Art Matters
At Mount Madonna School (MMS), we believe that art is a crucial part of a well-rounded education. That’s why on any given week at MMS, the art studio bustles with activity from our young first graders all the way up to 12th…
Faculty
Remembering F.W. de Klerk
We were saddened to learn that F.W. de Klerk, South Africa’s last apartheid president, passed away on November 11 at age 85. Mount Madonna School students interviewed de Klerk during their 2013 Sawubona-Ngikhona (I see you/Yes, we see you too) learning journey…
The Apple Container by Lisa Catterall
The environment and the economy are really both two sides of the same coin. If we cannot sustain the environment we cannot sustain ourselves. – Wangari Maathai The time of year has come again when I feel pulled apart by my love…
Gather and Grow: Honoring Supriya McDonald
Supriya McDonald, a teacher, administrator and head of school at Mount Madonna School (MMS) who retired in June 2020 after more than 30 years of service, was honored in-person on October 20, for her dedication and service to the school community with…
KION News Channel 5/46.com: High School Students in Santa Cruz Build Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles for Ocean Experiments
KION News Channel 5/46.com, “High school students in Santa Cruz build Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles for Ocean Experiments,” by Melody Waintal. Mount Madonna School Engineering Club students built an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to explore the ocean floors of Catalina Island….
Engineering Club Students Build Underwater ROVs for Ocean Experiments
What does it take to design and build a submersible, water-tight instrument to explore the oceans? Last week, with their school trip to Catalina Island just 10 days away, Mount Madonna School (MMS) high school Engineering Club students gave up lunch periods,…
Honoring the Past, Looking to the Future: Progressive Pedagogy in Preschool by Jasmine Star Horan
By Jasmine Star Horan As we enter into this new school year, the preschool at Mount Madonna School (MMS) is in a unique position of honoring its rich history and opening to a future of creativity and innovation. The MMS preschool and…
Growing Up in Santa Cruz, Teacher’s Desk: “Back In-Person” by Lisa Catterall
Growing Up in Santa Cruz, Teacher’s Desk, “Back In-Person” by Lisa Catterall There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about. – Margaret Wheatley This summer, I’ve been teaching in a program where I feel compelled…
Class of 2021: Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Seniors’ College Choices
Mount Madonna School (MMS) is pleased to announce Kira Kaplan as the 2021 valedictorian and Sara Bautista as salutatorian. These students earned this distinction through hard work and focused effort, edging out their peers at the Central Coast school known for strong…
Deep Connections and Unintended Benefits: Reflections on "Ramayana!"
By Lisa Catterall Fourteen years ago, I was a new parent and a new teacher at Mount Madonna School (MMS). I was a refugee from a job at Genentech that had me commuting far away from my three year old, and doing…