West Union Elementary school is situated in the rural City of West Union, Iowa in the United states of America. The elementary school is part of the North Fayette Valley Community school District, which encompasses several smaller towns in a 20 mile radius of West Union. Children from the ages of 3- 10 attend the elementary school at West Union and then move to the last two years of Elementary school in a local town called Fayette, 8 miles away.This runs from kindergarten though to sixth grade.Then the children move onto a middle school in the local town of Elgin around 10 miles away. The students here attend seventh and eighth grade and are between the ages of 12-14. At the end of eighth grade children return to West Union to attend the High school. Here they complete their state funded education by completing grades ninth through to twelth, running from the age of 14-19.
The elementary school has lots of land for the children to explore during recess (playtime). The school is on two levels and consists of fifteen classrooms, an art room, library, sport/dining hall, three special needs areas and a large reception area. Each grade consists of roughly 55 children. Children do not wear school uniform and each day dress appropriately according to the weather. temperatures can vary from minus 40 to plus 40 degrees centigrade throughout the school year.
I have been fortunate enough to stay with my girlfriend while here in the United States as she is an American citizen. She lives in her own apartment in the hear of the town, right next door to the fire station at the end of Main Street ( like a high street).
West union has a population of just under 3000 residents.
I travelled to my placement by using an aeroplane. My girlfriend has been giving me a lift to my placement in the morning and I either walked home or if the weather was inclement I would get a lift home from a friend at work. I have also rode on local school buses while partaking in school activities.
There are no forms public transportation in West union, no taxis, buses ( except school buses), trains or planes. The only transportation is either car or a school bus to take children to and from school.
A small, private airport, lies on the outskirts of the city.
The local social life consists of a few 'country' bars and restaurants or a trip to the local bowling alley, where bowling costs just 70 pence for a game.They also servel incredible burgers. For a more 'Britified' evening out you would have to travel to some of the larger towns. Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Decorah and the state capital Des Moines all host some excellent clubs. Local Town, Elkadar has a theatre and just an extra 15 miles further down the road you will find the Mississippi River.
If you enjoy nature, then you are in for a treat. Several rivers and national parks surround the area and allow, fishing, canoeing and tubing and with the Mississippi a 45 minute drive away the beauty and open space seems endless.
West Union is extremely friendly, people wave at each other from car to car and everyone says hello on the streets.
The town has an outdoor swimming centre and a huge recreation park where Baseball, Soccer and Softball are all played in the Summer.
Things to do, things not to do
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