USD 333 Concordia Kansas Monthly Newsletter - May 2006

Your Own Back Door
By Fourth Grade Teachers
Where can you learn about history, architecture, geography
and the judicial system? The answer is Cloud County.
Fourth graders are in the process of learning aspects of all of
the above and more as they explore the county in which they
live.
County residents have been gracious to the students in
the fourth grade. Nancy Reynolds gave a history lesson on a
famous native, Frank Carlson, as we visited the Frank Carlson
Room in the library. Another landmark fourth grade toured
was the Brown Grand Theater where Amanda Watterman recounted
the theater’s rich history. Students were able to look at
the architecture of a historical building, the Nazareth Motherhouse,
as Sister Margaret Schreck gave a tour. County Attorney
Robert Walsh arranged for students to become part of a
mock trial in the Cloud County Courtroom.
Cloud County Day is planned in May for students to
trek through history as they visit Sibley Schoolhouse, and what
was Sibley Lake. The P.O.W. Camp will help students understand
the role this area took in World War II. The stone arch
bridge, restored by Ray Doyen, will allow students to view a
structure as a keystone is explained. The highlight of the day
will include a hike to the highest point in Cloud County, Twin
Mounds. Kenneth Johnson allows students to have a picnic
lunch as they look out over the county from this vantage point.
Guest speakers, such as Roger Nelson and Lowell May,
also help students learn about the area. Students review what
they have learned as they create a game. A culminating event
will be the music program on May 11 th . Much can be learned
from “Your Own Back Door.”