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Community Challenge- Mrs. Davidson’s Class

Posted by Gypsy in Community Challenge Project, Community Service, News Date: March 31, 2009



Hi Boys and Girls,   mrs-davidson-class-019.jpg

I had a great adventure on Friday.  I was invited to Mrs. Davidson’s 2nd grade class at Paul A. Smith Elementary School in Franklin, NH. They had read about my visit to Mrs. Andrews class and about their Community Challenge project.  After reading the post, they decided to do their own project.  They invited me to see what they had done.  They told me they had a surprise for me. I love surprises so I told my human we just had to go. mrs-davidson-class-023.jpg

What a nice school and class.  When I walked into the classroom, you can’t believe what I saw. First, there was a large bulletin board covered in Iditarod pictures, and artwork, and race information.  In front of the bulletin board was the best sight of all. There was a pile of supplies for homeless animals.  There was food, treats, paper towels,  toys and even a dog bed. I just had to find out what all this was for.  They told me that after reading about Mrs. Andrews class they wanted to accept Zuma’s Community Challenge also.  They really wanted to help homeless animals.  They also said they wanted to meet me the K9 Iditarod reporter because their class tracked the Iditarod this year and they had a Flat Stanley travel along with Lance Mackey.  There was so much excitement in the room.  mrs-davidson-class-016.jpg

To start their project they set up 2 committees to contact two local shelters, the NH Humane Society and the Franklin Animal Shelter.  They got a wish list from both places.  They then collected food, supplies, toys, and money.  They had another committee that got the boxes for the supplies and a container to store the money in.  Mrs. Davidson will use the money to buy more goodies for the animals.  In total they have collected 128 items and $22.76.  That’s very impressive especially since they did all this in the month of March.

I asked the class what they had learned this year.  Their response was” We learned a lot about the real Iditarod and Alaska and we learned that it’s fun to help others.  We really wanted to practice being respectful and responsible.  We had fun practicing our fractions lessons as we measured the ingredients to make Gypsy’s dog biscuits, and we loved Gypsy’s visit and learning more about the Iditarod.”

Oh yes, the dog biscuits.  mrs-davidson-class-015.jpg Did I forget to tell you about the biscuits? Well they followed Mrs. Andrews biscuit recipe and made me a basket of biscuits.  They were so yummy.  I really love those biscuits.  My human told me I had to share with the other dogs I live with.  That was hard but I did share and everyone enjoyed the special treat I brought home.  There was one more very special surprise.  They gave me a big pink present which my human helped me unwrap.  In the package was a picture of me drawn by Mrs. Doucette who is also a part of the class.  It was strange seeing myself like that.  My human says she loves the picture.  She’s looking for a special place to hang it.

Before I left, everyone had to say good bye to me.  I recieved a zillion belly rugs.  I like belly rubs almost as much as I love treats. mrs-davidson-class-022.jpg

It was a great afternoon and I want to thank the class for having us visit.  Congratulations to Mrs. Davidson’s class for completing the challenge.  There will be many homeless pets who will appreciate your efforts.

Please let us know if your class has completed a project for Zuma’s Community Challenge.  We’d love to post your story too.

See you on the trail,

Gypsy

Comments: 5

We Get Mail! Questions from New Jersey

Posted by Zuma in Race Coverage, Zuma and Reporters Answer Questions Date: March 25, 2009

Dear Zuma and friends,

We here at Collingswood Middle School ( Grade 6) in New Jersey have been following the race and learning all about it.  My classmates and I enjoy seeing how our chosen mushers are doing. How exciting! I’ve learned about how the mushers have to carry the symbolic mailbags with them from Anchorage to Nome, and if they lose the bag they are disqualified.

My question to you is about the GPS systems that the mushers are wearing throughout the race. What happens if the musher loses their tracking device? Are they disqualified, like when they lose the mailbag?

Thanks for all the great updates! My 6th grade class is learning so much!

Your friend,
Cathyrn Maienza
Grade 6th
Collingswood Middle School

Hello Boys and Girls,

Thanks for writing to us.

The GPS Trackers are secured to the sled or put in the sled bag.  The musher isn’t disqualified if the tracker falls off or if it stops working.  If it falls off or breaks, the good folks at I on Earth who run the tracker system, try and fix it or get a different one for the musher’s sled.

The mail bag you are talking about is not a bag, but it is a package with promotional materials or mail.  The mail cachet is part of the required gear a musher has to have in the sled bag.

Lots of Tail Wags, 

Zuma

Comments: 9

We Get Mail! Shouting Back to Florida!

Posted by Zuma in Race Coverage, Zuma and Reporters Answer Questions Date: March 25, 2009

Dear Zuma,

We are a third grade class from Jupiter, Florida (like the planet).  We have just finished taking the FCAT and boy we are glad it is over!  The test took us three days (reading and mathematics) and we did our very best. We live 15 minutes from the beach and enjoy the warm weather year round.  If you would like to take a tropical vacation, Jupiter is the place.  We would love to visit with you.  Doesn’t a picnic at the beach and a dip in the refreshing ocean sound tempting?  We are always on vacation in Florida!

This is our first year tracking the Iditarod.  We have all picked a musher and are tracking them using a bar graph and line graph.  Each day we log on to see where our mushers are and what’s happening in the race.  We are excited about tracking our mushers and seeing what place we are in.  We can’t imagine how it must feel to be in cold weather and wear all those clothes.  We are wearing T-shirts and shorts today.  We have a few questions and if you have time we would like to hear from you.

Do you have any friends that are lead dogs and how do they feel about being in that position?

Have you ever been sick and how did your human take care of you?

Do you have a favorite game to play with your family?

Do you have a favorite musher and why?

Have you ever worn booties and if so, do they really keep your paws warm and safe?

We looked at pictures of our mushers and we want to know why Sebastian Schnuelle’s hair looked so funny?

We look forward to hearing from you.

Mrs. Weese’s Third Grade Class

Hello Boys and Girls,

Thanks for writing!

Yes, I have many fur-friends who are lead dogs.  They are very proud to lead a team, but they also recognize that being a leader means that most of all, you are a team player.  When you lead, you are not always out front.  Sometimes you are running in other positions on the team.

When I get sick, my human takes me to the veterinarian.  I enjoy the visits with my vet and I try to follow the rules I’m given, like eating healthy dog-meals and staying away from human meals!  Seeing my vet is important!

My favorite games involve chasing or staying active kinds of games because my human gets as much exercise as I do.  I really like to go for long walks or slow jogs.

I really try to not have a favorite musher, you know, because I am a journalist but mostly because I enjoy meeting all of the mushers and all of their dogs!

I have worn booties.  Booties are not to keep dog’s feet warm, though.  They are to protect the pads from getting cuts or scrapes.  

Really?  You think Sebastian’s hair looks funny?  I never thought of it as funny, I just thought of it as Sebastian.  Like K-9’s, everyone has their own color and style.  Some of us have short hair, some of us long.  We wear our winter coat all the time.  Unlike humans, the K-9 don’t get to make personal choices about this.  I think, the choices humans make about their hair help us to be able to tell who is who! 

Thanks for your questions,

Lots of Tail Wags, 

Zuma

Comments: 3

We Get Mail! A Shout Out to a Kindergarten Class in Idaho

Posted by Zuma in Explore Alaska, Race Coverage, Zuma and Reporters Answer Questions Date: March 24, 2009

Dear Zuma, We are in a small kindergarten class from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We have been wondering if you have ever seen the northern lights in the sky. Can you tell us how those lights get up in the sky and why are they different colors? We think the northern lights look awesome and would love to see them sometime.   Another question – how did you learn to do math? Can you add and subtract?   Thanks for answering our questions. We love to read your Paw Prints.   Paul and Ethan

Hello Students!

A big shout out to you and your classmates!  

The northern lights are so beautiful.  I love to stand outside and watch them dance across the sky.  Sometimes you can almost hear them dance as their greens, yellows, reds, and blues mix and move across the sky.

Northern lights are hard to explain because they are very ’scientific’.  It has to do with pieces of charged particles of the earth’s magnetosphere crashing into to atoms and molecules of the earth’s upper atmosphere.  These particles become a trapped magnetic field of the solar wind.  Oxygen and nitrogen in the air determine if the particles are seen as green, red, blue, or violet.  The different gas in the atmosphere and the solar wind create the colors.  It is all so ’scientific’ but it results in a beautiful display of colors.  I hope you all get to see what I say is better than fireworks someday.

Lots of Tail Wags,

Zuma

Comments: 4

Mount Redoubt

Posted by Gypsy in News Date: March 23, 2009

Hi Boys and Girls,

Just a short message about Mt. Redoubt.  Mt Redoubt is a volcano in Alaska and has erupted during the night.  I just heard from Zuma and they are safe at the Millennium.  Here is what Zuma had to say:

Just an update to everyone.  Redoubt blew a couple hours ago and we’ve been given instructions to prepare for an ash cloud… just in case… We were told we’d have 2 hours until the ash may hit here, and the snow is still white outside now…  The alert is not for Anchorage specific at this time but we will spend the next hour closing up Millennium HQ.   Nome is now HQ Central.  Our Iditarod Internet will most likely be shut down at some point and parts of Alaska may have cuts in service…. and we’ve been told to put our technology and printer and etc in plastic.  I’ve spent the last hour working to tape up the window in my room because I have Internet wires that come in…. As I said, the ash cloud is not expected to get to Anchorage but we are taking precautions.

From my understanding at this time, planes are grounded at the Anchorage airport and most mushers and their dogs are still in Nome and will stay there until it is safe to fly out.  A couple of flights did make it to Anchorage but I’m not sure who (except Cathy Walters the TOTT) was on those flights.
I will keep you posted as I am able to get information.  Also please understand that coverage, emails and information out of Anchorage will be slow if at all through out the day.

You can get more information about the eruption by going to:

http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php

Gypsy

Comments: 13

Scratched, Withdrawn, Disqualified

Posted by Gypsy in Along the Trail, Race Coverage, Zuma and Reporters Answer Questions Date: March 21, 2009

Hi Boys and Girls, gypsyk9reporter-012.jpg

 

We K9 reporters have received many emails and blog comments asking us what the difference is between a musher who has scratched or was withdrawn from the race.  This is an excellent question for the blog. 

When a musher scratches from the race, he or she makes the decision themselves.  The most common reason a musher scratches is for the best interest of the team.  This means a lot of things.  Sometimes, a musher is hurt or ill and they feel they cannot take care of their team properly. The team may be ill or not performing to the level needed to finish the race and the musher scratches.  The sled may have been damaged to the point that it is not useable and an extra sled is not available.  There’s just so many reasons a musher may have for not continuing the race. 

Withdrawn means the decision was made for the musher.  The decision is made by a 3 judge panel.  At least 2 of the judges must agree to the withdrawal.  This decision does not mean that the musher did anything wrong.  This year Rob Loveman was withdrawn from the race due to his team no longer being competitive.  He was in last place and far enough behind the others that he would not be able to catch up to them. 

There is one more way that a team would leave the trail and that is by disqualification.  This is more serious and rarely happens.  All 3 judges must agree that a musher should be disqualified. The chief Veterinarian may be consulted also if  cruel or inhumane treatment of the dogs is suspected.  Mushers can be disqualified for deliberately breaking the rules, cheating, or abuse of the dogs.  The musher is given the chance to present his case to the judges before a decision is made. 

Hope that helps.  Thanks for the great questions you have been asking this year.  We will be answering  the questions we are asked the most on the blog.  So keep reading and writing.

See you on the trail,

Gypsy  \\

Comments: 22

We Get Mail! Zuma Meets Ross

Posted by Zuma in Meet our Fur-Friends, News, Race Coverage, Zuma and Reporters Answer Questions Date: March 20, 2009

ross-and-toy.jpg ross-mails-a-letter.jpg WOOF!

My name is Ross, and I am a different kind of working dog.  I am in training to be a Canine Companions for Independence (www.cci.org) assistance dog. CCI provides dogs free of charge to people with disabilities other than blindness. I am 9 1/2 months old and go to CCI College (aka Advanced Training) in August.  Then we’ll have to see if I have The Right Stuff to be a CCI Graduate Dog!

I don’t think it’s as difficult as being a sled dog, or maybe it’s just difficult in a different way. At any rate, I’m sure I don’t have The Right Stuff to be a sled dog because I hate being cold. My puppy raiser even takes a small rug when we go to the movies because I hate lying on the cold floor and have a hard time settling down for a nap. She tells me I’m a little high maintenance and will have to get over that before I go to College.  Huh.

In the meantime I go to work with my puppy raiser at a TV station every day. I have my own DogBlog on our website (www.thedenverchannel.com/family).  Zuma, I would love to interview you for my DogBlog, if you’re not too busy. If that works out, I’ll send you some questions to answer.

Thanks!
Chow for now!

Ross
CCI ADIT

Hello Ross!  I’m so happy to meet you!  Send me your picture and I’ll post it here!  It will be fun to be interviewed by you!

Lots of Tail Wags,

Zuma

Comments: 5

We Get Mail! Hello Libby!

Posted by Libby in News, Race Coverage, Zuma and Reporters Answer Questions Date: March 20, 2009

dscf0234.jpg Dear Libby,

Hello.

This is Miss Evans class and we are writing to find out more about you and the Iditarod. We are in first grade. We are at Agnes Irwin School which is an all-girls private school. We are learning about the Iditarod.

Are you good reporting the Iditarod? How many of the lead dogs are females? Do you think any more people will scratch? How did Nancy Yoshida scratch?  Have you ever been at the start or finish line or have you been on the trail? How many dogs do you need to finish the race?

We hope you get your career started soon!

Please answer soon.

Love,

Miss Evans

Thank you so much for writing to me.  I am a VERY good reporter, haven’t you noticed?  Lead dogs can be males or females, but I think females make the best leaders.  I think so because I am a female and I know I am a great leader.  Besides, females are just sweet looking, don’t you agree?

It is always sad to see a musher scratch, but mushers make that decision for good reasons.  Nancy made that decision because Nigel ran off and he did not come back.  A musher can’t continue if they are missing a dog.  Silly Nigel!  (Did you see that cute coat he sometimes wears?  I think he is SO cute!  Howl!!!)

I have been to the start, to the restart, and a few places on the trail.  Traveling helps me learn and be able to write stories.  Thanks for your questions.  You’ve helped me… 

Spin some ‘de tales’.  Libby

Dear Libby,

We are sorry you did not make it as a show dog but we are sure you are going to be a great reporter.  Keep us updated on special things that are happening.  Your friends at Chapin Schoo.

Thanks students!  Even though I didn’t make it as a show dog, I am happy with my very important job.  Thanks for cheering me on!

Just spinning some ‘de-tales’,

Libby

Comments: 30

We Get Mail! Classrooms Ask Us…

Posted by Zuma in Race Coverage, Zuma and Reporters Answer Questions Date: March 20, 2009

 Dear Zuma,     Hi, we are Mrs. Earl’s students at the Hanover Street School in Lebanon, New Hampshire. We are keeping a pretend journal and write each day to you in it. We write about different things like what to pack in our sled, moose on the trail, overflows, etc.,  We were wondering if you have ever raced in the Iditarod or any other race? What is it like to be a canine reporter? It looks very busy trying to keep up with all the musher news. We are having a reading race at the same time as your mushers are moving across Alaska. We have first and second place winners already in our class. Please write to us. From, Mrs. Earl’s class

Dear Boys and Girls,

I am not a racing dog, I am a K-9 Reporter.  If I were in training to pull a sled, I’d have no time to write any articles!

What exciting projects you are doing!  Keep up the good work!  I know you have learned a lot this year!

Lots of Tail Wags,

Zuma

Dear Zuma and Libby, We like to read your reports. We have a few questions for you. Do the mushers ever put headlights on the lead dogs? How do the mushers know where the trail is? How do they find the trail if they miss it? When do mushers decide the dogs need booties? THanks, Mrs. Nye and Ms. Tyl’s classes

Hello Boys and Girls,

Thanks for sending the questions.  Mushers don’t put headlights on the the lead dogs.  The mushers know where the trail is because there are trail markers all along the trail.  In the night, the headlight or headlamp shines on the markers and there is a reflection.  When a musher can’t find trail markers, the musher knows the that they might be off the trail.  Mushers put booties on a dog’s feet when the trail conditions might cause foot problems for the dogs.  Many mushers have booties on a good amount of the time during the race.  

Lots of Tail Wags,

Zuma

Comments: 9

We Get Mail! Hello to Students in Michigan!

Posted by Zuma in Race Coverage, Zuma and Reporters Answer Questions Date: March 20, 2009

Dear Zuma,

This is Mrs. Van Egmond’s 3rd grade class at West Side Christian School in Grand Rapids, MI.  We are following the Iditarod Race and we have some questions for you:

How did you learn how to type?  I learned to type by practice, practice, practice.

How did you meet D-2?  I meet fur friends and human friends where ever I go.  I have many, many friends!

Do you have a new boyfriend?  I keep my paws to the key board and my mind on the race.  I don’t have a boy friend.

Have you talked to any dropped dogs?  I try to howl around with all the dogs that come in from the trial. 

Do other dogs read your letters? Oh, yes.  I hope you read the articles at Zuma’s Paw Prints so you meet my friends.

Do you ever want to race?  Oh, no.  I am a K-9 Reporter.  Not a racing dog.

Do you like reporting about the Iditarod?  I do like reporting on the race.

Thanks for answering our questions!

Thanks for writing.  I hope that you take time to learn more about me by reading the articles at Zuma’s Paw Prints.  We’ve many stories to share with you.  

Sincerely,

The 3rd graders

Lots of Tail Wags,

Zuma

Comments: 2

We Get Mail! Hello to Mrs. D’Agostinis’ Students

Posted by Zuma in News Date: March 20, 2009

Hi Zuma,

We have a few questions for you, we hope you can answer them.

We were wondering how long you have been reporting for the Iditarod? Do you have a favorite musher?  I’ve been reporting for Iditarod for many years, now, Boys and Girls, more years than I have claws on my paws.    I don’t have a favorite musher because I have so many fur friends that run the race.  I can’t choose one friend over another.  I delight in cheering them all on down the trail!

How old were you when you started reporting?  My littermates say I began reporting when I was born because I guess they think I was a ‘tattle tale!’
Since you are no longer eating pizza, what is your new favorite food?  My favorite snacks are those my vet encourages me to eat.  I love the flavor of salmon.

We love following the Iditarod and reading your reports.  You’re awesome!

Lots of tail wags back to you,

Mrs. D’Agostinis’ 3rd grade class

Lots of Tail Wags to You, Boys and Girls,

Zuma

Comments: 0

We Get Mail! Hello to students in New Hampshire

Posted by Zuma in Race Coverage, Zuma and Reporters Answer Questions Date: March 19, 2009

Dear Zuma,
How are you?  We are fine here.  We are 2nd graders at the Best Elementary School in New Hampshire. We are students in Mrs. Stanley’s and Miss Whitman’s class.

We are all impressed that you are able to read and type!  John said that you could spell better than he could:)  We loved looking at the pictures of you typing and also seeing you in all your stylish bandannas.  Do you have to wear any other clothes or a special uniform when you are reporting? Thanks for the comments.  I like to type.  I don’t have to wear special clothes when reporting because I always wear my own fur coat.

We were wondering if you know how to use a phone and if you know how to do math.  Logan will give you a calculator if you need one to help you learn.    I do like to do math!  I try not to use my ‘paw-cu-lator’.  Math is very important.  Work hard to learn your math so you can use those skills every day!

How old were you when you moved to Alaska and how old were you when you learned to read?  I was a young pup when I moved to Alaska.  I was a smart puppy and learned to read when I was a few weeks old.

We hope you are staying healthy and taking good care of yourself, but do you still have a favorite food or snack?  I am staying healthy.  My vet has me on a special kibble.  I love it!

Do you have a boyfriend now?  OH, I am so busy with my paws on the key board and my brain on the race, that is all I have time to think about!

As you are going about your many travels, you are welcome to stop by and visit us.  We would LOVE to have you.   Thanks for the invitation.  I will let you know if I am in your community!

Thank you and have a fun time hanging out with all those dogs.  Thanks for writing to me!  I am very glad you did.  You asked such great questions!  I hope you enjoy reading the Zuma’s Paw Prints articles that we write!

Mrs. Stanley’s and Miss Whitman’s 2nd graders

Lots of Tail Wags,

Zuma

Comments: 1

Booties

Posted by Gypsy in Along the Trail, Race Coverage Date: March 18, 2009

Hi Boys and Girls,

Several of you have emailed me about dog booties.  You’ve wanted to know what they are made of and when they are worn.  So this post is for you!

Most dog booties used for dog sledding are made out of a material called Cordura 330.  Cordura 330 is a lightweight flexible nylon material.  There are other weights of Cordura that are used for tougher trails (like gravel) and for things like backpacks.  But for booties on snow and ice, the 330 works just fine.

I bet you’re wondering why a dog would need booties.  Ice and snow can pack between the toes and can cause small cuts and gypsyk9reporter-020.jpg discomfort to a dogs paw.  The bootie stops this ice packing from happening.  Booties protect a dogs paws just like shoes protect your human paws.

Another question that is often asked is: “Do the dogs like wearing the booties?”.  I can answer that one.  They are not my favorite thing to wear.  When my human puts them on my feet, the first thing I want to do is take them off.  I’ve tried shaking them and biting at them but they don’t usually come off.  They are tighten with a a Velcro closure that’s really sticky and tough.  That’s probably a good thing for dogs like me that try to take them off.  Once I get running though, I forget I have them on and run the same as I do without them.  I do know that I need them and that they keep my feet safe. gypsyk9reporter-015.jpg

I have also been asked how many booties are worn during a race like the Iditarod.  That usually depends on trail conditions.  I’ve heard mushers take between 1500-3000 booties with them on the trail.  The booties are changed when they wear out or fall off.  I’ve heard some mushers say that they change the booties every 30-50 miles.  Booties are taken off during rest times and feet are massaged and ointment is put on the pads. When a team is ready to start racing again, the booties are put back on.

Hope that answers some of your questions.

Hope you’re enjoying the race.

Gypsy

Comments: 15

Biscuit Recipe

Posted by Gypsy in Community Challenge Project, Community Service, News Date: March 18, 2009

Hi Boys and Girls, gypsyk9reporter-012.jpg

Several of you have asked me if Mrs. Andrews class would share the YUMMY cookie biscuit recipe they are making for their community project.  I asked and Mrs. Andrew was very happy to share.  I hope all of you can make them for your dogs.  Your dogs will really enjoy them.

Chicken Flavored Biscuits:

1/2 cups of quick oats

3/4 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup cornmeal

1 1/4 cup white flour

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup chicken broth

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine all ingredients in large bowl.  Mix until stiff dough forms.  Roll dough to 1/4″ thickness.  Cut into shapes.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 min.  Cookies should be hard.

Thank you Mrs. Andrews and class.   I’m off to ask my human to make some for me.

Gypsy

Comments: 5

Meet Luna!

Posted by Zuma in Meet our Fur-Friends, News, Race Coverage Date: March 17, 2009
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Meet a new friend!

Lots of Tail Wags,

Zuma

Zuma, I am attaching photos of my Siberian Husky puppy, Luna. She looks very similar to you and her birthday is in August as well, August 23. She is just seven months old, but I think being a reporter might be in her future. She is very bright (or so say all the obedience school teachers) and very friendly. She also loves to run; but since we live in Atlanta and she was born in Pine Mountain, Georgia, it might be a little tough for her to get to the Iditarod.   Ironically, I went to journalism school – the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, MO. Do you have any advice for her/me on how to help her learn the tools of the trade?   And feel free to share our story with the kids who read your posts. Luna loves kids and would be very happy to know they are learning something from her.
Sarrah

“Imagination is more important than knowledge…”  - Albert Einstein

Comments: 8