Final Reflections

Reflections:

The timing for the Washington, D.C. trip was ideal. We began the week at Ellis Island where some students were able to locate passenger records of ancestors. We ferried past the Statue of Liberty as so many immigrants did on their passage to Ellis Island and a new life in our country. Emma Lazarus wrote of the Statue of Liberty:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

We watched our Nation’s capital preparing for the festivities of Memorial Day, the day for remembering those who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we cherish as American citizens.

The children had a chance to witness our government at work. They listened to a senator from New Jersey discussing the level of liability for the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. Later they would hear what President Obama had to say at a press conference: “… Malia knocks on my bathroom door and she peeks in her head and she says, 'did you plug the hole yet, Daddy?'" President Obama has been working on this environmental disaster.

Walking in D.C. is like walking through history. The many architectures, statues, documents, and paintings chronicle the birth, hardships, and growth of our nation. Our final destination of Arlington National Cemetery was the ideal location to solemnly reflect on the magnitude of our Nation’s history. Our descent to Colrain Central School was another period of quiet reflection. Let this trip be another remarkable point in your journey of discovering our national history.

6th Grade Ambassadors

 2010 Colrain Central School 6th Grade
on the marble steps of the Jefferson Memorial

I am so incredibly proud of our 6th graders! They were polite, respectful, well-behaved, and an absolute pleasure to take to our nation's capital. Thank you all for entrusting them to me for the week. They would have made you all very proud. They learned to truly work together as a team, helping each other achieve their goals, and make the trip a success for everyone. Some new friendships were forged and others were strengthened. They represented themselves, their families, and Colrain Central School and community with dignity and a fantastic zeal of curiosity. They tried new experiences and learned new things...not only about our nation, but about themselves and each other as well. Well done, Colrain!

May 28 Going home

Our bus was waiting for us; one among many. Even the bus drivers were impressed by the number of tour buses at Arlington.

We left DC by 11am to have a smooth ride back to Colrain. 2 movies, 2 stops for food, lots of snacks, giggling, singing, sleeping. Cheers of hooray as we entered Massachusetts and then to Colrain. We descended Colrain Mountain in silence, reflecting over this amazing week.

Parents & family members were waiting in anticipation as we rolled into Colrain Central School @ 9:00PM on the nose. Mrs. Looman you are truely amazing.

From this "blogger", a huge thank you to all who made this trip possible. Students, parents, grandparents, friends, the Colrain Central School community, the Colrain Community and the Mohawk District for encouraging the exploration of places outside Franklin County.

We have loving, caring, respectful kids. Be proud everyone; they represented us well.

Note: be sure to check previous blogs for additional pictures added today and beyond.