Parkway Heights Middle School recently attended a showing of the Broadway musical "The Lion King".
“It was amazing! I loved it,” gushed sixth grader Marisol Servin-Alvarado.
It’s the third year in a row the school has organized field trips like this to broaden students’ education.
In 2021, the school attended "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child", and in 2022 they saw "Frozen: The Musical".
The idea for these excursions originated with English teacher Jenny Schurk, who said she was thinking of ways to bring the school together again after COVID-19 shut down classes until the 2021-22 school year.
“I think it really does kind of bond us together as a campus and as a student body,” said Schurk. “It's something that the kids will never forget.”
Schurk, who grew up in San Bruno, said she remembers attending the theater, symphony, and opera in San Francisco when she was an elementary school student and wanted to give her students the same opportunity.
“I just wanted to give our students an opportunity to experience a live performance,” she said.
Not only did Schurk write a proposal for a $90,000 grant to fund the annual trips, she also convinced BroadwaySF to start providing matinee performances during the weekday to accommodate the schedule of her students and those of other Bay Area schools.
The students have thoroughly enjoyed the experience, particularly because it’s the first time that many of them have gone to the theatre.
“I remember the first year we went we saw Harry Potter, and the kids were so excited, and during the performance. . .they were just so enthusiastic,” said Schurk, “but we got a letter back from the actors, and they said that they were the best audience they’ve ever had, so I think it's just been a really good experience both for the students and for the performers as well.”
Eighth grader Erik Jimenez agreed. He said it was incredible how the entire school was able to come out for an afternoon at the theater.
Eighth grader Erik Jimenez agreed. He said it was incredible how the entire school was able to come out for an afternoon at the theater.
“No one's too cool to come here,” said Erik. “It's always nice to come here and get everyone here.”
He also said it felt especially meaningful to him, since this was his last year at Parkway Heights.
“It feels nice, considering it’s the last year that I’m going to be an eighth grader and to see all my friends—some of them are not going to the same high school as me—but it’s really nice.”