October 17 2016
Dear Cuvilly Friends,
The transition from the long, lazy days of summer to the bustle of the new school year is
underway. The familiar sounds of laughter and pounding sneakers mix with the backdrop
of honking geese and baying horses as everyone vies for a place above the chatter. The
shifting seasons reminds us that change is a process of both letting go and making room, as
we say good-bye to old friends and welcome new ones. We have such a special place here
of budding stewards, and are excited to share with you some of the many new and exciting
changes here at Cuvilly this year!
We are excited to welcome two new teachers to our staff this year. Julie comes to us with
many years of experience and a big interest in science and art. She is very crafty with fiber
arts and the children have already begun
benefiting from her talents and as they work
together to make a friendship quilt. Alicia is
an Ipswich hometown girl who went to Doyon
and then Ipswich Middle and High school. She
went to Mount Ida for her early childhood
degree and worked for several years in
Beverly before joining our team. Both have a
knack for connecting kids with nature and
have worked for Audubon in the past. As
teachers come and go, we are forever grateful
for the time, commitment and love that all our
staff share with the next season of learners.
This summer’s SKIL program saw lots of great expansion, with 30 students on the roster
this year! The Three Sister’s Garden Project farm was an amazing classroom as the children
focused their exploration in the fields and garden’s asking questions like, “What can you do
with food once it is harvested,” “How does farming help provide for our community,” and “In
what way does a farm contribute to a healthy planet.” And of course everyone was amazed when
they realized that dirt really did make their lunch! As we look ahead, we are planning to
continue the expansion and build our infrastructure to accommodate not only more SKIL
Respecting the earth as our primary classroom and teacher.
10 Jeffrey’s Neck Road * Ipswich, MA 01938 * www.cuvilly.org * 978-356-4288
students, but also students from local schools as we continue to further our mission to
connect the community to the land and each other.
But for now, we are enjoying the waning days of autumn. With nature as our greater
teacher, we have spent most of our time outside this year. The dry, sunny days, while
absent of much needed rain, offer lots of opportunities to explore all corners of our campus.
We are talking about seeds and finding ways to collect and catch them as the plants hunker
down for the long winter ahead. We have been taste testing apples to see which ones we
like the best and charting our results – often making it hard to tell where play ends and
learning begins – just the way we like it!
Expansion of SKIL, nurturing our curriculum, and reminding the wider community how “all
life is sacred” is hard work. From the animals that greet our students each day to the
gardens they explore – our many “classrooms” need care. These essential enrichments add
to our annual budget. Tuition covers only a portion of our total operating budget and the
rest is up to you. If each of you gave a little this giving season, our need to fundraise
for the rest of the year would be dramatically reduced. This means more time to get
outside and focus on what we do best!
We ask that you support us this year in your annual giving by clicking the “Make a
Contribution” button below. Your contribution ensures that these vital programs continue
to nurture and inspire this next generation and plant in them seeds that will continue to
grow throughout their lives.
Regards,
Sister Patricia Rolinger, SNDdeN
Executive Director
Cuvilly Arts and Earth Center
CLICK HERE
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Respecting the earth as our primary classroom and teacher.
10 Jeffrey’s Neck Road * Ipswich, MA 01938 * www.cuvilly.org * 978-356-4288