The countdown has officially begun!
There’s less than two months before my expedition. Where has the time gone? Didn’t school just start?
This is a very exciting and busy time of year! What’s keeping me so busy, you ask? School visits! Lots and lots of school visits.
Over the past 6 weeks, I have had the pleasure of visiting area schools, sharing my experience and seeing how the schools are following along on my journey. Let’s sneak a peek at some of these schools.
Take a look at Crosswind Elementary School, the first school featured in a series I’m calling ‘Look who’s following’.
Crosswind Elementary School
Crosswind Elementary School, home of the Eagles, is in Collierville, TN. It’s an impressive school with a history of academic rewards and achievements. They were recently named a "Reward School” (top 5% in the State of Tennessee for performance) - an honor they received in 2011 & 2013 as well.
GO EAGLES!
For five consecutive years Crosswind Elementary School has won the Collierville town reading award and the award for the most minutes read in the state. They are also a four time recipient of the University of Tennessee recycle award. AWESOME JOB!
Crosswind Elementary school
Fuel Up, flags and Postcards
Crosswind is a Fuel Up to Play 60 School. Fuel Up to Play 60 is a national program supported by the National Dairy Council, the NFL, and the USDA. Its goal is to promote good nutrition and increase physical activity in the lives of students. At Crosswind, this healthy school initiative is championed by eager students and supported by the entire faculty, parents and community supporters. They also have before-school activities four mornings a week. And guess where these morning meetings are taking them? To Antarctica! That’s right! Crosswind Elementary Students are participating in the Get Fit Antarctica challenge – sponsored by Baptist Memorial Health Care.
Fuel up to play 60 students and Nurse Liz-Ann proudly display their flag.
This flag - along with about 130 more from Crosswind - will be flying on the ‘ICE’ this November/December. Watch for them in upcoming journals. Warning! Warning! This warning is being sent to all mail carriers in Collierville. You will literally have your hands full! Crosswind students – all 752 of them – created a postcard which will be mailed from McMurdo station and sent back to the students at Crosswind.
Add some art
It doesn’t stop with getting fit! Crosswind Elementary students are learning about Antarctica through art.
Here’s what they’ve been doing and some pictures of the Antarctic themed lessons:
Kindergarteners are reading the book Tacky the Penguin and drawing penguins on ice.
1st graders are learning about Killer Whales and drawing images of orcas painted on an Antarctic background.
Orca drawing by Crosswind Elementary first grader. Photo courtesy of Melissa Greenway.
- 2nd graders are painting Weddell seal pups using oil pastels.
Seal pup drawing by Crosswind Elementary second grader. Photo courtesy of Melissa Greenway.
- 3rd graders are adding plaster to their paint – giving it a snowy texture for their landscape. These pieces were inspired by Australian Photographer Frank Hurley who went on an expedition to Antarctica in the early 1900's and photographed the land.
Textured drawing by Crosswind Elementary third grader. Photo courtesy of Melissa Greenway.
- 4th graders are creating clay penguins.
Clay penguin in progress by Crosswind Elementary fourth grader. Photo courtesy of Melissa Greenway.
- 5th graders will create a landscape of Mt. Erebus and create a value scale using cool colors.