 
The 5th grade class continued to increase their lead over
the 4th grade class this week by logging 12 more miles than
the fourth graders. Currently, the 5th graders are 35½ miles
ahead of the 4th graders. It's important to keep in mind
that the emphasis of this is not on who is ahead or which
grade finishes first. It's all about the journey and the
things to be learned and gained from this virtual trek.
While friendly competition can be fun, we want both grades
to know that what's most important is for each person to do
their best to contribute to their grade's goal of reaching
the finish line in California before the school year ends.
Both the 4th grade and the 5th grade have a little more than
1,700 miles left to go on this journey. However, each grade
has already completed more than 500 miles! So far, the 41
fifth graders have run 540 miles - which is the equivalent
of running from Missoula, Montana to Portland, Oregon! The
41 fourth graders have run 504½ miles - which is the
equivalent of running from Missoula to Seattle,
Washington... plus 28 miles on top of that! As you can see,
their miles are definitely adding up!
So, where are they on Route 66? They are still in the state
of Missouri, although they won't be in that state for too
much longer. In fact, the 5th graders only have to log
another 62 miles to leave Missouri and enter Kansas. The 4th
graders have 97 miles remaining before reaching the border
of Kansas. Will they complete Missouri in the next week?
Well, that remains to be seen. Next Monday, November 19, is
the only day of school for the students that week due to the
Thanksgiving holiday. However, Mrs. Staso has given the kids
a sheet of paper to log running and walking miles over the
Thanksgiving break and after the holiday they will be able
to turn in their mileage to be added to the trek - after a
parent has signed the sheet to verify the distance. We'll
collect the sheets, add up the mileage, and post that
information on this web site. The students return to school
on Monday, November 26.
The 5th graders ended their week 10 miles past Springfield,
Missouri - near a small town called Elwood. The 4th graders
wrapped up their week in the same location that the 5th
graders ended last week - Phillipsburg, Missouri (which is a
small "village" of about 227 people). If you read last
week's journal entry you know that this is a place that has
experienced some major tornadoes!
We announced last week that we had finally received
permission to place student photos on this web site, and we
will be doing so during the next week. Things have been
quite busy with the completion of this term and the holiday
season approaching. We know that there are many of you who
are checking the photo gallery to see some pictures, and
we'll do our best to get those pictures placed onto the site
soon!
There was some surprising, and unfortunate, news learned
this week. In the previous journal entry we told you that
5th graders were approaching the Buena Vista Exotic Animal
Paradise, a ranch-sized location of wild animals and rare
birds. For 35 years, Exotic Animal Paradise has offered
up-close and personal experiences with rare, beautiful
animals to visitors of southwest Missouri. However, we
recently learned that the park was closed due to financial
difficulties. The animals were sold at an auction and the
person who purchased the land is going to build a housing
development on it. So, in a place where there were once
zebras, camels, lions, and more wild animals there will now
be paved streets, mailboxes and houses. During the 35 years
that it existed, more than 8 million people visited the
Buena Vista Exotic Animal Paradise. It's just another
example of a part of Route 66's history that has now
disappeared.
The 5th graders ran through the city of Springfield this
week, which is the third largest city in Missouri with
150,797 people. According to Forbes Magazine's list of
"America's Wildest Weather Cities," Springfield has the most
varied weather in the nation. For those of you who have ever
heard of the famous golfer Payne Stewart, you might find it
interesting to know that he was born in Springfield... and
is buried there. He died in a plane crash in 1999 while
flying to Dallas, Texas to participate in the TOUR
Championship. Payne Stewart had 11 PGA Tour wins, including
the U.S. Open in 1991.
It's hard to believe that we're already to Thanksgiving! We
thought it would be appropriate to include a few
Thanksgiving facts this week:
The Pilgrims came to North America in 1620.
Their ship was called the Mayflower, but there were actually
two ships, the Mayflower and the Speedwell. The Mayflower
made it to North America, but the Speedwell had to turn back
during the trip.
The Pilgrims sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and landed in
Plymouth (which they called Plymouth Rock)
The American Indians taught the Pilgrims to hunt for food,
how to plant their own food, and how to build stronger
houses.
In the early years, Pilgrim children didn’t go to school.
Parents taught them at home or had neighbors help teach
them.
George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving
in 1789, but President Lincoln made it official by
proclaiming the last Thursday in November as a national day
of “Thanksgiving.”
We wish all of the students, their families, and those
reading this journal entry a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
Be thankful for loved ones, friendships, health, and those
things that you hold close to your heart.
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