Reentry to school or work after vacation often brings new vision and fresh perspective. The down time of summer revitalizes adults and children alike. Greeting the youngsters on Day One is one of my favorite moments of the school year. Students return with taller bodies, longer or shorter hair, huge smiles (sometimes with new front teeth) and jump off the bus looking for faces both familiar and new at the bus stop.
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.
Enduring 2600 years as one of the world’s most widely-read classics, Ramayana! tells the story of Prince Ram, who, banished from his kingdom, leaves with his true love Sita and brother Lakshman to find a new home.
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!
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!
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.
Peace activist and educator Dr. Emmanuel Ande Ivorgba, founder of the Creative Minds International Academy (CMIA) in Jos, Nigeria, will be a special guest at Mount Madonna School (MMS) on Monday, February 4.
Mount Madonna School (MMS) students Milana Beck, 5th, Riley Butler, 6th, and Amelia Busenhart, 8th, will be dancing in Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre’s (SCBT) upcoming production of the “Nutcracker,” December 14, 15, and 16 at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.
