Philanthropy Education for Children
The programmatic purpose of SLPs at Mountain Sun is to give children the chance to “belong,” a key piece of our school’s mission. By engaging with others and learning how to coexist peacefully, children learn that the school and their communities are places of helping, belonging, and acceptance.
How To Do A Peace Talk
“If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations. If there is to be peace in the nations, there must be peace in the cities. If there is to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between neighbors. If there is to be peace between neighbors, there must be peace in the home. If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart.”
The Elders Teaching the Youngers
My plan was ingenious. We’ve had Dolly, our mixed-breed collie-ish dog, as part of our family for about five years. She is, objectively speaking, what one would call a good girl. She stays on the porch, piddles outside, doesn’t bother our chickens, and can speak on command. Over the years, Dolly did so well, in fact, that we thought we’d add one more dog to our growing family…
Let's Learn Outside
A thoughtful outdoor component is something that I seriously seek for my child’s education. Like many parents, I want my child to grow up with all of the tools he will need to navigate the ever-changing world, both as a self-sufficient person and as someone who values connection with others. And in the midst of a global pandemic, flexibility, creativity and problem solving are much-needed skills in our society and the current environment…
Emotional Intelligence 101: Belong
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a big topic. I am just initially and gracefully entering this field of study, which makes me think of myself as taking a swan dive into the giant pool of EI…
Welcome New Staff Members!
Mountain Sun Community School welcomed four new staff members at the start of the 2020-2021 school year: Anne Nicoletti as Primary Lead Teacher and Kindergarten Teacher, Anna Heard as Primary Assistant Teacher, Sara Schmidt as Communications Coordinator, and Caroline Safford as All School Assistant…
Let's Change
We are a school for peace. This is central to our mission, our educational philosophy, our culture, and our practice. It is infused into all aspects of our curriculum and our relationships…
Nurturing the Spirit of Our Children
Montessori education is often characterized by what is readily visible to us. This may be happy children using beautiful didactic materials such as the pink tower of cubes or the golden beads used in math curriculum. Or perhaps it’s the aesthetically pleasing child-sized classrooms housing mixed age groups working busily…
December 2019 Class Updates
The Owls and Otters are wrapping up their studies of Africa as we head into the holiday break. Days are spent hard at work, exploring works in more complex ways and paying attention to the seasonal changes happening around us…
Seasons Greetings
I sip my bright green spinach smoothie while waiting for my cinnamon oatmeal muffins to cool. A normal Saturday morning in the Carlson household. As the end of the year quickly approaches I find myself, like many people, thinking about loved ones, both friends and family. It is a time for reflection and giving. I am not a gifter, though there are times I wish I were. I need to give with time, service, and kind words…
Practicing Gratitude with Community
'Tis the season for traditions! At Mountain Sun Community School there are many ways these traditions are celebrated, both in school and in the homes of our students. “Belong” is one of the five keywords rooting Mountain Sun Community School’s philosophy…
November Class Updates
The Owls and Otters have dug into their studies of Africa. A generous slew of guest speakers have come into the primary classes recently to share about their experiences with the African continent…
September 2019 Class Updates
Many of the early days in the Owl and Otter classes are about getting those school routines down pat. Consistent repetition of routine has allowed the classes to have their first full morning work periods, staying busy all the way up to 11:00 on some days! Grace and courtesy is the ever-present thread throughout the primary classes, as the students are reminded to ensure that all actions (and words) are coming from a place of kindness…
MacKenzie Henry to Serve as Assistant Primary Teacher at Mountain Sun Community School
Mountain Sun Community School is pleased to announce the hire of MacKenzie Henry as an assistant teacher of their Primary Class. The independent, non-profit educational institution is grateful to be able to flexibly maximize the time, skills, and passions of our teachers…
May 2019 Classroom Updates
The Owls and Otters have been spending lots of time outdoors exploring the changing season. The children are very interested in the changes in plants, and the more plentiful flowers, butterflies, and song birds…
Connecting the Class to the Stars
This will be a walk through the wild and wonderful world of the Acorn classroom. We start on a Monday morning, it is cold so you are wearing your extra layers; a coat, mittens, that wool hat with a big ball on the top and last but not least a scarf that is longer than you are tall…
February 2019 Class Updates
The Owls and Otters are really enjoying their studies of China. They are fascinated by Chinese letter characters, languages, stories, and customs. Last week they celebrated the Chinese New Year by dressing in traditional colors of red and yellow and inviting parents to come and enjoy tea and snacks followed by a parade with dragons and drums…
Compassionate Community
"Many things are true at once," is something I keep hearing. I was speaking to a friend last night and reflecting on how, for our kiddos, that can feel a little confusing. In the Acorn class, we do our morning check-ins as a group…