As we near the end of the school year, the pace of inquiry, experimentation, study, work and play hasn't slowed one bit! Please enjoy these images as we look forward to our last few weeks.

“Success in life depends in every case on self-confidence and the knowledge of one’s own capacity and many-sided powers of adaption. The consciousness of knowing how to make oneself useful, how to help mankind in many ways, fills the soul with noble confidence, with almost religious dignity” (Maria Montessori, From Childhood to Adolescence, p. 64)

The Hanes Mill Solid Waste Facility Landfill

The Hanes Mill Solid Waste Facility Landfill. To start our Occupations on Waste, students observed firsthand what happens to their trash after they throw it away. We stood atop the first landfill, which now grows vegetation, and then drove up the second landfill, where residents dump trash and large machinery adds soil and compacts it.

It's In The Garbage! Students kick off their final Integrated Occupation, The Science of Trash, with an investigation and analysis of our own trash.

Students analyzed their trash "artifacts" and created Trash Reports to showcase their findings.

We investigated different stages of compost and recorded our observations.

Dissections of earthworms showed us their digestive system, which helps turn our food and garden waste to compost, reducing waste that goes to the landfill.

Students study the chemical background of polymers and gels and create their own gel beads and worms from polymers.

The chicks had daily outside time, and then graduated to the red coop in the yard! This allows the hens to get used to their smell and accept them 4 weeks later, fully into their space.

Mathematical investigations and presentations. Over the course of this past month, students explored Functions and Mathematical Models, Archimedes’ Laws of the Lever and Buoyancy, Perimeter of Polygons, the Circumference and Area of Circles, the Pythagorean Theorem, and Trigonometry.

Students gave humanities presentations on Megacities of Asia, and Ms. Mariana presented on a megacity of the Western hemisphere: Ciudad de Mexico

Ms. Sally & Mr. Greg collaborated on a weeklong study and celebration of poetry.

We organized two Pop Up Sales leading up to our Summer Sale this week on Wednesday, May 17, 2:45-3:45 p.m.

Sweet and spicy--we made both blueberry scones and hot sauce this month.

This year's Coffeehouse was a great success--music, poetry, short films, and Shakespeare showed off the creative expressions of this lively and supportive group.