Students at Maywood Academy capped their first full week of school with an interactive activity to help familiarize them with key areas of their school building. Organized by the Maywood’s Culture Committee, students across grade levels participated in the Ultimate School Scavenger Hunt on Friday, Sept. 18.

The goal of the activity, according to Speech Therapist Kristin Degan, was for students to navigate the building, solve location clues, and visit each location before time ran out. The Scavenger Hunt was designed to ensure students are aware of the spaces outside of their classrooms where they receive support, learn and have fun.

“This activity was about students familiarizing  themselves with everything Maywood has,” said Degan. “We’re usually in our classrooms, so seeing other kids in the building and noticing it’s more than to our school than just their class is the goal for our Scavenger Hunt.” 

Led by their teachers, students followed clues that brought them to spaces such as the art and music rooms, Zen Den, library, cafeteria, and the main office. Students knew whether they were in the correct room if the cut-out image they had matched the image on the room door.

Special Education Teacher Christina Tschantret’s students, Mekeba, Logan and Ariz, took turns matching the images. Ariz was excited to stop at the library— a space he loves, said Tschantret. 

“This is a great experience,” she said. “Students get to explore the building, match pictures to find rooms, and it’s a social event that allows them to have nice interactions with their classmates and peers.” 

Teaching Assistant Carmen Serrano agreed. 

 “The Scavenger Hunt is a good way for students to learn their way around the building and explore different classrooms that they may not have known about. It also allows the high school students and younger students to interact with each other, even if it’s just in passing.”