One week before the Derby, we have a hot air balloon race.  The balloons are large and colorful.  Some of them are in different shapes like a giant birthday cake, a penguin or the “Michelin Man”.  They look
pretty floating in the sky. On the night before the balloon race, we have the Balloon Glow.  The balloons all stay tied to the ground.  The burners that fill the balloons with hot air make them glow in the dark
like giant lanterns.

 On the Wednesday of Derby week, we have the Great Steamboat Race.  Two old fashioned steamboats race on the Ohio River.  The boats are called The Belle of Louisville and The Delta Queen.  They have big paddle wheels and tall smoke stacks.  The winner gets a pair of golden antlers to keep until the next race.

 Thursday we have the Pegasus Parade.  Pegasus is an imaginary horse with wings.  The parade has bands, floats, balloons, clowns and horseback riders.  A lot of people come to watch it.

 On Friday there is a special horse race called The Kentucky Oaks.  It is a race just for fillies (girl horses), but fillies can run in the Derby, too.  Many people go to the race track to watch the Oaks, but it is not as crowded as it is on Derby Day.

 Finally, on the first Saturday in May, we have the Kentucky Derby,  It is a very famous horse race.  People come from all over the country to watch it.  The race is held at Churchill Downs.  The horse and rider that win the Derby get a blanket of roses and a big trophy.

 There are many exciting things to do during the Kentucky Derby Festival.  Our students tell what their favorites are.
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Hey Jesus ,
The   Kentucky Derby   is   coming   up!  But   lots   of   things happen     like    the   boat    races, Thunder  over  Louisville ,The kids  fest, Balloon  race,and  a   balloon  glow.  Tomorrow  is  Pegasus  Parade.  The  Oaks    is   Friday.   The   Derby is on Saturday.
                                  BYE           Your  Key Pal,
                                                          Adam
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Dear Jose,
We are starting to celebrate the “Kentucky Derby.” I went to the Balloon race and Thunder over Louisville and the air show. I also went to the Balloon glow which is when a lot of balloons come and blow fire into the
balloons. That’s what I did to invite The Derby in.
gabrielle
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Dear Corina,
My Derby Festival favorite is Thunder over   Louisville.  I  also like to watch   the   horse   race.  I   like   the  balloon  glow   too.  I   like  to watch    boats   race      and   I     like    the   kids’   fest.           Your   friend,  Jennifer
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Dear Liliana,
Do you know about the Kentucky derby? 15 or more  horses run in it. I think that Real Quiet is going to win the derby
                                     Lee S.
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Dear Perla,
My Derby Festival favorite is Thunder  over Louisville.  It is a big fireworks show.  I like it best because it has many pretty colors and sizes.  I watched it from a building.
                               Karissa M.
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Dear Manuel,
My Derby Festival favorite is  Pegasus  Parade.  I like it best because the  floats  were cool. I  watched   the  Derby  on  T.V.   and  I  saw  Real  Quiet  win  the  race.
Joey  R.
---------------------------------
Dear Pedro Luis,
How are you doing? I’m having a good time in  Louisville,Kentucky. It’s the Kentucky Derby.
My favorite thing is Thunder over Louisville.  That is when people set off bunches of fireworks.That  are all different, shapes, sizes, and colors.
         Your Friend and Keypal,
             Rachel Michelle P.
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Dear Mayra,
My Derby Festival favorite is the parade.
I like it because there is a lot of cool floats and they have pretty    costumes.
                                           your pen pal
                                                  Patricia  N.
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                                         Wed, April 30
Dear Xochitl,
   My Derby Festival favorite is The Great Balloon Race.
   I like it best because there are a lot of neat balloons. My favorite balloons are the Energizer bunny  balloon, Ty Beanie Baby balloon, and Michelin Man.
   The Derby is a big horse race. There are lots of events:Balloon Glow, Great Balloon Race, Steamboat Race, Pegasus Parade, Kentucky Oaks, and Kentucky Derby.
                                            Your keypal,
                                               Evan Z.
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Dear Hector,
A  Derby  is  when  you  watch  horses race  and if  the horse wins it  gets  roses. And  the  Jockey  gets  alot  of  money.
Your Keypal,
Alex
-----------------------------
Dear Cristina,
A Derby is when horses & jockeys race each other & the person who wins gets roses & lots of money & the horse gets a wreath of roses!
                        Your keypal,
                           Kelsey  S.
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Dear Nancy,
           There is something in Louisville called the Derby festival.
Many things happen during the Derby festival , for instance Thunder over Louisville. It’s a big fireworks show. At balloon glow, a lot of hot air balloons light up at night. Then there are the balloon race and the boat
race.  Kids fest is a very fun place at the fairgrounds. The Oaks is a famous horse race. Last but not least is The KENTUCKY DERBY, the most famous horse race in Kentucky!
                                        Your Keypal,
                                         Blake W.
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Dear Elisa,
My Derby Festival favorite is   the balloon race. I like it best because the Budweiser balloon is there
your friend Noah
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Dear  Fernando,
          In Louisville the Kentucky Derby  is  when   horses get together  for  a  race,and  who  ever  wins  gets  a  trophy, roses, and  money.And  some  of  the  other  things  in  the  derby festival are the  Kids  Fest,  Balloon race  and  the  parade.
Erik N.
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Dear Alfredo,
    In Louisville there is something called the Kentucky Derby. It has several events like
the Boat Race, The Horse Racing, The Kids Fest, and alot more!!!! My favorite is the
Parade! It’s fun and you get lots of food too!
My 2nd favorite is the Kids Fest. It has  lots of games and fun things to do for kids! And the Horse Races are held at a place called Churchill Downs. My cat was born at Churchill Downs. But we just call
him Church.
                                     From,
                                     Willie L.
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Dear Marco, I  went to the balloon race it was   fun and I  think I am going to the horse race.The Derby  is fun. I will tell you  something about the  horse race. It’s where guys train horses and put them in the
race.  The horse has to be 3 years old to be in the race.
Your friend , Patrick
--------------------------------
Dear Julio Cesar,
           Hello again! If you forgot my name,  it is Jonathan B.  A couple of weeks ago, it was Thunder   over Louisville! I loved the fireworks and the planes. I like the planes the most!The balloon race was a few days ago too. I am not sure who won? Did you know that my mom is pregnant!!!!!!!
                                    YOUR  FRIEND
                                             Jon B.
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      Dear  Keypal,
              Hi! My name is Tonis Montes.I talk spanish too! My parents are from Colombia South America. My whole family still lives there. I think 1  of your class mates name  is Liliana.My mom’s name is Liliana to!
  There are many events at Derby time.A big  fireworks  show starts the  fun. Then there is a   balloon race,  a steamboat race  and a  parade. My favorite event is the balloon show.Because its a beautiful  sight of
all  the pretty color balloons.
  On Saturday  this week  its when  the horses  race .Kentucky  is headquarters of horses.
                 Your friend,
                         TONIS MONTES
P.S .   I  AM A  GIRL AND WRITE   BACK SOON
PSS    THE DERBY WAS ON SATURDAY MAY  2ND
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Dear Gemma,
         Hello, my name is Emma G.
There are many events at Derby time .A big fireworks show starts the fun. Then there is a balloon race,a steamboat race, and a parade.My favorite event is the fireworks because I like the sparks!
                 Your friend,
                     Emma G.
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Dear Ixtzel,
My Derby Festival favorite is Kids fest. It is a  fun place to have fun and it is at the fair grounds. I like it best because there are alot of fun things to do and play.
Your friend
Clarke S.

My name is  Jonathan  B. I like  Football, soccer, and I kind of like baseball.  I like Guinea
pigs, dogs, and I like Nintendo 64 and Playstation , football cards and I like money!!!!!!!
I wonder do you have a pet? would I like your school?

My name is  Kelsey .S.  I like  soccer, basketball  and  swimming! Do  you  have  a  special  toy?

My name  is   Erik   N. I like  soccer, Sony  Playstation,  N  64,  basketball, gameboy,TV,and
playing . I wonder  Do  you  like  these  things.

My name is Willie L. I like Disney World, Soccer, Football, Basketball, Money, and Playstation!!!!!!! I wonder  what your school is like!!!!!!! Write to you again. See Ya!!!!!!!!

My name is PatrickB (pat) I wonder If  I would like your  school. I like football, basketball, soccer, money, Nintindo64, Playstation, dogs, tigers and to collect football cards.

My name is  Blake W. I like  Basketball, Football, Nintendo 64, and playing a card game
called Magic. I wonder How old you are, what`s your favorite thing to do, and how long
you have been at your school?

My name is Alex O . I like  dogs  and  to  play N.64 I   wonder   what   is   your  school  is  like.

My name is Evan Z. I like mint chocolate chip ice cream. I wonder  what it’s like in El Paso, Texas.

My name is Emma G I like to play centers a lot and I like to play math ball. I wonder want  your class looks like.

My name is Patricia N I like to  play instrument’s  I wonder  how old are you.

My name is  noah h I like to skateboard  I wonder do you collect cards?

My name is Clarke S. I like  to jump on my trampoline,and play on my Playstation.
I wonder  if  you have a Playstation?

My name isJennifer O. I like to ice skate and play soccer.  I wonder if you have a pet?

My name is Karissa M. I like to play soccer. I wonder if you have a brother or sister?

My name is Lee S. I like  swimming , pickles and horse races. I wonder if you like pickles too.

My name is GabbyC. I like ice cream, pizza, puppies and horses. I wonder what El Paso T.X is like?

My name is Rachel P. I like puppies, spelling, soccer, and cheese pizza. I wonder how it is in El Paso?  What is your favorite food?

My name is AdamT. I like  sports, 64,  pickles, pizza, and  animals. I wonder Is  school  different  there?How is EL PASO?

Wed, 18 Mar 1998
From: Anne Gafiuk's 3rd grade in Calgary
Subject: Our snowy day off.....and we're back at school.

Dear Mr. Canu and The Grade 3's,

Fourteen of us made it to school today, plus Mrs. Gafiuk and Mrs. Ratzlaff, our student teacher.

  1. Robert was driven to school by his mom.
  2. Matthew came with
  3. Michael M. in Michael's mom's car.
  4. Austin's dad drove him to school.
  5. Brandon's parents' car got stuck in the snow, but they got out and were able to get to school.
  6. Lisa's mom drove her to school.
  7. Paolo got to school by a van driven by his mom.  They slid.
  8. Michelle's mom drove her to school.
  9. Sean's mom drove him to school, too.
10. Jacob's brother drove Jacob to school in a truck.
11. Tylar L.'s mom drove him to school in her van.
12. Lauren's mom drove her to school and they got stuck in the snow once.
13. Amanda walked to school with her sister and grandma, another student and that student's mom.
14. Carissa got to school because her mom drove her here, but they were almost in a car accident
    because of the slippery roads.

Mrs. Ratzlaff took the bus to school.
Mrs. Gafiuk drove her truck but could not enter the parking lot because of the snow.  She had to park on the street in the place usually reserved for the school buses.  The buses are not running today.

We had the day off yesterday.

Robert made a snowfort, he had a snowball fight.  He and his brother made a snowman and then threw snowballs at him.

Matthew climbed up rocks and jumped into the snow, he went tobogganning, and he went to Greg's house.

Austin had a snowball fight with his brother and he built a snowfort and he took a walk with his dog, who got buried in the snow.

Sean built a fort, had a snowball fight, and wrestled with a friend in the snow.

Brandon shovelled people's staircases for $2.00* each.  He earned $4.00*. His dad gave him extra money because he shovelled their walk.  He watched tv and he was happy to miss school yesterday until he did all the snow removal.

Lisa did not do too much yesterday.  She made a snowfort.

Michelle had a snow fight with my brother and made a snowfort.  She went cross country skiing.

Michael M.  went to Matthew's house to play on his computer.  He played Nintendo and then made a snowfort with Jordan, another friend, and Matthew.

Paolo made three forts with his friends and connected the forts with tunnels.  He got to go to his friend's house to play SuperNintendo, a racing game and Batman.

Carissa  went cross country skiing with her mom and younger brother, Luke.  They slept in, too.  Her dad woke up very early to watch the news and saw that the schools were closed and told her mom who shut off their alarms.

Tylar L. shovelled off the back deck, played on the Internet, and stayed inside for most of the day yesterday.

Lauren went to Triwood to buy candy and made a snowfort that has four tunnels and she babysat her sister with a friend and earned $5.00*.

Jacob stayed inside his house because he was sick with a cold.  He and his dad looked at race car tracks and played a bit.  He did his homework, too.

Amanda played in the snow and made a fort and made a bed.  She went inside to have some hot chocolate and watched a movie and ate lunch. She then went to her grandma's house because her mom had to go to work.

Mrs. Ratzlaff read a lot and caught up on her studies.

Mrs. Gafiuk played on her computer, baked bread, buns and cinammon buns, and visited a lot with friends and family on the telephone.  She also shovelled a lot of snow!

We hope you enjoy reading about our day off at school because of the St.Patrick's Day Snowstorm of 1998!

Yours truly,
Mrs. Gafiuk's Grade 3 Class

§ CanuNote2:  Calgary weather forecast, compare with El Paso weather forecast. (all temperatures in ºC). Better yet: see a live view of Calgary from the top of Petro Canada (sorry: not available for El Paso nor Louisville).

‡ CanuNote3:  Knowing the geographical coordinates of El Paso (31º45'N, 106º30'W) and of Calgary (51º05'N, 114º05'W) Find the time of sunrise and sunset in those two cities (or any other of which you know the coordinates).

¶ CanuNote4: Driving directions between Calgary and El Paso. Hey! a virtual trip uses up a lot less gasoline than a real one. And who knows... it might prepare you for the real one some day...

CanuChallenge; (no help on this one): How would you go about figuring  the straight-line distance between El Paso and Calgary? Or between Louiville and El Paso? See our challenging problems.