Today I enjoyed visiting two fun schools right on the military base of Fort Hood, TX! In the morning, I visited Oveta Culp Hobby Elementary – home of the Patriots. And you know what? The Patriots were my elementary school’s mascot in Brownsville, TX — the Russel Patriots!
After Mrs. Coffield picked me up at the base’s visitor center, I set up and performed two shows in her huge library; the kids were packed all the way to the back. Now, during every show, I asked the students how many of them enjoy writing their own stories. I know that not everyone wants to be a writer when they grow up but I was pleasantly surprised just how many kids raised their hands at this school. I think it was the most I’ve seen so far. I hope all the teachers there like to read because there are going to be tons of young writers coming out of Oveta Culp Hobby Elementary!
Thanks to Mrs. Colffield for inviting me and thanks to Mrs. Buller for all her help. And a big thanks to the Oveta Culp Hobby Patriots! Keep reading and keep writing those stories!
After my morning shows and lunch, Mrs. Coffield drove me over to Duncan Elementary (also on base) and home of the Duncan Dragons! They were very excited to see me and I haven’t enjoyed such an energetic group of students in a long time—both shows!
All the students were set up in chairs in the cafeteria, with a big center aisle for me to run down and generally be silly. The kids had so many great questions that I wish I could’ve answered them all. But like I said, if I didn’t get to you, have your parents help you email me any question you like!
Thanks to Mrs. Barr for the warm welcome (and for the ride back to the gate), thanks to Mr. Cooper for helping with all the technical support, setting up for my show, and a big thanks to all the boisterous Duncan Dragon. You really know how to make that dragon roar!
Thursday, I made it up to McAuliffe Elementary in Highland Village, TX. I performed three shows in front of three huge crowds of excited students. Fortunately for me, Mrs. Theibaud’s library was big enough to hold them all!
Many of the McAuliffe teachers did their own homework beforehand and scoured my website, discovering all kinds of information about me and what I do. Many found out that I collect hats and one learned that my friends call me “Ant” (short for Anthony and NOT because I can lift 20 times my own body weight). I didn’t get the teacher’s name, but thanks to her, her entire class had a wonderful surprise for me–all of them wore Ant hats in my honor! Add that to all the other cool hats that many of the kids wore and it was a very warm welcome indeed!
Thanks to Mrs. Shaughnessy and the MaAuliffe PTA for inviting me to visit. Thanks to Mrs. Theibaud for the use of her library and for moving all the shelves to make room for those huge audiences. And a special thanks to all those huge audiences themselves, the wonderful students of McAuliffe Elementary. I hope you enjoyed all those books I signed for you!