AUSTIN, Texas (KWTX) – An entire fifth-grade class at a local elementary school became the first official guests at the state capitol in Austin of a newly sworn-in state representative.

State House District 56 Representative Pat Curry, who represents McGregor, hosted the fifth-grade class for a field trip this week.

Curry spoke to students on the steps of the capitol and told them his job was to protect their future.

“Our job here in this building is to make sure we protect your future and most of what we talk about is about your future,” Curry told the children. “I tell you at every meeting I attend, it concerns our children and our grandchildren.”

Curry presented the school with an official proclamation and a flag that flew on the Texas state capitol building.

It was the first time he did this as an elected official.

“Having the McGregor 5th graders was awesome, over a hundred of them I think, several busloads,” Curry told KWTX. “And then to be able to be the first flag that I get to present to anyone as a state representative, I’ll never forget that.”

Students were given tours of the capitol building, where they learned how state government works.

They toured the Senate and the House of Representatives.

They also spent time at the Capitol Visitors Center, located on the southeast corner of Capitol Park.

It is the restored 1857 General Land Office building and a three-story castle-like structure that is the oldest office building in the state of Texas.

Student Johnny Cummins said it was an experience he will always remember.

“It was a fun trip and we learned the whole history of what’s going on there,” he said.

It’s a sentiment shared by classmate Damian Pimentel, who said his hands-on experience also piqued the interest of his family back home.

“It was great and once my family and I talked about it, they want to go visit the capital now,” Pimentel said.

This is the school’s first time on a field trip to the state capital, but they hope it won’t be the last.

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