Arnold Schwarzenegger had been in full-on hype mode down in Hollywood as he’s at the center of two major projects for Los Gatos streaming giant Netflix: FUBAR (2023), an action-comedy TV series, and Arnold, a Lesley Chilcott-directed docuseries about his life.
Yet, in the weeks before actors voted to go on strike, he found time to pop up to the Bay Area to surprise students at Saratoga Elementary School—and his niece, a second-grader who is his goddaughter—for the last day of the school year.
A June 9 video obtained by the Los Gatan shows the Terminator actor in a swivel chair at the front of a class below a helium balloon shaped like a number “2,” with children on the floor in front of him.
They discuss amongst themselves about one of Schwarzenegger most famous movies, Kindergarten Cop.
“That’s old,” said one student.
“I know that,” a second child retorted.
“I never even watched that,” a child said with a shrug.
Schwarzenegger took it in stride that the kids weren’t familiar with his full catalog, and framed the reality with humor.
“I did a lot of movies that you kids are probably not allowed to see,” he said.
The mysterious day developed, as a stratagem worthy of the silver screen—or at least an afternoon children’s TV special—was put into play.
It all started as Principal Kristin Murphy knelt, to the right of Schwarzenegger, facing the class, taking in a cheer from the excited students. Their voices were so loud one boy even covered his ears.
“I love the enthusiasm,” Schwarzenegger said with a smile, pointing toward the children. “Very nice.”
Principal Murphy knew she’d need to get the children on board if her plan was to work.
“We’re going to try to surprise our school,” she said. “They don’t know that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s here—and our teachers don’t know that he’s here.”
One girl rolled onto her back, then resumed a seated position.
“So, we’re going to be very quiet, and if it’s okay with Uncle Arnold…we’re going to sneak him into the multi-purpose room, and I’m going to tell all the teachers to come down,” she said. “They’re going to be mad at me.”
“Why?” asked one pupil.
“Because they’re going to be like, ‘What?…Calling an assembly? You didn’t even tell us?’” she said. “And then we’re going to have a surprise.”
A short time later, students were apparently asked who they thought would be speaking at the outdoor gathering.
Suddenly, Schwarzenegger stepped into view.
“You guessed actually very well, when you say ‘the teacher,’” he said, complimenting the students. “Because I played a teacher in Kindergarten Cop.”
This inspired an eruption of cheering and clapping.
“When you said, ‘police officer,’ well, that one I played in many, many movies. So, you were actually right,” he said. “But, the fact of the matter is, I only played those parts. In reality I’m just Arnold Schwarzenegger, an actor. I was governor, one time, of the State of California.”
Back in January 2004, Schwarzenegger set out an education agenda that included expanding charter school access, developing technical career pathways and investing in staffing.
He would go on to unleash $2.7 billion for up-to 488 low-performing schools through the Quality Education Investment Act, which provided $2.7 billion over seven years to low-performing schools, and introduced open-source digital textbooks in classrooms.
Years later, here he was, visiting the school his goddaughter attends. He seemed pleased with the legacy he’d left behind.
“She has told me about how beautiful this school is,” Schwarzenegger shared with the children. “—and how wonderful it is to study here, and to learn here.”
Schwarzenegger said he just thought it would be great to celebrate his niece’s final day of second grade before moving on to Grade 3.
“And I know that you all are moving onto the next grade,” he said. “So, a big hand to all of you for your great, great work. And a big hand to the teachers.”
Schwarzenegger also complimented the job the students’ parents had done to help them succeed, and told the audience he was enjoying his time on campus.
But it was the next segment of the speech that Saratoga Elementary School PTA particularly liked.
“Continue on all the great work. Listen to your teachers,” he said (an audible “Yes, yes,” came from the audience). “Just remember, learn, learn, learn. You can never learn enough. The smarter you get, the more successful you will be. Okay, so, listen to your parents, listen to your teachers, and get really smart. I promise you, then, I’ll be back.”
Nielsen streaming data shows FUBAR had the best streaming numbers of any TV show in the days before he appeared at the Silicon Valley elementary campus.
He was, once again, on the top of the entertainment world. But Schwarzenegger chose to share this mountaintop moment with his goddaughter, while seeking to instill a love of learning amongst the student body.
In a Facebook post wishing the children well over the break, the PTA confirmed the assembly had, indeed, been quite the surprise.
“Hope everyone has a wonderful summer,” its message read, “—and hasta la vista, sea turtles!”
*Updated Aug 8, 2023 – An earlier version of the story mischaracterized who Schwarzenegger was visiting.
