Archives: Secrets Revealed

 Saturday, May 9th

 

my crazy friend, Cynthia decided that we needed to create a workshop

for kids to learn about archives.

what are they?

how can they access them?

what amazing treasures can be found?

I'm always game for a project with my dear friend!

we had presenters from:

WNYLRC

Western New York Library Resource Center

the incredible Heidi B. (shown below)

had packets containing

photos

documents

archival gloves

a magnifying glass

etc

 the kids worked in groups to determine the historical event

depicted in the packet

such as the women's suffrage movement,

which had a large presence in western new York!

 here's my friend Cynthia kicking off the workshop!

 our welcome sign

 the sign in table

 each participant received an archival quality folder

a pen/pencil

a program

and a nametag

 Heidi set up a table filled with pamphlets for the kids to take

from different archival sources-

state, local, regional, national sources

 

 we received several items to raffle

including two genealogy tool kit books signed by

The National Archivist, Mr. Ferriero!

there were also tickets to a civil war re-enactment camp,

several wonderful books on local history, etc

the kids LOVED winning prizes!

 we served healthy snacks to keep the kids from starving

 we had two representatives from BNHV

Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village

Rachel shared basic information on how to start

working on your family history

 Kathy showed the kids how to find clues in pictures from the past

they loved this portion of the program!

it was fun to see a photo of 4 men standing together

with their last names written below them.

they were all names of local streets the kids recognized!

 these turkeys kept themselves entertained

 we had the great archivist from Buffalo State, Dan!

he brought a stack of old magazines for the kids to take home.

he showed them grammar books from 100 years ago.

he then read them a few excerpts and remarked how horrible the assignments were!

he was so entertaining and the kids loved listening to him

 Lockport historian, Anne Marie had loads of information for the kids

about the history of the Erie canal, Lockport and western new York history

along with lots of old maps of the area.

 

With all of this information and resources at their fingertips, the kids will have

what they need to enter a New York State Archives contest!

 

I love my friend Cynthia and I love working with her on anything!

We have so much fun together and seem to pull off rather amazing things, if I do say so myself.

We are hoping to take this show on the road and are currently searching for grants

to continue our work.

 

sing it ella-belle!

our little song bird auditioned for the erie county music educators association festival (or something like that!)  she was chosen as an alternate and was thrilled!  ella's chorus director told her that she doesn't choose 5th graders for the chorus because she wants the 6th graders to have the opportunity, but she does choose the top 5th graders as alternates if they audition. 

 

the other night, we were able to see this group perform at the school concert.  they performed separately from the rest of the chorus.

 

I loved all of the chorus songs and even recognized one of the songs as one I had sung in high school.  sadly, I was in high school singing it, and ella is in 5th grade singing it!

nothing is more fun than listening to this sweet heart sing! 

rain barrels

aftie's art club won first place and honorable mention

in a county wide contest for best designed rain barrels!

the barrels are being recycled/reused as rain water barrels.

there was a press conference held at the Albright knox art gallery

where the winners were announced.

the story is being highlighted on our school district's website right now!

so exciting!!

 aftie designed the winning barrel and she was soooo excited to see it win!

congratulations to a great group of talented artists!

from the district website:

The Heim Middle art class of teacher Denise Woods won first place in the Erie County Department of Environment & Planning/Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Buffalo, Inc. 2015 Rain Barrel Painting Contest, middle school category, earning a $500 prize. Art teacher Alison Bozek’s class entry earned an honorable mention in the contest. The barrels will be on display at the Albright Knox Art Gallery, where a press conference was held May 1 with Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announcing the winners.

Erie County's #1 Rain Barrels!
Aftie's design is the one with the hands.

 

 

 

 

 

                                       

            

 

go huskers!

we decided to take a trip just to see this little guy!

 he lives in Nebraska with his dad, mom and two silly sisters

 this is one of the sillys I mentioned!

miss maddows

 lucky for us, mr davis was visiting too!

his dad was doing some important thesis business.

 here's the other silly with ella-bella

 uncle ryan had to snuggle this little sweetie for awhile

 uncle braddy arranged a tour of memorial stadium

it was very cool!

 we saw all of the important & top secret rooms

 here's where those giant football players run out into the stadium

it was a fun weekend for ry and his brothers and dad to be together,

since that doesn't happen very often.

 walking out to the field

 these doors open onto the field

 touchdown!

 it was really amazing to stand on that field and look up into the stands.

you feel sorta small down there.

 grandma was there too!

 aftie was a good baby holder

 we went to the spring game.

this is the game where the two teams are both Nebraska.

it's just for practice,

but the place was almost sold out.

I don't get it.

but we bought new shirts, so we might as well enjoy the game!

a short but sweet trip!