Thank you to our entire Mount Madonna School community for helping us celebrate the official grand opening of the new Hawk’s Nest Gymnasium and celebrating our commitment to environmental stewardship and education at Summit for the Planet. We are working on finalizing numbers to give an official figure on how much we collectively raised for the school and will put that out shortly.
Below is an acknowledgement from our Head of School Supriya McDonald:
There are no words that fully express the sincere appreciation and deep gratitude we felt at the opening ceremony for the new Hawks’ Nest gymnasium on Saturday.
We realize we are blessed – from the opening song, Beauty, reminding us that “through the eyes of a child you’ll be free,” to the final dedication of the gym as a place to play – along with an exuberant ribbon cutting moment and unveiling of the bronze hawk.
We are blessed to be in this beautiful environment on a redwood-covered mountain top, where teachers and students learn and “play” daily.
We are blessed that people like the Mount Madonna Center development team of Sadanand Mailliard, Dayanand Diffenbaugh, Michael Doherty and Soma Goresky, along with many volunteers gave so generously of their time.
We are blessed that hundreds of people contributed to this project, gifting our students with a place to play and celebrate, while developing their character, determination, perseverance and physical health.
Thank you one and all!
The walk-a-thon started on the course that will become a new 100-meter track. Our high school cross country and track teams led the runners and the 5K and 10K treks began! I loved seeing our older students challenge themselves with a 10K run, along with a few parents, while my son and I enjoyed a leisurely walk chatting with others along the path. The weather was sparkling and my 91-year-old father-in-law loved seeing the reptiles, birds and science projects. He was truly impressed with the friendly and fun community atmosphere that Summit creates. He echoed Dayanand’s opening ceremony comment by saying, “What a great day to be alive!”
There are many people to thank for Summit for the Planet, as almost everyone in our community helps with some aspect. Working and playing together is the way we build relationships. Celebrating together is the way we build connection and grow a healthy school community. We see the three pillars of our school shine brightly, while watching young trash fashion designers model their creations, listening to the singing of children and student bands, playing eco games and watching students demonstrate their roller coasters and solar cars.
The Summit for the Planet festival supports our school economically and energetically, bringing our families together for a day of fun, creativity, exercise and learning.
Special thanks to our Summit for the Planet planning committee who began weekly meetings in January. Their ideas and work makes this event possible: Linda Manzur, committee chair, Bob Caplan, Jenni Leach, Jessica Cambell and Sarojani Rohan.
- Anand Darsie planned the musical entertainment and shared the master of ceremonies role
- Cassia Laffin for coordinating and emceeing the trash fashion show
- Benná Dimig for the opening ceremony reception
- Robyn Pearson for the Summit website and registration table
- Paul Davies, Jim Saunders and Juan Gonzales for staging the events
- Mike Will and David Shelton for trail work
- Beth Brennan for organizing and running the ticket booth
- Jose Lopez, photography, along with many parent photographers
Thank you to all the faculty and staff who gave generously of their time and money, pledging students and creating activities for fun and games.
Thank you parents who helped with set-up, running the events, concessions, breakdown, eco carnival logistics, registration, encouraging students to get pledges and many other essential tasks.
Many thanks to our generous event sponsors (http://www.summitfortheplanet.org/sponsor-support-share/sponsors/)
And thank you to all who donated time, talent and treasure, helping to make the gym opening ceremony and the 11th annual Summit for the Planet a memorable success!
With Gratitude, Supriya
