Owney's Itinerary as of 3/10/03
This schedule is subject to change at any time.
21 Due in Grants, NM 11/27/02, arrived 12/9/02
Click here for more information about New Mexico.
Even though Owney had a short visit with the students at Mt. Taylor Elementary (Abbreviated Day), he had a great time. He learned a lot about all the different cultures and traditions in New Mexico and was excited to visit other classrooms and share his story. Owney finished the morning by sitting in on a holiday play practice with the students from Mrs. Valdez's
class. They were very excited to perform for Owney.
Our class really enjoys being part of the Owney family and are learning a lot about the United States. After the students said goodbye, Owney was off to Ms. Hanson's class in Murray, UT.
Have fun owney--see you next year!
Mrs. Valdez's 2nd Grade Class
22 Due in Murray, UT 12/4/02, arrived 12/16/02
Click here for more information about Utah.
Hey, Owney Friends--Owney arrived at McMillan Elementary in Murray, UT, Monday, 16 December. He arrived just as our class was getting ready for an assembly. Owney went with us to hear Murray High School's Bell Choir perform Christmas songs. Owney especially loved hearing "Rudolph". You all know how Owney loves his animal friends.
Owney read "Raising Dragons" with the kids and made Christmas ornaments. He's resting now, after eating a big lunch.
We plan to write our postcard messages this afternoon and get them in the mail. Then we'll have our Owney party. A reporter and photographer from the Salt Lake Tribune are coming to see Owney in action. He loves all the attention.
Owney is so "McMillan kids" friendly. We love him and our association with all of you.
Happy Holidays from Mrs. Hanson's Third Grade class.
23 Due in Idaho Falls, ID 12/9/02, arrived 1/8/03
Click here for more information about Idaho.
HI,
Wow, was I excited to get out of my box after a long Christmas break. Many eyes and smiles from the Idaho students greeted me on Wednesday, January 8th. I was hugged, petted, and held all morning long. I also joined the 4th and 5th grade students as they learned about the Channel Islands in California through the Jason Project.
Now I’m off to Montana. I’m glad I have Tennessee Titan socks on to keep my feet warm.
Idaho G.A.T.E. Students
24 Owney was due in Billings, MT 11/13/02, arrived 1/13/03
Click here for more information about Montana.
Welcome to Montana, Owney!
Mrs. Kosmicki's third graders saw the UPS truck come during our afternoon recess and we knew that Owney had arrived. We very excitedly opened his box and let him stretch out his leg as we admired those stunning socks that he is wearing. I'll bet he was glad to have them on as the weather is cold and windy today here in Billings.
We celebrated Owney's visit to our class with cookies, jerky and crackers. Owney thinks that Montana jerky is pretty good stuff. We discussed things that Owney would like about Montana: lots of open spaces, mountains, elk, deer (some run through our playground early in the morning), mountain lions and bear.
Our time with Owney was short, but we want to get him going on his way to Oregon. Mrs. Kosmicki told her class that she will be leaving for Washington, D.C. in two days for meetings. And she promised to visit the
Postal Museum where the Owney exhibit is. She will bring back pictures, books and whatever else she can find. So this was great timing on Owney's part.
Good-bye, Owney. Have a great trip further west.
25 Due in Beaverton, OR 12/13/02, arrived 1/17/03
Click here for more information about Oregon.
Greetings from Oregon!
Owney spent Friday at OMSI, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland! Our fifth grade class was on a field trip for the day and Owney
came with us. From Beaverton, it is just a 20 minute bus ride downtown. We crossed over the Willamette River and we were there. Students and Owney saw lots of exhibits and got to experiment with some hands-on
activities. I have looped with my class this year from fourth to fifth grade and so Owney got to see some of the boys and girls again. The students were delighted to see him looking so healthy. We put a pin on him from the museum and sent him off to Louisiana.
Jane Mollet
26 Due in in Luling, LA 1/10/03, arrived 1/23
Click here for more information about Louisiana.
Hi Friends,
I had a great time in Louisiana. It was a very COLD morning for such a southern state. It was 29 degrees and I was cold. But the kids kept me warm. They gave me fresh baked bread to eat. Oh! that warm butter and jelly was awesome. I visited 6 second grade classes. They were all learning about matter in science. It will be Mardi Gras soon here in Louisiana, so the Luling Krewe gave me some purple, green and gold necklaces to wear with the purple mask to use for a parade. I am on my way to Mississippi and hope to see more of my friends soon. Don't forget to send postcards to all the states after I visit you. Love,
Owney (in Louisiana)
27 Carriere, MS 1/15/03, arrived 1/28/03
Click here for more information about Mississippi.
Owney arrived this morning at Pearl River Central Elementary in Mcneill, Mississippi. The children were all very excited when our secretary came over the intercom and said we had a package in the office. We are all taking turns getting to know Owney and exporing his box to find out about all of the interesting places he has visited so far. We will send an update later to let you all know about his visit in the Great Magnolia State.
28 Due in Tallahassee, FL 1/21/03, arrived 2/4/03
Click here for more information about Florida.
Owney arrived Thursday after we finished our Florida Criteria Assessment Test. We'd been testing all week and it was fun to get to do something completely different with Owney. First Owney was able to enjoy a snack with Tyler. He brought sunflower seeds. Owney gobbled them up. Next, Owney went to lunch with us and Amy shared her packed lunch with him. After lunch Owney wanted to take a nap in the garden among the mums. Next we went to special area. Thursdays we go to Art so Owney went right along with us. We are studying how to do portraits and Owney graciously consented to pose for us. Cacey and Tiffany really enjoyed sketching him in their books. Owney thought his portrait looked funny. We wondered if he had ever seen a picture of himself. Maybe that's why he laughed so hard. Finally, the last period of the day we went to Physical Education. We are doing gymnastics and owney wanted to be part of our pyramid. He really enjoyed that activity.
The next morning our class left for Epcot in Orlando, Florida. We were gone from 4:00 in the morning until 11:00 at night so we couldn't see Owney, anymore. Mrs. Hoffman took him home to visit with her granddaughter, Lauren. Lauren is now 8 years old and had a good time reading and snuggling with Owney. She cried when we had to put her in the mail to Georgia.
Click here for the 2002-2003 photos from Florida.
Click here for the 2001-2002 photos from Florida.
Click here for the 2000-2001 photos from Florida.
29 Due in Due in Powder Springs, GA 1/27/03, arrived 2/12/03
Click here for more information about Georgia.
Owney arrived in Powder Springs, GA on Wednesday. His journal made it here on Tuesday so we knew he wasn't far behind. I think he was happy to get out of the box, as it is becoming cramped. Owney got to be on the morning announcements and after a brief stay in the classroom, he got to stretch his legs in the media center(to ensure everyone who wanted to meet him, was given the opportunity!) He was late arriving at the post office on Wednesday night so I imagine he spent the night at the post office and woke early to start his journey Thursday morning! It was great to see him! The class enjoyed him. They were sad to see him go, but he WAS 2 weeks behind schedule and we knew he had to get going before he got too far behind! We all wish Owney a safe journey! We sent cards out Thurday morning, so be looking for them! :)
Mrs. Dixon's 5th grade class
Vaughan Elementary
Power Springs, GA
30 Due in Concord, NC 1/31/03, arrived 2/19/03
Click here for more information about North Carolina.
Yeah !! Owney finally made it to Concord, North Carolina safe and sound on Wednesday, February 19, 2003. He spent some cold days in Concord's
main post office waiting for us to return to school from an unexpected two day "snow" break. He was happy to see such an anxious bunch of students. (Owney will probably tell you the teacher was more excited than the students.) Owney first met the 5th graders during art where the students were busy creating masterpieces out of clay. Students were then introduced to Owney as they listened to his biography. We passed around all the goodies in his box, had our picture taken with Owney, the principal and the mayor of Concord, and calculated the miles Owney has traveled so far. We also discovered the pattern of the zip codes in the US. Owney remained busy the rest of the day trying to keep up with the work that we did. He problem solved on a web quest, he read from Maniac Magee, and learned about some famous African American inventors. Added to his collection of pins is now a personalized nametag from Beverly Hills Elementary School. Have safe trip to Virginia.
Mrs. Turney's 5th grade Class
On to page 4 of Owney's 02/03 Journal.
