Other News

Santa Cruz Sentinel, 4/1/2012, Education Digest, "MMS hosts planet summit" and "Campus Tour." Read more: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_20301493/education-digest-...

“It is very important to learn how to save our ecosystems,” comments fifth grader Jules Barivan. And for the past several months, the class has been doing just that – engaging in extensive research, public speaking, local habitat restoration and community outreach and education, all as part of their project “Give A Hoot: It’s Foul to Hurt the Burrowing Owl.”

Recently Mount Madonna School’s (MMS) second grade students attended three classes through the “Growing Kinder” Humane Education Program of the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS). The program is founded by Jen Walker, an experienced animal welfare advocate and humane education specialist. The first session began with Walker guiding the students on a behind-the-scenes tour at the animal shelter. For their next couple meetings, Walker offered lessons at MMS with her cat, Guido, and dog, Moon.

After about 20 years of parking at the Ledyards facility off 17th Avenue (so generously given by Morty Cohen) our time is coming to an end - soon! We are seeking another arrangement.

We are looking for a space for the Oceanside Bus to park from 5PM to 7AM daily, and preferably over the weekend. When the Bus is out, the driver's "commute" car will be in its place. So, really, it's 24/7 except during holidays, breaks and summer.

Eighth grade students at Mount Madonna School are developing engineering skills in preparation for building their own solar cars to race at the 6th annual Summit for the Planet Walk-a-thon and Celebration on April 28.

The class began a three-week engineering unit involving experiments and activities designed to give them an intrinsic understanding of engineering basics, electricity, solar panel placement, circuitry, fluid dynamics, gear ratios, Newtonian mechanics, and experimental design.

We hope you are planning to attend our elementary students' Cultural Awareness Performance on March 30. The performance is the culmination of months of academic and enriching study about the island nation of Japan. In recent weeks students, preschool through fifth grade, have created beautiful and vibrant works in different mediums and styles, including Japanese-inspired ceramics, fans, Kabuki stage set pieces, paintings and silhouettes. Many of these works will be on display, and guests will have the opportunity to purchase them, with proceeds being donated to the Japan Society.

Parents/guardians will be receiving email messages if your paperwork has not been received or if the online registration process is incomplete. In order for your child to attend the 2012-2013 school year we need to make sure we have your contract and all of your up-to-date information in our online student registration system.

The deadline was Monday, March 26. After that day, a $50 late fee will be applied to those accounts who have not completed their registration after being reminded to do so.

In his third season as the volunteer coach for Mount Madonna School’s (MMS) middle school soccer program, parent Carson Kelly (Zoe, 9th, Indigo, 6th, and Cecily, 1st) remains committed to inspiring his young players to stay focused, play hard, and have fun!

“I like being able to provide MMS with an additional sport for the kids to participate in,” Carson explains. “It is important for kids to wear a jersey with their school’s name on it, and go out and participate on a school-based team. Our team this year has great athletic spirit, coupled with a positive attitude and strong desire to learn!”

By Melissa Sanders-Self, MMS High School English Teacher

“Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”
- Anton Chekov

The Mount Madonna School Creative Writing Reading is an annual event where students, faculty, parents and friends gather together to listen to our student writers read. This year we will gather on Friday, March 8 at 7:00pm to listen to open letters, villanelles, short stories, sestinas, sonnets, monologues, first person narratives and other inspired forms of writing.
 

Into a tall, clear glass cylindrical container, about a third full with tap water and dishwashing detergent, Mount Madonna School (MMS) parent John Wagner using metal tongs drops a small chunk of dry ice.  “We’re here to talk about things that are cold,” he tells the gathered third and fourth grade MMS students. Dry ice, Wagner says, is frozen carbon dioxide and has a temperature of 123 degrees below zero.