Calling all shipmates

Hi fellow parents and I hope you are enjoying this nice break with your families. We are on our 5th Monopoly game and it's only Sunday.

I have an update regarding Captain Wil's boat-building project for the Explorer Games next spring.

• Please mark your calendar for Sunday, December 5th, 3:30, Harmony Hall. This is our official Christening to start this journey. Wil will discuss the plans to build a beautiful wooden rowboat(s) with the students, which will be used in a rowing contest at the Explorer Games.
• Michael Richardson, a local nautical businessman, has offered to mentor us. He has selected the boat design, will oversee the planning and building and be a co-captain. We are very fortunate.

Our Captain's believe we will need parents and students for 8 days from January to April to complete the project. Sunday's have been selected, time to be determined, so PLEASE keep this in mind as you plan your weekends this winter.

Here are some important notes from last month's initial meeting at Stone Bridge.

Update:

1. All three schools are interested. (SBS, Woodland Star and Ukiah)
2. Our teacher thinks it is best as a weekend project to avoid impacting current classes. This also allows students in other groups to join in.
3. This project requires steady parent participation as students can not build these boats by themselves.
4. Each school will continue construction at their own location and on their own schedule.
5. Planning to use the boats with students on April 15. Location to be determined, but tentatively set for Spring Lake.

Boat design:

1. We chose the El Toro design because it is easy to build, light weight, can be used for rowing or sailing, and has an interesting, local history.

2. Each school will try to build two El Toros. Based on Michael's information, they can be built in 2 – 4 full days at a cost of about $150. 3. Working with the students, we plan to spend several months working on the boats. This will also leave time to build in a richer curriculum (budgeting, drafting, safety, navigation, weather, etc.)

Tentative schedule:

1. Oct 10, 2010: Initial Meeting (notes above)
2. Dec 5, 2010: Important meeting in Harmony Hall, 3:30. All hands on deck!
3. Jan. 2011: Initial construction begins (with Michael's help)
4.  March 15, 2010: Complete wet test of all equipment before student use.
5. April 15, 201: Regatta

As you begin to think a bit more about this project, maybe you know a relative, a neighbor, senior citizen, stay-at-home mom or dad, etc... that may be interested in joining this crew. I'm sure we can use the help! I know this will be a very exciting project for our 7th grade and we are extremely lucky that our teachers Wil, Ron and Michele are on-board. Contact Wil if you have any questions and I hope to see many of you on December 5th.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Jeannie Canepa