Where in the has Ollie visited?

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Classroom sites with a special page about our buddy Ollie!
(Teachers, please notify us if you add information about Ollie to your site!)

13. due to arrive 10/22/07, arrived 10/22/07
(traveled 459 miles, total distance traveled 14,689 miles)
Miss Romero's 1st grade class
Pajarito Elementary School
Albuquerque, NM 87105

I arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Monday, October 22nd. Unfortunately the students at Pajarito Elementary School had already gone home for the day. So Miss Romero took me home with her to meet her family - boy does she have a long drive to and from school everyday!

The next day I met Miss Romero's First Grade Superstars in their new classroom! They were so excited to finally see me live and in person after following my travels on Mrs. Stamp's website and on their "Ollie's Travels" bulletin board. Everyone was so fascinated by all of the key chains and tags that have been added to my collar. I even got a special one from Miss Romero's students with pictures of hot-air balloons. The students were disappointed that I didn't arrive early enough to see the hot-air balloons that fill the Albuquerque skies in early October at the International Balloon Fiesta. So instead they shared a book about a very special balloon named Billy while I shared the books about Owney from my travel binder.

While the students went to P.E. with Coach Harris, Miss Romero gave me the grand tour of the school. I met Mrs. Tornatta, the assistant principal, and Mrs. Bean, a very kind educational assistant who told me some great stories about class projects she's done with her students! When the students returned from lunch, everyone signed my Friends Journal and I was lucky enough to hear some of the first graders read. Boy, there sure are some excellent readers in this class!

During math I learned how to skip count by 2's. Each student gave me a big hug before they headed home at the end of the day and Eden asked me to tell all her family in Texas "hi" for her when I make my next stop. I wish I could have stayed longer in The Land of Enchantment, but I need to stay on schedule so I'm off to Texas!
Ollie

Postcard Received 12/21/08:

Hello from the Land of Enchantment! New Mexico became the 47th state on January 6, 1912. It is the 5th largest state. New Mexico is one of the four corner states: bordering at the same point with Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. Our state bird is the roadrunner and our state mammal is the black bear. The leaves of the Yucca, New Mexico's state flower, can be used to make rope, baskets, and sandals. Each October, Albuquerque hosts the world's largest international hot air balloon fiesta.
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14. due to arrive 10/26/07, arrived 10/26/07
(traveled 657 miles, total distance traveled 15,346 miles)
Mrs. Durnin's 1st grade class
Godwin Elementary School
Princeton, TX 75407

I was so happy to arrive in Texas, and was ready to greet the students first thing Monday morning. They didn't know I was going to be there that day, and were really excited to see me. Mrs. Durnin read the book that came with me, and I took turns sitting at each table during the day. Every time we went somewhere, a different student got to hold me. I arrived during Red Ribbon Week, and everyone got a snack that day (for making a healthy choice to not do drugs). Too bad I couldn't stay until Wednesday - Miss Texas was going to visit the students!

I got to eat lunch with the 1st grade teachers, and Mrs. Durnin took our picture. The students wrote about me later in the afternoon. After PE, it was time for science. The class was studying weather and the seasons this week. I had to hurry up and get in my box so I could head to Oklahoma right after school. I hope the weather there is as nice as it was in Texas!
Ollie

Postcard received 11/7/07:
Texas is a big state with a lot of different types of terrain. We have everything from mountains in far west Texas to the piney woods of east Texas and the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. You can drive an entire day and still be in the state of Texas. Texas is the only state that you can fly the state flag at the same level as the US flag. The state capital is Austin, our state flower is the bluebonnet, and our state tree is the pecan.
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15. due to arrive 10/31/07, arrived 10/31/07
(traveled 225 miles, total distance traveled 15,571 miles)
Mrs. Shiplett's 1st grade class
McLoud Elementary School
McLoud, OK 74851

Howdy from Oklahoma!
The first graders in McLoud were happy to see me. I was glad to see them too. After I hopped out of my box, they looked for my journal and log of friends. Everyone was excited to see my key chains and pins from all the other states. After hugs from everyone, we went to carpet and listened to the story of Owney. The class had learned a little about him from Mrs. Stamp's website, so they were quite interested to hear more. I listened as the class did their phonics and spelling lessons. Wow, those students work really hard! Then they went to centers. Mrs. Shiplett took me around to each center so I could watch and listen as everyone worked on their reading skills. Some students worked with Miss Lili during center time. She is a reading mentor that comes to their classroom every day. They said she is a senior from the high school. Guess that means she's a big dog! She gave me a big hug before she left.

When the first graders went to lunch and recess, Mrs. Shiplett took me around the school to see if we could find some of the friends that I met when I came to Mrs. Shiplett's class last year. They are big second graders now. They were happy to see me and I got more hugs. I went to the office to see the secretaries and Mrs. Phillips, the principal. She was excited to see me again too. Mrs. Hartzell, the counselor, gave me a special key chain to add to my collection. It was a pretty Oklahoma Centennial one. Did you know that Oklahoma is 100 years old? They are celebrating their Centennial this year. Centennial means 100. They are going to have special celebrations on November 16. That's when Oklahoma became a state 100 years ago in 1907.

After lunch, I listened to some more stories and then it was time to go to computer lab. I met Mrs. Foster in the lab. The students worked on reading and math programs. It looked like lots of fun!

Then it was back to the classroom for math time. The class practiced their math facts - they are really fast with those numbers. The students were getting ready for a field trip to a pumpkin patch the next day. Too bad I had to leave right away for Kansas. I like hay rides and pumpkins! But I got one more round of hugs and then back into my box I went to continue on my trip.

Goodbye Oklahoma, Happy Birthday!
Ollie

Postcard Received 11/26/08:
Howdy from Oklahoma. Ollie had a wonderful visit in the "Sooner State." McLoud is in the center of our state, just outside of our capital city, Oklahoma City. We will celebrate our Centennial on Novermber 16th. Oklahoma became a state in 1907--100 years ago. Come visit our friendly state.
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16. due to arrive 11/5/07, arrived 11/5/07
(traveled 301 miles, total distance traveled 15,872 miles)
Mrs. Gotsche's 2nd grade class
Eisenhower Elementary School
Great Bend, KS 67530

I arrived in Great Bend, Kansas on Monday, November 5th just as the kids were coming in from recess. Wow!! They were so excited to meet me!! I got a tour of the school immediately. I met a teacher from Omaha, Nebraska where I am headed next. I also met a teacher that just moved to Kansas from Alaska and used to live in Hawaii!! What a small world it is. I even got to visit the school therapy dog, Lyric!! I had fun playing with her.

I got to sit on each table during the day and all the kids were excited to look at all of my key chains and pins. I learned so much!! I ate lunch in the lunchroom with the kids and played at recess!! The class was just starting a unit on Native Americans and Mrs. Harrington, their student teacher, made me a headband to wear on my adventure across the United States. During Self Selected Reading, I got to read in the classroom tepee. I was really tired after that long day.

I received many hugs when I arrived and all during the day. The kids all got to give me a final hug as they were leaving school. Kansas was a great place to visit.
Ollie

Here's when I first arrived in Kansas! I was certainly ready to get out of my box!!	Lyric and I had a lot of fun.
I had a nice meeting with Mrs. Reiser, the principal.	It was such a nice day that I decided to hang out with my Kansas friends in front of the school!!
Mrs. Gotsche's class even shared lunch with me.	We had fun at recess!
My friends are learning about Native Americans and they read with me in the tepee!!	Mrs. Harrington told the class about all the places I have been... such wonderful memories!!

Postcard Received 11/19/08:
Hi from central Kansas!! Great Bend is located in the heart of Kansas. Our town was named Great Bend because it is located at the big bend of the Arkansas River. We live in a rural area. There are lots of wheat fields around us. Eisenhower is a great school with about 300 kids.
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17. due to arrive 11/9/07, arrived 11/12/07
(traveled 317 miles , total distance traveled 16,189 miles)
Mrs. Sullivan's 4th grade class
Fullerton Elementary Magnet School
Omaha, NE 68164

Greetings from the Cornhusker State! I arrived in Omaha, Nebraska, the afternoon of Monday, November 12th. Unfortunately, Mrs. Sullivan and her fourth grade students had already left for the day. But, I was all ready to greet them on Tuesday morning. Mrs. Sullivan’s 27 fourth graders were so excited to see me! They gave me lots of hugs and belly rubs! Afterwards, they worked so quietly on their bellwork while they watched F.A.N. (Fullerton Announcement Network). It’s so cool how the morning announcements are broadcast all over the school from a little TV studio in the library! Fullerton was having a canned food drive so I helped count the cans that Mrs. Sullivan’s students brought in. They made a pyramid for me sit on top of. I felt like the king of the world!

I went to P.E. with the fourth graders and watched them perfect their volleyball skills! Then, in Guidance, the school counselor Mrs. Pfeffer taught us how to respond to bullies. It was very good information! Next, my new friends took a practice test for the Nebraska State Writing Test. It’s a very big test for fourth graders! I got to time them with a stopwatch. They did such a nice job of writing! Afterwards, we took a quick facts multiplication test in Math. I even took one, and I got a 100%. Not too shabby! Then, I helped some of the students look up their Spelling words in their dictionaries. It’s important to be able to spell a word and know what it means!

During lunch and recess, I had the privilege of eating lunch with Mrs. Sullivan and the other five fourth grade teachers in the teachers’ lounge. I told them all about my awesome adventures so far! Afterwards, Mrs. Sullivan read The S.O.S. File to us. It was a very funny book! We also took some time to re-read the story about my cousin Owney. They all signed my journal, which is filling up fast! They even gave me a cool pair of sunglasses! Go Huskers!

Later on, all of Mrs. Sullivan’s students gave me a grand tour of their school. There are so many students at Fullerton that most of the fourth grade classrooms are in cottages next to the main school building. While on my tour, I met the principal Mr. Suing, the assistant principal Mrs. McNair, and the PAC room facilitator Mr. Brown. The last stop on the tour was the school’s playground! We took pictures of all of us on the bridge and rock climbing wall.

At the end of the day, it was so sad to say goodbye to all of my new friends. They took such good care of me, and I felt like I really got to know each and everyone of them. Mrs. Sullivan was so thoughtful because she let me spend time with each student at their desk throughout the day. As the children were leaving, they all gave me either a hug or a high-five. After school, I got to spend the night in Mrs. Sullivan’s guest bedroom before her husband Mr. Sullivan shipped me off to South Dakota the next morning. That big bed was a nice change of pace from my cramped box! Speaking of which, it was so nice of Mrs. Sullivan to give me a new one. My old one was getting pretty dented!
Ollie

Postcard Received 11/30/08:
Greetings from the Cornhusker State!  We are fourth graders at Fullerton Magnet Center in Omaha, NE. There are 27 students in our class-- 17 girls and 10 boys. Our classroom is a portable and there are five other fourth grade classrooms. We have more than 800 students in our K-4 school. Our mascot is the falcon.

Omaha is the largest city in Nebraska. Our city has the Henry Doorly Zoo and Rosenblatt Stadium, which is home to the College World Series! Our state fossil is the mammoth. Their fossils have been found in all 93 counties. Kool-Aid is our state soft drink. It was invented by Edwin Perkins in Hastings, NE in 1927.
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18. due to arrive 11/14/07, arrived 11/16/07
(traveled 596 miles, total distance traveled 16,785 miles)
Mrs. Kahler's Kindergarten class
Blackburn Elementary School
Bison, SD 57620

I arrived safely in Bison, SD on November 16th. Mrs. Kahler's Kindergarten class was so excited to see me when they returned from library! I enjoyed watching them write in their journals. Then they went to P.E. while I visited the second grade class. After my visit with the second graders, I snuck into the music room so that I could hear them sing. Wow, did they sound awesome! After music we had snack and then centers. I enjoyed spending time with each kindergartener during center time! Now, I must be on my way to New England, ND. The kinders in Bison said that they know where New England is and that they go through it when they go shopping in Dickinson, ND. It should be a short stay in the box - it's only about 90 miles..

Ollie

Postcard Received 11/26/08:
Bison is a ranching and farming community located on the plains of NW SD. The nearest hospital is 45 miles away, the nearest shopping mall or McDonald's is 120 miles. Bison's population is app. 350. The most complete T-Rex (Sue) discovered to date was located 40 miles from here. Sportsmen come from all over to fish and hunt pheasant, antelope, and deer.
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19. due to arrive 11/19/07, arrived 11/19/07
(traveled 123 miles, total distance traveled 16,908 miles)
Mrs. Gussey's 2nd grade class
New England Public School
New England, ND 58647

I had a short trip from Bison, SD to New England, ND. When I arrived Mr. Rasch, the superintendent, took me to the second grade classroom where the second and third graders were just starting Social Studies. They explained to me that the two classes are combined into this class and everyone was SO excited to meet me. They had so much fun looking at all the tags around my neck and the cool sunglasses I was wearing. I am getting to be very heavy with all the key chains on my collar. After looking through my Journal and being passed around so everyone could pet me, I watched them closely. They were working on interesting models of the Pilgrim and Wampanoag villages. Everyone was doing such a great job building the houses and setting up gardens and animals on their mats.

It was soon the end of class and we went outside to take a class picture in front of the school. Br-r-r it was cold! Then they told me the temperature was about 30 degrees. They gave me a soft, fluffy, yellow blanket to keep me warm. That is going to feel so good as I snuggle in my box going from school to school this winter! While everyone was outside for recess, Mrs. Gussey showed me around the school and I got to meet some of the other teachers.

While the second graders went to gym and music, I visited the third grade classroom and Mrs. Johnson gave me special chair with a soft pillow to sit on when I wasn’t being held. The students read to me and showed me all the things happening in their room.

Back in the second grade, we worked on math and science. These students have a busy day, but I think my favorite part was when I could snuggle with a student while we read a book. It was soon time for the day to end and everyone helped to pack me up in my box. Oh, that blanket feels so nice and warm. Over half of the students live on farms and ride buses home. I would love to have a bus ride too, but there isn’t time. I need to be on my way to Minnesota because I know those students are anxiously waiting for me.
Ollie

Thanks for delivering my box, Mr. Rasch.	I learned a lot about the Pilgrim and Wampanoag during my visit to North Dakota.
Mrs. Gussey's students all signed my journal.	Thanks 2nd graders... you were right, I did need a blanket!
Victoria read me a great story!	Hailee, Braden, and I talked about all of the places I have visited so far.

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20. due to arrive 11/26/07, arrived 11/26/07
(traveled 570 miles, total distance traveled 17,478 miles)
Mrs. White's 2nd grade class
Kaposia Education Center
South St. Paul, MN 55075

I was so excited to meet the kids in Minnesota! I heard the second grade classes cheer when Mrs. Klosowsky announced that my package had arrived. They had been reading one of the books about my inspiration, Owney the traveling dog. I spent the day visiting all 5 second grade classes. We were busy doing math and writing pen pal letters. In Music class, the boys and girls taught me how to sing, “Hail Minnesota!” We also learned about animals and their habitats. Thanks for a fun day!
Ollie

Mrs. White shared Owney's story with all the second graders.	She even had some help!
There are such wonderful listeners at Kaposia Education Center.	Look at all those postcards!
Hey, I recognize that box...	It's ME!!
I loved Mrs. White's class right away.	I just love reading with my new friends!
We worked hard...	and had fun!
Mrs. Gross and Mrs. Hawthorne helped teach me, "Hail Minnesota!"	The principal, Mr. Laliberte and secretary, Mrs. Klosowsky made sure I was bundled up for my trip.

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21. due to arrive 11/30/07, arrived 12/3/07
(traveled 278 miles, total distance traveled 18,048 miles)
Mrs. Pickhinke's Transitional Kindergarten class
Schaller-Crestland Schools
Schaller, IA 51053

I had a cool time in Iowa on December 3, 2007. The Schaller-Crestland Transitional Kindergarten kids loved to play with me and they show me around their classroom. I shared a graham cracker and milk snack with the kids. I also got to go to their music program practice that day and Christmas Concert that night. I worked very hard to learn all three songs about trees: I'm a little Pine Tree, Toys on the Tree, and Lights on the Tree. Mrs. Pickhinke’s class even wished me a Merry Christmas before I got back into my box!!
Ollie

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22. due to arrive 12/5/07, arrived 12/5/07
(traveled 417 miles, total distance traveled 18,618 miles)
Mrs. Barker's 2nd grade class
Liberal R-2 School
Liberal, MO 64762

Wow! I made a quick trip from Iowa to Missouri and arrived a little before Mrs. Barker's class was being dismissed for the day. When Mrs. Harvey, the school secretary, delivered me to the class they knew I was inside the box! They all cheered and so Mrs. Barker opened the box and there I was looking at 22 happy boys and girls! I was glad to be out of the box.

After school, Mrs. Barker took me home with her. That was nice because I would have been scared to have stayed all alone at the school. Her daughter Kari came and helped her decorate their Christmas tree. I even got to help! I sure hope that Santa can find me this year while I'm traveling. I hope that he brings me a nice chewy bone to chew on and maybe even a new box to travel in. Anyway, I got to have my picture taken by the tree when it was decorated.

Then it was off to bed for me as I had a big day ahead on Thursday. Mrs. Barker got me up and we were off to school. When we got there she let me sit on her desk and look over the day’s plans. I felt so important, just like a teacher. Then she took me to the cafeteria where I had to wait with the class until time for school to start. Everyone wanted to say hi to me.

We got to the room and everyone wanted to hold me. Mrs. Barker said that we would take turns and everyone would get a chance. I got to go to lunch, recess, library, and PE with the class. That was really cool. It was a rainy day, actually a freezing, rainy day, so we had to have recess inside. That was ok because I got to help build things with the boys and girls.

Well, you know what they say about when you're having fun? Time flies! It sure did and before I was really ready, it was time for Mrs. Barker to put me back in the box so I could head to Arkansas. I said goodbye to everyone and then Mrs. Barker closed the lid on the box. I cried just a little because I was sad to have to leave such wonderful boys and girls, but I knew that there were some more in Arkansas waiting for me too.

OH, one more thing, the really COOL sunglasses that the kids in Nebraska gave me, kept falling off so I didn't wear them inside while in Missouri. Mrs. Barker was afraid something might happen to them.
Ollie

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23. due to arrive 12/10/07, arrived 12/??/07
(traveled 339 miles, total distance traveled 19,188 miles)
Mrs. Thompson's 3rd grade class
Northside Elementary School
Cabot, AR 72023
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24. due to arrive 12/14/07, arrived 12/19/07
(traveled 480 miles, total distance traveled 19,758 miles)
Mrs. Bradford's 1st grade class
Belle Chasse Primary School
Belle Chasse, LA 70037

Hello,
I arrived at Belle Chasse Primary in Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon, December 19th. The students had early dismissal that day, so they had already gone home. I got to visit with the 2 principals, Mrs. Haydel and Mrs. Ritz, the curriculum coordinator, Mrs. Lincoln, her children, and their friend.

Then Mrs. Bradford took me home to meet her 2 dogs. She has an English Springer Spaniel named Brough and a French Bulldog named Mike. They were so excited to meet me. We had a wonderful time!

The next day, I went back to school to meet the students. Before school even started, I met a friend from Mrs. Bradford's class from last year. She was very happy to see me. When class started, the kids from Mrs. Bradford's class went to the first grade class next door for a reading of Polar Express. I really enjoyed that. It is one of my favorite stories. After the story, we all shared cookies and hot chocolate.

Then it was time for lunch. After lunch, the students got ready to go home, since it was an early dismissal day again. After the kids were gone, it was time to get in my box and leave for Mississippi. I hated to leave. I was really enjoying the beautiful warm weather, but I knew I had more friends to meet!

Your friend,
Ollie

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25. due to arrive 12/19/07, arrived 12/24/07... class returned from break 1/7/08
(traveled 318 miles, total distance traveled 20,076 miles)
Mrs. Longstreet's 1st grade class
Leland Elementary School
Leland, MS 38756

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