16 Days Away!

The Costa Rica trip is 16 days away! I think my classmates are really excited. I'm still a little nervous about the plane ride, but I think my curiosity is getting my better half. I can imagine stepping off the plane and walking into pure paradise. I'm ready for the sun. Last night I finished tying the loose ends of everything I need for the trip.

Now I have to realize the last bit of work will be the hardest. The Costa Rica class is just working on the research projects right now. This 16 days seems like it will take forever! We have a good-bye dinner on the 31st of March. The class will be serving Costa Rican food and will be asking for 5 dollars for a meal. Hope to see you there!

Research Project!

Over the first half of the school year we learned marketing and economics. The Costa Rica class learned a lot about Costa Rica, and now we're going to learn about certain things that interest us about Costa Rica. For example, my research project is going to be a little different from the others but still have the same idea. For my other classmates there project is about a comparison between NH and Costa Rica. My project is progressive education vs traditional, and the idea that it's the whole reason that this class was even possible.

Without Bryan's knowledge of progressive education the Costa Rica class would most likely not exist. My project will have to do a lot with this class in general. I want to video tape all the hands on things we do and the independence we get from this class. I want to show people what a helpful way of learning progressive education is. John Dewey is the founder of progressive education. One of his famous slogans is " Learn by Doing." For so many of us at Robert J Lister Academy, learning by doing has helped a great deal.





Costa Rica here we come, full force and ready to research. The end result for my project will hopefully look a lot like Bryan's when he went to Costa Rica. It's the video that sold all of us to join the class. To have a video of all of the class, and so everyone that's followed us and supported us can see and follow us in Costa Rica. Check out Bryan's YOUTUBE page so you can see all the videos.

Lights, CAMERA, Action =]

Yesterday was a very nerve racking day for me. I had to get in front of a camera and act like I was talking to a bunch of people. I was actually only talking to Bryan, but still was not my cup of tea. My goal for the video recordings is for a lot of people to watch and see the different personalities between all of my classmates. We all want the Costa Rica trip, yet we all want it for different reasons.

I believe that with all of the personalities it will be hard for someone not to be able to relate to any of us. Like Winston maybe, if you love to be outside and are very intelligent you can relate. Or like Mariah, someone who is so driven, and strong. Maybe even like me, someone who is shy but waiting to break free. Check Myself (Kristine), Brittney F, Brittney N, Josh, Winston, Mariah, and soon Hailey's video recordings and learn a little bit about each of us and what we think about Costa Rica and the book "Walking with Wolf."



http://www.youtube.com/user/ListerCostaRicaClass#p/u/9/Ze-Pc70hnqI



Also help us get to our goal of $15,000! We are almost there, and with your help theres no stopping us! Thank you all for your support. Here's our paypal page if you'd like to help!

https://sites.google.com/site/listeracademycostaricaclass/donate

Real Deal

Its all starting to become real. Costa Rica is in my reach. We have the seats on the plane booked, and my passport in hand. I'm ready. This week the Costa Rica class is finishing the last chapter of "Walking with Wolf." I guess I never thought we'd come this far. I have such a sense of pride for my classmates and me. The plane tickets symbolize the realness. I just want someone to pinch me, it's so surreal!

We leave the 6Th of April and return to Boston airport the 16Th of April. I'm a little nervous but I think once its closer ill be okay. My mom is so excited for me. She reminds me everyday what a great thing this is. On our trip my classmates were really thinking about going to the coast. We still need 1,500 dollars to have a truly awesome trip and do everything we want to do while down there. All we need is forty gifts of forty dollars.

PLEASE HELP THE ROBERT J LISTER COSTA RICA CLASS!!!!!

https://sites.google.com/site/listeracademycostaricaclass/donate

>Also the Robert J Costa Rica Class was in the Portsmouth Herald today, look for us and find out the latest fund-raisers and links to our websites!

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is to go to Costa Rica! Over all as a class we have raised $13,650 towards our goal of $15,000. All that we need is 40 gifts of $40. We're hoping to end the year with all the financial matters taken care of. From raking alone our class has raised $3,800, and just recently we have received a grant worth $2,000. We are doing great but with your help we can get everything on our christmas lists! (Except mabey a monkey!)

PLEASE BE A SECRET SANTA AND HELP THE ROBERT J LISTER COSTA RICA CLASS!

MONEYS!

Chapter 10 of "Walking with Wolf," talks alot about the different species of animals. In the Costa Rica Class theres kind of a joke with the monkeys and me. I tell everyone that once we get there I'm going on a hunt to find the cutest monkey and have it as a pet! Bryan especially tells me that , that will not happen. My class mates just let me dream.

There are four different species of monkeys in Costa Rica. The White Faced Capuchin, Howler, the Squirrel Monkey, and the Spider monkey. The monkey in this picture is a White Faced Capuchin or the (mono carablanca.) All the monkeys co- exsist with each other, and rely heavily on fruit.

The Spider monkeys are very active thoughout the day. They jump from tree to tree, and are scattered throughout the rain forrest. The Howler monkey loves to lay up in the trees and soak up the sun, they eat leaves, and all types of fruit. Howlers are called "howlers" because of the sounds that the adult males make.They howl when the troops postison is changing. White Faced Capuchin monkeys rely on fruit but heavily on insects. Some of there favorites are frogs, birds, and lizards.

Im so excited to go to Costa Rica I probably sound like a broken record. I want to climb the trees with the monkeys and live freely, Costa Rica seems like the perfect place to do that. We have made it to $11,650 and still have a few thousand to go. If you'd like to help you can check out our websites. Youtube , Blogger , and Paypal .

8th Block

Today in eight block was very chaotic at first. We were all arguing about absolutely nothing, Byran of course wanted to process things. He brought each of us up and helped bring us back to being team mates. His words were very powerful to me. Byran reminded us all of the personal growth we have gained, and how proud of ourselves we should be. After giving most of the kids in my class an example he gave me mine. He reminded me of when I had a school meeting to continue going to Lister. People from my old school were at the meeting and old principals , and new principals, as well as my old case manager from Sanborn was there. When Byran had told her how well I was doing she almost second looked at me to make sure I was the same person. He asked me to think of my old case manager, and asked me to think if she would believe all of the work I have done. I started crying immediately. I was crying because I was so proud of myself. My entire class just looked at me, and I think they understood. That was the most rewarding, and powerful thing that has happened during this whole experience for me. Bryan told me in the very beginning that he thought the class would help us grow and learn from things that regular classes couldn't give to us. Bryan was correct.