School Happenings

on and around campus

Bookfest

Once again, the Friends of the Library Committee planned our wonderful week-long Bookfest! From storytime for preschoolers, to book talks for adults, there was something for everyone to be inspired and enlightened. The Bookfest activities culminated in a community event where students, families, and friends came out to support the library, as well as a local organization called Aprendiendo Juntos/Learning Together. Special guests included authors Pam Hearst and Dorothy Berkma, who were on hand to share their book, Filigree’s Midnight Ride, in which Pomeranian Filigree stows away on Paul Revere’s famous ride. This is the first book oftheir series, At the Heels of History, stories inspired by important events and told through the eyes of dogs. In addition, author Ian Lendler shared The First Dinosaur, which tells the story of fossil discoveries and advances in science. Bookfest helps to cultivate community-building with a refreshed focus on reading, literacy, and storytelling. Thank you to all the parent volunteers who put so much work into this event.

Grandparents & Special Friends Day

Each year, Grandparents & Special Friends Day brings hundreds of guests to school from near and far to build connections, watch performances, and celebrate learning. On November 17, grandparents and special friends joined their beloved MP&MS students on campus to spend time together. After socializing and enjoying coffee and breakfast treats, guests heard welcome remarks from Andrew Slater and enjoyed a slideshow featuring favorite moments from this year’s classrooms, field trips, and athletics, followed by musical and dramatic performances by students. After this, guests had a chance to tour campus, meet teachers and specialists, and visit individual classrooms for a range of activities and learning. From presentations to story time, science lab to art projects, hands-on activities to technology integration, our guests had the chance to watch and participate in a day in the life at MP&MS. As always, it is a privilege to welcome grandparents and special friends to campus in this memorable and cherished tradition.

Horse Hill

In preparation for our annual MP&MS Horse Hill Community Service Day, we invited a few horses from Horse Hill for a visit! Students and families got a chance to meet the horses of Horse Hill in the MP&MS Parking Lot during morning drop-off. Those who came early were able to enjoy petting a four-legged friend and learning about our fun community service day at Horse Hill. The following day, students and families attended the MP&MS Annual Horse Hill Community Service Day. The group worked hard to remove a large section of invasive French Broom out of our local environment in order to make room for native plants and grasses. Not only is French Broom invasive, it is also highly flammable; therefore, its eradication makes the area less prone to burning, which helps keep our community safe in times ofhigh fire danger. All in all, the kids had a great time connecting with friends, accomplishing a goal together, and making a difference in our community! Thank you to everyone who participated!

Harvest Festival

Harvest Festival celebrates the Outdoor Education Center and promotes our mission of making a difference through community action, sustainability, and global citizenship. This annual tradition highlights our longstanding practice of sustainability, while setting an important example of how we can make a difference in the local community. In this festive celebration of the harvest of our school garden, the community gathers in October in our unique outdoor classroom and living lab to enjoy and appreciate its beautiful bounty. In the weeks and months leading up to Harvest Festival, students grow and craft goodies to present, trade, and share at the festival. Students from preschool through eighth grade attend the festival, which features music, face painting, games, leaf rubbing, poetry, and a pie walk. This year, the beautiful produce from the event was donated to a local food bank serving people in need. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible!

on and around campus

Jungle Book

This year’s primary school drama production was the incredible Jungle Book! Banished by the ferocious tiger, Shere Khan, a human boy named Mowgli and his panther friend, Bagheera, are on the run in the deepest parts of the jungle. On their journey, the two meet a sinister snake named Kaa, a herd of elephants and a giant bear named Baloo, who teaches them the swinging musical rhythms of the jungle. After surviving a dangerous encounter with a band of monkeys led by King Louie, Mowgli and Bagheera are forced to run for their lives. When Shere Khan returns, our heroes must rally their fellow animals into battle and restore peace throughout the jungle. Thank you to all the student assistants, volunteers, and staff who were invaluable to this production!

Buddy Bench

The Buddy Bench was first used at MP&MS in 2016 following a “make a difference” lesson by a first grade parent. That inspired the class to make a bench and decorate it with the word for “friend” in many languages. With those students now in fifth grade, the reinvented Buddy Bench has made a comeback and is now located between the door of fourth grade and the cage. The goal is to build connection and inclusion–anyone is welcome to use it at any recess! Here are some simple rules of the Buddy Bench: “If you’re sitting on the bench, play with the first classmate who invites you. While you’re sitting on the bench, look around for a game you can join. Two friends sitting on the bench can turn to each other and invite each other to play. When you see someone on the bench, ask that person to play with you. Keep playing with your new friends!”

Building in the Zoo

Sustainability Across the Curriculum

In the Zoo, the new year brought new adventures and challenges as students continued to work on building new skills. To enhance the learning environment, Zoo friends added some tools to their workbench and began the process of learning the names of the tools, identifying how to take care of them, and understanding how to use them. Students were taught about the very important safety rules they need to follow. As they have become more proficient at using the tools, their confidence has grown, and they have become better problem solvers. The children know and understand that the tools they are using are real, heavy, and sharp, which increases their concentration and attention to detail. As educators, children’s health and wellbeing comes first and foremost–every day, we take steps to ensure they are safe. We also know that risk taking is central to a child’s growth and development, and that children gain a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in their work when we teach them to reach. It is a joy to see Zoo students feeling empowered and proud of what they can do! At every grade level, students at MP&MS learn about making a difference through sustainable practices. In the preschool, Jungle students spend time talking about ways to care for the earth, playing a sorting game to put different items into piles: compost, recycle and trash. First graders heard a compelling presentation about the need for clean water around the globe. Highlighting the fact that one in ten people in the world are without access to clean water, MP&MS parent Eileen Sheldon shared information from charity:water, a nonprofit organization that builds sustainable, community-owned water projects in developing countries. Fifth graders participated in the Blue Life Journal, a 30 day challenge of meaningful prompts centered around their integrated unit on sustainability. They also hosted the annual Trashion Fashion Show project, collecting trash for a wearable art project. In seventh grade, students were excited to attend the premiere release ofthe film, The Story of Plastic. MP&MS is proud of its commitment to sustainability and global awareness, both in the curriculum and in practice.