  This
journal entry was written February 18.
Simply said, this Valentine's week started off
warm and ended very cold! We began this week with
temperatures around 40 degrees and then a cold
front moved into Montana. We ended the week with
high temperatures around 15 degrees and evening
lows near 20 below zero! Early in the week, before
it got really cold, the 5th grade students got in
some extra running and walking to help maintain
their pace - which is currently 2½ weeks ahead of
schedule! The 4th graders lost a little momentum
and are only 3 miles ahead of the pace needed to
finish the trek by the end of the school year.
However, what is most important is that both
classes are currently ahead of pace! Also, based
on the 4th graders' track record we're sure that
they'll regain momentum very soon!
On
Sunday, February 12th, the PTA sponsored a
wonderful barbeque at the school for the 4th and
5th grade students. It was a celebration for
completing the largest state on the trek - the
students' home state of Montana! We would have
celebrated their completion of that state in
January. However, it was decided that the
celebration would not occur until Mrs. Staso was
back from California. We had an absolutely
beautiful day for the barbeque.
You
can see BBQ pictures here!
We truly appreciate the wonderful support of the
PTA and several parents of the participating
students! THANKS!!
KPAX
Channel 8 News stopped by
the BBQ and filmed the festivities so that they
could feature our Run/Walk Across America
curriculum on their evening news. Mr. and Mrs.
Staso were interviewed about the trek and it was
fun for the kids to see their P.E. program on the
local news. Thank you KPAX for sharing our journey
with the people of Montana! We received e-mail
messages from as far away as West Yellowstone
telling us that we were on their news station as
well! KPAX told us to keep them informed of future
activities with the run/walk so that they could
follow up on our story later.
Some
big news of the week is that both classes are
about to enter a new state! The 4th grade class
will enter the state of Iowa next week and the 5th
grade class will enter the state of Illinois.
Looks like we'll have to have another "State
Celebration" soon! The extremely cold weather that
moved into Montana this past week is not expected
to last very long. We should be
back up to a high of 25º to 30º within the next
week.
If
you haven't yet learned About Paul Staso's actual run
across America, scheduled to begin June 23, you
should visit the
P.A.C.E. Run 2006 section of this
web site. He is now seeking the support that will
be necessary for him to embark on this unique
educational journey. Please consider how you might
assist him. Thank you.
Okay,
if you've read this far we can't let you get away
without asking you to
send a note of encouragement to the students!
|
Some Encouraging Notes
We Received This Week: |
Way to go - I am
impressed with your progress!
I'm looking forward to visiting your class in Missoula soon. Keep up
the good work.
Mrs. Huckins
Former Librarian at
Russell Elementary School
Miles City, Montana
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Hey
Kids! You're doing great! You kids are running very fast and that is
a great thing! Are you having fun running? In
the pictures,
it looks like you had fun at the BBQ. Keep up the good work and keep
running!
Matthew
2nd Grade Student - Benjamin Franklin School
Westfield, New Jersey
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Russell
Elementary 4th and 5th Graders: Keep up the pace. Time for a gut
check -- you're half way home so there's no stopping now. Be strong.
Help each other when you feel like falling down. Pick each other up
when you do fall down. Whatever you do, keep up the pace!! I just
know all of you will make it. PE Teachers across the country (via
NASPE talk-digest) are cheering for you. You know you can make it
the distance. You have to finish what you start so you can feel the
pride. Keep up the pace!
Sally Wiltse
Bemidji State
University
Bemidji, Minnesota
_________________________________________________________________________________________
The
middle miles can be the toughest to stay motivated - keep up the
great work you guys! Maybe next year you can make it around the
WORLD!
Kara O'Brien
Orono, Minnesota
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Keep
it up boys and girls. I'm going to start exercising more myself. I
hope your exercises are going good. Exercise well and get healthy.
Joseph
3rd Grade Student -
Dubois Elementary School
Springfield, Illinois
_________________________________________________________________________________________
To
Baillie Burke and the 4th Grade! Good job, gang! It's tough to keep
going in the winter but you guys can do it! Keep on trekking! Hiya!
Hiya!
Kay, Makaylin and Justin
Randall
Troy, Montana
_________________________________________________________________________________________
WOW!
I can not believe that the 5th graders are so far ahead of
schedule! Way to go. Your self control of walking/running before
hamburgers at the barbecue was very impressive. Bet the 4th graders
will soon be up with the 5th grade. Also, thank you to the Missoula
District One Schools for hiring Vicki as a P. E. Teacher. How fun to
watch her with the students. Her abilities to motivate and interact
with the kids is wonderful. One outstanding teacher!
Irene Hiller
Grandparent of
Two 5th Grade Participants
Missoula, Montana
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