One of the activities in Challenge2011 #7 was to write about how we commemorate those who fight for our freedoms.  Well this could not have come at a better time. We have a fifth grade student whose father is serving in the Navy in Afghanistan. The fifth grade language arts teacher, Mrs. Ganong, arranged to Skype between this student’s father and the entire fifth grade level. Students gathered questions and made the plan. Newspapers were called and local reporters came to document the event. Our superintendent, Mr. Gilbert, also attended the Skyping session. He made the statement:

“It was great to see our students using technology to solve real world problems. Having a parent on the other side of the world is very difficult for our military children. Mrs. Ganong changed a problem into an educational opportunity for the fifth grade students at White Oak Intermediate. Not only did a family get to connect via Skype but our students received lessons on geography, time zones, military life, climate and the list goes on. All of this took place in 45 minutes! Thank you to the Boudreauxs’ for sharing this moment with the fifth graders at WOISD.”

We recorded it all on our Flip video camera and edited it in iMovie. Please watch the entire clip as his wife is the final person to whom he speaks. It was a moving experience for everyone involved.