Several weeks before the semester began Dr. French sent out some information about our course. He told us we would be holding our class meetings at the Environmental Magnet School in Hartford, CT. He also sent us some information about an environmental super hero project that the students were involved with that we would be focusing on for the semester. The email ended with a note to wear clothes that could get messy because on our first day of class we would be making masks to bring to the school with us.
I am lucky enough to have been chosen to be included in a pilot program at CCSU where a small group of students become a cohort and travel through the education program together with the opportunity to spend more time in schools than other education students. In just one semester our cohort has developed a tight bond where we teach each other and help each other get as many learning experiences as possible. This bond with my colleagues made the mask masking class even that much more exciting!
The mask making class was a great experience because we were able to reconnect as a cohort and welcome the new group members. While we made our masks to represent our environmental superheros we shared the things that we were most excited for this semester and what we were nervous about. Dr. French got his hands dirty too and helped us make our masks while he told us all about the students and the projects we would be undertaking over the semester. It was a great way to start the semester and I felt confident that I was going to have life changing experiences at ESM.
