2019 Faces of Freedom
The Faces of Freedom Art show is currently on display at the Transylvania Community Arts Council. This is the fifth year of the Art show and it is Mountain Sun Community School’s 5th year participating. The Faces of Freedom Art show was created by former MSCS parent Nicola Karesh…
January 2019 Classroom Updates
The Owls and Otters are moving into their studies of Asia. The teachers have decided that both classes will first study China and then move on to Thailand. This week they will have a guest speaker, Kert Peterson, who will speak to the classes about Taekwondo…
Initiatives and Offering Individuals Choice
Each of us has patterns of behavior, which we label as habits, routines, or instincts. These behaviors sometimes are known, but often our most detrimental behaviors remain elusive. This elusiveness is due to the design of our brain…
Holiday Celebrations
This time of year we recognize the many holidays that are celebrated in our country and around the world. While there are cultural sensitivities around saying, “Merry Christmas,” or “Happy Holidays,” children are open to learning about different holiday traditions. In addition, they are proud of the traditions in their own families and excited to share those with others…
December Classroom Updates
The two younger classes have had parent and teacher conferences. Both classes are taking opportunities to go out and about with trips to the Library, Care Partners, and Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education…
November Classroom Updates
The Otter class is exploring the theme of autumn. They read a book by Jane Yolen about the change of the seasons. They spend outdoor time collecting colorful leaves, seeds, nuts, lichen, moss, and rocks. The kids enjoy collecting sticks to build pretend campfires…
Actitud De Gratitud
Every day I drive into our beautiful school campus, I can’t help but feel grateful. I get to work with amazing children and colleagues and I get to teach and share two of my passions: Yoga AND Spanish! This month I am overflowing with gratitude, on the heels of the amazing fall color and leading up to my personal favorite holiday of all: Thanksgiving…
Storytelling
When I think back to my childhood and some of the stories I heard from my parents, I smile at the images that come to my mind. My favorite was one that my father told often about cooties and the spoon that found them. It was magical, and I always wondered how he knew to use such an amazing tool to identify the infected…
Mountain Sun Announces the Natural Play Project
As part of the “Get Set” Early Childhood Initiative, Mountain Sun Community School has partnered with local organizations and is launching the Natural Play Project. Funded in large part by the United Way, MSCS is developing and enhancing its outdoor learning environment in order to provide a space for natural play programs for the diverse families and children of Transylvania County…
National Childhood Cancer Awareness
September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month...not a pretty topic what-so-ever. Yet it is one that is dear to my heart as a parent of a child who has been bravely fighting brain cancer for the past four years. My son Holmes was diagnosed right after he turned five years old, and ever since we were thrown onto this journey, we have been advocating for more awareness and more funds to help find better treatments and cures…
We Got This
Volunteering is important here at Mountain Sun. For our children, it’s a way to serve the community and get a chance to make an impact on the world around us. Starting from the beginning, we all encourage students to look beyond themselves and see how they can help others in class and at home…
September 2018 Class Updates
These young students are busy exploring their campus and classroom. The Otters enjoyed their first field trip last week. They had story time at the library and got a tour of the children’s section. They are learning about the 5 senses: sight, sound, touch, hearing, and taste…
2018 Opening Day Announcement
Teachers, faculty, and staff at Mountain Sun Community School welcomed 81 students back to school on August 22nd, 2018. The highest number of children in 11 years of operation joined together with their families on Brevard Music Center’s Campus to celebrate the beginning of an exciting new year…
April 2018 Class Updates
The Otters are exploring the colors of nature on campus, such as the butter colored daffodils and the purple sprouting violets. Annie and Morgan are teaching the kids to play wiffle ball and soccer. They are making dirt tracks with cars, and pretending to be superheroes wearing colored scarves for capes…
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…
Contemporaries in a Revolution
Around the age of five, I had a best friend named Jessica. Our fathers worked together, we “played” t-ball together (if picking flowers in the outfield is considered playing), so we saw each other often. I remember we were at a holiday dinner with a bunch of families at a large table and Jessica’s family had just gotten a new conversion van with a bed in the back…
The Power of Language
According to dictionary.com the word language means “a body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or nation, the same geographical area, or the same cultural tradition.” I am always amazed at how something so complicated can be summed up in so few words…
February 2018 Classroom Updates
The Otters have had several parent guests come to share books and other talents this month. They enjoyed a trip to the local library for story time and a chance to practice their grace and courtesy out in the community. They also painted and decorated shoe boxes to hold their Valentines made for each other by classmates…
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…