More Tuesday night frolicking

So what if it's 10:30 at night? So what if finals are almost over and everyone's kind of punchy? That's the perfect time to have an impromptu film festival, according to our students. Coupeville teacher Wilbur Purdue got his projector, someone hung a sheet, and the documentaries started rolling. The kids crowded in front to see each other's work, and then--a moment that the adults savored--started asking each other questions: about their sources, their objectives, their processes, their projects.  I called it a night around 12:30am, but I hear the fun went on until after 1:30am.

Tonight, after what will be a rain-soaked night tour of the monuments in DC, the students will return for part two of the festival: this time, the performances. So what if we need to pack and be at the awards at 8:30am tomorrow morning? This is way too cool. We'll learn about the Salem Witch Trials, Johan Gutenberg, Frederick Douglass, and more--and the fun part is that the performers and audience will probably be in PJs for the show.

It's been on-and-off thunderstorms here today, and it's raining pretty steadily now (I have pix from the film festival, but am losing wireless frequently and so I won't post them tonight). Mark and Rachel are each leading a bus full of students, teachers and parents through the Lincoln, Vietnam Veterans', World War II, Jefferson, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt monuments, plus drive-bys of the Washington Monument, White House and Capitol. It's a momentous way to cap the trip.

Tomorrow it's off to the awards. We'll start by parading around the floor of Cole Field House, wearing our Washington History Day t-shirts (designed by History Day parent Bill Smith, whose daughter Rebecca is competing here in the senior paper category) and waving our Washington State flags. The ceremony starts around 9am and will last until 11:30ish, at which point we'll head for the dorms and the bus to the airport. Personally, I'm hoping for nice weather and no delays. Send good karma our way, okay ?

Comments

[Penny Cheshier]

All your fans here in Washington are with you in spirit. Enjoy tomorrows closing events. Best of luck! You have all done an amazing job. RKAAAJ - you ROCK!

Have a safe, hassle free ride home.

[Deb Otterby]

Hi, everyone!

Love the blog--pictures and commentary.

Have a memorable last day at the closing ceremony and a safe flight home.

Deb & Garry