Day 1: Jet Lag Zapped, Team Washington Hits the Big City

It started at 7:30AM, with the Team Washington orientation meeting on the front patio of Ellicott Hall. After a quick overview of the days to come, most of the group headed into Washington, DC, for a day of sightseeing. But not everyone... the exhibit hall opened early, and soon it was a blur of power drills, hammers, hinges, and duct tape. Lots and lots of duct tape. We're thinking that if you laid all the duct tape used in History Day end to end, it would stretch around the world. More than once.

James & Wesley (of the duct tape), setting up their exhibit.

Team Washington's queens, Emily & Maddie, taking a break from unpacking their exhibit.

Sequim teamwork: James & Wesley help Bill move his board onto the table.

Heather & Rebecca unpack their exhibit.

Team Stanwood (who won't ever have to stand in a breadline, since they're all brilliant.)

Megan & FDR

Maia & her friends.

Teacher of Merit Finalist, Tricia Billes

Team Prosser posing in front of the Washington Monument.

Hayley at the Korean War Memorial

Justine in front of the Washington Monument.

Kalin at the FDR Memorial.

Getting buddy buddy with FDR.

Ryan & Alison at the Vietnam War Memorial.

Sarah at the FDR Memorial.

Coupeville spent the evening writing thank you postcards to their fans.  (Awwwww.)

Good night, team Washington fans!

-Gwen the Paparazzo & Empress Lauren

Day 1 photographic recap

The Prosser Powerhouse arrived wearing snazzy fundraising shirts.

Madison Snaric already has a Guam and Wisconsin button! World domination must be next.

An early entry into the Dorm Door Decorating Contest (Heni & Katie).

Getting to know the Guam delegation.

Getting settled in Ellicott Hall

Saturday night at the National Contest:
Empress Lauren is at the first of many meetings.
Mark & I are sitting in the 5th floor lounge chatting with students, teachers, and families as they arrive. T-shirts & buttons are being handed out.
Speaking of buttons: Guam is in our dorm. 1 Washington student already has a Guam button. (In other words, we're winning the button race.)
Go Washington!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:U Maryland

Tricia Billes: Superwoman

By now you've seen Lauren's post about Tricia being one of 8 finalists for the Teacher of Merit award. Regardless of Thursday's result, does anyone doubt Washington has the best (History Day and otherwise) teachers in the nation? We have a delegation of 140 (yes, you read that right: 140) Washingtonians attending this year's contest. The students are great, of course, but I blame the teachers. (And by "blame" I clearly mean "thank.")

(Tricia Billes, Teacher of Merit award finalist, during the History Day Advisory Committee meeting earlier this year.)

I'm on my way to DC as I write this (thank you Alaska Airlines for having free WiFi on the plane! Now explain to me why WiFi at LAX costs $8??). Washington History Man & Empress Lauren will be on the red-eye tomorrow so we can be prepared for Team Washington's decent on the U Maryland campus.

Signing off for now,

Gwen

(Team Washington Assistant, Cheerleader, & Paparazzo)

Washington History Day Teacher is Finalist for National Award

Congratulations to Sequim Middle School's Tricia Billes, who has been selected as one of eight finalists for the PBS Teacher of Merit Award, the nation's highest honor for National History Day teachers. The winner will be announced at the National History Day national contest awards ceremony on Thursday, June 17. You can view the awards via webcast at the History Channel; it begins at 5 AM PST.

Hooray for Tricia, a fantastic teacher and wonderful person!

DC Beckons--and History Day Students Get their Game On

The countdown is on. We're heading to National History Day with more than 130 students, coaches and family members--it's one of our biggest delegations ever. You need to know what to bring, where to go, and how to find us. Read on, Team Washington!

- Don’t forget to pack: a bath towel, fitted sheet, small portable fan, sunscreen, summer clothes (check the forecast here), and everything you need for your project (touch-up kits, tape, glue, etc.—see page 22 of the 2010 Travel Packet for tips).

- Arriving on campus: Complete information can be found in the Travel Packet on pages 13-15. If you’re coming in via Metro, you can catch the UM shuttle bus at the station and take it directly to Stamp Student Union. Shuttle schedules are on page 13 of the Travel Packet. You can view a Metro map here.

- Checking in to campus housing: Do not go directly to the dorms! You won’t know which dorm you’re in, and you have to get your key card first. Go to the Stamp Student Union and head for the Colony Ballroom on the second floor. Housing check-in at Stamp is 2-8PM. After 8PM, go to La Plata Hall for late check-in.

- Team Washington Orientation Meeting: Join us to meet your staff, get your t-shirt and pins, and get an overview of the week on Sunday morning, 7:30-8:15AM on the lawn in front of our dorm – you’ll be able to go to breakfast right afterward. If you miss the meeting, it’s your responsibility to find out what happened, either from your fellow delegates or from staff. If it’s raining, check the team posting by the elevators for location change information.

- Contest Registration and Exhibit Shipment Pick-Up: After you register for housing and settle in, you still have to register for the contest. Contest registration begins 9AM Sunday in the Colony Ballroom.

- Evening bus tour of monuments: We meet at Union Station to board the buses, and are dropped off at the dorms. Plan accordingly! You’ll meet Gwen, Hallie and Tricia in the Main Hall at Union Station at 5:00PM Sunday, and we’ll provide more details at the Orientation Meeting on Sunday morning.

- Dorm door decorating contest: Who will have the most creative, historical, zany, colorful doors? Bring decorating materials with you. Theme doors are always in style. Prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories, and please note: door judges can be swayed (Washington History Man prefers chocolate; you’ll have to find out what Gwen and Hallie like) Judging is Wednesday night at 7:30PM before the multimedia festival.

- Staying home? Follow us online: We post throughout the contest on our blog. You can sign up to get new postings delivered to your email via RSS feeds, or sign on daily and see what’s new. We’ll also post on Facebook, and Twitter, @WaHistoryDay AND @gwenschweitzer. For you early risers, we strongly recommend watching the awards webcast, streamed live on The History Channel on Thursday, June 17, at 5:30AM PST.

- Last call for Bio Book entries! About eight competing students have not responded to the questionnaire for the Team Washington book. And seriously, is it that hard to choose a favorite ice cream flavor? We’re not talking a history test here, people.

- Keep in touch. Lauren 360-951-6988; Mark 360-791-4723; Gwen 206-696-0377. Please keep in mind that these are our personal cell phones, and we’d appreciate you limiting calls and texts to June 11-17. Before and after the contest, reach us at our emails. Thanks.

Questions? Comments? Drop us a line.

Washington Librarians: Hip. Fab. Best Ever.

Check out this video made by a newly minted graduate of UW's Information School (the iSchool). With librarians this fabulous, is it any wonder that Washington History Day students totally rock?