Pledge of Allegiance, their hands moving in harmony to deliver the words without sound.

Each society visit showed us the wide range of interests and talents among the students at Bradford Elementary, from music and art to cooking and coding, all under the guidance of dedicated teachers. It was a reminder of how exciting learning can be when you’re exploring what you love.

Bradford Elementary is a campus for pre-K through fifth grade. It is also the district's main bilingual campus for students in pre-K through third grade. The school strives to empower students to become future leaders, valuing the building of positive relationships with the community and collaborating with stakeholders to meet the needs of their diverse learners. Students know they are loved, cared for and supported in reaching their goals.