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Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2002
Indian Head School

Janet Agius, Lead Teacher

With a weather eye toward the red pennant signaling a small craft advisory, Ernestina set out this morning into New Bedford Harbor carrying 51 5th graders from Mrs. Janet Agius’ classes at the Indian Head school in Milton, MA. Also onboard were 4 crew members from a Spanish film company who were capturing footage for a piece on Tall Ships. Soon after we raised sail, all the students joined in with crew members in learning and singing "Cape Cod Girls", a favorite traditional sea chantey. Although the inclement weather brought us back to dock about an hour early, all students participated in 5 learning stations. In journaling sessions towards the close of the sail, some students chose to create a "word splash," writing down as many words as they could that would remind them about their experience today, while some wove their words into stories:

"I learned how to tell where we are, and where all of the sea creatures are. I also learned how to tie a knot and what a watershed is." ~ James

"Ernestina ~ Excellent ~ Remarkable ~ Nice ~ Enjoyable ~ Sights ~ Terrific ~ Incredible ~ Neat ~ Amazing ~ Cold ~ 12 bunks ~ 108 years old ~ Big ~ Lots of Gears. 3 things I learned: The head of the boat, that you can sail on ice, and I learned the [lookout] signals." ~ Dan H.

"This is Jordan. I had fun on the Ernestina." ~Jordan

"Today I found out that once this boat had sunk and it is 108 years old. Also I heard some ghost stories that haunt the Ernestina." ~Janelle B.

"Watersheds, heads, starboard, heave, Cape Verde Islands, galley. Some new words I learned were starboard, galley (kitchen) and head (toilet). We had activities in things like tying knots and learning about watersheds. This is what happened on our adventure on the Ernestina." ~Susannah T.

"Once a long time ago, there was a man who worked on a schooner named the Ernestina. Every day he got up at about 4am and ate breakfast with his fellow crew members in the galley. When they got into the harbor they heaved up the sails. There were two heads on the Ernestina. It could sometimes be rocky and freezing, but he liked working there." ~Susannah

"Water ~ fish ~ Ernestina ~ rope ~ smells ~ fire." ~ (anonymous)

"Today I went on the Ernestina! I did many neat and exciting things. Some things I saw, heard, and smelled! I had a fun day on the Ernestina today and I’d love to go again." ~ Jack N.

"I learned this boat has a lot of history. For example, in the kitchen a fire started and burned [the ship] down. A person named Captain Mendes put it back together and gave it to us as a gift. We also learned how to tie different knots and raising and lowering the sails. This just amazes me and I’d like to come again someday." ~ Brandon B.

"Today with the smelly smell of the sea, I could tell that it would be a GREAT ride on the Ernestina. I cuold hear the big waves splash against the side of the boat. It was freezing! The wind would come up to my face and my hood kept on coming off! When we were heading back a lady on the Ernestina was telling ghost stories! They were spooky! As we pulled up into the shore the day was over on the Ernestina. It was sooo fun, and I had an AWESOME time!" ~ Tess. C.

"On June 5, 2002 we went to the Ernestina in New Bedford. We learned how to tie knots, what watersheds are, navigation, and the history of the boat. It was all pretty easy. We also learned how to lift a sail. It’s cold on the boat. It’s windy too. It’s not very rocky though. And it was very rainy. We went to all different stations, some were on the low deck. I learned about watersheds, Cape Verde, heave, navigation, heads, starboard, galley, Islands. There even have been some big waves which make the boat rock back and forth. I hope no one gets seasick. That is what happened on June 5th when we went to the Ernestina." ~ Kristen A.

"Water ~ ship ~ rope ~ wood ~ smells. The water smells. The wood is damp. The rope is grippy. The ship is cool." ~George S.

"The Ernestina was cold and fun. We made a ballentine coil which was interesting. We made figure-eight knots. The boat was rocky while we were saying heave-ho." ~ Kerry M.

Submitted by: Mrs. Agius’ 5th graders with assistance from MaryHelen

Captain: Willi Bank
Program Coordinator: MaryHelen Gunn

We would like to thank Lotus and IBM for donation of software, hardware and funding to enable regular electronic updates from the ship.

NOAA Chart is provided courtesy of Maptech using Cruising Navigator 4.3 and grabbing the image using Grabit Pro 6.02.

 
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Copyright 1997-2002
Schooner Ernestina
89 North Water Street, P.O. Box 2010, New Bedford, MA 02741-2010
phone 508.992.4900 -- fax 508.984.7719
www.ernestina.org

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