Eastgate Primary School: Information
| Mr Davis' America Trip Blog |
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Sunday, April 19th, 2009 @ 22:46
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What a week that was. Great weather, great food, great places to visit, great people. I am writing this while on the plane home although won't be able to post it until I get home.
3 hours to go.
It's now 1:30am US time (that's 6:30am English time). 2 1/2 hours to go.
Everyone else is sleeping and has been for a while. I'm standing at the back of the plane - the most comfortable place to be! Half way through Harry Potter ... and halfway through my book - 'Next'. Both are good but it's too uncomfortable to sit any longer!
It looks like the plane's going to arrive early ... result! Just hope I'm not too tired to drive home. Got to sort out photos as we need to use them in class tomorrow. Crikey - I cannot believe I'm back teaching tomorrow!
2 hours to go ... back to my seat watching Harry Potter.
Harry Potter's finished and I had a short sleep.
1 hour to go. It's now 8am in England (3am US time). Breakfast is served and everyone is waking up.
...
...
Well it's now several hours later and I'm finally back home. It was a great week and I'm looking forward to sharing it with everyone at school. |
[Posted by Mr Davis at 22:46]
Comments
Comment by Lyle Davis. at 22:41 on Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
Hello Uncle, it has been fun hearing all about your time in America
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Saturday, April 18th, 2009 @ 16:47
[Saturday at 21:47 UK time]
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 Well I'm now back in the hotel afetr a really hot last day. We've had such great weather here. Hot and sunny on the days we've had free to roam ... and cooler on the days we were in schools ... perfect!!!
After eggs benedict followed by pancakes for breakfast, we went for a relaxing stroll around Washington today. What a lovely time we had. There was an 'America Sings' festival in town. Lots of children (mainly from high schools) from al around America had descended on Washington for the festival. There were some very good acts. One of the best we saw is my picture for today.
Soon to catch the bus to the airport for our flight back so my next post will either be from the airport or possibly back in England. |
[Posted by Mr Davis at 16:47]
Comments
Comment by Mrs Bellars at 20:58 on Sunday, April 19th, 2009
Safe journey! Looks like you'll be coming home to good weather too!
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Friday, April 17th, 2009 @ 20:32
[Saturday at 01:32 UK time]
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 Last night we went do find a Taco Bell. We had been told it was on 12th and F - about 30mins walk ... When we got there and asked again we were told 20th and G - another 30mins walk. When there ... nothing. Apparently there isn't one in the neighborhood! Now hungry and tired so we started walking back to where we knew there was food.
Eventually we got on a bus ... then got off as it wasn't going in the right direction. Another bus took us where we wanted ... finally. The 'Philly Cheese Steak' was good. And I didn't even feel guilty with all the walking we'd done.
Started the day without breakfast - OMG - as we had to catch the 7.07 train. Off to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. We've been told it's the best in America. On the way to the station Kath stopped to take pictures ... again!
Went to the aquarium which was good. Especially the 4D theatre. It was a film about underwater life that had extra effects: things like water sprays at you when the whale sprays. It was fab.
Then we went to the Hard Rock Café ... had to be done. I even got asked for id?!? Had a great tasting drink and really good food.
What a great day ... high temperatures and the sun shining all day.
Well then ... last day tomorrow. I wish I had another week or two as there's so much to do and see. |
[Posted by Mr Davis at 20:32]
Comments
Comment by Mr Mindham at 03:54 on Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
Much fun was had - even though we must have walked for miles. I'm wondering if you need exra Geography lessons Mr Daves?!!
Comment by Mrs Rutter at 18:32 on Saturday, April 18th, 2009
Have a great final day guys and a safe trip back!
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Thursday, April 16th, 2009 @ 22:56
[Friday at 03:56 UK time]
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 Well, another day in school so another early start.
We went back to J Frank Dent Elementary School today. I've looked at lots of classes from Pre-Kindergarten (reception age) up to 6th Grade (year 7 age).
There are lots of things they do in America which are the same as in England.
BUT ... there is no morning or afternoon break!!! Also the timetable for every day is the same. As in the Benjamin Foulois Elementary school the children do lots of reading and maths.
The children are soon to do thair tests and so have made banners for other classes to show them they are being supported. These are displayed on the corridor walls outside the classrooms. |
[Posted by Mr Davis at 22:56]
Comments
Comment by Mrs Bellars at 20:44 on Friday, April 17th, 2009
I hope you enjoyed playing in the reception class. Did they have the wii too? Looking forward to hearing all about it when you're back.Take care.Rest and eat well you've got jet lag coming soon!
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 @ 21:17
[Thursday at 02:17 UK time]
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 Another early start today ... had waffles for breakfast (yummy!).
Went to our school - The Benjamin Foulois Elementary school only to find that there was a power cut in the area and so school had no power. If that happened in England the school woud be shut and the children sent home. Well not in America!! They were busy making arrangements to use a local high school to continue their teaching. So we went to our other school (that we were due to visit tomorrow). That one is called J Frank Dent Elementary.
Well what are American schools like??? There are lots of differences with schools in England but also lots that is the same. The children at both of the schools we are visiting wear uniforms. Most of the children come to school in he morning by school bus. The corridors and classrooms are really large compared to ours. There's that american sence of space ... and lots of it. One very different thing is that each grade (like our year group) havelunch at different times.
The American children study some similar subjects to England. They do Reading & Language Skills (like our Literacy lessons), Math (Maths!!!), Science (do I really need to say what this is???), Social Studies and specials. Most of the lesson time is spent doing the english and maths. There's very little PE, music, Art, DT etc as these are all covered in 'specials'.
In the year 4 class (called 3rd grade) each day the children do 1 hour and 45 minutes doing English, 1 hour 30 minutes a day doing Math, and 1 hour doing Science. That leaves 30 minutes each day for social studies and 30 minutes each day for specials. That's 2 1/2 hours each week to do all of their ICT, PE, Music, Art and DT. Imaging trying to fit all of those into one morning each week.
One highlight today. The school had a Chinese Acrobatic display group in to perform for the children. It was an excellent display. The picture shows some of the acrobats on high unicycles. The things on their heads are dishes. The put these onto their feet - which they used to throw them up and catch them on their heads - while still riding the unicycles with one leg. Wow ... it was fantastic.
Back into J Frank Dent Elementary tomorrow so hopefully will have more to tell you then. |
[Posted by Mr Davis at 21:17]
Comments
Comment by Mrs Walker at 00:06 on Friday, April 17th, 2009
Hi Mr Davis & Mrs Williamson - Glad to hear you are both having a fab time in America, sounds like neither of you will want to come home. Enjoy the rest of your stay and have a safe flight home.
Comment by Miss Gallagher at 14:31 on Thursday, April 16th, 2009
yes - it is hard to fit it all in - and get the kids up to gradev level!!!!
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 @ 21:34
[Wednesday at 02:34 UK time]
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Well ... I've been into school today. Needed to be up really early ... breakfast was at 6.30am. I didn't know that time existed.
I saw some interesting classes and some great ideas.
Not much time so I'll do a longer post tomorrow. |
[Posted by Mr Davis at 21:34]
Comments
Comment by Mrs Rutter at 01:19 on Thursday, April 16th, 2009
Sounds like you're having an amazing time! Breakfasts sound like an event in themselves!! Have a great rest of the week.
Comment by Mrs Jeynes at 12:13 on Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
Glad to hear you both arrived safely and are enjoying investigating the locality! So what is school like over there? If the day starts at 7:55am, what time does it finish? Hope they're not working you too hard!
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 @ 00:08
[Tuesday at 05:08 UK time]
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 Well the end of another eventful day.
Had pancakes for breakfast this morning. Fabulous.
Had a ride in the front of a fire truck - I bet some of you would have loved that. I know I liked the ride.
Saw Miss Gallagher today. How brill is that. She's really well and sends her best wishes to all back at school. When I get back to the hotel I'll upload a picture of us infront of the Lincoln Memorial. Who is Lincoln - I hear some of you ask??? Well look it up and tell me what you found out when we get back to school.
Have visited the Natural History Museum - which was great. I'm still amazed at having to go through security gates and having my camera bag x-rayed when I go into any building.
Went to the Holocaust Memorial Museum also which was fascinating - though sad. One of the exibits depicted a jewish child's story living in Germany through the time the Germans victimised the Jews (and others). Very thought provoking.
My feet are aching as I've not stopped walking. Mrs Bellars - You'd be very proud!!!
Travelled on the 'Metro' to Pentagon City (far too far to walk - about 11 miles!!!).The Metro is like the London Underground only way cleaner!!! (Oh ... and a lot smaller too.)
we are in school tomorrow (see Mrs Darrell - I will do some work!!!) so up really early as school starts at 7.55am!! How would you like that? I know I wouldn't as I have enough trouble at the times we do have!!
Hoping all of you are well and enjoying your Easter break - and have saved me some egg!! |
[Posted by Mr Davis at 00:08]
Comments
Comment by Emily and Sammy at 17:44 on Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
hay again mr davis how is it over in america? i saw a picture of you with miss gallagher i bet it was nicet to catch up with her. It is one of my dreams to go to america and see all of the wonderful sites when you gte back you will have to tell me all about the white house and and all about washington !!!!
Comment by Miss Gallagher at 14:38 on Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
great to see you both, still can't believe that we met in Washington!!! To all at home, I hope you are all well, and that you are enjoying your Easter break. Take care and speak to you all soon xx
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Sunday, April 12th, 2009 @ 18:06
[Sunday at 23:06 UK time]
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 What a fabulous day.
Started with an interesting breakfast ... Waffes and Chicken. What I didn't realise was that it was waffles with maple syrup along with a couple of pieces of chicken (done KFC style) ... very odd!
Then went all over Washington - WOW!!! First impressions of washington - well what can I say but it's FAB! Really clean (it puts King's Lynn to shame) as there is no litter anywhere. The roads are really huge and all very organised. All the north-south roads are numbers and the east-west roads are letters. The diagonal roads have names. But all the roads are straight which seems really strange after our wiggly roads in England.
We saw loads today ... The Capitol ... the Washington Memorial ...The WW2 Memorial ... the Vietnam Memorial (what a lot of names) ... The Lincoln Memorial ... The White House ... The Pentagon.
The picture is of The Washington Memorial. We went right to the top of that and it's 555 feet and 1/8 inch high. It was built between 1848 and 1884. We went up it today and it was fabulous. Great views. When we went in to go up we had to be checked by security - bags were scanned by an x-ray machine and we went through a metal dectector thingy. |
[Posted by Mr Davis at 18:06]
Comments
Comment by Miss Farr at 22:12 on Monday, April 13th, 2009
Glad you both arrived safely. Like Mrs Darrell, I had toast for breakfast - nothing as exciting as chicken and maple syrup! Have a good time and let us know what it's like being at WORK!
Comment by Mrs Darrell at 16:47 on Monday, April 13th, 2009
Hi - Glad you arrived safely. Looks like you are settled in well. I had toast for my breakfast!! Still haven't eaten any chocolate. I am waiting for the right moment to completely pig out on all the easter eggs I was given.
When are you going ot do some work?!
bye for now WD
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Saturday, April 11th, 2009 @ 23:56
[Sunday at 04:56 UK time]
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 Well we have finally got here ... after a long flight ... 8 hours is a long time to sit in one place. It's currently 11:50pm here - that's 4:50am in England - you will all be asleep - or at least you should be.
When we arrived and checked in we went to our rooms and they are fab. Have a look at my room in the picture.
We went for a walk and saw Capitol Hill - it's fab. The roads we crossed are huge - the width of them is a bout the length of our playground.
Well we are now sitting in the bar ... I went to get some chips to eat - and they gave me a glass full of crisps!!! So I ordered some 'fries'.
Well time to relax ... I've now been up for about 21 hours.
More coming soon. |
| [Posted by Mr Davis at 23:56]
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Thursday, April 9th, 2009 @ 23:31
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 Well ... thank you to all those who have started to read my blog and those who have posted comments. It's really nice to see you are following my adventures in America.
I haven't actually left yet ... but I am getting very excited. I fly out on Saturday at 4.15pm. We are leaving from heathrow so I need to get there first. I'm driving down tomorrow. We'll land at 12.35 (English time) ... so it'll be the middle of the night ... but it'll only be 7.35pm in Washington so I'll be able to have another dinner!!!
I'm busy packing ... though have taken some time out to write this. Trying to work out what to take is really hard as it could be sunny yet could also be chilly or (dread) raining!!!!!
Well it seems Flicka (my cat) would like to come as well as everytime I turn around she's sitting in my suitcase. I wonder if she'll get through customs?
Look out for my blog on Sunday morning telling you all about the flight. |
[Posted by Mr Davis at 23:31]
Comments
Comment by millie wightman at 15:33 on Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
i love the cat it so cute i got a kitten that look like it
Comment by millie at 12:13 on Sunday, April 12th, 2009
mr daavis i like your cat it looks so cute in your suitcase
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Sunday, March 29th, 2009 @ 17:46
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I have found out where we are staying ...
We will be staying at the Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel. It's right in the centre of Washington and we can walk to places like the White House.
Have a look at the website here: Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel. |
[Posted by Mr Davis at 17:46]
Comments
Comment by Mrs. Williamson at 22:15 on Friday, April 10th, 2009
I am also going. We hope to be able to bring back some good ideas to help you and some great pictures.
Comment by Millie and Libby at 14:34 on Thursday, April 9th, 2009
hello mr davis and miss gallagher hope you are having a nice easter we are see you soon :]xxxxx
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