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Show ji ' mT" . - J " , I " --. .- 1 ' V i Central Elementary School students let their red, white and blue balloons fly as they commemorated the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution. Hundreds of balloons released during Central School's Bicentennial program On the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 17, over 500 students at Central Elementary School gathered to have the grand finale to their two-day celebration for the Bicentennial of the Constitution of the United States of America. Together they recited the preamble to the Constitution and the Pledge of Allegiance under the direction of Principal Stan Har-ward. Har-ward. Each child wore red, white and blue and many of them carried American flags. Each child and teacher also carried a red, white or blue helium filled balloon on which they had attached their own special patriotic themes. They met outside the school and encircled a beautiful flag display that had been set up by Mr. Harward. At 2 p.m. when the bells across America rang for 200 seconds the balloons were released and the students watched as the balloons formed a red, white and blue cloud that rose above them and slowly drifted over the mountains. The students all hope that their balloons will be discovered and someone will enjoy the patriotic messages they have written. Other activities for the two-day celebration included class projects and special workshops. Each grade level participated in the celebration. Kindergarten students created art projects with a patriotic theme. First graders drew pictures of early pioneers and pilgrims. The second and third grade classes wrote poetry about America, with the second grade also making a "We the People Banner," and the third grade making paper American flags to hang in the halls of the school. Fourth grade students created murals and posters depicting life in 1787 and the different freedoms that we have today. The fifth grade were asked to make a timeline of American history and a display of U.S. maps. The sixth grade classes were assigned a large chart showing the three branches of government and were also asked to write or revise, update and amend the constitution of Central Elementary School. All students in the school memorized the preamble to the Constitution and wrote themes on the subject "I Love America" to attach to their balloons. On Sept. 16, all the children and teachers in the school gathered around TV sets to recite the Pledge of Allegiance with President Ronald Reagan and the preamble with Chief Justice Warren Burger. Special workshops were also held for each class to attend. Principal Harward's workshop was on Colonial Life in 1787. The other three workshops were conducted by City Councilman Dale Warburton on "Why We Have Government," Police Officer Tom Paul on "The Purpose of the Laws," and news reporter Marc Haddock on ""The : Bill of Rights and Our Freedoms." On both days of the celebration, the lunchroom workers made special patriotic lunches for the students. A special thanks goes to the PTA for all their work on the balloon launch, and to Principal Harward for making this the important celebration that it deserved to be. |