South Bosque first-graders tour local TV station while older students take STAAR exams

Annual field trip to KWTX has become a highlight for the first-grade class

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:12pm

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A grid of brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen images depicting television cameras, microphones, and weather radar screens, conceptually representing the behind-the-scenes media equipment and technology that first-grade students learned about during their field trip to the local news station.A vibrant, pop art-inspired celebration of the hands-on media education experienced by first-graders during their annual field trip to the local TV station.Waco Today

While older students at South Bosque Elementary in Waco, Texas spent the day taking state-mandated STAAR exams, the entire first-grade class took a field trip to the local KWTX television station. The annual visit has become a tradition that the students look forward to, as they get to learn about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into producing a news broadcast and even appear on air.

Why it matters

The field trip provides a hands-on learning experience for the first-graders, exposing them to potential future careers in journalism and media while their older peers focus on standardized testing. It also serves as a fun break from the rigors of the school day and an opportunity for the students to engage with their local community.

The details

About 60 first-graders from the Midway ISD campus visited KWTX, where they toured the station's facilities, met with a producer to learn how newscasts are put together, and spoke with meteorologist Sean Bellafiore. The students also had the chance to appear on air during the Midday broadcast, gathering around the station's Fuzzy Friends dog and waving goodbye to viewers.

  • The field trip takes place every spring, becoming an annual tradition for the first-grade class.
  • This year's visit occurred on April 10, 2026, while the older students were taking the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exams.

The players

Kim Neuhaus

A first-grade teacher at South Bosque Elementary who has been bringing her classes to the KWTX station for about nine years.

Sean Bellafiore

A meteorologist at KWTX who interacted with the first-grade students during their tour of the station.

Midway ISD

The school district that South Bosque Elementary is a part of, located in Waco, Texas.

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What they’re saying

“The kids love it because everybody at KWTX is so kind and nice. They really enjoy hearing all about the different jobs. It's kind of cool to see them not just with the people that are on the news, but they love learning about what goes into the news.”

— Kim Neuhaus, First-grade teacher

The takeaway

The annual field trip to the local TV station provides a valuable learning experience for the first-graders at South Bosque Elementary, allowing them to explore potential future careers in media and journalism while also fostering a connection between the school and the broader Waco community.