Otherwise today...

K-1's have been carefully observing and recording what is happening with their Monarch caterpillars. Amazement set in as a caterpillar spun its chrysalis in what seemed like the blink of an eye!

Something new this year - Pre K children are working with specialists each week in physical education, Spanish, and music. Today they were throwing and kicking balls with Darcy. Their energy, enthusiasm, and silliness are boundless! Darcy's too!

6-7's are working on the science of sound and have made unusual musical instruments. An impromptu band performs.

Mug shots

It's not that easy to get pictures of middle school kids in action - they mug for the camera!

Scientists at work

2-3's are learning scientific methods. Goggles-on, hands-on, minds-on!

To see what we could see

K-1's went outside this morning with science teacher Katie Perry to see what they could see. The first thing they saw was a snake! Then a huge spider, maybe a wolf spider. Katie got it into a jar for further observation. Little crickets were hopping all around and the kids captured a few.

An article in the latest Newsweek features "green" education that doesn't have to cost a lot. Studies reinforce what we know at Parker already, that nature-based learning is powerful. The article says "teachers with green lesson plans use the natural world as a tool, like leading a study on an ordinary stream, which can include language, math, and social studies." It teaches them to be good citizens and good thinkers.

As an educational researcher in the article says, "If you take kids outside, it typically engages them..." Judging from Parker kids, I'd agree.

Mondays are for cookin'

"After Club" has taken off under the lively guidance of Michele, our Pre K 4 and K math teacher. Mentors in grades 4 - 8 have signed on to help the younger children and organize activities. Mondays are for cookin' and today it was crazy shape pretzels. Yum yum!

Fall Community Work Day

Kids, parents, grandparents, and teachers all joined in on a beautiful day to paint, rake gravel and sand, refinish woodwork, wash windows, and lots more! We had fun and got the greenhouse to the stage where the students can build the benches (thats what they call tables in greenhouses) from donated wooden pallets.

We had over 15 families and a dozen faculty and staff pitching in - Thank you everybody!!!

School in the great outdoors

4-5's spent a pleasant hour reading in the tree house - a great way to end the second day of school.

By 11 a.m.

First Day!

Big smiles - new backpacks, new hair-do's, new teeth, new school year!

Transition

Camp is over! Despite the rain, the last weeks of camp held fun and wonder. The rain didn't hurt the gardens.

The Green Fiber truck came to take our cardboard and paper to make it into housing insulation. Recycling all the many catalogs we get over the summer feels a little less random when we know they are going to a local company.

It sure is quiet here this week. We are spending the last week before teachers meetings getting ready for school to start. I am writing agendas and grant proposals. Wanda is doing the final floor waxing. Laura is coordinating new students and buddy families. Beth and Natalie are sorting summer packets ~ don't forget to get yours back!