Manhattan Country School

We joined groups from The Calhoun School, LREI and Ethical Culture Fieldston School in representing independent schools today at New York City’s official Pride march. Maiya Jackson, one of our co-heads of school, along with Zora, Alya, and Jude, represented MCS. And we were excited to see Griffen ‘22! “We want MCS to be a safe, welcoming, and inclusive place for everyone,” Maiya said. “It feels great to be invited to this LGBTQ+ parade and to be here with other New York City schools that are creating safe spaces for all kids and families.”

We enjoyed a fun trip to the Secaucus Swim Center yesterday! "It's nice to have Summer in the City because it's an accessible place where you can take the train or the bus or walk," Lea said. "And I think it's a really nice experience for kids to be able to be outside, have something that has a little bit of the structure of school, but kind of like the fun and lightheartedness of the summer."

For summer, Bea assigned our rising fifth graders “Thirst,” a 192-page New York Times bestseller by Varsha Bajaj, the story of a young girl in Mumbai dealing with a water crisis. “I’m always trying to find books that our kids can connect to even if they don’t know it yet,” Bea told us Tuesday. Bea pointed out that “Thirst,” a middle grade novel, connects to science, social studies, and debate work planned for fifth graders. The plan is for the first science unit of the year to focus on sustainability. Last November’s fifth-grade town hall debate dealt with the issue of water privatization, and Katie confirmed today she will continue to encourage fifth graders engage with the topic.

For 8 years, I taught 5th - 8th graders (ages 10-14) at Manhattan Country School and definitely had a knack for it. I loved the fact that they were in the space between childhood and full blown adolescence. They were mature enough to engage with serious topics, but innocent enough to write me sweet notes, or bring stuffed animals on an overnight trip. I especially loved teaching 7th and 8th graders. As a teacher, I was firm but flexible. I knew how to be clear about my expectations, as well as how to have fun. My students knew me as their Spanish teacher and Advisor, as well as a whole person who existed outside of the classroom. They knew if it was a loved one's birthday (more than once I called my parents on their birthdays with my students) and once I became a mother, they knew how much my son meant to me. I created all of my curricula and his name appeared in much of it! My son is now 13-years-old, a rising 8th grader. The other day he said something that reminded me of song lyrics, so I began to sing and dance. He shook his head and smirked in the amused, exasperated and slightly embarrassed way teenagers do. In that instant I was reminded of my teaching days. Not all of my students loved me - of course not - but many did and I think it was in part because I was real with them. I saw them as the whole beings they were. They respected me because I respected them. I never said "Because I said so" to my students. I would apologize to them when I had been in the wrong - I remember them telling me I was one of the few teachers who would apologize. My students knew that I was a flawed, evolving human, just as they were. It is quite different to now be parenting a 13-year-old, but I think my approach in the classroom helps me as a mother. My son knows the boundaries with me, but he also knows that I will spontaneously break out into song and dance. He also knows that I am a flawed, evolving human, just as he is. #teaching #parenting #connection (This is a picture of me in front of my classroom in September 2010, when I was 6 months pregnant. I am standing beside my students' work - the assignment was to write their own definitions of "language" or "culture.") 

Do you want to march with us? Heritage of Pride is the nonprofit organization that plans and produces New York City’s official LGBTQIA+ Pride events. Heritage of Pride works toward a future without discrimination where all people have equal rights under the law. It does this by producing LGBTQIA+ Pride events that inspire, educate, commemorate and celebrate the diverse community. Click here for more information and our sign-up form: https://lnkd.in/ecmrhmgn

The team at Crow Canyon Home is focused on creating stylish, versatile and eco-friendly enamelware that connects generations. Thank you for helping us on Farm Outing Day with cups and plates!

At Summer in the City this morning we worked out our community agreement with Malia and Leilani. And during nature atelier with Candice, students engaged in imaginative play as managers of their own beach. They imagined beaches with sparkly or edible sand. Zora conceptualized a pancake beach. They explored and considered questions related to shells and other ocean items.

To stay true to her creative vision for her collage project today, Immy problem solved fitting more than a dozen animals cut from National Geographic on her canvas. “I was really looking forward to summer camp and now we are here,” she said.

All months and seasons at your MCS Farm are magical! Beginning in January with seed selection and ordering, our gardens begin to take shape. Students sow seeds in February and March, protected by the warm kitchen greenhouse. April and May children transplant seedlings to larger containers or straight in the garden beds. Direct seeding in late May and early June of less hardy varieties. July brings on weeding, soil cultivation, and early harvest. The month of August shows most clearly, the results of the collective work of our Farm community. When your time comes to be back at your farm in mid-August, our gardens will be exploding! Beans to snip, broccoli to trim, tomatoes to pluck, and pickles to be made. These tasks will, of course, be aimed at feeding our Farm community through the year, but we do have to feed ourselves that day as well! Calling all gardeners, farmers, cooks, bakers, and planners. We invite you to spend a day in August at our MCS Farm doing just that. Your MCS Farm needs you! Click here to learn more and take a quick interest survey: https://lnkd.in/ebfNz62X

For Throwback Thursday we have the class of 1973 at the farm. Do you have any shots of former students at MCS we can share for an upcoming Thursday?