Field
Notes
The Weekly Newsletter of The Community School of Mount Desert Island
Tuesday, October 25, 2016 - Volume #7
From the Youngers…
What does it mean to reflect? Why do we take the time to intentionally teach reflection
at The Community School? Why do we take time for reflection ourselves, as teachers?
We believe that thinking deeply and carefully about the world around us, our
interactions, our relationships is an essential tool in being thoughtful human beings who
will think critically and creatively, love, and show reverence for the world we live in. It is
often in the space we open for reflection that the ah ha moments happen. It is when
hypotheses hatch. It is when the glimmer of wonder twinkles in the eye of someone who
is watching another living thing closely; a bird, a grasshopper, a tree. It is when we draw
connections . It is when our processes evolve. It is when we find appreciation for one
another, what we and what others bring to create community.
Youngers on their Autumn stewardship visit to Cooksey Drive Overlook
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The Youngers have
been working on
their expedition final
project that has truly
been an exercise in
reflection. It has
challenged them to
not only reflect upon
our studies this Fall,
but to dig deeper in
personal reflection,
and to recall the
voices of the people,
landscapes
and
watersheds that we
have interacted with,
even the feelings that
have come up along
the way. Each child
Reminders:
- A call for pumpkins! Please bring
in your pumpkins on or before this
Friday, 10/28.
- No library week, so pick up is at
school.
- Parent Math Night with John
Tapper, this Friday, 10/28,
7pm-8:30pm.
- Please park in designated
parking areas during pick up time.
- It's that time of year when there's
a chill in the air...please pack hats,
mittens and extra layers to ensure
warmth and comfort when we are
outside.
has been collecting found objects that represent each
a special place, a person that they admire in the
community, a body of water that they know, a species
that they know, and their sense of home. Carefully,
they have tied each piece and are hanging them from
a mobile, made from a branch they chose from the
school woods. They are in the works, and they are
simply beautiful. They have also created an associated
Expedition Log page to capture their representations.
We will hold an exhibition and welcome you to view
their final projects this Thursday, at pick-up time.
The Youngers also enjoyed an autumnal visit to the
Cooksey Drive Overlook, where we took a careful
look at the four species that were fruiting; the Seaside
Rose (hips), Northern Bay (bayberries), Winterberry
Thank you to:
(winterberries), and Juniper (juniper berries). Each
Julia Walker Thomas for taking
child chose one species from our lesson to capture in
our school pictures and to the
their nature journal. We collected a small specimen of
Ehrlich/Ireland family for
each, which now reside on our classroom nature table.
donating raspberry and mulberry
As we explored, we reflected on the land that we
bushes for our native planting
plan.
could see from the overlook, and the sea that
stretched to the
horizon, the mighty
Atlantic. Somewhere beyond our view, was Isle au Haut,
we thought, so we parted singing Isle au Haut Lullaby.
We are very excited for our Northeast Creek paddle this
Thursday! Enjoy these crisp, autumn days.
Best,
Miss Jasmine
From the Olders…
Dear Families,
The last week of October is here! The Olders have been
observing the changes this month as we embrace the
chill in the air and the leaves that continue to shift their
colors each day.
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Nature Journaling
Last week we began working on elements of our final projects in Expedition. The
children have become avid dendrologists and are working on creating a field guide to the
trees of Babson Creek. We are celebrating the diversity of this island (and our new home)
by learning the names of the trees that surround us. Each child is working on drawing
tree leaves and writing informational entries on specific trees of their choice. They have
been pouring over field guides and eagerly absorbing interesting facts and scientific
details. On our outing last week, we collected and pressed as many tree species as we
could find along the banks of the creek.
Eliza Working on Dendrology projects during Expedition
Each child has also started constructing a personal timeline of park history, working to
write engaging descriptions of the important events we've explored so far.
The children have embraced their new homework responsibilities. We are still getting
comfortable with this rhythm and will continue to guide and support the children in their
work. Thank you for supporting from home!
As the fall weather turns chilly, please begin to send in winter gear. This time of year neck
warmers, hats and gloves are important items to keep us all warm and happy when
outside.
A reminder that timely drop off is important in the morning as the children benefit from
time to settle in before we begin class at 8:30. 5-10 minutes to organize themselves is
ideal.
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I look forward to our upcoming Math Night
this Friday and am excited to hear from
John Tapper. I'll see you there!
For our outing this week, we will be headed
to Northeast Creek to paddle and pick
cranberries. Children should have all needed
gear at school--rain boots and extra layers
are essential.
With warmth,
Bethany
Olders explore the salt marsh at
the headwaters of Babson Creek
Specialty Classes
Handwork
“The children are doing their work surrounded by nature!", remarked my mother after
seeing photos of last week's classes. And so it was, as we sat in a circle on our blanket, sun
streaming down, ducks nestled in colorful leaves nearby. The children were so happily
engaged in their handwork.
The Olders are creating cords for their handwork bags. Several students are learning how
to make butterfly cords. This is a double fingerknitting technique that produces a cord
similar to a lanyard. The students are doing a fine job of concentrating and keeping even
tension. Using beautifully colored yarn of their choosing, the remainder of the students
are making finger knitted cords. Once completed, the students are learning to thread the
cords through the casing of the handwork bags using a safety pin and strong fingers. This
is a useful skill, as we often have laces and cords that wiggle their way out in the wash!
In the Youngers classroom we have several projects happening simultaneously. Students
put the finishing touches on their talking sticks. Several students learned to fingerknit.
This is an exciting skill to learn, as one can make so many fun and useful items with
fingerknitted chains. Our needle knitters chose colors to use for their knitted animals and
watched eagerly while I cast on the first row of stitches for them. Casting on stitches is
challenging for beginner knitters, so I ask them to watch carefully as the birds come to
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perch on the branch(stitches on needle). As they
become more proficient and experienced, they
will learn to cast on their stitches.
It is always such a treat to have Phoebe join us.
The students warm right up to her and seem to
appreciate her patience and gentle ways. I am
always delighted to have her help and company.
We can look forward to seeing her again during
her holiday break.
Blake beginning her knitted animal
Warmly,
Miss Karen
Spanish
Thankful for having a gorgeous warm and shining day in our school, this week in both
classes we have explored outdoors with our five senses -Cinco Sentidos-. We were talking
about the organs of our body and the sense of sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch in
Spanish. Our senses allow us to learn, protect ourselves and enjoy our world. As great way
to help kids to learn about their powers of perception and how they use them to
experience different objects, we explored our surrounding. We wanted to know how Fall
feels, so we practiced the sense of touch through this activity: Touch the Fall –Toca el
Otoño–. There were six Fall Guess Bags –Bolsas de Otoño– and kids with their eyes
closed had to focus on their sense of touch to guess what was inside of every bag. Smooth
acorns -Bellotas-, bumpy pine cones -Piñas-, round, smooth freshly picked apples Manzanas-, crunchy, crackling
leaves -Hojas-, rounded, uniform
Pumpkin -Calabaza-, cozy wool
socks -Calcetines- representing an
e n d to t h e b a r e f o o t d a y s o f
summer: This is how Fall feels. We
had an enjoyable experience.
We went Leaf Hunting, where kids
walked and collected their favorite
leaf. Students had been working in
pairs describing their leaves.
Children determined whether
their leaf should be classified as
Leaf Classification in Spanish
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Small -Pequeña-, Medium -Mediana-, or Large -Grande-, as well as the color group it falls
into. As part of this activity also children kept a leaf in their hands, pretending be a tree
and let the leaves fall while they were counting in Spanish as many numbers until their
leaf touches the ground. Children did a great job together. Buen trabajo amigos! During
next week, we will deepen on the issue of the traditional Day of the Dead –Día de los
muertos-.
Warmly,
Miss Karina
Upcoming Events and Announcements
King and Queens of Northeast Creek
Thursday, October 27, 10am-3pm
Once called Kings Creek, we paddle Northeast Creek, donning crowns and capes, paddle
together and harvest cranberries in the bog. We will be learning about the ecological and
historical significance of this watershed and enjoy the wild bounty of the cranberry
harvest. We hear that it is a good cranberry year! We have plenty of volunteers for this
outing. Thank you for the interest!
Pumpkin Carving
Friday, October 28, 1:30pm-3pm
Each year each child brings a pumpkin and together we carve jack-o-lanterns, light them
in a dark space and join together for a story of All Hallows Eve. We will carve pumpkins
on Friday afternoon, and they will go home after school to bring a glow to your doorstep!
Costume Parade
Monday, October 31, 3:00pm
Your child may come dressed in a school-appropriate costume on Monday for Halloween,
if they wish. We will have a costume parade around the driveway loop and down to the
fire pit, where you are welcome to join us for pumpkin bread just before pick-up.
Parent Math Night, with John Tapper
Friday, October 28, 7pm-8:30pm
We would like at least one parent representative from each family to join us for this
special evening with John Taper, discussing the Math model that we use at The
Community School, and how it is beneficial to children's learning tools and development.
John is a leading expert in mathematical and multi age instruction, and conducts
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professional development workshops on these topics with educators around the world.
His book, Solving for Why has been an integral resource in the development of our
school's Math program, and we look forward to welcoming John to our community.
While John is currently working on two more books, he is also a professor at the
University of Hartford. John will hold a workshop with the faculty on Saturday.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The Community School Harvest Festival is coming up! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Saturday, November 19, 10am-4pm
In just a few weeks, the schoolhouse will be transformed into a seasonal celebration
including a farmers market, artisan fair, Community School Store, auctions, delicious
food, music and activities! It is a great time to begin your holiday shopping, stock up on
Thanksgiving goods, and celebrate the bounty of the season. As our largest fundraiser of
the year, we ask for the support of our school community to help this event be successful
and run smoothly. There are many opportunities to volunteer both in preparation and
during the event. Here are some pre-festival dates for the calendar-- we welcome you to
join us when you are able:
~Planning/Initial Volunteers Meeting: Wednesday, October 26,
2:30-3:15pm in the school office.
~Parent Craft Evening #1: Tuesday, November 1, 6pm-8pm
~Parent Craft Evening #2: Thursday, November 10, 6pm-8pm
~Harvest Festival Pricing, Packaging and Preparing Evening: Thursday,
November 17, 5pm-7pm
Please bring people and help promote the festival. The event poster is attached to Field
Notes this week, and there is an events page on Facebook. If you need printed versions
of the poster, please let us know.
Cultivating a Sense of Self, Place, and Community.
website: www.thecommunityschool.me email: [email protected]
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