Mount Madonna School is fortunate to have many talented and graceful dancers among its student and faculty body. Last week, Dancer and dance teacher Lorraine Kinnamon and several students participated in “Santa Cruz Dancing in the Street” in downtown Santa Cruz as part of the local activities surrounding National Dance Week (April 21-27).
Kudos and congratulations to Mount Madonna School 10th grader Preethi Balagani, who along with other dancers from the Shri Krupa Dance Company won three awards at the prestigious 26th annual international Barcelona Dance Grand Prix held earlier this month.
Founded and guided by choreographer and artistic director, Guru Vishal Ramani, students at Shri Krupa learn and perform in the Bhartanatyam tradition, south India’s classical dance form.
“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 (Mount Madonna School) 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 Mount Madonna School with her cat, Guido, and dog, Moon.
Congratulations to inspired young scientists Lekha Duvvoori, Sara Bautista, and Addy Catterall-Pendleton, each of whom won awards in the recent Santa Cruz County Science Fair!
Sixth grader Lekha’s project, “I See What Eye See, Low Light Color Vision” won kudos and multiple awards in the Junior Division (6th-8th grade), including a nomination to the upcoming Broadcom MASTERS middle school science competition; and an invitation to participate the 61st annual California State Science Fair.
Graceful arched bridges, a three-headed dragon, samurai warriors, a family of mice, taiko drums, and stories of children’s everyday lives all have a role in Mount Madonna School’s (Mount Madonna School) annual Cultural Awareness Performance on March 30. This popular event – which showcases elementary students’ dramatic talents and creativity– is the culmination of several months of focused study on a particular world culture: this year, the island nation of Japan.
Into a tall, clear glass cylindrical container, about a third full with tap water and dishwashing detergent, Mount Madonna School 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 Mount Madonna School students. Dry ice, Wagner says, is frozen carbon dioxide and has a temperature of 123 degrees below zero.
Quiz question:
When driving in mountains, who has the right-of-way on narrow road ?
a. vehicle going uphill?
b. vehicle going downhill?
Answer: Vehicle traveling uphill has right-of-way. Vehicle traveling downhill backs up to let him pass…
For nonprofit organizations, determining how to creatively and successfully meet annual fundraising goals can be difficult and time-consuming – and frequently not a lot of fun. With the dual intent of putting the “fun” back in “fundraising” and bringing together other local nonprofit organizations – including, educational, environmental, and youth-focused groups – Mount Madonna School is again hosting its annual community walk-a-thon and celebration –a family event intended to make fundraising as easy as a walk in the park!
All nonprofit organizations are invited to participate in the 6th annual Summit for the Planet Walk-a-thon on April 28. Mount Madonna will coordinate the event and do most all the work, while participating groups are invited to organize a team of walkers to walk for their organization, and their walkers, in turn, are urged to gather pledges of support.
Nine-year-old Lily Hernandez held up a deer antler as she listened to a presentation about the Ohlone people of long ago. Nearby, her friend AnMei Dasbach-Prisk examined a replica of an Ohlone arrow. The girls and their fourth grade class from Mount Madonna School were visiting Chitactac-Adams County Heritage Park in Gilroy to learn about California history and Native American culture. Chitactac-Adams Park is an authentic site of a former Ohlone village.
Serving families across South County, Santa Cruz County, and San Jose.
