Berkeley is in...Berkeley!

Boys and girls, I have been at HOME for the past two weeks! I love to travel my beautiful state, but I also LOVE to be at home with my Sugar Maple Friends! It has been so nice to get some rest and enjoy this beautiful spring weather! Bears love springtime!

I will tell you about some of the schools I have visited while I have been at home. I made a special visit Back Creek Valley Elementary for their Mountaineer Day! This is a special day when the students do all fun things relating to West Virginia. Of course, I had to come and tell them all about my favorite state! There were other fun things for the children to do, too, like learning to square dance, singing along to banjo music, and homemade ice cream. I'm so glad I could be a part of their end of the year festivities!

Back Creek Valley Elementary!

Some of the very special students in Mrs. Holben's class!

Next, I visited Spring Mills Primary School to speak to their second graders. They were very well behaved children, and I thought they were good examples to the rest of the students in Berkeley County for how you should act when you have visitors. Spring Mills Primary is a Green School. That doesn't mean that the school is painted green! It means their school was built to save energy and take care of the environment. I think it is very important that their school helps keep West Virginia beautiful.

Where's Berkeley?

What a nice welcome from Mrs. Waters' class!

Look at those raised hands! No calling out of turn here!

They knew many things about West Virginia already!

While we were there, Mrs. Sponaugle stopped by to see one of her teachers from elementary school! Mrs. Altman, the art teacher, was Mrs. Sponaugle's teacher when she went to Marlowe Elementary. I think that is wonderful they were able to catch up...and I just love art class! I'm an artist bear as much as I am a writer bear, you know?

Mrs. Sponaugle and Mrs. Altman
(and Pablo Picaso in the background)!

Now, last week I made a special trip with Mrs. Sponaugle...to a radio station, WEPM and WLTF! This is the local radio station for Martinsburg. You may listen to this station in the car with your parents, or at home when you are listening for school delays and closings during the winter. Mrs. Sponaugle was there to talk about ways teachers can improve themselves so they can be leaders. Marsha, the nice lady who interviewed Mrs. Sponaugle, allowed me to have a little talk time as well. It was neat to speak into the large microphones and see my little bear voice recorded with zig-zaggy lines on the computer screen.

Here I am with a radio from another generation!
This is an antique radio. I don't recommend sitting on
antiques, unless you are a little black bear.

With Mrs. Laskey and Mrs. Sponaugle, waiting my turn to speak!

After my successful interview! All of those little keys and screens
help them put together an interview segment!

At the end of the week, I went on a field trip with the students at Tomahawk...to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.! Yes, I did get to go back to the nation's capital, to learn about the many animals in our world. I promise that I will write you all about it, as soon as I finish packing for my trip to Beckley (in Raleigh County).

Until next time...

Berkeley Goes to Washington, Part 4: Inside the White House!

On May 1st, there was a BEAR in the White House!

Oh don't worry. I was on my best behavior and didn't growl at the Secret Service (the people who protect the president). And I was very quiet going through security, so they would see that I would mind my manners while I was there. I was so excited! The White House is where the president of the United States lives and works to serve our country.

Berkeley is about to enter the White House!

This was the very last day of my week in Washington. All of the state teachers of the year were at the White House to meet President Obama. I have seen pictures of the White House in books, but I couldn't believe my little bear eyes once I was really inside! We first walked up the Cross Hall to the State Dining Room (that's where they have the very special dinners with leaders from all over the world)! We were not in the dining room to eat but to line all the teachers up shortest to tallest for the teacher of the year ceremony. It was a bit like getting lined up for a class picture at school.

Here I am - just stepped into the White House
and into the Cross Hall!

The teachers lining up in the State Dining Room. That is a portrait of
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president.

Right before we left, they were setting up for
one of those fancy dinners!

The special ceremony was to be held in the East Room. This is the largest room in the White House, and they use it for many important events, such as when the president signs a bill into law. Abigail Adams, the First Lady and wife of President John Adams, would hang her laundry up to dry in the East Room in the winter! John Adams, by the way, was the first president to live in the White House (not George Washington). During the Civil War, the East Room quartered (housed) Union soldiers for a time. Whenever a president passes away while still in office, they "lay in state" in this room so people can pay their respects.

Look at all those cameras ready to record the teachers!

Another view of the East Room!

Waiting while the teachers listen to directions.
That is a portrait of President Teddy Roosevelt. I hear the
"Teddy Bear" is named after him!

We then had some time to see some of the other rooms of the White House while we were waiting for the ceremony to begin! It was so amazing to be surrounded by all of that history! I was able to go into the Red Room, the Blue Room (this is the room where they set the Christmas Tree every year!), and the Green Room. I think it is neat that they named the rooms after colors - it makes it very easy for a bear like me to remember! I hope you like all my pictures.

Entering the Red Room! That painting beside the door
is named "Florida Sunrise."

The beautiful fireplace in the Red Room. That is a
portrait of Angelica Van Buren, the daughter-in-law of
President Martin Van Buren

With Mrs. Sponaugle in the Red Room!

I really like the color of this room! It is the color of a cardinal!

From this room, you can see the Washington Monument.

Now I'm having a seat in the Blue Room!

That is a portrait of President James Madison!

What a beautiful chandelier! It's almost as sparkly as the ones in
our State Capitol.

That is a portrait of President William Taft.

In this very spot, the teachers (and bear) met
President Obama!

The Green Room!

I was so excited to be in the Green Room, I sat on a table.
You really shouldn't do that when you are a guest in the White House.

By the fireplace in the Green Room!

So many historic paintings!

This is a portrait of Benjamin Franklin. He was never
a president, but he was one of the founding fathers
of our country.

Soon, it was time for all the teachers (and the bear) to meet the president. Now I will have to wait a few months to get my copy of my picture with President Obama, but yes I did meet him, and he was very nice to me. He didn't seem upset at all there was a little bear from West Virginia roaming in his house! It all happened so fast I didn't get a chance to say much to him, but I did thank him for having me and the teachers to his home. When it was time for the ceremony to start, I quietly sat in the audience. It was time for Mrs. Sponaugle and all of her new teacher friends to have their moment.

Mrs. Sponaugle standing beside the president during the ceremony!
I was so excited...

...and the students watching back at Tomahawk were excited, too!

It was so amazing to be in the White House that day, to meet the president of the United States and be there with all of those teachers representing the millions of classrooms in America. They all looked so happy, and some had tears in their eyes. I guess they were thinking about all of their students and teachers back home - and how special it was to be there that day.

As we left through the lobby, I saw portraits of President Jimmy Carter
and President Lyndon B. Johnson.

They were playing music as we left. Above the piano is a portrait
of President Bill Clinton.

I am so glad I was able to tell you about the things I did in Washington, D.C. I was very tired from all the excitement when it was over, but it was one of the most special experiences as a little bear. The best thing now is that I get to share where I've been with all of the students in West Virginia.

Until next time...

Berkeley Goes to Washington, Part 3: Meeting the Second Lady of the United States!

Thank you, boys and girls, for waiting so patiently for me to continue my exciting Monday in Washington!

After my busy day at the Air and Space Museum, I got on the bus with all of the other state teachers of the year for a special visit at the Vice President's home! The name of his home is the Naval Observatory - and the name of the Vice President of the United States is Joe Biden. His wife, Jill Biden, is the Second Lady of the United States. She is also a teacher at Northern Virginia Community College. I thought it was very special that she invited us to her house, so I decided to be on my very best bear behavior.

We are here! I took this right before I went through
security. The security guy scratched my furry head and said,
"I guess we allow bears in here!"

The Naval Observatory. I was so excited, I forgot to take a selfie!

They were playing beautiful music!

Having a seat on the front porch!

Another view!

The swimming pool - and no, I did not jump in! Bears have
better manners than that :-)

While we were waiting, the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, Mr. Markes, asked very politely if he could play with their quartet (he is a music teacher, you know). Not only did they let him play, they played the Oklahoma state song together!

This is the living room!

The glass pane going down the stairs!

Here I am with Dr. Biden's children's book! I was so happy to see this,
because I am going to write a children's book too!

Waiting quietly to meet Jill Biden!

I was so excited and happy for all the teachers there who were able to meet Dr. Biden! When she came downstairs to meet all of the years, I think they were a little starstruck. I was, too. She was so friendly and told all the teachers how proud she was of the work they do in their classrooms. Dr. Biden knows how hard they work for their students because she is a teacher, too.

Dr. Biden speaking to the teachers!

Now boys and girls, hold on to your seats, because this is the most exciting part. Every teacher got to meet and have a picture with Jill Biden - and every bear, too! I waited very quietly for all the teachers to have their turn, then asked Mrs. Sponaugle if she would introduce me to our country's First Teacher - and she did!

There we all are, smiling for the camera!

Even though it was a rainy afternoon, I felt so bright and cheery inside because all those teachers were there, in the Vice President's house, being recognized for teaching our country's children. I bet they will never forget how special it made them feel - and how important it is to share that feeling with others.

Can you find Mrs. Sponaugle?

This was very exciting for a little black bear, but I have saved the best for last! A few days later, I went to the only place that could top the Naval Observatory...the White House! I promise I will write about it very, very soon!

Until next time...