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Mostly Cloudy Sea Cliff School second graders visit Village Hall
Sea Cliff Elementary School second graders recently they gained firsthand insights into the workings of local government when their field trip rolled into Sea Cliff City Hall.
The educational initiative is aimed to cultivate a deeper understanding of civic responsibility and community involvement among the students.
Sea Cliff Trustee Tannaz Nasirzadeh-Balooch explained that the program returned this year after a hiatus caused by the pandemic.. The tradition reignited when she assumed the role of trustee in 2022, and the teachers expressed interest in reviving the field trip. She added that the mayor and her fellow trustees welcomed the opportunity to connect with the younger members of the community, providing a unique perspective into the responsibilities and roles within local governance.
“The village has always had an interest in working closely with the elementary school because our young minds are there,” Nasirzadeh-Balooch said. “It’s such an important thing for incoming parents and for the kids to be aware of who the mayor is, what the trustee do, and our role in the village.”
The field trip unfolded with the children divided into groups. One set explored the operational side of village hall, delving into the responsibilities of the treasurer, clerk, and other staff members. Simultaneously, Nasirzadeh-Balooch, alongside Mayor Elena Villafane, led another group of students to experience a mini-meeting, where four lucky kids assumed roles as trustees, the mayor, and even a village attorney.
This year’s meeting focused on the recently acquired Smart Streets Grant, which is focused on improving pedestrian, cyclist and driver safety on Sea Cliff roads. The topic prompted the children to brainstorm and vote on how the funds should be allocated to enhance road safety.
The suggestions ranged from widening roads to installing more sidewalks and additional stop signs. Nasirzadeh-Balooch admired the children’s genuine interest in contributing to the betterment of their community and many of their suggestions aligned with ideas the trustees and mayor had discussed.
“It’s really great to see them participate,” she added. “It’s really adorable, and the kids can get an idea of exactly what we do when we’re at a board meeting.”
Nasirzadeh-Balooch hopes that these experiences would inspire some of the children to consider future involvement in local government, fostering a sense of civic duty from a young age.
Second grade teacher Kelly Gorman, who accompanied her students to village hall, said the program is intricately tied to the school’s social studies curriculum, aiming to instill an early understanding of communities and the roles individuals play within them.
“It’s really cool for them to see all the prior mayors up on the wall, and then the really amazing map, that gives them the idea that Sea Cliff has been here for so long,” Gorman said. “It teaches them that although we’re a big community, there’s people in places in the community that work together to help in lots of different ways.”
The students visited village hall after exploring other community landmarks throughout the school year. They learned about the filing system, permits, and the various roles within the clerk’s office. Gorman shared that the students were particularly intrigued by the courtroom setting, where they discussed traffic safety and road concerns.
Back in the classroom, Gorman said the students reflected on the trip, sharing things they learned and posing lingering questions. The post-field trip discussion allowed them to process the information and encouraged further exploration of their inquiries.
Gorman described the students’ reactions as diverse, ranging from excitement to curiosity. The hands-on experience provided a tangible connection to the community, making abstract concepts more relatable for the second graders.
“When they’re presented with new learnings and a new place it obviously generates a lot of questions,” Gorman continued. “We’ll continue the conversation this week, continuing to focus on other parts of the government and so forth.”
