Phase 3: Student Comments on Presenting at the Health Fair, on the Radio, and at the Parks and Recreation Meeting.

“I really think it was great to be able to work at the Health Fair and get to see all the people and townspeople to see how interested they were in the model. They were really excited to get a new park and get a visual of it. I really think that we inspired them.”

“I think it was a lot of fun to talk to the people of Soldotna face to face and hear their opinion. It was also very interesting because a lot of them had ideas and thoughts that we never came up with so we wrote them down.

I can’t wait till we get to go to the city council.”

“I feel we’ve really captured people’s attention and actually persuaded them to come and help us out, you know.

Well, I think that all the people there helped us with this. Thank you very much! The interviews were great. I think it shows that we put a lot of work into something we believe will be great it two years. Eighth grade is along time. I hope we touched a lot people in their hearts, minds, and souls.”

I think we did very good at the Health Fair. We had a whole bunch of people come and talk to us. I was very surprised at the results of how many people came to see it. A lot of people were happy about it and how hard we worked on it. I was very proud of our classes work.”

“I think we really got to the community when we presented our ideas at the Soldotna Village Health Fair on March 2, 2002. All the people we talked to thought this was a great ideas and so most of them took a lot of green sheets to pass around or fill out themselves. But I think our model really had a big influence on what ideas they had not discovered yet. So I think we did wonderful on telling them different pieces of information. And I think we presented it with everyone helping it went quite smoothly and unpressured. People could talk without being on the spotlight. We knew a lot about the park and that really impressed the people. We learned that a lot of people are more interested than we think they are. Everyone wanted information. When someone came up and asked where the park was located I knew by my notes and listening and told them with no long pause. I guess I didn’t know I would know that much but I really surprised myself. Everyone did. And I’ll bet almost everyone is proud of our park design we created.” Kahlia

“I really liked listening to the tape and how some people who really support us in this project. It’s very exciting hearing people get excited about it. W have worked very hard on this project and I hope we get to work on it some more next year in middle school. We have to think that because we put this as a model doesn’t mean that it is how it’s going to be. We still have two other places we have to present this model to.” Eli

“At the health fair I noted that some questions were very hard to answer. Sometimes he got annoying asking the same questions looking for better answers. People would like to have a gazebo there so bands can play, people can dance, and weddings can be there. It should be a family park for people to become closer with family or friends.” Alyse

“We have done a lot since we started this D.O.T. project. The thing that we accomplished was starting this. It is so fun to do it. I wasn’t at the Health Fair but it seems like we got some information and we were able to plug it into our research. It must of been exciting to see all the people there for what we’ve done and that makes me feel all that work was worth it. We learned that people really wanted to get involved with this project like this. I know we got a lot of info on the memorial and our flowers that we made on the model. People love to see kids like us putting effort into this project for our community.”

“I am glad that so many people now know about the project we are doing with the land. I am kind of bummed thought that we will be in 8th grade when it is done. But oh well. I am so happy for the class because we have done so much and it is finally paying off. And when we are older and have our own children we can be like, “I helped design/make that park! It is so fun and a cool experience.

It was so awesome. I worked at the Health fair and a lot of people were interested. Great project we did good as a class. We should get a party (he,he). I liked it because it made me feel good inside.” Jayme

“I think when I get into high school I can maybe do a project on us building the park so we can carry on our hard work. Maybe some other people could do a project or something like that too. It is going to be cool when the park gets built. I will remember that we were the ones who started it.” Dustin

“What the people represented at the city hall was very cool. They were showing the people (Parks and Rec. committee members) what the people (community) wanted and not ourselves. The people from our class didn’t goof around or show off. They just showed city hall what we have been working on. Most of the people liked our ideas for the park, but those few who didn’t were just showing what they thought of our ideas. And that’s good because we need feedback and ideas to what we can help with. But what I liked about the park is that it could be for all ages, not just for old and not just for young. I am sure a lot of people are really getting into this idea and for all those people out there who just take us for sixth graders, we can and we will help with this park.” Kahlia

“I feel that we impressed all of the council people and I bet they considered us equals and took us seriously. Our next step would most likely be to try to get funds from businesses so we have money unless we get a grant.” Shawn

Our presentation at City Hall was great! We showed them what a sixth grade class can do. It seemed everyone there appreciated our work. We made the park look like it was an individual one and unique. I think that is what made them like it so much. And their comments about it. I felt great! Their ideas of where to put it, everyone will put a little thought into it. Thank you, City Hall! Iris

“I feel really strongly about what we’ve accomplished throughout the year concerning the DOT Park. I’m really proud of all the work and effort the whole class put into it.

I had the best time at the City Council meeting we had. I feel that they really did take us seriously and that they will take our ideas into consideration. We all did great there. We knew what we were going to say. We all had notes and we were confident. I think that takes real maturity and responsibility and we all showed that when we were standing in front of those 10-15 people I think that they know what we want and we laid it right out when we were there.

I want the whole class to know that even though I may not show it, I’m very proud of all of them and of all that we’ve accomplished this year.

I should every couple of years go to meetings and remind them about the DOT park.

I think our next step as a class would be just to watch and wait for meetings so we could represent it and see how much it changed. I think it would be cool to still be involved.