Tall Oak Leaves – April 2016

The Tall Oak
Leaves
April 29, 2016
Oak Farm Montessori School
Volume 9 Issue 8
Dear Oak Farm Families,
Please join me from the comfort of your personal computer to hear
the unfolding ideas about a possible Oak Farm High School. Following a 30 minute remote presentation, I will seek your feedback on
whether you feel the program is appealing and would make a positive addition to Oak Farm's offerings. You will also have an opportunity to share your suggestions, concerns, and further questions.
All of this will be discussed at Oak Farm's June board meeting, when
a decision will be made about whether or not we should add a high
school.
Please - let your voice be heard and be part of shaping the future of
our school!
Monday, May 16th, 7- 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 20th, 12-12:30 p.m.
To join the remote presentation, RSVP to Macy for the meeting of
your choice, and directions will be emailed to you of how to log in.
Thank you for joining me in
dreaming big for our school!
Megan
In this Issue:
Campus Enhancements
Toddler Parent Day
Primary Pass the Plants
Lower - Pinwheels for Prevention
Upper - Ending the year as a Community
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3
4
5
6
Middle School - Piglets to Pulled Pork
7
Green Team - Weeds, Natives & Aliens
8
Specials - Primary PE & Upper Music
9
Oak Farm Alumni—Where are they Now? 10
Who’s Who on the Farm?
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Our Mission:
To provide a Montessori environment that inspires
children to reach their potential through meaningful work.
When you return to school next August,
our latest additions will be here!
On the north campus, Middle School will have a new greenhouse classroom facility! Not only will students be able to grow delicious vegetables to
share with our community at the farm sales, but they will be able to support our
hot lunch program as well as have a living botany lab for daily use! Best yet both the greenhouse and the adjacent classroom shed will feature SOLAR panels
to power much, or ALL of the greenhouse's energy needs!
On the south campus, our new natural play space west of the Victorian
Farmhouse continues to take shape. Some exciting components we are adding
one at a time include a log climbing area, music garden, butterfly garden of
peace, and climbing tower, water sluiceway, living garden wall, and arbor entrance. Check out our progress over the summer!
2
Infant & Toddler Program
Parent Day in the Toddler Classrooms
by: Nefy Hathaway & Candy Slaubaugh / Toddler Teachers
Thank you parents and family friends for visiting with us in the Toddler Classrooms on
Parent Day. It was a fun day filled with love and learning. Excitement was in the air, as
eagerness to share with family members exactly what we do in our toddler environment
was observed. We hope you enjoyed your time with us! We look forward to our next
visit next school year.
CHILDREN ARE…
AMAZING, acknowledge them
BELIEVABLE, trust them
CHILDLIKE, allow them
DIVINE, honor them
ENERGETIC, nourish them
FALLIBLE, embrace them
GIFTS, treasure them
HERE NOW, be with them
INNOCCENT, delight with them
JOYFUL, appreciate them
KINDHEARTED, learn from them
LOVABLE, cherish them
MAGICAL, fly with them
NOBLE, esteem them
OPEN MINDED, respect them
PRECIOUS, value them
QUESTIONAIRS, encourage them
RESOURCEFUL, support them
SPONTANIOUS, enjoy them
TALENTED, believe in them
UNIQUE, affirm them
VULNERABLE, protect them
WHOLE, recognize them
XTRASPECIAL, celebrate them
YEARNING, notice them
ZANY, laugh with them
Author unknown
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Primary Program
Pass the Plants, Please!
By: Diana McCreery, Primary 4 Teacher
In honor of Earth Day Primary 4 is eating
all the parts of a plant from the seed in
the ground to the flower soaking up the
sun! We have discovered that when we
eat corn or peas we are eating seeds. Also,
we learned how a seed of corn can be
more than a stalk in a field. With lots of
heat corn seeds will transform into your
popcorn at the movie theater. The children then ate the root of a plant. In which
we revealed in our community a carrot
tastes great both raw and cooked. Next,
our friends experienced the stem or celery and then we ate the leaves or lettuce.
Lastly, we ate broccoli and cauliflower and
discovered they are flowers of a plant we
eat. The children are learning that with
some plants we eat more than just one
part. The root of the beet plant is what
most people like to eat, but the leaves are
also good too, mainly in salads. Each child
had a part in washing, peeling or cutting
part of a plant to explore during food
prep. This work supports the children in
trying different foods as well as preparing
them, which is very popular among our
class!
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Lower Elementary
Coming Together as a Community
by: Michal Miller, Lower One
On Wednesday, April 13, 2016 the Button family
shared with the Lower Elementary community
about their own family and how our community at
Oak Farm can help others like them. The Button
family shared that our community is strong, loving,
caring, and nurturing to children and that they feel
safe and are able to ask for support from the children in their community at Oak Farm. Unfortunately, not all communities are kind and supportive to
all children and some children don’t get to have a
loving and safe environment as we do here.
The Button family asked that we as a Lower Elementary support the cause of raising awareness for
these children who do not feel loved and supported by planting a blue pinwheel garden in our Lower
Elementary common area. Each child was given a
blue pinwheel and was asked to plant the pinwheel
into the ground to create awareness for these children who need more love, and to also show that
we as a community support those, like the Button
family, who are working to provide loving and nurturing homes for the children who need more supportive homes.
As you drive by the Lower Elementary “Blue Pinwheel Garden” please take a moment to think on
our loving and safe community at Oak Farm and
what more we can do as a community to help the
children who are not blessed to have a loving and
safe community as we do here. If you would like
more information about “Pinwheels for Prevention,” please take a look at their website: preventchildabuse.org to learn more about facts and
statistics about child abuse in America and how we
can stand together as a community to help children
in need.
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Upper Elementary
Ending the Year as a Community
by: Sara Gensic, Upper Two
This year, Upper Elementary kicked off our year in
August with community building work with Michael
Gobert. We have been working to collaborate, communicate and cooperate both in school and out all
year long. These ideas meshed beautifully with the
three Guiding Principles that were adopted across
all levels at Oak Farm. These principles, simply stated were, Take Care of Ourselves, Take
Care of Each Other, and Take Care of Our Environment.
In just a few short weeks, Upper Elementary students will once again team with Michael to
continue challenging each other to collaborate, communicate and cooperate. We look forward to traveling to Deer Run Academy in Spencerville, IN for an overnight experience with
our community.
Students will have the opportunity to experience a number of “Challenge by Choice” ropes
course activities at this beautiful facility. While all will be encouraged to try each activity and
venture outside of one’s comfort zones, the idea behind “Challenge by Choice” is that we
should not be forced to go to a place of fear or overwhelming anxiety.
All are looking forward to ending the year as we begin in a place of collaboration, communication and cooperation as an entire Upper Elementary community.
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Middle School
From Piglets to Pulled Pork
By: Violet L. , 7th Year
“We have called these children the
‘Erdkinder’ because they are learning
about civilization through its origin in
agriculture. They are the `landchildren.’ They are learning of the beginning of civilization that occurred
when the tribes settled on the land and
began a life of peace and progress
while the nomads remained barbarians and warriors.”
- Maria Montessori,
From Childhood to Adolescence
The students in the Middle School study how the animals
eat, act, and reproduce in order to know the animals better so we can care for them with understanding and
knowledge. We care for our animals by giving them
warm bedding, clear water, and plenty of food. The animals are also walked and trained. We produce fiber
products from our sheep and alpaca. We have three
newborn goats to study. Also, food production is a focus. For example, Oak Farm’s eggs are taken from the
coops, washed, tested and then put into cartons so they
are ready to be sold.
I first met the pigs when they were the size of large cats.
They were adorable, and I thought of them more as loud puppies than pigs. I always thought pigs were dirty, smelly,
disgusting, and only the color pink. After meeting these pigs, I noticed that they act in a brotherly-sisterly way. They
cared about each other, and really weren't that disgusting at all. I started to take care of them when they were much
bigger. It was a lot harder than when they were smaller, and I noticed that they--like brothers and sisters-- needed
their own space. While cleaning their pen, I saw that these pigs had thought of their own system for not fighting over
their food. There were two food troughs, so they would rotate troughs whenever one of them was tired of eating
out of one. I found this incredible, because I thought pigs didn't do anything! Some days I act like I hated the pigs,
because they'd always get in my way, and chew their water heater up so the water they had froze, but in the end,
I've always liked them, and am sorry to see them go.
The first week of April the pigs were taken to a butcher to be processed for our consumption. With the help of the
Clark family, the pigs were roasted and the middle school students pulled the meat for pulled pork sandwiches. The
sandwiches were sold at Earth Fest.
Middle School products Raised & Made on our farm!
Please contact us if you are interested in ordering products such as
eggs, pies, cookie dough and organic or conventional feed half chickens. Email the micro economy students at: [email protected] 7
Weeds, Natives, and Aliens, Oh My!
By: Janet Canino, Sustainability Coordinator
“A weed is but an unloved flower" so said Ella
Wheeler Wilcox. Merriam-Webster has a definition, however, that more of us are likely to
agree with, that a weed is a "plant that is not
valued where it is growing." Lower and Upper
Elementary Green Team students are learning
that location and personal opinion are usually
what makes a weed a weed.
Students are familiarizing themselves with native plants, as well as aliens or exotics. One
of our learning outcomes is to know that native
species are ones that were in Indiana before the
European settlers. Examples of natives would
be Purple Coneflowers, Columbine, and Downy Sunflowers (all of which
can be seen in our native garden at Upper). In contrast, step outside onto
a lawn and you've likely stepped on an alien. Even the native-sounding,
Kentucky Bluegrass is generally considered to be non-native. Exotics are
introduced plant or animal species that intentionally (like European starlings) or unintentionally (like the Emerald Ash Borer) are brought to our
area from other regions.
We are learning that a small, but growing percentage of exotics are also
invasive, meaning they compete and often dominate their native counterparts. Since they did not co-evolve in this environment they have limited predators and minimal competition. They are also prolific and widely
adaptable in new areas. Some of our worst invasive offenders in our region are: Butterfly bush, Barberry Bush, and Japanese Honeysuckle. Some native alternatives include Butterfly weed, Ninebark, and American Bittersweet, respectively.
Why not get everyone out in the yard to identify the weeds, exotics, and
natives living right outside your doorstep? Don't be surprised if one person's weed is another person's treasured flower, though.
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Building Muscles & Brains!
By: Kim Green, Primary PE Specialist
Want to raise healthy and smart children? Then don't allow them to be couch potatoes. Exercise, it turns
out, does more than benefit the body and overall health -- physical fitness builds smarter brains in
youngsters, too. Too often, we overlook the obvious: that all learning requires an experience associated
with physical movements. This motoric experience leads to the creation neural pathways and a linear code
for future access of what has been gained. Children are natural learners. They love to do things over
and over again as new neural networks are being laid down. This is the learning process, and this is the
dynamic brain in action.
Upper Has Got Talent!
By: Tricia Weiss, Music Specialist
The Talent Show is the culmination of lots of important work: deciding on a date, signing up the acts, getting the word out to parents, training tech crew members, setting light and sound cues, having a dress
rehearsal, finalizing (& re-finalizing) the program order, not to mention all the time students put in preparing for their individual & group acts.
What happens when all the preparations are finished? You wait for the day to arrive and the audience to
fill the room. Everyone takes their place and when the show begins, it's non-stop action. Performers wait
(some nervously) for their moment to share, sound crews juggle accompaniment CDs, light crews make
quick changes, runners share information between backstage and the tech booth, backstage crew attach
microphones & stage crew members help with props and set pieces.
This is just how our 2016 Talent Show was going, but suddenly the electricity went out! After some
quick communication from staff, we discovered that all of Avilla was without power so we decided to
throw open the doors & windows (for some light) because THE SHOW MUST GO ON!!
Whether or not you were in attendance, we'd like you to know:
-students immediately began brainstorming solutions to the problems at hand;
-one student had the idea to put personal phones/iPods in a bowl to project the sound;
-another grabbed a laptop computer (luckily it had a full battery) and set it up on the stage as a
portable player;
-yet another student suggested using the acoustic piano which had been retired;
-our tech crew became supportive audience members;
-still others continued to help calm students who were nervous to perform.
At the end of the show, we were able to say it was a work well done and a great lesson in flexibility.
Even after all the preparations, you never know what could happen, but sometimes the best plan is to roll
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with it.
Oak Farm Alumni
Where are they now?
Leo High School Valedictorian
class of 2016
Mariano Flores, class of 2012, has earned the
rank of Class Valedictorian at Leo High
School! Mariano’s hard work and dedication
will serve him well as he heads to Notre
Dame University in the fall!
Great work, Mariano!
What will you do next?!
Indiana State Indoor State Champion
Alejandro Flores, class of 2014, was part of Leo
High School’s 4x400 Meter Relay Team. On March
26, 2016 his team broke their personal and school
records and took the GOLD for their event.
Way to Go, Alejandro!
Oak Farm Graduates are Life Long Learners, they are Emotionally
Literate and they exhibit Leadership and Citizenship
All of our graduates demonstrate these qualities. When you hear of their work
in the community, please share their stories with the school - so we can celebrate with them! Please contact Macy McNaughton, Oak Farm’s Community
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Relations Director. [email protected] or 260.497.4270
Who’s Who on the Farm?!
VICTORIAN
FARMHOUSE
home to Infant,
Toddler, Primary &
Administration
Nido—the nest
Angie & Jeni
Toddler One
Nefy & Cathy
Primary One
Natasha & Tia
Primary Two
Nancy & Abby
Toddler Two
Candy, Tracy & Ashley
Primary Three
Elizabeth & Lisa
Primary Four
Jodi & Diana
Administration - offices in the Victorian Farmhouse
Megan, Lauren, Sarah, Brenda, Kelly, Lori (not pictured: Nan)
Lower & Upper Elementary
Green Farmhouse
Lower One & Meeting Room
Prairie House
Upper One & Two
Lower One
Suzy & Michal
Red Barn
Lower One & Two
Upper One
Jamie & Carmela
Lower Two
Debbie & Ines
Upper Two
Nancy, Sara & Rob
Lower Three
Meghan & Lori
Administration in
Prairie House - Macy
Middle
School
Middle School
Bridget, Heather & Pat
Specialists—Campus Wide
Administration in
Middle School - Krissy
Flor, Susan, Sandy, Kim, Andrea, Jill, Janet, Sarah, Linda, Alex, Tricia, Hattie (Not pictured: Bonnie F. & Heather)
Community Arts Center
Art, Music & Woodshop
Campus Grounds & Bus
Ben, Lisa & Gary