Kindergarten Students Pay a Visit to Veterinary Office

The Severna Park Elementary School (SPES) Kindergarten (66 students in all) took a walking field trip to Severna Park Veterinary Hospital on Feb. 18.

The students toured exam rooms, the pharmacy, the surgical suite and the x-ray room.

Dr. Jessica Heard spoke with them about the importance of health-care for pets and demonstrated the ultrasound machine.

"Our visit was a follow-up to our Social Studies unit about the community and community helpers.  In school, we started by talking about what a community is and the class created a mural of the community including offices and businesses such as the SP Veterinary Hospital and Ritas,  Sue Woelpper, kindergarten teacher at SPES, wrote in an e-mail to Patch.  "Then, we described jobs performed by community helpers and how others help us."

During the visit, the students saw how a sonagram machine is used, were weighed on a scale that is usually used for dogs and cats, saw animals having their teeth cleaned, viewed x-rays and listened to a dog's heartbeat. 

"Now, we have set up our own veterinary hospital in our classroom to be used during centers or free-choice time," said Woelpper.

The students helped Dr. Mary Beth Dearing and Veterinary Nurse, Hallie Andrew (and her dog Charlie) listen to a dog's heart with a stethoscope and perform a physical exam. A great time was had by all.

Submitted to Patch by Jessica Heard, DVM, Severna Park Veterinary Hospital