  This
journal entry was written May 13.
The 4th grade class will finish their trek
across America on Tuesday, May 16, at 1:00 p.m.
in Playfair Park - which is the park just behind
Russell Elementary School. Please come cheer
them on across the finish line! They have done
an amazing job and are finishing 3 weeks ahead
of schedule!! This week the 4th graders zipped
through Virginia and Maryland. They also visited
Washington D.C. (be sure to check out the
live
Washington D.C. web cam).
They are only 27 miles from the finish line and
that will only require one lap of Playfair Park
by the 56 students in the 4th grade.
As
most of you know, the 5th grade class completed
the 3,200-mile, 15-state trek on April 25. That
was a great day of celebration, and we want to
have just as much fun on May 16 when the 4th
grade class accomplishes their goal! This has
been a wonderful experience and although there
were many people who felt that this might be too
enormous of a goal for the students to reach,
both classes are going to have the satisfaction
of knowing that they not only did their best...
but also reached their goal.
Next
week, on May 20, we will post our final journal
entry for this curriculum. Along with that final
posting, we would truly like to be able to post
many notes of congratulation from visitors to
this web site who have followed the progress of
these kids. Please go to our
encouragement page and send us a
note of congratulation to post for the students.
We would truly appreciate it, and we think you'd
feel pretty good about it as well!
Paul
Staso is working through the final logistics in
preparing for his actual run across America to
begin Friday, June 23, at Cannon Beach, Oregon.
If you haven't taken time to become familiar
with his upcoming trek, please visit
www.pacerun.com.
We'd
like to close this week's journal entry by
sharing with you a very nice letter we received:
 May
10, 2006
Dear Vicki and Russell Runners,
You did it!!! Russell gives the term "cross
country" a whole new meaning!
Congratulations to Mr. Creighton's class and
Ms. Kuchel's class for finishing the run
ahead of schedule... and with a sprint!
Congratulations also to Mrs. Staso for all
her hard work this year, to Mr. Staso for
being the good sport he is, and last, but
not least, congratulations to the fourth
graders who cheered you on and will will be
reaching Lewes, Delaware, themselves in the
next few weeks!
What a great journey you all had this year!
In addition to making you stronger and
faster, it taught you a great deal about the
geography and history of our country. You
strengthened your legs and your lungs, but
your math and spelling skills grew too. Talk
about multitasking! That's why this was such
an awesome undertaking.
Have a wonderful summer, everyone. And keep
on running!
Warm regards,
Linda McCulloch
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction
Go Russell Runners!
|
|
Some Encouraging Notes
We Received This Week: |
Way to go 4th grade!!
The Atlantic Ocean is in sight and you have persevered! This trek
has certainly been difficult at times, and one that you may never
repeat in your lifetime. However, as you cross the finish line next
Tuesday I hope you'll truly feel the satisfaction that comes with
meeting a very challenging goal. What you've accomplished is
definitely not easy, and that's what makes you so special. You kept
chasing after the goal both as individuals and as a class... and now
it is in reach. You've gone coast to coast, across 15 states, 4 time
zones, 3,200 miles, and through the heart of America. You are all
winners, and I hope that you'll always cherish this accomplishment.
Paul Staso
P.A.C.E. Run 2006
-
www.pacerun.com
Missoula, Montana
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Fourth Graders, I'm
pleased to see that you are continuing to make excellent progress on
your journey. I'm pleased to see that you've crossed the 3,000 mile
mark - that's a very important milestone. Keep up the good work!
Wayne Baker
Westfield, New Jersey
_________________________________________________________________________________________
You're
on the downhill side 4th grade! Not too much further and you'll be
at the finish line! You've all done a great job and should be very
proud. KEEP ON RUNNING!!!
Stacey Rossmiller
Missoula, Montana
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Mad
Maggies rule the school and will lead the 4th grade class to the
finish line. You know who you are and I know you can do it. Good
Luck.
Scott Bixler
Missoula, Montana
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Keep
up the work. You must feel really proud of yourselves. Way to go 5th
grade.
William
Student at Preston
High School
Preston, Idaho
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Way
to go 4th grade students. You have met your challenge ahead of pace.
You guys are awesome! Now we all need to help Mr. Staso with his P.A.C.E Run. Remind people to look at this website and tell them
what you have done and what Mr. Staso will be doing this summer.
Russell students are truly AMAZING!
Diana Sontag
Missoula, Montana
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Run
with the wind, you see the GOAL: RUN FOR THE PRIDE IN YOURSELVES AND
YOUR SCHOOL, PARENTS, TEACHERS AND FRIENDS.
Ann Denzer
Tacoma, Washington
|
|
Paul's Run
|
Media
|
Encourage
|
Contact