Santa Cruz Sentinel, 10/16/2011, Education Digest, “Young students explores ‘Edible Learning’; and “Students get hands-on history lesson.” Read more: http://www.scsextra.com/story.php?sid=109352&storySection=Letters&fromSearch=true&searchTerms=
With so many parents seeking out positive learning experiences for their children, teachers and administrators are often asked just what it is that sets their school apart. At Mount Madonna School (MMS), located atop a mountain overlooking the Monterey Bay, the inspiring natural environment of 355 acres of redwood forests and oak meadows is one significant and unique offering for local students and their families.
The Connection, Summer/Fall 2011 edtion, an annual publication for families, friends and alumni of Mount Madonna School.
“I love to bake bread,” says 5-year-old Adrian Jonker. “I love that it has the beautifullest smell that goes with it.” Jonker, a kindergarten student at Mount Madonna School (MMS), made his comments during a recent classroom baking lesson. Riley Brown, also in kindergarten adds that she loves baking because she then gets to eat for class snack what she baked.
KSCO 1080AM, 10/11/2011, Listen to the podcast of educator Sri Gyan McCaughan’s interview on the Dr. Future program: http://www.drfutureshow.com/drfutureblog/month/october-2011
Santa Cruz Sentinel, 10/10/2011, Coast Lines: “Teacher to discuss ‘war against our children,’ read more: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_19079481
“What does a post-consumer society look like?” asks longtime Mount Madonna School (MMS) teacher Sri Gyan James McCaughan. “As educators,
To raise funds for construction of our new multipurpose gymnasium, Mount Madonna School participated in Drive for Schools! ALL stubs, money, and unsold tickets were due back by Thursday, October 13th. The auto/cash drawing took place on Sunday, October 23rd at 1:00pm at the Capitola Auto Mall (Toyota). You do not need to be present to win. LIST OF WINNERS
THANK YOU to families and students for your support of the Drive for Schools ticket sales. We raised $8,519 for our Capital Campaign.
The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade classes sold the most tickets and they will celebrate with pizza lunch parties!
Congratulations to our top individual fundraisers who will receive gift certificates as a thank you for their outstanding efforts:
Reflections from Summer
by Supriya Mary McDonald
Summertime is space for growth, renewal and adventure in my household. Having been in education now for over 36 years as an adult and 15 years as a student and daughter of a teacher, my internal time clock has always been in rhythm with the cycle of school life. Fall was the time for new beginnings, filled with excitement and curiosity; Winter, a time for study and indoor wonderings and experiments; Spring, the time for applying new knowledge, tracking progress and performance and finally Summer, the time for unscheduled play, learning and adventure. I am often surprised by the amount of growth that happens in our students over the down time of Summer. For me, summer camping, hiking and being in the outdoor environment, contains the nourishment and connection I need to broaden my perspective of the whole.
‘Kelp The Otters’ is more than a clever play on words…it a plea that Mount Madonna School’s 5th grade students have taken to heart – and are encouraging the public to join in. Their goal is to educate people about the plight of the California Sea Otter, which is identified by scientists as a keystone species. Keystone species play a critical role in maintaining the healthy structure of their environment, in this case, the ocean habitat.
