By Cali Bagby

Every year, Alex Nellie’s students get to put their history books down and head to the state’s capitol — to not just learn, but to see government in action.

“Our legislators are very welcoming and often stop the proceedings to introduce the class or come and meet to answer questions in a special meeting room,” said Nellie, who started taking Lopez fourth graders to the state’s capitol in Olympia about 13 years ago.

One year legislators were deciding what to do with school funding and Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, introduced himself to the class and explained what was happening.

“We were studying Washington state government, and I thought why don’t we go there?” said Nellie. “It’s such an awesome marble building. It’s very powerful and there is a certain kind of awe evoked in a building with that kind of history.”

This year, Nellie’s literacy and math class, which is third and mostly fourth graders, will make the trip.

Lawmakers are in a short 60-day session so the class is heading south the first week in March.

And like every year the kids will get to reenact a case in the State Supreme Court.

Nellie hopes that this year’s fundraising efforts will pay for the two-day excursion.

The class already had a bake sale fundraiser, and Nellie is organizing a Bike-a-thon, March 2, 3:15 p.m., which covers six miles from the school to the village.

She said she got the idea because she is an avid cyclist and she wants to promote bike riding.

“It is a healthy way to raise money and raise safety and awareness for biking on the roads,” said Nellie. “And the kids are really excited.”

If you would like to support a rider, call Nellie at 468-2201 ext. 2104.

What her student’s are saying:

I want to go to Olympia to learn more about the government. — Cesar

I’m excited to go to Olympia to see the buildings, the government and the work the governor does. It must be a lot of work.  — Uma

I’m excited to see the capitol building, how the government works and how the senators do their jobs. — Ava

It will be fun to go to the capitol to learn about how they work and make laws. — Anna and Liz

We learned lots of things about laws, legislation and history. Everything was incredible. — Garrett, who went on the trip last year.