OCTOBER 20, 2023

Millbrook Middle School’s seventh grade and 8-1-1 class took to the streets on October 11 for a walking tour of some of Millbrook’s most significant historical sites.

Created to offer students a taste of local history, the field trip took students on foot from the middle school to visit select plaques located around the village and learn about Millbrook’s past. Volunteers from the Millbrook Historical Society, Millbrook Rotary and other local organizations met the students at each of the sites to share details about the buildings and any events that had transpired there. Sites ranged from the village’s historic railway, firehouse and school, and topics included the history of Millbrook’s Irish and Italian immigrants.

Millbrook Historical Society advisory committee member Nan Greenwood said that she and her husband David (Millbrook Town and Village Historian) were thrilled when the district launched the tour several years ago. 

“Our volunteers really appreciate the students' curiosity and enthusiasm,” said Greenwood. “They love sharing their expertise and personal anecdotes to provide them with this unique intergenerational learning experience.”

Students carried copies of a scavenger hunt checklist created by their teachers as they toured the town. While the students were full of questions about what they were about to learn, the challenge provided a way for them to become even more engaged in the experience.

“The scavenger hunt provides them with incentive to get more involved in learning about the community as we go along,” said Jennifer Feicht, middle school special education teacher. “It also gives them another way to remember what they’ve learned.”

Feicht said that the goal of the annual field trip is to give students an understanding and appreciation of local history. 

“It’s a great way to show them that they don’t have to travel far to study significant historical events,” she said. 

Enjoying time at the Millbrook Tribute Garden before making the trek back to school, students were all smiles as they talked about their favorite parts of the trip. 

“Learning about everything and meeting the people was a lot of fun today,” said seventh grader Raylnn Cifferri. “This was one of my first times doing this, and it was really nice to do it with my friends.”

Middle school English teacher Kimberly Guley agreed that the chance to be with peers as they learn is part of the trip’s appeal. 

“They most enjoy getting to be together to read and listen to the local history instead of reading about it independently,” said Guley. “It’s a special opportunity.”

Feicht expressed her gratitude to the Historical Society and the volunteers for donating their time to the outing, and it would appear the feelings are mutual.

“We are so appreciative of the school's ongoing commitment to this program and the staff’s collaboration to make this special event a success,” Greenwood said.

As Elm Drive Elementary School’s fire prevention assembly and Touch-a-Truck event on October 18 wrapped up, Millbrook Fire Department volunteers Beatty Hays, Robin Horan and Terry Donoghue smiled as they greeted students in front of a fire truck. 

Surrounded by a circle of eager children, Hays knelt down, as questions and stories came from every direction.

“Do spotty dogs live in your firehouse?”

“I know someone who’s a firefighter!”

“My family already has a fire safety plan!”

Hosted annually by members of the Millbrook Fire Department at both Elm Drive and Alden Place Elementary Schools, this year’s event brought students into the school's All Purpose Room to learn about fire prevention and how to respond to a fire emergency. Hays led the presentation and read the book “Rescue Vehicles” to the students as an introduction to the importance of first responders – including, of course, firefighters. 

“This is an annual event, and we love doing it,” said Hays, who is also the parent of an Elm Drive student. “Some of these kids have seen this presentation two or three times, and it’s great to see them remembering what we’ve taught them each year.”

Elm Drive principal Alicia O'Connell said that fire safety and prevention is an important part of early education and expressed her gratitude to the Millbrook Fire Department for taking the time to come to the school year after year. 

“Not only do our students enjoy the assembly, they are even more thrilled when given the opportunity to explore an actual fire truck,” said O’Connell. “These interactive educational events make lasting memories for our Blazers!”

During the assembly, Hays stressed the importance of coming up with and practicing a family fire safety plan.. He also demonstrated how firefighters put on their equipment and showed students the safest way to move to an exit by getting down on the floor and crawling – much to the amusement of the youngsters.

Horan explained that showing students the equipment is one of the most important parts of the assembly. 

“A lot of the kids are afraid of what we look like in our equipment,” she said. “It shows them that they don’t need to be afraid if they ever encounter one of us in a fire. We’re here to help.”

The highlight for the students seemed to be the touch-a-truck experience provided at the end of the event. Students were led outside to interact with the firefighters, ask questions and step into the shoes of a firefighter by exploring a real fire truck. They weren’t alone in their excitement; firefighter Donoghue also said that it was his favorite part of the day.

“The wonder in their faces when they see the fire truck can’t be beat,” he said. “It feels so good to do this year after year.”