 Shelly Galipeau and students Autumn McFetridge, Sam McFetridge, Kendra Richards, and Jude Olson pose for a photograph at Vincent Massey School on Tuesday. In mid-December students in the after school program tied messages to helium balloons and released them in the school field. Two weeks ago the school received a call from a Grade 3 teacher in Maysville, Missouri who found their note.--NEWS PHOTO EMMA BENNETT |
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Local students who released helium filled balloons with a Christmas message in mid December recently heard from someone 2,500 km away who found one and the experience has forged a new friendship.
A lady from Maysville Missouri, who just happens to be a Grade 3 teacher called Vincent Massey school with the news on Jan. 16.
"The kids were ecstatic especially when I showed them on a map the distance the balloon had travelled," said Shelly Galipeau, supervisor for Vincent Massey's School, out of school care program. "They could hardly believe it. It would be a 27 hour drive to get there by car."
Autumn McFetridge, 10, said she thought the balloons may reach Calgary but not further than that and now that she's discovered just how much fun this is she may do it again on her own.
The balloon was discovered in a field by one of Maysville's students enjoying a walk while visiting grandparents. The student picked it up, read the message and took it to school to share the exciting find with the teacher.
"The teacher was rather excited when she phoned," said Galipeau. "They've actually started a book with facts about their school, their programs and community, to send to our kids."
Maysville, has a population of about 1200, according to Wikipedia, and is located in DeKalb County, Missouri, United States.
"It's just like having a far away pen pal," said McFetridge.
Releasing four red balloons and four green balloons, with a Christmas message attached to each string, was a fun project Galipeau arranged to make a PD day more interesting for a group of about seven students ranging in age from six to 12.
"I always try to do things a little bit different for the kids on those days," said Galipeau. "I was hoping we'd hear from at least one person even if they were just on the other side of the city."
The students were initially excited about the project but when they did not hear from anyone who'd found any of the balloons within a few days, they lost interest.
Until the call from Missouri.
The students and Galipeau are marveling that it was another student who happened to find the balloon and that the student took it to school. It is also fantastic the teacher was excited by the discovery and took the trouble to make the phone call to Vincent Massey School.
"With it being winter you'd think the balloons would have deflated long before reaching that distance," said Galipeau. "We want to figure out the distance the balloon travelled each day to get to Maysville."
The world suddenly seems a little bit smaller for the students having made this connection and they're looking forward to finding out more about the Maysville students.
