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.

May 28 Changing of the Guard

May 28 Arlington Cemetery

Cody observing the words of JFK.

Arlington Cemetery was preparing for its Memorial Day Ceremonies.

American flags, just placed the night before, flickered silently among the sea of over 300,000 graves made from Vermont Marble.

We were taken to see the Kennedy burial site, the eternal flame, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the memorial for those who lost their lives in the space shuttle tragedies. We were able to observe the changing of the guard at 10am and the placing of 2 wreaths in honor of people who died serving our country.

May 28 Packing for the Return Trip

May 27 Dinner & Pool Party

Chaperones getting a little adult time while

6th graders run for the pool.

As we exited the bus across from the pool where Sophie used to swim, we felt raindrops and heard thunder. Oh, the disappointment when the kids heard they couldn't go in the pool for at least another 30 minutes. Alas, we enjoyed dinner thanks to Tundi; barbecued pork, chicken, ribs, coleslaw, corn bread, salad & watermelon. Finally the thunder stopped and the kids made a bee line to the pool. The chaperones relaxed amongst adult company, recharging for one more day. No longer able to endure the heat & humidity, several chaperones changed into suits and enjoyed the refreshing pool. Mrs. Looman did somersaults in the pool and jumped off the board much to her student's delight.

At 7:30 it was time to get out of the pool. After an ice cream treat and clothes change, the students counted off as they have all week, with a surprise ending...."Thank You Tundy". (Check out the video).

"Home" to the 4-H center, the bus was mellow for a short time, and even the die hards seemed to go to sleep pretty quickly.

"Count Off!"

May 27 Air and Space Museum/Pentagon/Metro

Diane & Bruce looking up at Space Capule

Alex & Bruce


Cheyenna

Jordyn

Lunar Module

Entrance to Air & Space Museum

We headed to the Air & Space Museum where we had 2 hours to eat and explore the Museum. Good thing we ate first, as the food line had grown exponentially when we exited for the museum. The students were challenged to find the Apollo exhibit and the Wright Brothers exhibit. Definitely a museum to return to. Did you know that the spacesuits from Apollo 11 were 13 layers thick, weighed 250 pounds and cost just short of $13 Million. How many millions per layer is that?

On to the Pentagon for 3Pm where we lined up in ABC order for a strict security check. The young serviceman led us through the "Mall" & hallways & courtyard while walking backward (even down the escalator) and reciting a slew of statistics. For example

1. 23000 people work at the Pentagon; 16000 military personnel & 7000 civilians
2. Communication wires would go around the world 4 1/2 times
3. 3084 people died on 9/11/01
4. The Pentagon was repaired in 8 months, under budget

The 6th graders were encouraged to ask questions and they did!

We were led to the Sept. 11 Memorial through halls lined with quilts from around the country, crafted by young students, church groups and skilled quilters. The entrance we came through had 2 beautiful tributes to those that died in 9/11. One with photos of each victim and one with blocks for each victim with stars to represent fallen emergency service people and for military personnel.

We were led through the area that was damaged on 9/11 and on to the Chapel that honors those that lost their lives, military & civilian. Military personnel were awarded the Purple Medal and Civilian victims were award the Medal of Freedom. It was a beautiful and touching site.

After we exited the building and waited for Mrs. Looman to retrieve the metro tickets, our guides left the building in their civilian clothes. We gave them an appreciative round of applause.

To Mrs. Looman's relief we all boarded the Metro at once, in one train and departed also as a group. We were delayed in getting out of the ticket station. Mrs. Tower reflected "We were hobos for about 3 minutes". One of Virginia's finest metro workers let us pass through the gate so other passengers could get to where they needed to go. Whew!

Sadly, we did not have the time to make it back into the city to go to the Holocaust Museum. However, we have all been flexible travelers, and after the disappointment, the kids were excited to hear that our next stop was the pool!