Veterans Day at Saint Patrick School in Carlisle, PA

Today I had the honor of joining in on Saint Patrick School's Veterans Day program. There were many veterans in attendance. I heard many beautiful voices singing patriotic songs. It was very exciting. There were some veterans from other countries besides America. The other countries included: Australia, Mexico, Norway, and the Netherlands.

Thank you to all of our veterans who have served, and continue to serve. May God bless you and protect you always!

Happy Veterans Day!

Heading Home

I'll be leaving Virginia Beach tomorrow and heading home to Pennsylvania. I've had lots of fun here in Virginia Beach. I've met some great teachers and smart students here at College Park Elementary School. They are in the process of writing about Veterans Day and tell me that their work will be posted here on my site in a few weeks. I visited the Piedmont region of Virginia, went to the White House and DC Cupcakes in Georgetown. The Tidewater Veterans Memorial was a cool place to visit as was the Salute to the Military Statues at the oceanfront in Virginia Beach. I even spent some time with Chief Petty Officer Weatherspoon of the United States Navy. It's been fun in Virginia Beach and I hope to visit again next year.

Patriotic Pete Receives the Navy's Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Pin Today

Today Patriot Pete was presented the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialists pin. This pin is awarded to a sailor to "reflect a level of qualification above and beyond the normal level of professional and performance criteria necessary for advancement." This means that the person who has received the pin is highly qualified for his or her position and has outstanding on the job performance. Please go to Pete's Flikr page to see a picture of him sporting his newest pin!

Source: Wikipedia

About Petty Officer Weatherspoon

As you have read, Petty Officer Weatherspoon is working with Patriotic Pete to help our fifth grade students learn about patriotism. Below is some information that he shared with us that I am sure you will find interesting.

CTT1 Weatherspoon is an instructor (teacher) for his job as a Signals/Radar Analysis. He looks out for enemy radars and takes care of the ship and the people on it long enough to help Marines land on the beach and complete their mission. While doing his job in the United States Navy, Weatherspoon has visited Nova Scotia, Honduras, Columbia, Dominican Republic and Spain. He has also worked in Boston, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale and Galveston in the United States.

"The best part of doing this job has been the people I've been able to help in those various countries. I've done everything from installing air conditioning in hospitals to building a playground for a school. Hopefully, all of those people's lives were bettered by the time and efforts I gave and it makes me happy to know that it's because of me and the Navy that it happened."

What Patriotism Means to Me

Yesterday afternoon we asked Petty Officer Weatherspoon what patriotism means to him. Weatherspoon stated, " The personal sacrifice for the greater good of the majority or the individual sacrifice for the benefit of all. Patriotism is allegiance to the spirit of the Navy and everyone that has come before me and made the ultimate sacrifice." We asked Petty Officer Weatherspoon how students can show their patriotism. He said we can show patriotism by attending patriotic parades like Memorial Day or Veteran's Day parades, singing the national anthem at 4th of July celebrations, pledging the flag and understanding what the flag stands for. We look forward to learning more about patriotism from Petty Officer Weatherspoon in the coming week.

Patriot Pete Arives In Virginia Beach, VA

Patriot Pete arrived at College Park Elementary School at 12:32 this afternoon. WOW, we are so excited to have him here with us to learn about patriotism! At the end of our school day Pete met one of our parents, First Class Petty Officer Randy Weatherspoon of the United States Navy. Here is a picture of Pete with Petty Officer Weatherspoon.

Colonial Williamsburg

I had a great time visiting Colonial Williamsburg this week. I got to explore the entire revoluntionary city and learned a lot about life in the colonies before the Revolutionary War.

I got to have my picture taken with Thomas Jefferson.


I toured the former home of George Wythe. He was a very important person in history. He taught Thomas Jefferson along with many of his contemporaries the law. He started the first law school in the colonies at the college of William and Mary. He was friends and allies with George Washington. I got my picture taken in the bedroom George Washington slept in while planning his strategy for the Battle at Yorktown. Doesn't the bed look comfy?


I even got to eat lunch at a real colonial style tavern. Lunch was VERY yummy.

I learned that brick making is very hard work. This was usually done by either indentured servants or former criminals who were working off their debts. I learned the best way to prepare clay for brick making is to walk around in the clay and blend it well. It was fun playing in the clay but a little cold and mushy on my feet.

Then I visited the former Capitol Building of Virginia. Did you know that Williamsburg used to be the capital of Virginia? This is the courtroom where 4 times a year the high court of the colony met to determine the guilt or innocence of criminal charged with crimes. This is also the building where the Burgesses met and agreed to the wording of the Declaration of Independence in May of 1776. I got a copy of the Declaration of Independence to bring home with me.

After visiting the courthouse I got to visit the jail. I learned that the jailer and his family got to live in a very large home for the time in exchange for tending to the prisoners. Prisoners from all over the colony were sent to stay in one of 4 cells and await trial. This the jail that Blackbeard and 14 of his pirates were kept at awaiting their trial. The cell was very dark and small. Glad I didn't have to say in here very long.

I even got a special pin to bring home with me because I visited all of the sites in the revoluntionary city.

National Twins Day

I got to attend the National Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg Ohio and even got to march in the Twins Day parade with my twin friends. The theme of this years parade was country and western so I spent a little time riding on hay bales.

I learned that there are alot of different kinds of twins and it can sometimes be very hard to tell identical twins apart.

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Armed Forces Day

Hi it is Pete,

On saturday May 15, 2010 I went to Armed and Forces Day. I met so many people. It was packed with so many people. Here are some photos from my day and some of the people I met.

I met this soldier who just returned from Iraq. She was showing me this armored vehicle that is being used over there.

These two soldiers gave me a tour of this really big tank.

Here I am with my friend CJ who checking out the different parts of a Stryker vehicle.
This is the patch of the elite group of soldiers called Airborne.

Check out more photos from my day on my Flickr Page

Patriotic Pete is on his way home! Had a great time!

Patriot Pete spent some time outside for Fun Fair. Fun Fair is an end of the year day where students can go outside and play games, dance and win prizes. The students earned this day after a year of hard work and growth.

Patriot Pete was able to spend some time with students that received Responsible Citizen for the Month of May. The students exhibited and model appropriate behavior and actions in school and their community.

Pete arrived at Evergreen Elementary

Pete arrived the other day at Evergreen Elementary. Stay tone for pictures and details!

Patriotism Haikus!!

On my last day, O.E.C.'s third grade class created haikus all about Patriotism and the love for our country, America!! Here are three wonderful examples by the students.

Oh Say Can You See
Sing the National Anthem
Sing about Freedom

Let us have Freedom
America is our Home
We are the People

Pete's American
We are in a free country
There is Happiness.

Vocab Power & Marker Talk

This morning at O.E.C. in the 3rd Grade, we learned new vocabulary words. Then, we idenitfied them by matching the word to a picture that represented the word's definition. In 3rd Grade, we also did a "Marker Talk"! It was so great to see all of my pals using their background knowledge to brainstorm ideas about purchases families make together.

Appreciating our Moms in Grade Three!

Pete LOVES Planting with 3rd Grade

Planted some flowers with O.E.C.'s 3rd Grade during Science!!

PSSA Ice Cream Party!!

Over the annoucements this morning, Mrs. Feggins announced that there was 100% attendance & comletion of all PSSAs!! WAY TO GO O.E.C!! To celebrate, all of O.E.C. was rewarded with an ice cream sundae!!! MY FAVORITE: Vanilla Ice Cream, Hot Fudge, Rainbow Sprinkles, and OF COURSE a cherry on top!!!

Eating Healthy with Mr. G & Grade Three!

Mr. G, the nutritionist, came to visit today!! He taught the third grade and I the spanish word for grapes!!! Grapes are delicious! I love eating nutritious foods!!

Teacher Appreciation Week!

I came to O.E.C. at the perfect time... a time to appreciate all of their wonderful teachers!! O.E.C.'s principal, Ms. Ruley and dean of students, Mrs. Feggins invited me to join the teachers for a Spa Day!

Reading Workshops - Study Island

3rd Grade loves using Technology in their Classroom!!!

Reading Workshops - Creating BOOM Towns!

During Reading Workshop, my 3rd Grade pals created their very own Boom Towns. They included each vocabulary word they learned this week along with stores and buildings they felt were very important to start a new settlement. Along with their very creative Boom Town maps, the 3rd graders wrote persuasive ads to attract others to want to settle in their town!

Pat's or Geno's? That is the Question...

FIRST PHILLY CHEESESTEAK!!! WHIZ WIT-OUT!!!

Traffic :(

On my way to get my very first Philly cheesesteak!!

Math Workshop - First in Math

Learning through educational math games on First in Math!

Math Workshop - Angles

Working in Small Group Instruction (SGI) with my 3rd grade Pals!

OEC's 3rd Grade ROCKS!

As my new 3rd grade friends were at lunch, I thought I would take a tour around the school with Mrs. Schwab! I am so happy to be learning here at O.E.C! My new friends are so welcoming and even show their patriotism by forming wonderful "army" lines to show other classes what a great class they are!! What great role models!! Keep it up 3rd Grade!!

BOOM Town!

Today in the third grade, I am learning about a town in America called Boom Town. A little girl named Amanda and her family moved to California to dig for golden nuggets in the Old West. Amanda had a great idea to start selling pies to help her family! Amanda's great ideas helped others build more and more businesses in her town!! I learned with my third graders that just like in the old days in America, there are still many opportunties to dream big in America and succeed!!

Interactive Animals!!!

My first day at OEC was filled with fun facts about new animals!! I learned about jellyfish, artic foxes, killer whales, and cheetahs! We used references and resources such as encyclopedias, dictionaries and even the thesaurus to help us find really cool and interesting facts.

My Philadelphia Field Trip with MDL

GO PHILLIES!!!

At my first Phillies game with my first Hatfield Hot Dog! YUMMY =)
Even though they lost, we had a great time!

On the ride back to Mary D. Lang after a long day of learning!

Miss Smith and I with a copy of the Declaration of Independence!

Benjamin Franklin's burial site.

At Franklin Court for a little lunch break =)

The Commodore Barry Statue!

Miss Smith and friends at the Liberty Bell!!

Our tour guide Mr. C. teaching us about the liberty bell before we saw it!

On the bus on the way to Philadelphia!!!

Betsy Ross's House--She made the first stars and stripes American Flag!!

At the first church in Philadelphia where Ben Franklin is buried!

Strolling the streets with my new friends!

Independence Hall

The printing press where the Declaration of Independence was printed!!

Yesterday, the fifth graders at Mary D. Lang took me on a field trip to Historic Philadelphia, PA! I learned so much from our great tour guide Mr. C. and the fifth graders taught me a lot too! We visited many historic sites like Betsy Ross's House, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Commodore Barry's Statue, the printing press where the Declaration of Independence was pressed, and Franklin's Court!

We even went to the first church in Philadelphia and saw Benjamin Franklin's grave site! I will miss my new friends from Mary D. Lang Elementary School! They have taught me so many great things to take with me on my travels. Today I am heading to Overbrook Education School in Philadelphia to be with a third grade class for the next week, I can't wait to see what new and exciting things I will learn there! =)