Hello Boys and Girls!
It is Iditarod Season. The mushers and their dogs have been training for a long time. They are ready to race to Nome! With sled bags almost packed and supplies waiting for them in checkpoints, with hopes, dreams, and plans in place, mushers will soon be heading to the starting line. The race starts on Saturday, March 7. The restart is on the following day, Sunday, March 8. The race will end when the last musher reaches Nome. Get ready for an exciting race, a race full of challenges big and small.
The Iditarod is a time of great challenges, challenges big and small. Meeting challenges along the trail, the mushers race to Nome.
I’ve got a challenge for you.
Have you ever thought about what you can do to help make the world a better place? I’m sure if you sit down and come up with a brain stormed list, you can discover lots of ideas about things you and your classmates can do to in your own communities.
My challenge to you, Boys and Girls, is to come up with a class project in your own community. Get involved. Learn what it is like to help with a community project and take pride in your efforts. Discover the results of working on a project. Take pride in your accomplishments.
Here is one idea: Animal shelters are always in need of supplies. Gypsy, Sanka, Libby, and I have a special challenge for those of you who are interested in helping the pets in your communities to stay healthy. Research about your local shelter. Invite someone from the shelter to visit your classroom so you can learn more about the shelter. Discover what their special needs are and how you can help. Put a plan in action.
When your project is done, write to us and tell us what you did and why you did it. You can even send us a picture and we’ll put the picture and your story on the website.
We’ll send you a certificate thanking you for being involved in the 2009 Iditarod Community Challenge.
Don’t just sit there, friends! Get your thinking caps on and come up with a project, any project that you want.
Just think what a wonderful world this can be if each of us were to get involved in helping others— in helping human or K-9 friends!
We can’t wait to hear about your projects! Join our challenge! Start your project on or before the start of the race and see if you can finish it before the last musher reaches Nome!
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
6 Comments
Hello K-9 Reporters! I am Joan Goble, third grade teacher at Cannelton Elementary in Cannelton, Indiana.My class read Gypsy’s report about Mrs. Andrews’ class project to raise money for an animal rescue center by making and selling dog biscuits. We thought that was a great idea, and also we were happy to hear of how they are helping those homeless animals. We want to share with you our project we have been doing this school year to help our local animal shelter. What it involved was first, we visited our shelter (Perry County Animal Shelter), and socialized with the animals and took photos of them. The photos were for posters we made featuring each dog and cat. The posters told about each animal as well, so that people could read about them and perhaps consider adopting them. The students made several posters and they have been placed in local businesses such as gas stations and restaurants. Another thing the students did was to feature each animal on our class Christmas tree by placing their photos on paper ornaments. This was so we could all remember the animals at the shelter for Christmas. The class raised $100 by bringing in change each day up to Christmas, and they also brought in toys and bedding for the animals. We feel it is so important for people who are looking for a new pet for their family to consider the adoption option. That is why we decided to help promote our animal shelter. We hope others will do the same. Another thing we did this year was directly related to the Iditarod. We decided to make booties! We joined the Bootie Brigade and made 100 booties for the dogs. Our booties went to musher Ramey Smyth.
We were so happy to be a part of this race in this way, because not only are we helping the mushers we are directly helping the dogs who make the race possible. 
And…one of the other Bootie Brigaders is traveling to the Iditarod and will take a friend of ours we created…a traveling buddy called “Flat Ramey” (like a Flat Stanley, only this one represents the musher we made booties for.) Flat Ramey will be sharing the whole Iditarod experience with us via e-mail with write ups and many photos! We can’t wait! BTW, I have photos of these posters, the Christmas tree with the animals’ photos on them, and also of my students making the booites for the Iditarod, if you would like to see them or feature them. thank you for your reports and for sharing Mrs. Andrews’ class story. 
Mrs. GobleCannelton ElementaryCannelton, IN
Hi Mrs. Gobles class. What wonderful projects you have done. I will be writing a post about what you have done. Look for it tonight or tomorrow. Keep up the good work. Gypsy
Hey, Libby ! My name’s Katy and my class has to do a circle map on you . Personally , I think you sound really cute and exciting . You’re 4 years old ! My sister is the same age and you won’t believe how annoying she is ! I really don’t think that you’re the same way !Bye ! Sincerely, Katy
OH, yes, I AM cute! Thanks for noticing! When you are done making the map all about me, please send me a copy! I am SO glad you are making a map on me because I am pretty special, you know! I bet your little sister is special, too. I am glad you don’t think I am annoying!!! I am not annoying… I am adorable.
Our class would like to know if any of the sleds used this year are made from wood?
There will be wood sleds out on the trail. Watch for pictures and see if you can tell who is running with a wood sled.
Hope You Win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Zuma, I am writing to let you know how much the students of Southampton Elementary School enjoyed learning about the 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. As the media specialist at Southampton Elementary School, I wanted students to experience the race on many different levels. We watched official race footage and read on-line newspapers. We created a large wall map and followed the race till the last team reached Nome. We read fiction and non-fiction books about the Iditarod and learned a great deal about sled dogs. Each student created their own sled dog profiles, which we proudly displayed in the hallway outside the media center.
I also wanted to tell you about our 2009 Iditarod Community Challenge Project. Our student council held a Treats and Towels Campaign for the Town of Southampton Animal Shelter. Students and teachers donated dog biscuits, dog treats ( cat food and cat treats, too) and plenty of towels and blankets for shelter dogs. I hope it is not too late to share our story with you. Happy Sledding! Lisa Bowen, School Media Specialist, 30 Pine Street, Southampton Elementary School, Southampton, NY 11968
Hello Southhampton Elementary School!
It is so DOG GONE awesome to hear from you! What a wonderful project you did this year! I am very proud of you. Gypsy, Libby, and Sanka are very proued, too! You have done wonderful things for your community. Be proud!
Thanks for writing and telling us about it!
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma