Fritsch celebrates Thanksgiving in grand style

Anne Burges made a special trip spanning more than three centuries to Fritsch Elementary School on Wednesday to tell students about her life in the British colonies.

"We celebrate our new-found home," said Jean Kvam, who dressed in Colonial-style clothing to play Burges. "We celebrate being able to live in the colonies and still be British citizens."

Kvam told the story of a woman living in 1650 who came to America on the ship the Manchester arriving even before Christopher Columbus sailed from Spain.

Kvam told Anne Burges' tale to students in Diana Easby's fourth-grade class.

"She's good," said Danielle Jackson, 9. "She doesn't know anything about electricity or stuff like that."

One student asked her if she'd ever seen any Indians.

"We trade with the Indians," Kvam responded. "We consider them our friends."

She also gave a bit of the history and what life was like especially for women and children.

"I was very lucky," Kvam said. "When I came over as an indentured servant, I was taught to read and write."

Garret Merriwether, 9, liked the personal details she added.

"I liked when she let us ask her questions and let us know about her, like the boat she came over in," he said.

Kvam first adopted the persona for her American history students at Douglas High School where she is a student teacher. Kvam is president of the Carson City School Board and brought Burges' story to life at Easby's invitation.

Down the hall from Easby's, Katie Pollock's third-grade students spent the week discussing the meaning of Thanksgiving.

Cody Griffin, 9, wrote in his journal Wednesday morning about the significance of Thanksgiving in his life.

"Thanksgiving is important to us because we get to spend time with our family," he wrote. "It is a special time set aside to reflect."

Pollock covered subjects with her students ranging from the first Thanksgiving to making turkeys out of pine cones.

The students also made pop-up cards telling their parents what they were thankful for.

"A spirit of giving thanks is positive," Pollock said. "A lot of times we can lift up our own feelings by recognizing what we're thankful for."

Ashley Spohn, 8, is thankful that she will be able to spend Thanksgiving with her family.

"We've never got to be together before," she said. "My parents have always had to work."

Dave Charles, 9, enjoyed the history lessons.

"My favorite part was learning about the Pilgrims and Indians," he said. "I like learning about Indians and arrowheads and stuff."