New School Montessori’s students in 4th, 5th and 6th grade have been especially busy this spring.
- On campus, they’ve worked with adult volunteers and teachers to plan and maintain the vegetable and flower gardens in the Learning Garden, getting their hands in the soil, weeding and caring for the plants. Dr. Maria Montessori believed in the importance of nature in education, and we are thrilled to have this important space to connect with the rhythms of nature.
- On a field trip to the studios of WVXU, students attended a live radio show where they asked horticultural experts questions about garden pests.
- Many students took part in an after-school Shakespeare club where they discussed the richness of the language, the timeless messages of Romeo and Juliet and performed the play multiple times for students, parents and the public in our new performance space in the Kaleidoscope Center. Here is a video link showing clips from the students’ Romeo and Juliet performance in which the students share their insights about how this process has impacted them.
- Our 6th graders wowed us with their senior project presentations on topics ranging from the Brothers Grimm to French cuisine. Throughout the year, students researched their topic, wrote a 10+ page paper, mastered the craft of summarizing their findings, and then experienced the thrill of presenting a 5-minute presentation. These projects are true celebrations of their curiosity, independence, and growth.
- Many students took part in an after-school Shakespeare club where they discussed the richness of the language, the timeless messages of Romeo and Juliet and performed the play multiple times for students, parents and the public in our new performance space in the Kaleidoscope Center. Here is a video link showing clips from the students’ Romeo and Juliet performance in which the students share their insights about how this process has impacted them.
Many thanks to all who have enjoyed the colorful Learning Garden, to those who tuned in to hear our students on WVXU, and to those who came to listen and support our students in their theater performances and Senior Project presentations. What a caring extended community we have!
Ann Baumgardner