NATCHEZ — Concordia Parish students got a behind-the-scenes look last week at a variety of helpers in their community.

Katie Graham, kindergarten instructor at the Concordia Parish Academy of Math, Science and Technology, organized a field trip last week for students in kindergarten and first grade.

The field trip gave young students the chance to see how community helpers serve the community.

“You can teach them about community helpers, but to let them see how it’s done is a different story,” Graham said.

Students visited the Vidalia Fire Department, Vidalia Police Department, U.S. Post Office and Vidalia Market.

“We studied the aspects of community helpers all week in class,” Graham said. “So the field trip is sort of the icing on the cake.”

The CPA students filled the halls and rooms of the Vidalia Police Department Friday, eager and ready to see what their heroes do with their own eyes.

“We went to the dispatch room, and they saw how the police department receive calls and send out officers.”

Alton Hall, 5, was all smiles while touring the facility.

“I learned about firefighters,” Hall said. “They put out fires.”

Hall already has an idea of what he wants to be, once he is grown up.

“I want to be a fireman,” Hall said. “But I like firemen and police officers.”

VPD chief secretary Sheila McFarland presented the tour to the CPA students, warning them to be good.

Students visited the jail room, where they were given a first hand look at the jail cells.

In a jail cell, there is no TV or video games, so you have to be good, McFarland said.

Hall said he is going to be on his best behavior, so he doesn’t go to jail.

Toward the end of the tour, students took turns getting into a VPD squad car.

“This gives information to the young people about what is going on in their community,” McFarland said.