From a surprise visit from NASA to Storytime from Space, Westwind Elementary students had a stellar week as they learned about space exploration.

On Tuesday, NASA intern Geraldo Cisneros stopped by Westwind to visit with students. Cisneros, a Frenship graduate with two children who attend Westwind, discussed his work as a computer programming intern at the Johnson Space Center.

During his presentation, the students were awestruck as they watched videos and learned about NASA and programs like the 1969 Apollo 11 mission where astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins landed on the moon.

Students also got the opportunity to Skype with other interns at NASA to learn about their current projects.

“Always keep looking up and never lose that desire to explore,” Cisneros told the excited students.

The highlight of the presentation was when Cisneros told the students about future missions and how they could be the astronauts who go to Mars.  By the end of the presentation students were already asking him how they could sign up to work for NASA!

“Thank you for introducing her to the program and letting her know anything is possible,” wrote a parent on Facebook after her child told her about the presentation.

That same week, Westwind kindergartners had Storytime from Space, a program where astronauts read children’s books from space. Westwind students watched and read along with astronaut Scott Kelly as he read the book Mousetronaut from the Copula on the International Space Station.  

A few of the kids recognized him as the astronaut from the videos in Cisneros’s presentation!

After an out of this world week, the students felt empowered and excited for their futures, knowing the sky is the limit.