Astronaut visits Priest River school

In the photo set by Kathy Plonka above (click on arrows to see all 6 photos), Astronaut Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger of Seattle visits Priest River Elementary School on Thursday. It was the 25th year of astronauts visiting the school for 5th grade teacher Chris Naccarato’s NASA Aerospace Program.

PRIEST RIVER – Someone once told teacher Chris Naccarato he’d never get an astronaut to visit his students at Priest River Elementary School. He didn’t get one. He got more than 20 astronauts – and one cosmonaut – to travel to the small town west of Sandpoint in his 25 years of teaching there. Scott Carpenter, Richard Gordon, Jerry Ross and moonwalker Charlie Duke are among the NASA veterans who accepted his invitation. “It’s been an amazing adventure, you know. It’s been incredible,” said Naccarato, whose lifelong zeal for space exploration is infectious. “To think all that has happened right here in Priest River, Idaho.” The latest guests of honor were at the school Thursday for what has become an annual highlight – capped by model rocket launches over the ball field – for Naccarato’s fifth-grade class and the entire school/Scott Maben, SR. More here.