Goin' buggy

We might just as well call it Bug Camp - collecting bugs has become a passion. Bug nets are the most highly prized item at camp. Next to that, playing in water is sublime.

Space week at camp

Eating "crater" cakes and watermelon in the treehouse this morning and then this afternoon - rockets!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

On June 27, SeanO's drama campers performed a rousing Wizard of Oz. It was a creative rendition of the old favorite with squeaky Munchkins, scary wicked witches, a flamboyant wizard, Dorothy's sweet "Over the Rainbow" and our old friends the Lion, the Tinman and the Scarecrow. Sets, costumes, and special effects were a marvel. The audience laughed, cried, and applauded. It was the grand culmination of a wonderful week of camp. Teddy Bear campers and Dinosaur campers had a great week, too!

Now we are back from the 4th of July break and on to July heat and humidity. Kids are keeping cool with water play and art photography.

Seventh grade movie night

At the Scholarship Auction, seventh grade parents (last year's sixth) were the highest bidders for "Campfire Dessert and Giant Outdoor Movie with Meg." Big Sky Screens had donated a showing and combined with my fine campfire culinary talents, it garnered big bids!

We had so much fun. Last night was beautiful - a respite from our recent thunderstorms. Most of the class could come, and they leaped around in the woods and fields collecting firewood and chasing a giant frisbee. They gorged themselves on s'mores and banana boats (me too.) As nighttime fell we donned glow necklaces, grabbed some popcorn and settled on our blankets for Back to the Future on the humongous inflated movie screen. We swatted at mosquitoes, chased fireflies, and declared the night the "most fun of the summer!"

The flavor of summer

What is it about s'mores? Just smelling the campfire drew me down to the field and now my fingers are sticky with marshmallow and I smell like smoke - I love it!

Our kids are loving camp. James had Adventure campers on a trip to the USS Slater; they have set up secret circles in the woods, built fires, kicked back in a tent, played lots of great games - a kid's dream week!

Teddy Bear campers have managed to get into the water every day - even though the week has been cool. They have cooked, made passports and been transported to a fishy world of under the sea songs and activities.

Art Camp and Fairy Tale Camp have delighted in creating magical worlds with paper jungles and giant origami canoes and masks for daily performances. Campers have cooked up a batch of stone soup, written their own tales, and held daily performances - along with donning bathing suits, playing in water, and eating their share of s'mores.

Tastes like summer!

Class of 2008

It is hard to believe that the class of 2008 has graduated! They did a beautiful job at graduation - the speeches were heartfelt and they showed maturity and poise. I feel especially sad to see this group of kids go! It is the first year that we have had children who attended Pre K all the way to 8th grade (we just added the Pre K to Parker 10 years ago.) We came up with a new tradition to award a certificate to any child who began and ended at Parker - they are officially "Beginning and Enders."

Alexandra A. from the class of 2004 gave some advice and words of wisdom. She is graduating from Darrow School and will head to Bennington in the fall - she hopes to study architecture.

Now many of the 8th graders are back studying for Regents exams - it's a good thing because I really don't want to say goodbye.

Keeping cool on Field Day

94 degree heat did not keep Parker kids from having a cool time on Field Day! It helped to take a dip in the dunk tank - or eat an ice cream sundae prepared by our amazing parents. Then the crowd roared at their own antics in the 2008 video yearbook.

How did we get to the last day so soon???

Show of Work

K-1's and 2-3's put on an impressive show of work about their studies of Mexico and the Sonora Desert, and of India and the Ganges River. Our students were expert guides for their visitors. As you can see, Indiana Jones made an appearance in the desert sunset.

Excitement in the waning days

How could it be June?? Every day is full as the feeling grows that there is only a little time left and so much to do!

K-1's had Alex's Dad, Aaron, visit to tell about his profession as an archaeologist - hard hat essential. Pre K bikers are revving around the playground. Regents practice intensifies for eighth graders in math, earth science and Spanish.

In the next days, K-1 will be transformed into the Sonora Desert; 2-3's will share their India and Ganges River learning; and final field trips will head out. Field Day is ahead with an ice cream sundae party and the premier of the video yearbook. Then Graduation!

More fun with worms