By Lisa Catterall Children make your life important. — Erma Bombeck I’m staring at a dresser covered with dirty glasses. They have rings of dried and yellowed milk, encrusted smoothie droplets, and they are sitting on top of a stack of plates,…
Growing Up in Santa Cruz, February 2022, Teacher’s Desk, “The World is Knocking” by Lisa Catterall. He who has a why to live can bear almost any how. – Friedrich Nietzsche This week I had the pleasure of teaching in a true…
It is my conviction that there is no way to peace — peace is the way. — Thich Nhat Hanh Children are naturally more present than grown-ups. They are honest, in the moment, yet often are a bit “wound up.” Practicing mindfulness with…
Two Mount Madonna School (MMS) high school classmates are running a book drive as part of their Senior Capstone Project. They are accepting donations of new and used books for all ages, and in particular are interested for inclusive books reflecting the…
The Mount Madonna School (MMS) community honored the life of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. by participating in a nationwide day of service on Friday, January 14. All students from the tiniest preschoolers to our almost-ready-to-graduate seniors got their hands…
As a rule, young children are curious “hands-on” humans who like exploring their surroundings – and the broader world – using all of their senses. On a recent day in the Mount Madonna School (MMS) preschool classroom, the classroom “hummed” with positive,…
Belle, an introverted young woman with an affinity for stories and literature, unexpectedly finds herself immersed in her own adventurous, magical tale, after meeting the Beast, a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to…
While it’s not unusual for school communities to contribute to local food drives, it may be unique to have the effort led for more than a decade by six- and seven-year-old children. Each fall Mount Madonna School (MMS) second grade students, guided…
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…
Aptos Times, 11/1/2021, “Live Earth Farm: Learning Where Food Comes From.” A story about Mount Madonna School preschool and fourth grade students’ recent learning journey to Live Earth Farm in Watsonville. Read online (please note, story begins on bottom right of cover…
