A tethered hot air balloon rises above a field adjacent to Mortensen Elementary as students and staff watch nearby.
Mortensen Elementary students had a high flying surprise for their first assembly of the 2015-16 school year.
Principal Karla Hankins arranged for a big, bright tethered hot air balloon to greet the students as they streamed onto the field next to the school. Hankins said she organized the event to underscore the school’s academic theme for the year which is called “Where Learning Takes Flight.”
Mortensen students were asked to think about what the theme meant to them personally, and to write down specific goals on notecards that would actually take to the air in the balloon in the next few weeks, along with the school’s stuffed animal mascot “Barky The Bulldog.” The kids responded with a wide range of ideas, including reading more at home, studying harder, and putting a curb to fidgeting in class.
Sixth-grader Gabriella Butler said the assembly not only helped sharpen her academic goals for the coming year, but gave her a boost of high-flying confidence.
“I really feel like I can accomplish any goals,” Butler explained.
During the assembly, students filed past and listened as the pilot explained the history and basics of hot air ballooning.
Adding to the excitement of the hot air balloon visit, was the formal dedication of some new playground equipment at Mortensen.
“This is one of the things that energize an elementary school principal,” Hankins said. “I have been so excited for this day and it has turned into a reality for us. And for that I am very thankful.”
Watch the JPS-TV version of this story here.