The distance acquired by both grades during spring break
from school is shown above. Mrs. Staso collected the mileage
sheets that the students used to log their activity and the
4th graders did nearly 3 times the amount of activity that
the 5th graders did while on spring break. This week the
students were involved in non-running and non-walking
activities in P.E. class (such as rock climbing), so there
really wasn't any mileage to add from P.E. for this first
school week of April.
Let's get right to the news! The 4th graders are ahead of
the 5th graders by 148 miles. But the BIGGEST NEWS is
that the 4th grade is now in their last state of this
journey - California! During spring break the 4th
graders managed to complete the large state of Arizona.
Right now, they're 24 miles west of Needles, California -
out in very barren countryside. The town of Needles was
named for the spiky mountains to the south. Once a person
leaves Needles on Route 66 heading west, they're facing over
100 miles of open desert with very few services. The 4th
graders have been running in this desert for the past couple
of days. Specifically, they're in Mountain Springs - which
isn't much more than a wide spot in the road. Five people
call Mountain Springs home, and it sits at an elevation of
2,720 feet - which is about 500 feet less than Missoula.
Mountain Springs has one gas station, a lunch room, and a
few little cabins that can be rented for lodging. That's it!
However, at the end of a long day of running and walking
through barren desert, it's a wonderful sight.
The 5th grade runners and walkers are in the state of
Arizona. They're currently spending the evening on the edge
of the road - about 5 miles from the town of Peach Springs.
They're at an elevation of 4,788 feet. If they could have
logged just 5 more miles they wouldn't have to be on the
edge of the road in the empty countryside. Peach Springs
could have provided them with food and beds. They could have
stayed at the Hualapai Lodge and gotten food at the local
grocery store (there are no restaurants in Peach Springs).
What's important to know about Peach Springs is that it
served as inspiration for the fictional town "Radiator
Springs" in the Pixar movie Cars. So, if you ever
want to visit the fictional town of Radiator Springs where
the race car Lightning McQueen spent some time, just go to
Peach Springs, Arizona. It's the closest place you'll find
in reality!
This Route 66 challenge is quickly coming to an end for the
4th graders. They are only 269 miles from the finish line.
The 5th graders are really not that far behind the 4th grade
class and are 417 miles from the finish line. Which class is
going to complete the trek first? Keep checking back to this
web site to find out!
In 3 weeks Mr. Staso begins his 620-mile run across Montana.
He plans to actually run 34 miles per day for 18 days, from
the North Dakota border to the Idaho border. The 4th and 5th
grade classes will be combining as one team of 85 students
to virtually race him across Montana. They'll be joining
over 6,000 students from around the world who will also be
racing Mr. Staso in teams. Teams have signed up from across
the United States as well as from such locations as Japan,
Australia, Germany, Italy and Australia. The journey is
called P.A.C.E. Trek 2008 and you can learn more by visiting
his web site at
www.pacetrek.com. The journey starts on
Monday, April 28, and Mr. Staso will be visiting the 4th and
5th grade classes soon to share more details and to let them
see "Bob" - his 80-pound running companion, which is a
jogging stroller that carries all of his gear and supplies.
"Bob" stands for Beast of Burden - which it truly can
be!
Have you written an encouragement note to the students? If
not, you may want to. There isn't much time left to do so.
Just click here!
Thanks for stopping in!
Click Here To Read The Next
Journal Entry > >
|
5th Grade (42 students): Added
108
miles.
Their total is
1,860½
miles.
They have 417½
miles left and are 81% done with the trek.
