Hawk Life

2012 Co-Valedictorians, Salutatorian and Seniors’ College Choices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mount Madonna School (MMS) is pleased to announce McKenzie Caborn and Kabir Ahluwalia as the 2012 senior class Co-Valedictorians, and Alex Hooven as Salutatorian. These three students earned this distinction through hard work and focused effort, edging out their peers at the small Central Coast school known for strong academics, environmental education, performing arts and a competitive volleyball program. The 2012 high school graduation ceremony will commence at 9:30am on Thursday, June 14 at the school’s upper campus.

Summit for Planet: Thank You, One and All!

We want to take this opportunity to say “Thank You” and “Congratulations” to our faculty, students, parents, family and community who participated in 2012 Summit for the Planet . We are so grateful for your energy and support – whether as a walker, trash fashionista, songbird, band member, dunker or dunkee, wreath maker, pledge getter, pledge giver, volunteer in advance or onsite – all contributions were essential, recognized and so much appreciated!

More than 250 people walked and ran together on Saturday, representing MMS and seven other nonprofit organizations. A combined total of more than $26,800 was raised, of which $22,765 – and counting – was raised in support of Mount Madonna School!

Second Graders Seek Help for Shelter Animals

Recently Mount Madonna School’s (MMS) second grade students attended three classes through the “Growing Kinder” Humane Education Program of the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS). The program is founded by Jen Walker, an experienced animal welfare advocate and humane education specialist. The first session began with Walker guiding the students on a behind-the-scenes tour at the animal shelter. For their next couple meetings, Walker offered lessons at MMS with her cat, Guido, and dog, Moon.

Eighth Graders Build Engineering Skills and Prepare for Solar Car Race

Eighth grade students at Mount Madonna School are developing engineering skills in preparation for building their own solar cars to race at the 6th annual Summit for the Planet Walk-a-thon and Celebration on April 28.

The class began a three-week engineering unit involving experiments and activities designed to give them an intrinsic understanding of engineering basics, electricity, solar panel placement, circuitry, fluid dynamics, gear ratios, Newtonian mechanics, and experimental design.

With History, Art and Stories, Students Journey Through Japan

Graceful arched bridges, a three-headed dragon, samurai warriors, a family of mice, taiko drums, and stories of children’s everyday lives all have a role in Mount Madonna School’s (MMS) annual Cultural Awareness Performance on March 30. This popular event – which showcases elementary students’ dramatic talents and creativity– is the culmination of several months of focused study on a particular world culture: this year, the island nation of Japan.

Student Artwork Fundraiser: Proceeds to Benefit Disaster Relief Efforts in Japan

We hope you are planning to attend our elementary students’ Cultural Awareness Performance on March 30. The performance is the culmination of months of academic and enriching study about the island nation of Japan. In recent weeks students, preschool through fifth grade, have created beautiful and vibrant works in different mediums and styles, including Japanese-inspired ceramics, fans, Kabuki stage set pieces, paintings and silhouettes. Many of these works will be on display, and guests will have the opportunity to purchase them, with proceeds being donated to the Japan Society.

Cold Science: the Curious Chemistry of Liquid Nitrogen

Into a tall, clear glass cylindrical container, about a third full with tap water and dishwashing detergent, Mount Madonna School (MMS) parent John Wagner using metal tongs drops a small chunk of dry ice.  “We’re here to talk about things that are cold,” he tells the gathered third and fourth grade MMS students. Dry ice, Wagner says, is frozen carbon dioxide and has a temperature of 123 degrees below zero.

Students Prepare for Creative Writing Reading

By Melissa Sanders-Self, MMS High School English Teacher

“ Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”
– Anton Chekov

The Mount Madonna School Creative Writing Reading is an annual event where students, faculty, parents and friends gather together to listen to our student writers read. This year we will gather on Friday, March 8 at 7:00pm to listen to open letters, villanelles, short stories, sestinas, sonnets, monologues, first person narratives and other inspired forms of writing.