Kale Chips and Chard Tacos.... Mmm!

On December 14th the second grade students had the opportunity to cook with Kathy Gunst, ALL AT THE SAME TIME! The morning was a success, with most of the students going for seconds and thirds. Check out the Voice Thread created by Mrs. Gilbride's class or read the article by Ruth Baker.

Community Work Day a Success

Our last community work day of the season was a success! Many thanks to all who were able to come. I saw volunteers shoveling, raking, pushing wheelbarrows, digging, planting, harvesting, and so much more. What a spectacular day and a fantastic community! Make sure you scroll to the bottom to see the video clips and photos! But first, many thanks to today's sponsors!

Donated Materials: In the order of installation on site

Climbing Mounds:

Soil for Climbing Mounds: Bill Renaud Excavation and Trucking

Labor and machines for constructing climbing mounds: Chuck Hugo Landscape with Travis and Paul

Labor and Machines for Climbing Mounds and tree planting: Steve Prisby of All Terrain Landscape

Stone Infinity Circles:

Stone and stone masonry to install Stone Infinity Circles: William F. Avery, Jake and Josh Avery, Rachel (Avery) and Mike Wakefield with Terrence Parker.

Planting and Site Grading:

Labor and Machines for grading and planting: Steve Prisby of All Terrain Landscape

6’ Tall Blue Spruce:  Salmon Falls Nursery

Compost: Piscataqua Landscaping and Mike Wakefield

Top Soil for site: W.F. Avery

Amphitheater:

Labor and Machines for constructing the Concrete Block Amphitheater (forthcoming): Site Structures Landscape, Inc

Concrete Block for Amphitheater: Genest Concrete, Sanford

And there was amazing food, water and coffee too! These were provided by Nature's Way, Carpe Diem and Brixham  General Store. Thank you everyone. 

Such progress! Take a look:

Giving Thanks

I had the opportunity today to take a few pictures of the outdoor classroom. Neither the grey skies nor the wet clay around my feet could dampen my spirits. I am simply amazed and humbled at all that has been accomplished in just over a year. We are so grateful to have this space for our students. Here are a few of the shots I took today. See how the students have taken ownership of their space. What a wonderful community to make this possible. And it doesn't end- next work day November 20th from 10-2 PM to plant birch trees and lay down mulch.

Stone Soup!

Kindergarten friends did more than read "Stone Soup" in their classrooms. On Tuesday, November 8th, kindergarten friends harvested vegetables from the hoophouse for their stone soup. This included a gigantic carrot that took many hands to pull out. The vegetables were prepped by parent volunteers, loaded into crock pots by the students,simmered on Wednesday, and sampled on Thursday. Who knew stone soup could be so good?!?

Our Infinity Path and Climbing Mounds

If you haven't checked out our two newest additions to the outdoor classroom, you need to add it to your to-do list! Terrence Parker introduces us to the Infinity Path and Climbing Mounds. Many thanks to the Avery family and Bill Renaud. What a fabulous space!

If you look carefully, you might just spot a new friend... this is a picture of the first stone on the southern side of the Infinity Path. Don't worry, he's friendly! Carved by Bill Avery.

Apples. Apples, Apples!

"Mmm!", "Wow, that's sour!" and "That's my blue-ribbon favorite" were just a few of the comments heard as students sampled a variety of local apples during Wednesday's lunch block. Students in grades one through three lined the length of the hallway, eager to sample (and sample again!) the tasty treats. "This is the best apple I've ever eaten" said one third grader. Students seemed to favor the Honeycrisp, Cortland and Fuji varieties while the staff enjoyed the Blue Pearman. "It's a mix of sweet and sour and it's crunchy too" commented third grade teacher, Rachel Wendell, as she headed back to her classroom after supervising third grade lunch. An apple for the teacher too? How appropriate. The apples came from McDougal"s Orchards in Springvale, Maine and were left over from Central School's School Garden Open House.

Principal Vicki Stewart slices and dices.

Students think about how they would describe each apple's taste.

How did it taste? Students keep track using tally marks.

First School Garden Open House A Hit

Today's open house was a feast for the senses- the smell of the moist plants in the hoop house, the taste of apples (12 varieties!), the bleating of the sheep and soft neighs of the ponies, feeling the wool as it was worked into a ball, the sight of families as they built their own scarecrows. I learned about invasive insects, that the apples on our tree ARE edible (!), how to make felted wool, how to grow giant pumpkins and that my favorite kind of apple is blue pearman. I saw children and adults reach out to touch (and climb upon) a 900 lb pumpkin. I saw a miniature pony munch on wildflowers. I saw children carefully placing pieces of tissue paper on plastic lanterns. It was a wonderful day. Thank you to all of you who made it possible, especially:

Central PTO
Pauliina Pope
SoBo Central
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Denise Trabold
Kris Bisson and her Girl Scout Troop
Sally Gilbride
Terrence Parker
Kathy Gunst
Maine Dept. of Agriculture
Leigh Robinson
Carla Swasey
Full Circle Thrift Store
Bill and Gretchen Straub "The Pumpkin Lady"
McDougal Orchards
Marshwood Education Foundation
The Works Health and Fitness Center
Hilltop Fun Center
Our many, many volunteers!

If you missed today's Open House, you can catch us at the Quarkfest, October 9th at the Brookford Farm in Rollinsford, NH.