Celebrating the Anniversary of Flight

With Laguna Pueblo Elementary School

 

  


 A group of Laguna kids during our presentation.

The Albuquerque chapter of Ninety-Nines celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first flight by giving Laguna Pueblo Elementary School students a taste of our excitement for flying.  Members of the ABQ chapter planned the project as a holiday celebration that was centered around our favorite subject – flight. It was planned for Wednesday December 17th to give extra attention to the commemoration going on all over the world.

 During the month before the event, we collected toys, stickers, school supplies and jewelry that fit our aviation theme. Then at our chapter Christmas party we stuffed decorated gift bags for 160 children.  Our chapter chair, Sonia Ortega, was in contact with teachers at the pueblo school and made arrangements for our visit.  Our visit was particularly special because the teachers and students were Native Americans and many of them haven’t interacted directly with pilots before.

On the day of our presentation/celebration, five Ninety-Nines took a day off of work and traveled from Albuquerque to Laguna Pueblo to meet with third, fourth and fifth graders. We split into three groups and rotated between groups of students. Anna Taylor shared information about Native American pilots who made a difference in the field of aviation. Sonia Ortega tied the day to the Wright Brother’s flight 100 years ago. Joan Granger told a brief history of flight by naming important milestones. Kathy Hancock taught about the physics of flight with demonstrations using toys from the gift bags. Tina Jenkin shared about her love of flying and the steps to becoming a pilot. Kathy Hancock, an elementary teacher from Albuquerque, brought flying posters made by her own students as gifts for the Laguna students. We presented the gift bags at the end of our presentation.

 The students seemed to really enjoy our visit. They responded with many questions and comments. Our goals were to celebrate the anniversary of flight, create a spark of interest in flying in young people, teach aviation facts and to have a good time with the children. I think we accomplished all of our goals!

 

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