America is officially celebrating its 250th birthday this summer and for families across the country, and right here in Jordan School District, it is an opportunity to embrace the past and connect with people and civic opportunities in their own communities.
On this episode of the Supercast, meet one family beyond excited to spend this summer celebrating the historical milestone. They participated in Jordan School District’s America 250 competition and will travel across the country to learn all they can about America’s rich history.
Audio Transcription
Mother:
We did the America 250 competition with the Jordan School District. One of the things was doing the Pledge of Allegiance, all the way up to drawing pictures, learning parts of the Declaration of Independence or Constitution, talking about the branches of the government.
Child:
So I wrote a letter to the President of the United States and he wrote back.
Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. America is officially celebrating its 250th birthday this summer. And right here in Jordan School District and for families across the country, it is an opportunity to embrace the past and connect with civic opportunities in every community. On this episode of the Supercast, meet one family that is beyond excited to spend this summer celebrating this historic milestone. They participated in Jordan School District's America 250 competition and won the opportunity to travel across the country to learn all they can about America's rich history.
Anthony Godfrey:
We're talking today with the Black family about the way that they are celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Introduce yourselves first off. Thanks for coming today.
Mother:
My name's Joanna Black and I have my four children here with me, the Evangeline Black.
Child:
My name is Emma Black. I'm in third grade and I like to read.
Child:
My name's Daniel and I am first grade and I love reading books.
Child:
I'm Elizabeth and I'm in fifth grade and I love reading.
Anthony Godfrey:
It sounds like your book budget at your house is significant, is that right?
Mother:
Yes, well, we actually love going to the library.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yes.
Mother:
And so every time we go, we check out the books and it says at the bottom how much we save. It's about $300 every visit.
Anthony Godfrey:
About 300 every visit. Well, that's fantastic, I love to hear that. Before we dive into everything else, you're a teacher in Jordan School District. Talk to us about that.
Mother:
Yes, I teach at West Jordan High School. I teach business and concurrent enrollment classes and it's really fun to work with the students to teach them things that they can use in college in the future but also to be good citizens in America.
Anthony Godfrey:
Speaking of teaching, what have you done to make your family so focused on reading?
Mother:
Both of my parents were teachers and so it's very important to learn how to read because then you can learn through reading. And so it can always take you further and it can help you experience things in a different way if you read.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me which school you go to.
Child:
Riverside Elementary.
Anthony Godfrey:
And what do you love most about Riverside Elementary?
Child:
I love the people there, my friends. My best friend's name is Daniel and Lily. And I love my teachers there and I think fifth grade's gonna be a really great year.
Anthony Godfrey:
I think it is too. Daniel, what do you love about Riverside Elementary?
Child:
Mrs. House.
Anthony Godfrey:
Was she your kindergarten teacher?
Child:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wonderful. And what do you love most about Riverside?
Child:
I like all the people there and how they support me and how they're really nice to me.
Anthony Godfrey:
We love that. And I love seeing your America 250. You've got your flag tattoo on the back of your hand and you're all dressed in red, white and blue. You are ready to go. I know that your family has been very focused on celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Talk to us about some of the things you've done as a family.
Mother:
We did multiple things to celebrate. So we did the America 250 competition with the Jordan School District. And each grade had a different set of requirements that they had to complete. So for Daniel and kindergarten, one of the things was doing the Pledge of Allegiance, all the way up to drawing pictures, learning parts of the Declaration of Independence or Constitution, talking about the branches of the government. So each one of them did the requirements and they were part of the award ceremony. And here the Jordan School District, they did an award ceremony in May. And they got to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at that event.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, I was there. It was really exciting. And I just love how you focused on it as a family. So let's talk with each of you about some of the things you've done to celebrate the 250 years of the United States of America. We'll start off with you.
Child:
So I wrote a letter to the President of the United States and he wrote back.
Anthony Godfrey:
He wrote back?
Child:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
What did you tell him?
Child:
I said, thank you for helping this country. And he wrote back saying, thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
How did that feel to get a response from the President of the United States?
Child:
I felt really special that the President wrote to me.
Anthony Godfrey:
And where did you put that letter? I
Child:
think it's still with my mom somewhere. Okay, that's good. That's for safekeeping. That's a good idea. What else have you done besides writing the President?
Child:
A letter to a military person.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, wonderful. And did they write you back?
Child:
No.
Anthony Godfrey:
They're busy. They're busy. They have things going on. So I know you've entered some contests. Tell me about the contests that you've entered.
Child:
My mom found an art contest through Freedom 250. The requirement was to create an art design and write an essay about one of the 250 American heroes. The essay was supposed to describe who the person is and what they did, and why they are a hero. We learned about the American Revolution in class this year, and I really like the story of Paul Revere. I wanted to do my art design based on Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre. My drawing was chosen to represent third through fifth grade category in the state of Utah. I won a free trip to Washington, D.C., for a ceremony to see my drawing, which is currently displayed in the American State Fair.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. So your drawing is in the American State Fair, and when do you get to travel to Washington, D.C.? That's a huge prize.
Child:
July 6th.
Anthony Godfrey:
July 6th. Wow, fantastic. I think I won a candy bar for a drawing I did in kindergarten. That's the biggest art prize I've ever received. So that's huge. That's really exciting. How did it feel when you found out you get to go to D.C.?
Child:
I felt like I was really important because I'm like, this is a huge reward, and I worked really hard on it. So I'm like, this is amazing.
Anthony Godfrey:
Do you have a picture of it you can show me? Okay, let's take a look at -- wow, that's really good. I see the red coats are dominating in this particular moment. That's awesome. What medium did you use? Is this marker and crayon?
Child:
So my sister actually had like painting markers, and so she let me have some so you can see for like -- I did the gray right here and then some of the black and then the sky and then the windows and the buildings a little bit, yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
For those who can't see, can you describe the drawing for me?
Child:
Yes. So this is the Boston Massacre, and the red coats are smiling and shooting at the colonists while the colonists are getting wounded and throwing things back in the distance.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's very vivid what you'drawn there, and I see the smoke here from the shots and wounded soldiers there. That's a very detailed drawing. Well done. When did you submit the drawing?
Child:
June 1st.
Anthony Godfrey:
June 1st. So you found out pretty quickly that you'd won. That's wonderful. And you're one of just several -- two or three students in the state who have won this trip and get to be honored in Washington, D.C.
Child:
There’s three people in Utah.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. That's really cool. Have you been to Washington, D.C. before?
Child:
No.
Anthony Godfrey:
What are you most excited to see there?
Child:
The Lincoln Memorial.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's going to be exciting. Well, congratulations. Tell me about your experience in the Jordan School District competition.
Child:
I visited the Capitol for a school field trip, and I got to see how things worked in the Capitol, and I thought that was really cool.
Anthony Godfrey:
What impressed you most about visiting the state Capitol?
Child:
How much design it had. Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. I think it's beautiful. And when you compare it with other states, lots of people are envious of what we have here. Why do you think it's important to celebrate America's 250th anniversary?
Child:
Because I think it's important to know what people did for us to have a free country and how special we are that we're free and we can do what we want. We can celebrate our own religion. We can do whatever we want.
Anthony Godfrey:
Thank you very much. Stay with us. When we come back, we'll talk more with the Black family.
Male Voice:
Never miss an episode of the Supercast by liking and subscribing on your favorite podcasting platform? Find transcripts for this episode and others at supercast.jordandistrict.org.
Female Voice:
Does your student want to become a veterinarian, commercial pilot, programmer? Maybe they want to make a difference as a dental assistant. These are just some of the programs offered as part of Career and Technical Education, CTE in Jordan School District. CTE provides the technical skills needed to prepare students for future employment or for a successful transition to post-secondary education. Career and Technical Education provides work-based learning opportunities. We partner with industry experts to offer apprenticeships and internships with students working in the real world at real jobs while going to school. The CTE experience starts in our elementary schools with the kids' marketplace and grows through middle and high school. To explore all CTE has to offer in Jordan School District, visit cte.jordandistrict.org today and let's get your child started on the pathway to a profession.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about your contest that you entered in Jordan School District.
Child:
Memorize the Pledge of Allegiance.
Anthony Godfrey:
And when you memorize the Pledge of Allegiance, how did it feel to be able to do that in front of other people? Did you have fun?
Child:
Mm-hmm.
Anthony Godfrey:
How many times have you heard the Pledge of Allegiance said in your home while Daniel was memorizing that?
Mother:
We've heard a lot of Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, yeah. Okay. Was the Star-Spangled Banner part of that as well, memorizing it?
Mother:
No, it was just something that we learned at home and he likes to sing it, yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, the rockets, red glare and everything else.
Mother:
And so we also did some community projects and so we helped with the Salt Lake Rescue Mission, donating some items for that and then collecting coins for the Pregnancy Resource Center. And then at Christmas, we also built a shoebox with different Christmas items so that we could send them overseas.
Anthony Godfrey:
What are some of the things you collected for the Rescue Mission?
Child:
Water bottles.
Anthony Godfrey:
Water bottles. I can see that would be very helpful.
Child:
Some blue and some green.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, good. So you clearly asked them what they needed most and then collected that. That's awesome. Since you've been practicing the Pledge of Allegiance, are you guys ready to do that for the people listening?
Child:
Mm-hmm. All right. Let's hear it.
Children:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Anthony Godfrey:
Congratulations on learning that. That's fantastic. That will serve you well the rest of your life. Tell me about your experience with America 250.
Child:
I visited the fire department and the library and going to church and the water and I wrote a letter to the president.
Anthony Godfrey:
So all of those were on the list of possible activities to earn the America 250 award in Jordan School District. Tell me, did the president write you back?
Child:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
Why do you think it's important for us to celebrate America's 250th anniversary?
Child:
Because you can know what happened and you can learn more about the people who served.
Anthony Godfrey:
I love that. Just thinking about all the people that made our freedoms possible. What are you most excited about seeing when you get to go to Washington, D.C.?
Child:
The Lincoln Memorial.
Anthony Godfrey:
The Lincoln Memorial is going to be really exciting. Daniel, what are you excited to see?
Child:
The Jefferson Memorial.
Anthony Godfrey:
The Jefferson Memorial, yes. It's on the back of the nickel, but you guys don't know what a nickel is probably. I'm just kidding. You don't have to use coins.
Mother:
We actually are trying to collect all the coins.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, that's good.
Mother:
For the 250.
Anthony Godfrey:
What does this mean for your family for her to win this trip and for you to be able to do this?
Mother:
This is so exciting. We were wanting to go to Washington, D.C., and this is a great opportunity to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country and tour the Capitol and see some of the sites and monuments over there, as well as visiting some of the surrounding areas. So going up to the Liberty Bell Independence Hall, learn about our freedoms, learn about our history so that we can share it with others here when we return.
Anthony Godfrey:
So you're expanding going up to Philadelphia as well.
Motehr:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's fantastic that you're going to be able to do that. Yes. This will be unforgettable.
Mother:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
I was . . . .
Mother
Once in a lifetime.
Anthony Godfrey:
I was in Philadelphia for our 200th anniversary as a country.
Mother:
Wow.
Anthony Godfrey:
So 50 years ago, I was there visiting the Liberty Bell. So that's really exciting that you get to do that at a time like this.
Mother:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
Congratulations to your family for celebrating and for winning these great prizes.
Mother:
Yes, thank you. My parents were history buffs, and we would travel across the US, and we would stop at presidential homes and museums and learn more about our country's history. And so I've been to these locations, but to share them with my kids, it's going to be amazing and such a life changing opportunity for them.
Anthony Godfrey:
It sounds like this is a long time in the making this trip.
Mother:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
Because your husband was a tour guide, your parents are history buffs, and your children are readers, and have competed in these various competitions. So you guys have been very involved.
Mother:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
And it couldn't have happened to a better family.
Mother:
Thank you so much.
Anthony Godfrey:
To celebrate this way. Congratulations.
Mother:
Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
And Evangeline is very excited about it. She's going to have the best time of all because it seems she has a great time wherever she goes.
Mother:
Yes. She loves her siblings.
Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, “Education is the most important thing you'll do today!” We'll see you out there.