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Want to go plant trees with Americans? Friday, Feb 24

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We think this is what John Harkin told his students this morning. Because after a morning of Seattle-led interactive workshops with 6th graders and 9th graders, we had quite a crowd of uniformed Oak Grove students joining us in the bus. Where are we going? What are we doing? Unimportant. Just wear something you can get muddy.  So. We landed at a stretch of undeveloped land above Ness Country Park with a grand horizon of green in all directions and old farm buildings, stone fences, and the sight of herds of sheep here and there.  We had 26 Oak Grove students, 16 of ours, and 7 adults. We were quite a sight. First, We met with Robert, a project leader with the Woodland Trust who explained the need for re-planting a large expanse of hillside with native trees. Why? The habitat supports spawning salmon and will do better with more trees, the entire Island has lost too much of its ancient forest. We need to extend the natural forest here and plant Scots Pine, Hazelwood, Oak and Ash...
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Time is Marching On - Tuesday, Feb 28

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Last day and night here in Derry. Lots of tears and hugs among students. And lots of impressive activities. After a momentous session with the Theatre of Witness group who described their work writing and performing their stories during the conflict, we got a chance to meet the Oak Grove students for a fancy meal out in town. Everyone got to sit with their Oak Grove buddies and each other for a whole evening. And then walk home. This morning we had the special opportunity of appearing before the entire school for a farewell assembly. John Harkin expected the group to stand up and introduce themselves and perform their recited poetry. Little did he know, however, but his entire staff planned to surprise him with a special cake and tribute to his being selected principal of the school. So we got to be in on the surprise.  As we have all come to develop such a high regard for him, it was lovely to be able to share in the honoring of him -- along with his entire staff.  And then w...
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Final day in Derry/L'derry

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               On the last day of February, we rushed to Oakgrove’s Tuesday morning assembly in our five taxis—well, six, because the first driver wouldn’t clear his newspaper for a fourth passenger, so we had to wait an extra forty minutes for another cab—most of us arriving just in time to see John honored before the gathered body with a congratulatory cake and speech for becoming the permanent principal.               Over and over again, our students were awed by his care and laughter and enormous kindness, and wondered what it would be like to have such a principal. We would see this in full force over the course of the day, especially in the evening, when John would juggle between playing the generous host to our students, confronting a student, his parents, and the police in his office for a full hour, guiding staff through various other emergencies that had occurred thro...
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