What team are we? Wildcats! Blog Post- Day 1

We came to this dig today as a group with many diiferent thoughts going through each of our minds; however, we all came thinking one thing...that we were going to sweat a lot.  My expectations were that we were going to be digging in mud and we would be sweaty, dirty, and just ready to go home, but by one o'clock, I think we could all agree we didn't want to leave.  We were all really suprised on how much we actually enjoyed today.  Yeah, we may have came back to the school with headaches and some of us having to pee badly because..port-o-potties aren't for all people, but we all were lauhing on the bus as we talked about eachothers group.  Also, we knew that the Wildcats had Terri, let's just say, we have the best group;)  but honestly Terri was one of the reasons we all enjoyed today and helped today exceed our expectations!  and Terri has given almost all of us nicknames.  Danalee is Pretty Eyes,  Liz is Country Girl(oddly), Addie is Truck Driver, and Victoria is Gabby..even though she doesn't think she talks that much.  I feel like day two will be so much easier and smoother sailing than day one.  Many hilarious things came out of our mouths today as we become hot and diluisional..

"Dang, it's hot out here.."-Megan

"I swear if someone poops in this port-o-potty, I'll kill them." -Liz

"Oh my God, look at that rock!"-Danalee

"Uh, which key?.."-Addie

"What team?  Wildcats!"-Joya

"I don't think I talk that much guys.."-Victoria

"Terri..you look like the mean one.."-Haylee

"I can't believe I have to teach you how to set up a tent.."-Colby

"I gotta go back to pre-cal."-Mykierston

and only if you knew the story behind these..lol.

Panther Clan- Day 1 Blog

On the first day of the archaeological dig, the Panther Clan had many interesting experiences. One thing that the whole team agreed on was that, as I said, "this dig is not at all what I was expecting." Not only is the dig more fun (and hotter) than we had anticipated,  but the work is harder and slower. Emma said that she "expected to get dirty," which was an expectation that the we all agreed had been met, but Gage said that he thought we would actually be in a flowing creek instead of an old site where a creek used to be, which in reality was different than what we had expected. Cylee also said that she had been expecting to get his dirty, but had been expecting to find more artifacts in a shorter amount of time. As our team split up and worked in two different locations, one group went to the cornfield to search for artifacts, and my team dug a hole where the creek used to be located. We found some large stacked rocks, which Kalem and I both agree are going to be important once we uncover them more tomorrow. Lakendra thought that her group will have to move sites to a new spot with more artifacts and she thought that they might find some arrowheads when they get there. Patrick thinks that we will find more rocks as we dig deeper into the hole tomorrow. Although our expectations for the dig may have been pretty far off and we have all learned that we are VERY unprepared to be archaeologists, we are having fun and hope that will continue throughout the week.

Team Building

The skills we practiced in the team building exercises that will be helpful on the dig was working together as a whole group and speaking up when we needed too. Working together was the main one out of all because if we didn't work together as a group doing the exercises then we more than likely wouldn't work together on the dig. The practice that will not be helpful was taking everything apart and not getting it done on time, like trying to put together and do last minute things. That's going to put us behind a lot if we do that every time we have a project.

When participating in the team building exercises we discovered who the leader would most likely be. We also learned how to work together and operate better together. We have been given the privilege to look for thing no other high school student gets to do and my team will not waste it.

Team building

What skills did you practice in your team building exercises that will be helpful for your team when working on the dig? (hint: it's not taping straws, dropping golf balls, or hitting balloons. Think deeper. What practices will not be helpful in getting the job done? What are your plans on working together to accomplish what no other group of high school students get to do? (We know you are the only group in the southeast doing this) What is your individual role? What will be your individual responsibilities?

Watch the video

2016 CS Downtown Tour for HMS 4th grade

Describe your experience as the historians of Roanoke. Why is it important that we do activities like this? How did it help YOU? Describe a funny or sweet or otherwise memorable moment to you day. What do you hope the 4th graders learned about history in general and the history of their small town? Reply to this comment today and then respond to a classmate's comment before class Monday. 

William A Handley

Captain William A Handley was a very rich man who was rich in money and rich in love.  He gave nothing but love to others including our highschool.  He is the reason I am able to attend school and have a friendship with these people.  He was a very important man and e saw such a intrerest in Roanoke when he could have focused on much bigger things, like Birmingham.

Today on our field trip, I learned a lot about Captain Handley and how he made our city better. Captain Handley played a big part in our little town and is now a legend, his name will forever have an impact on our school systems. Captain Handley went to war and gotten injured while in the war. They had to discharge him back home. The Gold rush and Indian removal act helped him manage to get the land he wanted. With this land, he built the Handley Mills which had closed down many times before but still managed to give people jobs they needed. If you worked in the Handley Mill, your children went to the school that he built to go along with the mill. Captain Handley did a lot in our small town to make it this great and his name will always have an impact on Roanoke Alabama. Captain Handley also built railroads throughout Roanoke and Luiana Road. This also helped with the education and wealth. With the railroads, he managed to transport things and get the things he needed which really helped.

On the Captain Handley field trip, I learned about the kind and courteous man that our school was named for. Captain Handley was a wealthy man, but he did not let that wealth go to his head. Instead of squandering his money on short-lived material items, he used his wealth to build our school. He wanted to build a school so that there would be a chance for kids to have a good education. I believe that if Captain Handley came back today, he would be more than pleased with how we have changed his town. From the new and improved downtown Roanoke to the many accomplishments rewarded to his school for athletics, academics and other extra curricular activities. Captain Handley was a great man and I am glad that I have new knowledge of his character so that I can tell others when I tell them about my school.

Today I learned a lot about Captain Handley. I also learned a lot about not just our town but those surrounding. I came to realize that a lot of things were simple back in the times of when Captain Handley was my age. He was able to swim in creeks and fish but not only that he was able to walk from Luana all the way to Roanoke and back without somebody stopping him. I was told stories of a man murdering the wrong woman and then telling the town who hired him. We also adventured out to a creek where we panned for gold and swam like we were back in the time of the gold rush.