Mrs. Straight's Kindergarten Korner: Our Trip to the Apple Orchard!!

On Wednesday September 28, the Winside Kindergarten and First grade classes boarded a school bus and headed north to Yankton to visit Garrity's Apple Orchard. We could not have picked a better day. The boys and girls packed lunches and a lot of enthusiasm for our trip. The bus ride was a pleasant one as they busied themselves with their writing notebooks and a few book from our own class library.

Cheers filled the bus as we arrived at Garrity's!! Mrs. Hebda welcomed us as their first visitors of the season. The boys and girl's first stop was the goat pen where they were able to feed the many goats. What a treat! Then it was off to the hay tunnels. What fun they had climb and running! Next, Mr. Hebda greeted us and we were off to the tractor and wagon to begin our tour. Unfortunately, the hard freeze they experienced for two nights in April didn't allow for their apple crop to prosper so we didn't get to tour the apple orchard but they had plan B ready for us --- a corn maze!!! The kiddos, teachers and paras scrambled through the maze and found their way out. The last to emerge were --- Mrs. Straight and Ms. Loetcher (who both by the way can never find their cars in a parking lot!!!) Our kiddos went right into action coming to our aid as they called out "Ms Loetcher - Mrs. Straight, just follow our voices!!" Luckily no rescue helicopters had to be dispatched - we FINALLY made it out unscathed! Next, it was off to the pumpkin patch. Each child was able to go out a choose their own pumpkins.

Our tour ended in the apple warehouse. We toured the "big refrigerator" where they store their many varieties of apples. We even got to see them sort the apples. As we left the tour, we sampled some yummy apples. Each child left with a goodie bag from the Hepda's along with their pumpkins.

Tummies growling, we were off to picnic in Memorial Park. After our tasty lunches, the boys and girls played and laughed in the wonderful playground. At 1:00, it was time to call it a day as we climbed aboard the bus. We soon realized how hot and thirsty we all were so it was off to the gas station to buy some cold water for the thirsty crew. Thinking the boys and girls would be exhausted from our outdoor adventure, we figured this would be a quiet bus ride home. The excitement still pumping though their veins, conversations and writing a drawing in their books consumed their time. What a wonderful day!!

Special thank you to our bus driver, Brian and our administration that allows us time to take our boys and girls on these wonderful learning adventures.

Enjoy the pictures!!!!