Winter at Nana Cardoon's

Rachel's Tree Swallows have enjoyed several trips to Nana Cardoon's family farm, despite the rain and chill this winter. In top secret, they have been interviewing Nana and Richard about their garden practices to create a Treasure book this Spring. The book will be a thank you for the many treats that the couple has shared with the class. Below, see the delicious rolls that they taught Swallows to make in their earth oven. This month, Swallow students also had the chance to share their knowledge of farmlife at Nana Cardoon's with their Level Three Owl buddies.

The Kestrels Fish Release

A few weeks ago, Charlie's Kestrels trekked out to Scoggins Creek at Hagg Lake to release the trout that they had been raising from eggs in the school aquarium. It was a frenzied race against the clock to scoop up as many trout as possible before loading onto the bus. After finding a safe location for their tiny trout to start their life in the current, students explored the creekside, discovering beaver sticks and other treasures. After lunch, the class got an exclusive tour of the Scoggins dam spillway.

During this trip, the Kestrels were already experienced fish releasers: just in December, they made the trip to John Blodgett Arboretum off Highway 6 to release a batch of salmon. The tree full of woodpecker holes and a salmon jaw, below, were just a few of the discoveries made in these woods. Students also gathered up over 16 pounds of garbage on this trip, sorting and disposing of it back at school.

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

Exactly how do you catch a crocodile? And, if I blindfold you and spin you 3.6 times, will you stil be able to find your way? An what is that magical energy that keeps anti-gravity poles off the ground? When it comes to team-building activities, games that challenge students to work together in creative ways, the more outrageous the challenge, the more fun! Just ask these students...

Senior Center

During December, Level 2 classes made visits to the local Senior Center to learn and share stories with the seniors of Forest Grove.

The Falcons presented a short play they had been working on about land rights in Forest Grove. Since many of the Seniors had been residing in this area for over 40 years, they were able to share stories of watching Forest Grove change and grow over time.

Seniors at the Center on Wednesday got the chance to make holiday cards with the Merlins. With stacks of old cards, scissors and glue at their disposal, students worked with Senior buddies to craft creatively reused cards. At first timid, students worked up to asking the seniors to share stories about their childhood and schoolyear memories. The cards were sold at a winter Celebration of Learning as a fund-raiser for Pennies for Peace.

For the Kestrels visit, students brought their most prized skill: oragami. They folded paper crane ornaments as a gift for seniors, and taught those who were willing to fold their own cranes. They ended by singing, "Cranes Over Hiroshima," inpiring many tears among the audience. As I rounded up the troups to head back to school, 6th-grade Abe turned and said, "I don't ever want to leave! This place is awesome." There you have it!