As the summer starts to wind down and with the new school year a few weeks away Stacey and I want to thank all the students over the past 26 years who have had the opportunity to participate in the Paths To Our Past East Coast Experiential Learning Trip. This past year we took 23 8th graders from Roseway Heights, the same number I took on the very first trip, on another historical adventure. Great students, an inviting learning environment, and a very successful trip. The goals of the trip have always been the same; offer students an educational trip where they get to immerse themselves in the history of our country through study, group interaction and finally, a trip that allows students the chance to witness where history "happened".



We want to thank the 700+ students who have traveled with us over the years, their parents who worked diligently on fundraisers so their children could have this experience. We would also like to thank all the teachers, principals, and benefactors who worked behind the scenes to help some very special students attain their goals of being members of a travel study group.

There comes a time when even the best activities, trips or experiences must be passed on to others and that time has come for the Paths To Our Past trip for Roseway Heights students. Stacey and I will no longer be offering the trip and hope that a qualified teacher or parent will carry on the tradition of an educational 8th grade east coast program.


Thanks for all the memories,
Dennis Hartinger
Stacey Partin
Paths To Our Past LLC

Monday - NYC

Kids seemed to have a great time in NYC today. We started off at Ellis Island and then this was the first group to visit the 9/11 memorial. It was amazing to see and made a big impact to a group of students who were about four years old when the towers fell and we were there on Memorial Day and saw several men and women in uniform. The kids then saw Wall Street and ate lunch at the South Street Sea Port and it was off to 5th Ave, though you can tell the amazingness of 5th ave has worn off, there aren't many stores any more and not really anything people can afford though they all liked FAO Schwartz.

Then we had a nice bus ride off to Amish country where they had fun swimming and eating pizza. We then read a few books and had a writing activity.

Photos

Sunday, May 27th NYC

This morning the kids all got up and were ready to go on time! We loaded the bus up to head to NYC, saying goodbye to Boston :(

Kids loved NYC! We saw Mary Poppins at the New Amsterdam theatre, it was a great performance and we had nice seats! Next the kids stormed the Hard Rock Cafe and experienced the fun atmosphere of Times Square on Memorial weekend with many, many sailors to help remind them what Memorial day is really all about. We stopped in to the M&M store and then had a group photo in Times Square, now the kids are settled in to their rooms for the night and we have had a mini lightening storm!

Boston

Kids had a blast today (well yesterday since this didn't publish last if hotline I thought), we ran around Boston following most of the freedom trail with stops at old south meeting house, massacre site, Quincy market, Paul revere's house and old north church. We had dinner at one of my favorite stops, La Familia Gorgios in Boston's very Italian North End, delicious!! We then saw the USS Constitution and then off to the Blue Man Group where the kids really had a blast.

They are ready to hit the big NYC, many of them have said they still don't feel like they are on the east coast trip yet as they feel Boston has been very similar to good old Portlandia, as they have told people that is where we are from. I have to agree, Boston and Portland are similar but Portland still wins out in manners!!

We have had a few compliments on the kids already and how great they
are! We even met a few teachers today from Chicago who were extremely impressed with the work book the kids do, our full itinerary, they thought it was a wonderful experience the kids would be getting and were jealous!

Friday, May 25th - Boston area

Hi everyone, I hope you are watching the facebook PTOP page as that is where the photos and most of the information is going because it is the easiest and fastest way for me to update on the go!

We had a fun filled day and I don't think many of the kids called home but i promise you all they are save and doing well and having fun but they are tired. They got to see Lexington and Concord this morning after having breakfast once we landed, then we went and saw the Mayflower 2 and up to Plimoth Plantation, then it was on to the Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway, the Sox lost but the kids got a chance to see a brief glimpse of the Harvard as it had still been semi set up for the 2012 commencement that happened on Thursday. Okay I am off to go to bed now, fun filled day of the Freedom trail in Boston tomorrow, watch for pictures!

Parent & Student Meeting Tomorrow 5/21

Reminder, our last meeting, mandatory for all students and at least one parent/guardian per student, in the multi purpose room/cafeteria at Roseway Heights at 6:00 pm.

We will have additional packing lists and itineraries and the medical forms for updates. If the student has any new allergies or medications since the form was filled out back in September, please update the form with Stacey before leaving the meeting. There are also a handful of med forms that don't have medical insurance listed, we have to have that before the kids get on he plane, please bring your medical cards to provide the most up to date information.

See you all tomorrow, we leave on Thursday!!

Meeting 4/16

East coast student meeting tomorrow night, 6-7:30 like normal. Save a stamp and bring your final payment to the meeting since it is due on Tuesday!!

Meeting 3/19

Looking forward to seeing all the students at the meeting tomorrow at school from 6-7:30 pm.

I will be handing out Spring Plant Fundraising information so make sure you ask your student to see it!

Stacey

Meeting 3/5

Hi Everyone,

Reminder there is a student meeting tomorrow night. Last week the students had a Hold Harmless permission slip for the downtown field trip this Saturday, March 10th beginning at PSU. The newsletter had the agenda and what the students should bring with them that day. Please help us by ensuring you and your student have signed and turned in the permission slip. I am attaching a copy of the newsletter and the permission slip in case you have not seen it.

Here is to hoping next Saturday being rain free for the kids and I am looking forward to seeing all of you at 9:00 am in Cramer Hall at PSU in room 269.

Please email me if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Stacey