My Visit to New Egypt High School

Attending New Egypt High School to talk about Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being an invited guest to an audience of approximately 100 students from English, History, French, and Forensics classes of New Egypt High School in my town. The audience  listened as I explained the long journey of writing and publishing "Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour." 

Only a handful of the students had known of Natalie Wood before the project began for them weeks ago, but now have an understanding of Natalie Wood's importance in history. Several of the attending students had made an interesting video of the Natalie case reopening as part of the study.

I think it is wonderful that many young people worldwide are realizing the impact Natalie Wood had in our history. Those in yesterday's audience realize how huge a celebrity Natalie was, and we talked about her classic movies, at which point most had realized they've seen her in "Miracle on 34th Street" and in "West Side Story," a play that had been produced at the very school we discussed Natalie.

I was so impressed with the perceptive questions many of the students had for me, and it was such a comfortable atmosphere in the media center area of the high school library. The teachers, as well, are all fascinated with the legend of Natalie Wood. It was a wonderful experience and I believe the majority of the students found it to be an interesting afternoon.

My granddaughter, Jessica West, who is an alumni of the high school, attended with me, and she served as a graphic, living example of how long I had worked on GNGS, as she hadn't even been born yet when I started.

Lynn M. Pryzbylkowski, the Structured Learning Experience Coordinator of New Egypt High School, oversaw the afternoon project, and I can't thank her and all involved enough for having me as a guest speaker, and I appreciate everyone's interest and hospitality.