http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2009/01/22/news/doc49780465d10157268679171.tnv
To share in the joy of history in the making, on the day after President Barack Obama's official Inauguration, our fifth-grade students hosted our own "Chosen for Change" Inaugural Ball. Parents designed the invitations, a legally blind mom made the corsages, a grandma made a homemade flag cake to serve 150 people, the prisoners from Grafton Correctional Institute used their calligraphy skills to make the place setting cards, a local dance instructor and community leader taught our students the waltz to perform at the ball, a Cleveland Clinic physician donated funds towards the ball, local photographers eagerly captured the event on film, our music teacher taught our young men to tie ties, citizens sent ballrooom gowns, shoes, and suit coats from across the city, and DeLuca's Place in the Park donated their elegant ballroom to house our festivities. Many "dignitaries" came to our event including our own Rep. Lundy and Superintendent Paul Rigda. And that's just the beginning! There were lots of "surprises" in store for our students (such as pics with a Barack Obama cardboard stand-up!) and a real red carpet spread before them as they made their grand entrance (along with media and news stations swarming around everywhere!) with their heads held high. This project was public education at its finest with Language Arts and Social Studies standards truly coming to life for our students. At the close of the day, our students truly felt that THEY have indeed been "Chosen for Change."
P.S. Channel 3 news came to watch our students watch the Inauguration as well. What a phenomenal experience to watch our students' reactions to their new President as he took his Oath of Office!
McKinley Elementary School
Elyria, Ohio
