April is Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month.  As you can see, the odds now of a child being diagnosed with autism is 1 in 88.  I have added a link to www.autismspeaks.com on this blog's side board.  Just click on it for more information.  Autism Speaks created this ad.

New York, New York -- A Wonderful Town and School Trips

Chesley Bonestell, artist,  Dover Clip Art 

School trips.  During my growing up years there were no school trips -- those trips you take with your classmates usually during Spring break.  But, I am so happy for my grandson, who with his high school orchestra is going to New York City over the Easter weekend to play at Carnegie Hall.  There will be over 100 students taking part from his high school. This happens every Spring with music students from all over the United States.  My grandson's school district has an excellent music program which starts in 4th grade, and with a little coaxing from his maternal grandfather, he began to learn to play the viola while in elementary school.

The itinerary is amazing with visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Empire State building, the World Trade Center Memorial, choice of two Broadway plays, walking tours of Chinatown, Rockefeller Center, and a jazz concert at Birdland, plus of course coaching and practicing for their concert at Carnegie Hall.

Looking over the schedule, I am impressed with all the volunteer parents and others who spent months planning this. This trip could not have happened without them. The students did have to come up with their own expenses, which they did this past year by summer jobs and "donations" from friends and relatives.

Personally, though, I am happy for my grandson who has shown patience, love and understanding for his younger brother who has autism and who takes attention and center stage for much of the time.  This will be my oldest grandson's week.  I am sending him much love (and a little monetary help) and Godspeed for a wonderful week in my home town.

When I was a student teacher in Winchester England, I heard that the students were planning a Spring trip across the channel to France to view the Bayeux Tapestry.  There is a museum that displays this 230 foot needlework--
appliqued depiction of the Norman Invasion and the Battle of Hastings, 1066. The BBC web-site is interesting and shows visually the artists view of the events.  This is a national treasure from the 11th Century.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/normans/bayeux_tapestry_gallery.shtml

Did any of you bloggers take school trips that you remember?

A-Z Practice

First line from: Tender is the Night by F.Scott Fitzgerald

"On the pleasant shore of the French Riviera, about halfway between Marseilles and the Italian border, stands a proud, rose-colored hotel."  Shimmering in the sunlight with promise and untold secrets:  promise of romance and interesting diversions, secrets both kept and divulged, but always a frisson in the air as one crossed the threshold.

It was there that a sad-eyed youngish blond woman was ushered through the massive glass doors.  She quickly walked to the registration desk and checked in, made her way to her assigned room accompanied by her Louis V. luggage and the bell cap.  After tipping him generously, she indicated that she did not require anything more, and he left.

Her room overlooked a palm-laden courtyard and as she looked down at the sculptures, she noticed one: gleaming in the sunlight--Poseidon, his iron trident poised to be thrown; she began planning her revenge.