Wally Leaves for Australia

On Monday of this week, Wally was sent to Australia. He was packaged off at the United States Postal Service. We sadly had to say goodbye. He had an interesting 2 weeks with us, though. Wally went on a 5 mile bicycle ride along the Willamette River, toured the University of Oregon (go Ducks!) on a bike and with some students. Wally shipped out on Monday, May 3rd and should be in Australia as of today! Happy travels!

A Day with Wally

Our 4th grade class was visited by Wally earlier this week. We were happy to host Wally for a day during his stay with the 3rd graders in Mrs. LaMar's class at Riverbend Elementary School in Springfield, Oregon. 

Wally's Walloped by the Reptile Man's Snake

Yes, Wally was grabbed by a snake today. He did not want to go on stage, but he was dragged up by a student who didn't mind snakes. He learned that the snake was not poisonous and was safe to hold at the assembly.

Do you see Wally shaking? This snake is a king snake. It eats rattle snakes and other reptiles.

Wally joins us at the Spring Sing

Last night Wally was at the concert. It was the Spring Sing were all of the 2nd and 3rd graders sang for the parents.

If you look closely you will see Wally next to Ms. Danzinger, our music teacher. She is playing the guitar. Wally is on the metal table next to the sound equipment.

Wally is a pretty good singer. He kept cracking up and making us laugh.

Meeting our stuffed animals

Wally met our stuffed animals. He made new friends right away.

We brought our stuffed animals to school today so we could welcome Wally. It was kind of wild at first, then the stuffed animals all calmed down.

Wally then went right to the computer to look at the blog. He asked the teacher to type because his feet were too big for the keys.

Wally has arrived!

He got here early, while we were reading, so we gave him a good book. This book really was a good fit for him.

Next we opened the box and we took a picture with our stuffed animals.

Westward Ho! Oregon or Bust!

We are really sorry to see Wally leave Nebraska! It is has been a great week sharing with Wally a lot of the things that make Nebraska a great place to live. Our Dodge 4th graders thought it fitting that Wally travel to Oregon in style. Like Wally, thousands of people traveled across Nebraska following the Oregon Trail during the mid to late 1800s. The Oregon Trail was a 2,000 mile journey that followed the Platte River through Nebraska. Most people traveled in a covered wagon which held all their belongings. The wagon would usually be pulled by oxen, but sometimes mules were used. Most people left from Independence, Missouri in the early spring in the hopes that the 6 month journey would have them crossing the Rocky Mountains and getting to Oregon before winter.

The trip was difficult, disease, bad food, no food, mosquitoes, fire, accidental shootings, poisoning, and deaths were just a few of the hardships these pioneers faced as they traveled. So many wagons made the journey that today almost 300 miles of wagon ruts still can be seen.

Wally's trip to Oregon will be a lot shorter than the pioneers but he follows in the footsteps of thousands of pioneers who helped make this country great! So Long Wally!