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FLAT ANDREW On Wednesday 12 January, before we returned to school for the year, I received the email below from the United States of America. As the children had not yet returned to school from their Christmas holidays, I wrote back saying we would be happy to participate when we returned. Here's a photo of some of the Year 5 class with Flat Andrew in our room. |
| 12 January, 2005 Dear students and faculty at Rochedal State School, I am a teacher of a homebound student who, for health reasons, can not attend a regular school setting. We have just completed the book, "Flat Stanley", by Jeff Brown. We got the idea to make a "Flat Andrew" and send him on vacation around the world like the main character did in the book. So we made an body outline of Andrew and attached a photo of him for the face. Then Andrew filled in the other details like clothing, shoes, etc. We loved your pirate's treasure hunt and other information about pirates as we began the book, "Not So Jolly Roger", (Time-Warp Trio series) by Jon Scieska. We were wondering if your students might be interested in receiving a visit from "Flat Andrew"? Your students could show him around and maybe show him some sites of your town's interesting places to visit. A return, stamped envelope would accompany "Flat Andrew", so it would not cost you anything to send him back home. We would appreciate a postcard or picture of "Flat Andrew" while he was visiting, just to update us on how he was doing. If you would be interested in this project, please Email me back. Merry Christmas, Marcia V. Basford, librarian, Hammond Eastside Upper Hammond, LA 70401 |
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| Flat Andrew arrived arrived last week and
spent the weekend with one of the children and went to Redcliffe for the
day. Flat Andrew had a great
time. It was a very
windy weekend and they went to Settlement Cove Lagoon, which is a popular
children’s swimming spot. Redcliffe was once considered to be the best
spot for a new penal settlement but the actual new settlement was moved to
the sight of Brisbane today. Here’s 2 links to more information about
Redcliffe: http://www.redcliffe.qld.gov.au/about_us.htm http://www.ourbrisbane.com/visitors/placestogo/html/redcliffe.htm This weekend, Flat Andrew will be going to one of the children's birthday parties. Here's our latest email from Andrew. |
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| 19 February, 2005 Thanks for bringing flat Andrew to Settlement Cove. What's with the water? Why do you have to conserve water when there is so much water around you? We looked at the two interesting sites about Redcliff. Wow, would I love to live there. But we came across an interesting fact about conservation of water with timed sprinkler systems, etc. We have deep aquaducts underground here that provides us with drinking water. I guess we take that for granted because we don't have to pay for it; it's free for the taking! So, there is not much conservation going on here with water. Of course, Lousiana is mostly water with all the freshwater swamps and brackish water (salt and fresh mix). Everytime it rains (and it rains alot) it floods. Most of our homes are built up for that reason. Camps are on stilts. I will be sending you pictures of my new colt today. How about suggesting a name for him? We have yet to come up with anything so far. Andrew |
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22 February, 2005 Hi Enclosed are recent pictures of the newly foaled colt from Andrew's corral! He is so cute! (the colt, too! HA!) We are also sending other pictures of Andrew on things he is involved with outside of his school work. Below is the explanations for each picture: #1- The new colt, born February 2005 (that's Andrew's mom, Brenda) #2- Andrew in his green belt- Kararte' #3- Andrew in his costume for the play, "The Nutcracker" during the Christmas season( he was one of the rats! #4- Andrew, just hanging around! Next week we will be sending pictures in 3-D! We purchased a 3-D camera to take some pictures. We will send the class a set of 3-D glasses to view them. Awsome!!!!!! Thanks for participating in our project. We are thinking about developing a website to spotlight the "Adventures of Flat Andrew". Thanks for the idea when you sent the pictures from your website. Marcia Basford |
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2 March, 2005 We finally received our attachments for the 3D camera pictures. I am mailing the glasses TODAY in the mail and you should receive them within a couple of days. Andrew and I will take pictures tomorrow and Email them immediately! They will look a little funny until you view them with your 3D glasses. Have fun! We have certainly enjoyed spending time with your class. Just because Flat Andrew will be returning soon does not mean we can not continue to stay in touch and share experiences across the ocean. I have told everyone here about your website. Expect a lot of hits, especially on your treasure hunt. Wonderful! Thanks for everything. Marcia |
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Last weekend, Flat Andrew went to Dreamworld with
a group of children from our class for one of the boy's birthday.
http://www.dreamworld.com.au/dw/dreamweb.nsf Here are some photos of Flat Andrew at Dreamworld. It was a bit hard for him to go on rides as he tended to blow away!! The playground had air loaded canons that you could shoot your friends with foam balls.
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4 March, 2005 We took pictures of the new foal. (now we have two and one on the way!) Thanks for the name suggestions. We like Colbolt for one. I sent the glasses in the mail on Monday. You should get them soon. We attempted to download the pictures and it won't take XP so we had to located Windows 98 program. Fortunately, our school is behind times and we had a few computers that still had 98, so we are attempting to send the pictures today. Andrew will download them and use the new software to make them 3D. If all goes well, we will be able to send the pictures tomorrow, hopefully! Andrew even took a picture of me! Marcia |
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On the weekend, Flat Andrew went to Siromet
Winery with one of the girls in our class and her friend. I hope he didn't
have too much to drink!! Then they went to Cleveland to have a look at the
water and all the lovely boats. We also received our 3D glasses and we are looking forward to trying them out with some of the 3D pictures Andrew is going to send us. |
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17 March, 2005: Hi Marcia and Andrew, Sorry but we didn't get any photos again this weekend. Flat Andrew went to Bribie Island which is just north of Brisbane and is a tourist spot as well as being a residential area. http://www.bribie.com.au/ Unfortunately, Emma forgot to take the camera with her. This weekend 2 of the girls are going on a Girls Brigade camp to Boonah which is a bush area west of Brisbane. http://www.boonah.qld.gov.au. So hopefully we will get some pics for you. Then I think we will send him back as we are going on Easter holidays for a week and I think we have just about exhausted places to send him and kids who are going places. We have really enjoyed corresponding and if Andrew would like to write to any of the kids from time to time it would be great. We would also like to keep up with Flat Andrew's travels. |
| Flat Andrew went on a Girls Brigade Camp to Boonah - the only boy allowed!! Here's some photos from his weekend away. |
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18 March, 2005 We finally got the 3D camera working. It goes to show you, when in doubt, read the instructions! HA! We are sending the pictures by email TODAY! We have enjoyed getting to know the kids in your class. It has been a wonderful experience for both Andrew and me. As much as you have done, I can't not repay other than to send you a little surprise next week in the mail. It is reminiscent of Louisiana, New Orleans, the Mardi Gras, Cajun flavor, etc. I think the kids will enjoy it and it will be our way of sending a bit of Louisiana to you guys. We would love to continue correspondence with you over the year. We are just now designing our website, so when we complete it, we will email the address. Thanks for all the great information and great ideas. You have been a great resource for our studies. Sincerely, Marcia Basford |
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Flat Andrew went on canp with two of the girls to
Boonah. We are till waiting for the photos to come from that weekend. We took a photo of the kids with the 3D glasses on that Andrew sent us. We are looking forward to seeing the photos. We are going on holidays for 1 week for Easter and Flat Andrew will be traveling back to the United States then. He'll be taking a couple of extras things for Andrew to look at. We have really enjoyed having Flat Andrew and emailing the real Andrew and his teacher Marcia!! |
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Well Flat Andrew finally left us and has begun
his long journey back to Louisiana. When we cam back after the holidays, we
found the biggest parcel awaiting us. It contained heaps of coloured beads,
some Mardi Gras masks and dolls and 2 packets of the most delicious pralines
that Marcia made. They tasted great. All the kids shared in them and each
one received a necklace. We took some photos to send to Andrew and Marcia of
the children with the gifts. Thank you so much both of you, we really enjoyed this experience. |
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8 April, 2005 I am so thrilled that the package arrived. I hope they enjoy the beads. I'm sorry that I could not "catch" enough of the masks and dolls to provide everyone, but the display sounds like a good alternative to the problem. Thank you for being so wonderful about Flat Andrew. We are sending you a framed picture of the two of us. I am still trying to download 3D pictures. If not, I will enclose a CD of the pictures that you can just open up and allow the students to view from your computer. Sorry but we just can't make it work properly. Computer illiterate, I guess! HA! We will keep in touch as Flat Andrew continues on his travels. He is going to New York City for a few days, then straight to Iraq to stay with one of our soldiers. We are still in the process of developing our website. I want it to be as nice as yours so it's taking us awhile to complete. Thanks for everything! Marcia Basford |
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12 April, 2005 Flat Andrew arrived Friday! I always know when he comes home because the front door is open and no one comes to greet me. I walk in and Andrew comes out from from nowhere with a grin on his face as big as Texas! He was so excited to have him come home. Thanks again for everything. We will send a picture soon! Marcia Basford |
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Finally - here's Andrew's photo with Flat
Andrew and the gifts we sent to him. We wish both Andrews all the best for
the future.!! Here's Marcia's final email. Flat Andrew is in New York City seeing the sites of the large island called Manhattan!!!!! (I'm sure you have heard of it! HA!) When he gets back he will go to war. Hope he survives NEW YORK. It will be good training for him to prepare for war!!! HA! Marcia Basford
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