Discovering Our Ochoa Neighborhood

On October 27th, the 4th and 5th graders em- barked on a Neighborhood Walk. Led in small groups by Cameron, Carrie, Hortencia, Maria, Mimi, Pauline, and Yoli, the children left the school with clipboards, compasses and maps in hand.

They traveled in different directions and returned with notes and photos of City Hall, Santa Cruz Church, a new coffee roasting cafe, the police department, a barber shop, an auto paint store, and the many murals throughout our small neighborhood. Everywhere the small groups went they left an Ochoa Community Magnet School postcard behind. Surprisingly, many of the people we met did not know about Ochoa.

The memories of the walk and the children�s interests have resulted in the formation of several in-depth study groups. One group will focus on the Murals�who did them and what inspired them.

Another group will begin to study Civic Engagement and travel back to City Hall to ask about how laws are made, who makes decisions and how you get elected.

Many were interested in Desert Plants and Animals that are unique to the Sonoran Desert. Another group noticed the amount of garbage and debris that litters the neighborhood regardless of the local recycling program... the study of Recycling will be their area of further study.

Ochoa�s neighborhood is rich with history, diversity and wealth... the children will learn more about their community and identity as they begin to deepen their understanding of the City of South Tucson.