A Storyline Trip to Oregon
Lorna Karetnyk

Four teachers, Lorna Karetnyk, Ian Taylor, Gareth Sleightholme and Simon Johnson from Kirkbymoorside School, North Yorkshire, left Manchester Airport on Saturday 22nd October 2005 to spend a week in Oregon observing and working with teachers delivering Storyline. Todd Stewart-Rinier was our tireless host who gave us a most educational and entertaining week in his school, Irvington Elementary, in Portland. During our visit we were able to observe Storyline work on New Neighbours, The Borrowers, The Farm and an historical topic based on Lewis and Clark. We were also fortunate enough to meet with Rebecca Plaskitt and Jeff Creswell of Storyline Design – quite an experience. It was a very enlightening visit that has increased our knowledge of Storyline and has inspired us to write our own Storyline around the setting up of a Victorian Museum. It also allowed us to immerse ourselves in the American culture. We intend to continue our links and hope to take a party of teachers to the next International Conference in Glasgow where we can meet up with old friends and make new acquaintances.

Our visit was arranged and funded through the Specialist Schools' Trust. We were able to set up the visit because the two schools have had links since our meeting with Todd at the last International Storyline Conference in Elsinore, Denmark, in 2003.

Todd Stewart-Rinier, Lorna Karetnyk, Gareth Sleightholme and Ian Taylor arriving in Portland

Simon Johnson, Lorna Karetnyk, Gareth Sleightholme, Ian Taylor and Peter the Bear

Jeff Creswell and Lorna Karetnyk at the Saturday Market in Portland

The Lewis and Clark Storyline