Getting a few unexpected days off from school allowed many students more time to sleep in and hang out with their friends. For freshmen Kiara Iske and Stacy Ackerman, there was an exception.

Iske and Ackerman still went to school. However, instead of going to Hastings High, they went to Hawthorne Elementary.

“I chose to help out because otherwise I’d be sitting around the house doing nothing,” Iske said.

Iske attended Hawthorne for first through sixth grade. She was very familiar with the school and enjoyed seeing some of her favorite teachers again.

“I missed being at Hawthorne, so I decided to come back and help out,” Iske said.

Unlike Iske, Ackerman never attended Hawthorne. She decided to help at Hawthorne when Iske asked her if she wanted to.

“I enjoyed meeting new teachers at a new school,” Ackerman said, “I got along with them really well.”

The girls helped all three of the kindergarten teachers.

“They show great enthusiasm and responsibility with the jobs they are given,” kindergarten teacher Karen Portwood said, “These girls need to be commended for volunteering their time at the elementary level.”

Iske and Ackerman spent three days mainly organizing folders, copying papers and cutting out flashcards. They also had the opportunity to help kindergarten teacher Julie Parker’s class.

“Helping Mrs. Parker’s class with writing was fun because I got to help teach them,” Iske said.

Both girls enjoyed helping kindergarten classes because they were able to spend time with younger children.

Iske and Ackerman spent most of their time helping kindergarten teacher Michelle Haase.

“We were in Mrs. Haase’s room or the work room most of the time,” Ackerman said.

This experience gave the girls a different perspective of being in an elementary school than what they were accustomed to. Instead of being a student, they took the role of being a teacher or a teacher’s assistant. It gave them a better understanding of all the extra work that happens behind the scenes of teaching a class.

“I’ve learned to understand and appreciate what teachers have to do to get ready for class.” Iske said.

With the high school having the same schedule as the rest of the Hastings Public Schools, students usually don’t get the opportunity to visit their former schools while they are in session.

“I’ll definitely come back to help again if I ever get the chance to,” Iske said.

Iske and Ackerman learned so much more from this experience than what they had expected. Iske realized that teachers get less credit and appreciation than they deserve for being teachers.

“Students should learn to appreciate their teachers more because they do a lot more than just teaching,” Iske said.