Way to Go Kellogg Kids!

The students from Kellogg had a great showing today at Idaho History Day at The College of Idaho. We have four students going to National History Day, Silas Domy in Senior Essay, Emalie Bumgardner in Junior Individual Documentary, and Sarah Gibbs and Kylie Johnson in Junior Group Performance.

But even though everyone didn't advance on, they all did a great job, and put a lot of work and effort into their projects. We are all very proud of everyone. And I was especially proud of Kiki Aru for her effort in her project.

Had a nice time this evening at the Boise Towne Square Mall, and enjoyed my visit with one of the students and his mother at dinner. DD and TD are the son and wife of one of my friend's from high school, and it was so enjoyable spending some time with them. (They even let me stay at the table when I admitted to them I voted for President Obama. I just couldn't resist when DD, who is a junior in high school, started dissing the whole Democrat party for all the ills in the world.)

Next, I went and wandered around Borders Books, was tempted to buy, but then remembered the piles and shelves of unread books at my house, and didn't give in!!!

What a joy traveling with these wonderful students, and spending time getting to know a few of them better. I am very blessed. Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful trip.

Z2 Advances to National History Day and Carries on a Family Legacy

Don't these three look excited!! It is because Christina, Sheila and Z2 placed second in the Junior Division Group Performances category, receiving three superior ratings which means in June they are going to the National History Day in Washington D.C.



Their peformance was on "The Triumph and Tragedy of the Sunshine Mine Disaster". They wrote a script based on research they did on this subject. They did a very good job. So Z2 and I, along with Christina, Sheila, and their parents, and GT Facilitator Marcia Wall and Brianna Wendt, who received first in the Senior Division Individual Performance will be traveling to the Nation's Capitol in June. Here they are doing their performance.

Another exciting part of this whole History Day experience is the fact my daughters are carrying on a legacy. My mom developed the Gifted and Talented program in the Kellogg School District in the early 1980's, and started helping her students develop projects to go to the History Day competition. She traveled herself to Washington D.C. at least one time. Now her granddaughters are carrying on the History Day tradition.



It always excited Mom to help her students work on the different projects. Just the other day she mentioned one of her former students, and can recall who they partnered with and what their project was all about. She always enjoyed helping her students find research on a particular topic and to develop their research into a viable project.



I also enjoy doing this with my girls. It was so exciting for me to work with both of my daughters on their projects, and I loved the fact they both had local history topics. I learned alot about both topics, and learned a lot about the strenghths as they worked on this project.



I always told Z2 and Kiki Aru that they were my ticket to get to go visit Washington D.C. And Z2 has 5 more years to go, and Kiki Aru has 7 more years to participate, so who knows, I may have more trips in the future!!



If anyone wants more information on History Day, go here.



Students can begin participating in fourth or fifth grade, up to their senior year. There are many cash prizes and scholarships given out. One of our seniors, who also made it to nationals, received a $5,000 scholarship from Albertson's College of Idaho. It is also a wonderful learning process of research, process, writing a bibliography and annotating research.



Students can participate in exhibits, documentaries, performances or write essays. They also added a new category this year of developing a web page. Or email me at pkrbywed@juno.com and I will give you more info as well.

Kiki Aru's Trip to History Day

Kiki Aru and her partner Jessi are smiling, because they won first place in the Youth Division Group Documentary for their documentary "Triumph and Tradegy: The Reforestation of the Silver Valley". They wrote a script and put narration and pictures on a DVD using the Movie Maker program. They worked hard and did a good job. They both won medals and a stuffed two-headed calf from the Idaho Historical Museum in Boise. The Youth Division doesn't advance on, but they learned a lot and have some good experience for next year.

History Day Makes Silver Valley Girl Proud

Well, my buttons are continuing to burst this weekend as Z2 and Kiki Aru both participated in the regional History Day competition today at Kellogg Middle School, and both got Superior ratings, and they will be attending the state competition in April at Alberton's College.

The theme of this year's competition is From Triump to Tragedy. Both took on local history topics as the subject for the projects.

Z2, our seventh grader, particpated in the junior group performance division. Her and two of her friends wrote a play on the Sunshine Mine Disaster that happened on May 2, 1972. The play showed what happened that day, which was the tragedy, and the triumph was how this disaster helped change mine safety regulations in the country.

Kiki Aru, our fifth grader, participated in the group documentary category. Her and her partner developed "From Triumph to Tragedy: The Reforestation of the Silver Valley". They based their project on an interview they had with Ed Pommerening, a forester who was hired by the Bunker Hill Company in 1972 to develop a program to plant trees on the hillsides around Kellogg. Through this process, he developed an underground greenhouse in the Bunker Hill Mine that grew millions of seedlings that were planted on the hillsides around Kellogg. And as you look at the hillsides, as compared to 20 years ago, the transformation is amazing.

I am so proud of my girls, and all their hard work and research they did on their projects, and the things I learned about my valley through their projects.

Help!! I'm Trapped in a Barrel

WARNING: The following words are the rantings and ravings of a mother on the edge of some kind of meltdown. I think she will be okay. She just needs to vent a bit. But if someone knows how to open a barrel, that would be helpful.

I’m starting to feel like the character I am portraying in the play I am currently in at the Sixth Street Theater in Wallace.
My character’s name is Matilda Trent. Matilda is on holiday at an old English manor house since she retired from being a school teacher. She retired at an early age because some of her students lured her into a barrel and nailed her up in it and fed her through the bung hole for three days. During the play, she is a “bit on edge” and the doctor told her her nerves could “snap at any moment”.
This week, it feels like I have been living in a barrel, and the walls keep closing in around me, with no air, and I can’t breathe, feeling a bit it confined.
I get this way when life gets a bit overwhelming. And every time I look at my March calendar, the barrel gets smaller.
How did March end up getting so full all of a sudden? I didn’t really plan it to be that way. But it is. Once rehearsals quit for the play, things were suppose to be freed up a bit. But that is not the way it is for March.
Kiki Aru continues with her AAU basketball schedule, having tournaments every weekend until the end of the month.

No air.
Kiki Aru and Z2 are both working on History Day projects, and need some help to get those completed, because they present next Saturday.
The Princess is preparing for district speech competition that is Saturday in Coeur d’Alene.

Can't move.
My sister-in-law is flying in Saturday from Boise to see the play, and the guest room needs to be prepared.

Can't breathe.
We have a busy weekend at church with a Saturday meeting before the play, then another meeting Sunday night, plus church that morning. PKR and I are on our church’s leadership team. That calls for a few more commitments than we normally have, because of the changes happening at church.

Walls closing in around me.
I have my creative’s group coming here on Saturday morning, so the house needs to get cleaned up (which is a good thing).

Feel cooped up.
Then next weekend, there is the History Day competition, BBall tourney in CDA, PKR’s parents are coming to see the play, and spending the night, my sister is coming with her husband to see the play and spend the night (but she will be staying at my mom’s house), plus figuring out what cute green outfit I need to wear to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. (Just kidding!! I thought I would see if you were paying attention. Even though I am stuck in a barrel, I still have a sense of humor!) Besides the play, which ends on Sunday, we are hosting the cast party at our house on Sunday night.

Some fresh air would do me good.
Then I have been doing employee evaluations this last week, and will continue this week at work, where I help manage the local veterinarian hospital in town. They haven’t been too bad, just a lot of mental strain.

A bit on edge.
Plus, I’ve just felt crappy all week, with a cold, and cough, and just a bit run down.

About to snap!
WILL SOMEONE PLEASE COME AND RESCUE ME OUT OF THIS BARREL!!
There, that felt better.