MSCS Students Exploring the Natural World
Backpacking trips, bird banding, paddling 28 miles on the French Broad River, learning primitive skills, and spending a night in a tent: these are some of the things Mountain Sun Community School students do throughout the school year…
April 2019 Classroom Updates
The Owls and Otters are deep into their studies of Thailand. The children have taken an imaginary flight to Thailand and are learning about the culture, art, food, and climate. Carol and Virginia Watkins (Sebastian's grandmother and mom) visited to talk about their trip to Thailand and shared stories, pictures, and souvenirs…
March 2018 Classroom Update
The Otter class has fresh, homemade play dough and new sidewalk chalk. They have enjoyed a lot of outdoor playtime. In the classroom, they have been practicing making and eating PB&J sandwiches. The students use the sandwich making to work on their problem solving skills and their hand-eye coordination…
Volunteers
My mom was a teacher, so growing up, I learned that when it came to school, always say yes to donations, and always say yes to volunteers. Let the question of what to do with the donation or person answer itself…
January 2018 Classroom Updates
The Otters have increased their focus on handcrafts, an excellent use of time indoors during the winter. The children have made cuff bracelets and pillows. They are working on their button-sewing technique. During the “arctic blast,” the Otters studied liquid and solids by freezing ice ornaments outside…
Transylvania Vocational Services and Mountain Sun Students Team Up with Books
Transylvania Vocational Services (TVS) and Mountain Sun Community School have teamed up to create a Reading Buddy program that allows first through third graders (Acorns) to connect with TVS clients through reading and storytelling…
Lucky Us
I had the joy of taking the Acorn Class to the WNC Nature Center on a field trip. It was wonderful!! Breaking the day down into pieces sheds light on so many gifts we have here at Mountain Sun and the region we live in. The order of this list does not indicate anything other than how the day unraveled in my mind…I am so grateful for the Nature Center…
Parental Personal Time
This morning, we were discussing our health and how we can care for our bodies to promote our wellness. The children all had wonderful suggestions and comments. I shared with them the basic expectations of hand washing (running water as well as creating friction with the hands), drinking plenty of water (we noticed that if running water could help "wash" the germs off the outside, that maybe drinking plenty of water could help the germs move through the inside), eating fruits and veggies (protein and carbs too), and sleep…
Circle Time
Here at Mountain Sun Community School, we like to make circles. This shape is inclusive and lets you see those around you. We are a community made up of all kinds of people with different experiences and ideas. These circles are used to give everyone the chance to hear others and to be heard by others…
A Word for the Real
Several years ago, I was visiting a friend who was getting her Ph.D. in counseling at a large state university. Part of her commitment included working with the student services counseling program. She was telling me how difficult it was for the college “kids” to overcome their social anxiety and go out and have a good time without self-medicating….
A Place at MSCS
This was my first year with Mountain Sun Community School and I was turned loose in a world full of discovery, exploration, creativity, belonging, and inspiration. I can’t describe this place without these words so it is so fitting that we use them to shape our school. My time here has been eye opening to what education can be for our community’s children and me…
The Joys of Literature Circle
I feel so fortunate each day that I can find the deep beauty of the simple routines that the Acorn Class is engaged in. It is a reminder of how even the most basic of our actions has the power to enhance or detract from our daily experiences. It’s a good way to “check and balance,” making sure I am staying true to the Mountain Sun Mission Statement and practicing the core actions…
Exploring Geology with the Acorn Class
Studying science is so much fun with this age group. The Acorns are, developmentally speaking, curious, eager, creative, and less encumbered by assumed expectations of results. These children practically write my lesson plans for me as I see them oozing with excitement at the mention of "rocks" or "land forms" or even the word "geology." While my goals are simple, their learning is complex and fascinating…