Eighth-graders at Stella Schola Middle School at the border of Kirkland and Redmond spent Tuesday morning examining and trying to determine the differences between the two types of paper they were given as part of a science lesson.

As they used their five senses to make observations, they had a special guest come in to help with the class. And while the individual said he enjoys science, the subject is not his particular area of expertise. Nor is it what he is known for throughout the community.

This is because Sen. Andy Hill (R-Redmond) of the 45th Legislative District is better known as one of the state’s lawmakers.

Hill’s visit was part of American Education Week, which is Nov. 18-22. Stella Schola founder and headmistress Brigitte Tennis said the week celebrates how education has moved and is moving forward.

In addition to Hill’s visit, Tennis said other state legislators from the 45th and 48th legislative districts — where the school’s students reside — are scheduled to visit in the next couple of months.

“It’s a good experience for the kids after learning about American history,” she said about having state lawmakers in the classroom.

Tennis added that having elected officials come in to the classroom is also important for the students as they can learn who represents them in Olympia. She said students can also learn how to speak with them personally, which is an important skill for them to have.

This is the first time Tennis has had elected officials visit Stella Schola — a choice middle school in the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) — but she has had other visitors.

Hill said he has visited schools and classrooms in the past but it has typically been as part of a government or social studies lesson, where his position as a state senator is directly related to the subject. This was his first time coming in to a science lesson.

“The hands-on stuff is fantastic,” he said about helping students with their experiments, one of which included lighting the pieces of paper on fire to see how the different types burn differently.

Eighth-grader Ryan Aloof agreed, saying working in groups and the more hands-on lessons can help students learn something more easily.

“In other schools, science group work has been difficult because there was always someone who got to do all the fun stuff,” he said. “But here at Stella, where everyone respects each other, group work is meaningful and everyone gets to take part in it.”

Tennis said having Hill come in for a non-government-related lesson was deliberate because it allows him to see what really happens in the classroom.

“He’s here to see what school is about in the 21st century,” she said. “Elected officials don’t know what’s going on in the classroom unless they are in the classroom. I thought it was really important for Sen. Hill to feel what real teaching looks like.”

Eighth-grader Kiera Johnson said it was great to have Hill come in for a visit.

“I think it’s really cool because he has a lot to do with our school system,” she said.Hill, whose children also attend schools within LWSD, also enjoyed his visit to Stella Schola. He said he would return anytime.

“This is a lot more fun than most of the meetings (I go to),” he said.

Rep. Ross Hunter will visit Stella Schola Middle School on Monday, Nov. 25.