Outdoor Classroom on WCSH6.com Around Town

Here is a super write up on the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Outdoor Classroom. It was a moving experience, especially for the businesses that donated their time and resources and now got to see how it has affected the students and community. Click here for the article.

Outdoor Classroom- A Year in Review

Fine Arts Week Celebration

Thank you Marshwood Education Foundation and Central School PTO for an amazing Fine Arts Week! Our week with eco-artist Miss Cynthia was over before we were ready. Students had a blast creating animal habitats and more in the outdoor classroom. Even a little rain couldn't dampen our spirits! In the gym, all classes got to try out our new climbing wall... what fun! Ms. Poli made nature journals with the students that were decorated with sticks and nature objects found around their homes. In the music room, preK and K friends learned about thunderstorm soundscapes and created their own using drums. The first grade friends learned about bird calls and made their own binoculars with Maine Audobon Society member, Anne Watson. Second grade friends mastered maypole and folk dances with South Berwick resident, Kris Bisson while the third grade students created soundscapes using Garageband. Our eight day Fine Arts Week ended with a celebration that included reflections, dancing and a slide show. To view the slide show, click here. Many thanks to ALL our volunteers, including the high school students from Marshwood and Berwick Academy for helping us get our supplies ready!

Planting the Seedlings

It's time to plant our seedlings! What an exciting day. Many thanks to Kathy and her army of volunteers. They worked throughout the day in hot, steamy weather to make sure our seedlings all found homes in the beautiful beds. Can you believe the entire school planted their seedlings in one day?!?

Work Day- Finishing the Hoophouse

On April 30th, we added rich soil to our beds, gravel to the walkways, set up the water barrels and covered the hoop house with plastic. It was a busy,fun day with lots of helpful hands of all ages. Many thanks to all our volunteers and donors, especially Jackie Nooney for the beautiful soil!

The Planting of the Green

The planting of the green was a tremendous success! The students learned about seeds from Strawberry Banke's master gardener, John Forti, before being presented with their very own heritage seeds. The seeds ranged from purple carrots, to popcorn and everything in between. After the presentation, 300 students spread out in the gymnasium and cafeteria for a simultaneous planting of the green. What a fun way to celebrate St.Patrick's day and all things green! We were also fortunate to have Bill Rogers with us. Bill created a wonderful documentary of the day which can be viewed here.

Growing Green on St. Patrick's Day

 The press release we sent to local media today. Feel free to help spread the word!

Instead of wearing green this St. Patrick's Day, Central School students in South Berwick, ME will be growing green.  Thursday will be an all-school planting day. Local gardener and historian John Forti, of Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth, NH. will come to the school to talk about gardening and planting. There will be readings, vegetable tastings, and then all the students will plant a heritage seed! The seeds will later be transferred to Central School's brand new Hoop House (which the students have named "Fresh Food Express") to begin Central School's First Garden. The hoop house is a small part of the school's new Outdoor Classroom which was designed, installed and maintained entirely by volunteers, school board members, families and local businesses. The gardening project is part of Michelle Obama's "Lets Move" initiative!. Nationally-renowned cookbook writer Kathy Gunst, along with local chefs and nutritionists,  have been donating their time teaching cooking and nutrition classes with the Central School students for the past year.

For more information contact:
Vicki Stewart, Central School principal at 384-2333
vstewart@msad35.net
Kathy Gunst: www.kathygunst.com
kathygunst@comcast.net