Wakefield School: Wakefield, Rhode Island, USA

Greetings!

We are fourth grade students from Wakefield School. We are located in the United States in a state with the smallest area and longest name, "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations."

Wakefield is in the southern part of Rhode Island and we have the Saugatucket River flowing behind our school. This will be the sampling project for us. The river has five tributaries and seven ponds and lakes. Long ago, the Narragansett Native Americans used the river for food and water. Later, settlers farmed its landscape. Soon after, ponds, reservoirs and canals were built to provide power and drinking water.

The river flows fresh water to mix with salt water and creates a very special habitat for many fish and wildlife. Each year, alewives (buckies) and blueback herring return from the Atlantic Ocean to spawn. They must actually swim up a "fish ladder" to get to their spawning habitat.

South Kingstown and its neighbor Narragansett are very busy tourist communities. Not much is happening in the winter, but the summer is booming! People enjoy the beaches, boating, surfing, fishing and eating our "catch of the day" from the bay. Narragansett Bay is a very special estuary leading to the port of Providence, our capital city.

Visitors enjoy our "only in Rhode Island" food such as Del's lemonade, (shaved ice), johnny cakes (cornmeal pancakes) and coffee milk (made with RI coffee syrup).

Wakefield School was rebuilt after a fire in 1964 and houses grades one through six. Its population is 362 students and our motto is "Aspiring to Excellence." Kids here play all sport including baseball, swimming, hockey, football and soccer.

Our state was founded by Roger Williams who believed in religious freedom and separation of church and state. His beliefs are crucial elements to the United States Constitution. Many places are named after him, but one of the best is the Roger Williams Zoo. Other places to visit would be Rhode Island School of Design Museum and Slater Mill. Newport is fun because of the mansions that you can tour. Even Hollywood has discovered little Rhode Island and has filmed three movies here this year.

See if you can find us! We're the Ocean State in the Northeast region of the United States. We'll keep tracking everyone's location as we get your introductory letters.

Peace,
Wakefield School 4th graders

Debra Zepp
Grade Four
Wakefield School
101 High Street
Wakefield, Rhode Island 02879
401-792-9676
FAX:401-789-5635
e-mail: zeppd@ride.ri.net