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Owney Heads to the New England States

11 North Carolina
Due 9/28/01 in North Carolina, arrived 10/22/01
Hi Friends of Owney,
I wanted to let you know that Owney was a perfect guest at Ellendale Elementary! This is the first year that we have been involved in this project and we were all thrilled! Unfortunately he arrived on Monday and there was no school, but we made up for it on Tuesday. Owney visited each classroom in the school (K-5) and spent the remainder of the time with our Fourth grade. We are celebrating Red Ribbon week with our Drug awareness program so Owney was presented with a Red Ribbon and an Ellendale Badge. One of our staff members was sure he was sent off with a Tarheel sticker attached! I took him to the post office on Wednesday afternoon and asked that they quickly get him to Christianburg, VA. With all the bad news that our postal workers are dealing with, Owney was nice comfort. I have attached a photo that we are sending to our local newspaper.
Thanks for letting us participate!
Your N.C. Friends

12 Virginia
Due 10/3/01 in Christiansburg, arrived?

13 West Virginia
Owney will be bypassing West Virginia.

14 Delaware
Due 10/15/01 in Wilmington, arrived 11/1/01
Owney arrived in Delaware late this afternoon, Thursday. I will send him to New Jersey either Friday afternoon or 1st thing Saturday morning. He is everything we thought he would be, and more! We especially liked his socks from Tennessee. I will start the postcards this weekend. Thanks for continuing with this effort.

15 New Jersey
Due 10/19/01 in West Paterson

16 Connecticut
Due 10/24/01 in North Haven, arrive 11/13/01
Owney arrived after school on a balmy November 13th. He didn't have far to travel from NJ, but the holiday weekend added a few extra days to his schedule. He had a terrific day at Green Acres School on Wednesday, November 14th. He visited quite a few people at the school and many students remembered his late Spring visit last year. He sat in a literature groups, a poetry workshop, and meal planning for math. We gave him a Green Acres visitor badge, a pencil, and the school handbook. Our class is a 4/5 combination class and the kids from last year have really enjoyed this early visit. They're looking forward to tracking him for the rest of the year!
We took a few pictures and sent Owney on his way to Maryland Wednesday afternoon.
We mailed out the postcards on Friday, November 16th - another balmy November day... A temperature of 65 degrees is quite unusual in CT at this time of year.
Happy and peaceful Thanksgiving greetings to everyone.

17 Maryland
Due 10/29/01 in Owings Mills, arrived 11/16/01
Owney arrived in Owings Mills late Friday afternoon. He spent an enjoyable day with the students at Timber Grove Elementary School yesterday. I will go at today at lunch time to mail him on to his next state and will also put out postcards in the mail. I will send you an entry for the journal over the weekend.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Iris Pressman
Timber Grove Elementary School
Owings Mills, MD

18 Massachusetts
Due 11/2/01 in Melrose, arrived 11/27/01
Owney arrived safely in MA on Tuesday, Nov.27. We had a great visit. He was happy to see his old friends from the past two years. We mailed him off to RI on Wednesday. The class liked his socks a lot.

19 Rhode Island
Due 11/7/01 in Cranston, arrived 12/12/01
Dear Bev,
The children in my class just wanted to say a few things about Owney's Visit. Not to worry he is in the mail and on his way. Meg (RI)

Hello my name is, Kelsey. I am studying Mississippi, Arizona and Connecticut. I like the idea of the Owney project. It was very fun looking at all the things Owney was wearing. He looked very cool. I really liked the socks they looked very cute.

Hello my name is, Chloe. I am studying New Hampshire, New York and Montana. I like the idea of the Owney project because I get to see things from other states. Also, I get to write some post cards. Getting to look at all different things is fun.

Hello my name is, Randie. I am studying Alabama, and Iowa. I really like your idea of the Owney project because I really like him. I saw other states that I have never seen before. I think he is a really nice dog! I hope to see him again.

Hello my name is, Kayla. I am studying New Jersey. I really like your idea of the Owney project because he is a nice dog. I liked all the post cards we get and all the souvenirs that he brought with him. I hope to see him again next year.

Hello my name is, Leah. I am studying Oklahoma, California and Nebraska. I like your idea about Owney because he gets to see all the schools around the United States. Owney is a very cute dog. One reason I like him is because of all his postcards, and the medals on him. Owney loves all the students in our class! Owney is the best dog anyone could have! I wish I could see Owney again!!

Hello my name is, Michayla. I am studying Maine, Maryland and Kentucky. I really love your idea of the Owney projects. He is a very sweet doggy and I like that he gets to go around the United States each year. One reason I like him is that he sends us postcards and he wears cute pins. I really love Owney!!! I HOPE I SEE YOU AGAIN Owney!!!

Hello my name is, Jordan. I am studying Idaho, Kansas. I think the Owney project is great because it is a great way to learn about all of the states and he is cuddly. What's really great about this project is getting the postcards because I like to write them and read them. I also like the tags he wears, it makes him look colorful. I really like Owney!!! I HOPE I SEE OWNEY AGAIN.

Hello my name is, Gian Paolo. I am studying Wisconsin and North Dakota. These states are very interesting to me because I am interested in the study of weather, culture and the arts.

Hello my name is, Kayla. I am studying Hawaii, Michigan and Oregon. What I like most about Owney was that he had a lot of neat pins on him. I loved the story that Ms. Rankin read about the real Owney. Sending and getting the postcards is really fun. Thank you so much for the ones that we have gotten. I can't wait to see the ones that come from my states!!

Hello my name is, Kaylyn. I am studying Florida and Deleware. The best thing I liked about Owney was that he was so soft and squishy. I got to hold him while we looked through the box of goodies. His socks are so cute, I am going to find some to put on my own stuffed animals. My grandparents and my aunt and uncle live in Florida, and my babysitter grew up in Delaware. It was great to learn more about the states that they live in. My mom said we may go to Florida and spend a week with my grandparents. I'll be thinking of Owney when I fly. I wonder which state he will be visiting when we go. I may not get to Delaware, but now I know that we will be flying over Delaware on the way to Florida. I'll wave hello. Thanks Kaylyn.

Hello my name is, Eric. I am studying Louisianna and New Mexico. The Owney project is cool. The best part about it is that you don't have to do much work in school but it's still a project and we learn a lot about your different states. I have learned a lot about Owney and the past few states that he has traveled to. I would really like to visit New York. Not just the city, but Niagara Falls and Lake Erie. I never Knew that state was so big and soooo diverse.

Hello my name is, Christopher. I am studying Arkansas, Wyoming and Illinois. I don't know what to say about the Owney project. I like Owney best. It's even all right speaking in front of the class about my states. It's not as bad as I thought it might be. I am still waiting to get the post card from Illinois. Thanks.

Hello my name is, Dennis. I am studying Texas and West Virginia. I was surprised that Texas was part of the Civil war. I thought only the East coast states existed at that time. When I saw the Alamo It was amazing to me because it was so big. Our state is only 45 miles across at the farthest points. If I calculated correctly you could fit a couple of Rhode Island's in that small part of Texas. WOW. I never realized how beautiful West Virginia was. Some of our Presidents even lived there. All the books that I took out at the library made it look so pretty and green. All those mountains, it's like New Hampshire.

Hello my name is, Calvin. I am studying Utah, South Dakota and North Carolina. I think the Owney project is a good idea for teaching students about the United States. I learned that North Carolina played a big part in the Civil War. Here in Cranston, RI we had the first open revolt against the British for our independence. Our forefathers burned the ship the Gaspee, this started off a spree of boat burning that built up to the Boston Tea Party. I like studying states because they all have great histories. Utah had the gold rush, and I am working on my South Dakota information now.

Hello my name is, Rhea. I am studying Ohio and Colorado. I like all the stuff that Owney came with. His collar is great, I wish I could see it at the end of the year when everyone has added to it. I picked Colorado because I have an Uncle that lives there who has helped me to get information. My cousins live in Ohio but they haven't given me any information on my state. Ohio is very different from Rhode Island. We live on the ocean and have lots of water and mountains. Ohio looks very flat and dry with all of those farms. I read that the sky is bigger when you are in the central plains area. I can't believe that the Rocky Mountains are so big that they touch the clouds. Thanks Owney for giving me this opportunity to learn and grow.

Hello my name is, John. I am studying South Carolina and Virginia. I delighted in how we did the Owney project. Owney was interesting to see. I liked signing the book and looking at all of your signatures. I learned that Virginians have chicken and turkeys there like us. I am almost finished with South Carolina. Thank you for sending us Owney.

Hello my name is, Nicholas. I am studying Alaska and Nevada. Owney had a lot of great souvenirs from around the US. We added a Rhode Island Red Rooster pin and a state house coloring book, a post card from Brown University and a pencil. He's going to be really heavy by the time he gets to the White House. My favorite thing was the socks that he was wearing. Alaska is soooooo big. We have the largest name for our state but we are very small. Our states official name is, "The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" It stands for, a land of red clay and the farms that are located there, not red islands, although we have more water than land here. Did you know we were the first state to declare independence from the British and the last to sign the Declaration. Can you imagine little Rhode Island as it's own country. Thank goodness they changed their minds. I am glad to be an American. My favorite food is quahogs. I like them in clam cakes. It's like deep fried dough that has bits of clam through it. Don't make that face, It's great!! Keep those post cards coming!!!

Hello my name is, Patrick. I am studying Tennessee and Vermont. My favorite food is hot digery dogs. I like to have them with ketchup mustard and celery salt. Some people here call them "soggies." My classroom has a bunny, a box turtle, two water turtles, some goldfish we did experiments with and a few frogs. We just finished studying animal adaptations in science it was great. My best friend's name is Chris. I love to see the medals that Owney has on him. We have a picture of the real Owney on our bulletin board with all of your post cards. I love to read. It's fun to learn about what you do in the other states.

Hello my name is, Sean. I am studying Pennsylvania and Missouri. I love Owney's project. We get to see all of his tags and maps. I liked the socks too. I learned that the battle of Gettysburg was a big part of our history that happened in PA. I would love to see the Hershey factory. My teacher raves about Hershey bars. Her favorites are Recesse and Mars Bars. I learned that Missouri is the land of caves. How cool is that?! I liked the food, that I read about. PA kids must grow up on chocolate, cheese and pretzels, while we have coffee milk and clams.

Hello my name is, Chris. I am studying New York and Massachusetts. I liked the post cards best. Especially the ones that have pictures of the states. But just getting one is fun no matter what it looks like.

20 Maine
Due 11/12/01 in Bath, arrived 12/17/01
Dear Friends, Owney arrived around 1:00 p.m. on December 17, 2001. Our class was just getting ready to perform our Holiday Program, Songs and Poems of the Season. Owney went out and sat on the piano and watched us entertain our parents and the other classes. The next morning he was entertained at a concert performed by Bath Middle School. He liked it.
The Owney¹s from both coasts met and had a chat. We put 3 pins on him, Maine Blueberries, a Maine potato and a Maine lobster. Owney hopped in his box and continued his adventure on the afternoon of December 18, 2002.
We wanted to make sure Owney would be seen by another class before Christmas so we sent him UPS overnight. It was the same price as the U. S. Priority Mail, but on one of the busiest mail days of the year, it would go faster.
It was a new adventure for Owney. Since he arrived the next day in N.H., it seems like it was a good decision. We sent our cards out U.S. mail. We made them ourselves before Owney arrived. If anyone did not get one let us know. We are making more cards for our Owney group.
Check out our school web site.

Here are some notes that students wanted to send with Owney.

Taylor: Owney saw snow. He was in a Songs and Poems Play. Owney saw a band. He loved the band. Owney was a good dog. Our class loved Owney. We love his socks.

Zack: On Tuesday Owney saw a lot of snow. Owney saw a concert and the Middle School did it and Owney had a good time.

Wyatt: Owney was in a concert. He liked it. Owney watched two concerts. He liked them.

Whitney: Owney likes it here and he saw a concert. He sat with a girl in our class. He watched our play that we did and he liked it.

Madison: I took Owney to a concert. He loved it. On That day it snowed 6 inches. We only got to have him for 1 day.

Laughlynn: When Owney was here he went to the concert. He had fun. He saw snow. Owney saw our play. It was fun. He was excited.

Tyler: Owney went to the concert with us. I wish we could bring Owney home for one or two days. That would be fun. I think will be here for writing our Christmas tree problems and a few more classes. We had him meet our new Owney. I wish we could have him for a few more days but that's not going to happen.

Thanks for sharing Owney with us.

Mrs. Granger's Second Grade

On to the next 10 states.

Back to the opening.

Email: adamsb@vcss.k12.ca.us