Before she was teaching middle and high school science at Mount Madonna School, Lisa Catterall worked in cancer treatment research. The company folded in the 1990s after the treatment it focused on stopped working for patients. A few weeks ago, Catterall had an epiphany while watching a student experiment with iron filings in the chemistry lab and realized why the treatment stopped working.
Three Mount Madonna School students, all dancers with Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre (SCBT), recently participated in the Regional Dance America (RDA) Pacific Region Festival of Dance in Phoenix, Arizona. The students, fifth grader Milana Beck, sixth grader Riley Butler, and eighth grader Amelia Busenhart, represented SCBT at this showcase event, and Busenhart, a member of SCBT’s senior company, performed in a company ensemble at the festival.
In addition to the enjoying the morning walk-a-thon with friends and family, attendees of the Summit for the Planet celebration will not want to miss the engaging array of eco-conscious vendors and organizations at the event. Below is some information about event participants.
Thank you to sponsors SunRidge Farms and the Michael Lee Educational Foundation who helped make this event possible (but will not be hosting event booths).
SunRidge Farms
Whether you come to walk in support of your favorite local nonprofit organization or for ensuing fun, the 7th annual Summit for the Planet Walk-a-thon and Earth Day Celebration offers something for all ages. The celebration will feature solar vehicle races, ‘eco-carnival’ games, live animals, community networking, ‘green’ businesses, live music, and delicious, organic foods – including ice cream from Santa Cruz’s Penny Ice Creamery!
Congratulations to all MMS students who participated in the Santa Cruz County Science Fair this year.
Whether you come to walk in support of your favorite nonprofit organization or for ensuing fun, the 7th annual Summit for the Planet Walk-a-thon and Earth Day Celebration offers something for all ages. The celebration will feature solar vehicle races, ‘eco-carnival’ games, live animals, community networking, ‘green’ businesses, live music, and delicious, organic foods!
CASTING REFLECTIONS:
Congratulations to all for completing the audition process. You’ve done your part; hopefully you can acknowledge your growth and successes within the process. Now comes the next step: casting of the play. Casting is challenging for both performers and directors. For some, this will not be a big issue, while others may experience disappointment. The key is finding a way to move forward positively. Most have heard the statement before – every role is pivotally important – and while a bit of a cliché, it is proven true.
By Supriya McDonald, Head of Lower School
Academic Excellence is one of the three main pillars of our School, together with Positive Character Development and Creative Self-Expression . Academic achievement is one of the five core values of an MMS education. These words are found in the mission statements of most schools, and also heard in political speeches during election season. But what does academic achievement and excellence look like at MMS? How do we demonstrate it and how do we measure it?
Dr. Yong Zhao, an internationally known scholar, author and speaker, will be the featured presenter at an upcoming public lecture in Aptos. Dr. Zhao, author of more than 100 articles and 20 books, including Catching Up or Leading the Way ; American Education in the Age of Globalization and World Class Learners: Educating Creative and Entrepreneurial Students will be addressing an audience of parents, educators and others interested in the topic of education trends and innovations.
Santa Cruzs Sentinel and MercuryNews.com, 2/5/2013, “Nigerian educator inspires Mount Madonna students,” story by Donna Jones, photos by Dan Coyro.
