Our partners from Nanakuni Elementary School, Mr. Kakehashi and Mr. Nishiyama enjoyed a jam packed week. About the only thing that did not cooperate was the weather! Upon arrival on Sunday we were greeted to cold winds and drizzle. We had planned a hike for the afternoon, but since it was snowing where we had planned to go, we ended up shopping for sneakers instead! That evening we spent a wonderfull evening with several staff members at the home of Ms. Wiercinski, one of our fifth grade teachers.

The school week began with a welcoming ceremony Monday morning followed by a tour of our Rainforest Biosphere. Our guests spent the morning following a third grade field trip from another school as they studied medicinal plants used by the Maya, read the Shaman's Apprentice by Lynne Cherry, watched a video of an ethno-botanist working in Peru, drew scientific illustrations of tropical medicinal plants and took measurements and leaf rubbings of live specimens. That afternoon was spent observing second and third grade classrooms. On Tuesday, Mr. Kakehashi and Mr. Nishiyama went on a field trip with my fifth grade Gifted and Talented students to the Clark County Wetlands Park. Students rotated through six water quality experiment stations and one studying soil quality and erosion control measures. In the afternoon, our guests were joined my the MTP teacher from Schofield middle school and her partners who worked with representatives from the Video conferencing department of the Clark County School District Computer Program division who demonstrated the use of Poly Com technology which allows for instant, real time connections between individuals or groups of thousands while connecting computers so students can work simultaniously on group projects anywhere in the world. On Wednesday, Mr. Nishiyama conducted origami and calligraphy lessons to students in the art room and toured more classrooms. Later, we toured the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where I am a member of the adjunct faculty in the College of Education. That evening, our guests went with Mr. Miyamori, one of our parents, out to the laser extravaganza at the Freemont Street experience. Thursday, we toured the McDonniel School Marine Lab and visited classrooms in this unique English/Spanish bilingual school. That afternoon, Mr. Kakehashi and Mr. Nishiyama conducted more Origami and Calligraphy lessons for my fourth grade GATE students. On Friday we observed a class in the Science room and worked on shared project planning.
On Saturday we toured Hoover Dam and finally took our hike around Red Rock Canyon with our Science Coordinator, Lisa Moran
In the evenings our gusets enjoyed, amonst other things, a tour of the Shark Reef exhibit at the Mandalay Bay, a VIP performance of the world famous Mystere at the Treasure Island, rode the coaster at New York, New York, watched the fountain program at the Bellogio from atop the Eiffel Tour at the Paris Casino and dined with my monthly book club at the home of Ms. Estes one of our fifth grade teachers. All this plus some of the best Italian, Mexican, Japanese and American (hamburgers) this city has to offer! Pictures when I figure out how!!!!

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