Dear Lamarius and Robert,

It was great to get the good news that you have approved my visit so fast! Thanks. I'm rushing off to tutor a 2nd grader in reading so I will answer your questions and comments very quickly in the order you asked them:

1) I think the field trips sound terrific--especially the zoo. When I taught in Chicago my class loved the Lincoln Park Zoo

2) I'm going to stay with my best friends in Chicago--Robin, Bill, Ali, and Jonathan. They have an apartment in Little Village. Do you know that neighborhood?

3) You can call me Dr. Oyler or Celia. What should I call you? Your first names?

4) The camera person is Florence Sullivan.

5) I teach university students who are getting their master's degrees in teaching or doctoral students who are getting their Ph.D.'s. So all my students are at least 22 years old.

6) I like NYC a lot, but I LOVE Chicago. There is no place like it! Lake Michigan is the best part of Chicago to me!

7) No, I don't have any pets. When I was in fifth grade, though, I had a miniature dacshund (sp?). His name was Doc (not very original!)

Thanks so much for this wonderful email--you sound so professional!  I can't wait to see what else you are learning from this huge project.

I appreciate your help,

all the best,
Celia

-----Original Message-----
From: Fifth Graders-Byrd Academy <neednewbyrdschool@hotmail.com>
Sent: May 3, 2004 10:28 AM
To: Celia Oyler <celiaoyler@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: visit


We have some questions for you.  Where are you going to stay when you are
here?  What do you want us to call you?  What is the name of the camera
person?  Are you still teaching?  Do you like New York City?  Do you have
any pets?

We are excited about your ideas.  And thank you for the compliments.
Thank you and have a nice day.  We will see you when you come to Byrd on May
24th.

Sincerely,
Lamarius and Robert
On behalf of the other students in Room 405
Richard E. Byrd Community Academy


----- Original Message -----
From: "Celia Oyler" <celiaoyler@earthlink.net>
To: <neednewbyrdschool@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2004 3:56 PM


> Dear Byrd School 5th Graders from Room 405,
>
> I first heard about your project to get a new school last week when I
listened to a recording (on-line) of "This American Life." For the last 6
years I have been working on a book about teachers and students who get
involved in community or global action projects as part of the regular
school day (not an after-school club). I have gone to Seattle, San
Francisco, Boston, Oklahoma, Northern California and upstate New York to
learn from the students and teachers who are bold and brave enough to do
this work as part of school.
>
> Well, after I heard you on the radio, I got the idea to look up Byrd
Elementary on the web and find the telephone number. With my heart beating a
bit with nervousness about calling up a complete stranger, I dialed
773.534.8430 and asked to speak to Mr. Schultz. But instead of being
connected to your teacher, I was put on the phone with Mr. Gartner!
>
> I explained my book project and he said I should talk to Mr. Schultz. He
and I had a great conversation and have had a few more since that time.
Today, he called me to tell me about your incredible website!!!  I have just
spent quite a while reading it all and I am even more excited about your
work.
>
> Mr. Schultz told me that students handle the schedule for this project. I
would like to come on May 24th (Monday) and stay that whole week. What do
you think of this idea?
>
> I would like to interview volunteers and also interview any other
community members who know about your project (like the people you live with
or even some of your friends in other grades if you think they know a lot).
>
> This is my third book so I can assure you that it will be written, but I
want to warn you that in publishing it takes a VERY long time for the book
to come out. You will be in 7th or maybe at the beginning of 8th grade when
it's finally in print. But we will have to stay in touch so I can send you
your copy!
>
> I also plan on bringing a camera person to videotape. Will that be okay?
>
> Before I hit "send" I should tell you a little bit about myself: I am a
professor at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. I am 47
years old, and don't have any children. I have been a teacher all my life (I
decided to be a teacher when I was in 4th grade) and taught for 7 years in
Chicago. (In South Shore. Have you been there? There's a great
beach--Rainbow Beach--that was just around the corner from my school and
apartment.)
>
> I also have lived in Vermont, Connecticut, Ohio, Georgia, New Jersey,
Saipan (an island so small located in the South Pacific that I bet you can't
even find it on a map) and also Japan (where I went to high school).
>
> All that moving around got me over being a very shy child and now I just
love to meet new people and get them talking to me, telling me their
stories.
>
> The work you have been doing since December is so amazing, I hope you want
me to come and spend a week in Room 405.
>
> Sincerely,
> Celia Oyler, Ph.D.
>