Week of August 28th, 2019
“A community is a mental and spiritual condition of knowing that the place is shared, and that the people who share the place define and limit the possibilities of each other’s lives. It is the knowledge that people have of each other, their concern for each other, their trust in each other, the freedom with which they come and go among themselves.” --Wendell Berry
The theme and activities of our first week together are aptly summarized by Wendell Berry’s insightful words about the reality and meaning of community. At the week’s start, the middle school guides were excited to welcome our new and returning students to set goals for the year and to establish meaningful relationships. We extend a sincere “thank you” to our students for such deep and inspired goal-setting, and also to parents for their support and encouragement as your sons and daughters step into a new level of independence and greater responsibility.
Authentic community with meaningful shared purpose is at the heart of Dr. Montessori’s approach to adolescent education. They are at this age, after all, acquiring the knowledge, morals, and skills needed for participation in adult society. We emphasize this with our students from the start and encourage them to view community as an intentional mindset that requires dedication and effort. Taking this approach results in enriched communities, and enriched communities are more engaging and rewarding for all.
The place we share is an important component of our community and offers limitless opportunities for real learning and work. For this reason, students engaged in a “Site Safari” on their first day.
This activity gave them an opportunity to thoughtfully explore the property of their school while thinking of ways they could learn from all that it offers.
From ponds to woods to gardens and fields, students came together and shared many great ideas for hands-on work, study, and artistic opportunities that could be explored this year.
Other community-building activities during the first days of school encouraged students to grow in their knowledge and awareness of one another.
Individually and together, they spent some time on our first day contemplating and discussing what ethics should be in place so that each individual can feel free and safe to grow and learn in the company of others.
These ethics will soon take the form of a student-made graphic that will be posted around every environment and revisited throughout the year as they develop into socially and morally responsible citizens of society.
On our second day, students were whisked away to Penitentiary Glen Reservation, where naturalist guides led us on an adventurous hike through the gorge.
Assisting one another through streams and rocks gave everyone a chance to put ethics into action.
Information about tree and animal species, geology, microclimates, and the history of the gorge provided an educational backdrop to the work of community-building.
In the afternoon, North House Specialties became the focus. It was time to produce more jams and honey for upcoming sales ...
... check on the bees ...
... planning for the coffee business this year ...
... begin brainstorming and revisiting last year's service opportunities around the school, and update our financial records and compensate summer gardeners.
