Thirty students from Hollin Meadows Elementary School boarded a yellow bus with their principal Jon Gates and 10 chaperones for a trip July 16 to the White House.
About two weeks ago, the principal received a call from the office of the First Lady, Michele Obama, inviting the students on a tour of the White House gardens. Word was sent out to the current students to enter a lottery; 220 students replied and 30 were picked at random.
Upon hearing the news of the invitation, Laura Marshall started editing her photographs of the school garden and habitat, Cindy Martin and her mom started writing copy, Sue Bernstien and outdoor-education coordinator Shawn Akard began the editing process and media specialist Linda Carter, on summer leave from the school, returned to put a book together for the first lady. The book illustrated the original plans and work by the parents, faculty and students on creating the school garden.
Bernstien reports that after clearing security, the students toured the south lawn and the garden. The new White House Chef Sam Cass joined them on the tour, explaining the new garden and inquiring about the garden at Hollin Meadows. Bernstien also recalled that one student was overcome by the heat of the day. Upon her falling on the grass, over a half dozen secret service officers emerged from the surroundings with oxygen and first aid. The student, accompanied by the principal, was taken to the infirmary in the White House where the student was cared for. Before leaving the White House to join the class, the student and the principal were taken to watch President Obama leave on his helicopter for a meeting.
After the tour the students walked to Lafayette Park for lunch.