Kindergartners' Field Trip to Palo Alto City Hall, Police Station, and Fire Department

On January 23rd, 2026, the Kindergarten Hippo Class had an incredible opportunity to visit the Palo Alto Police Station, Fire Department, and City Hall—all in one day! This special outing was carefully planned as part of their social science theme on community and good citizenship, giving students a chance to see firsthand what it takes to be real-life community leaders. It was a wonderful experience for the students to learn about the importance of collaboration and open communication, as staff from different departments work together every day to serve the citizens of Palo Alto. This field trip was truly a meaningful and enriching experience for our students!

While visiting Palo Alto City Hall, some students came up with creative ideas for the community: a few suggested having an ice cream station in every building, others recommended adding more playgrounds for children, and one imaginative student even proposed that nobody should have to wear pants!

The students also had the chance to speak with a police officer and firefighters, learning about their vital roles in keeping the community safe. They were fascinated by the firefighting equipment and asked lots of curious questions, like, “Do you have a dog at the fire station?”

It was a fun and educational outing that sparked the students’ imagination and curiosity about how communities work and how city planning shapes everyday life!