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Posted by Mary in  on January 24, 2025
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Posted by Mary in  on January 17, 2025
Until yesterday morning, when I showed up for school, I didn’t know what backflow was.  It was the 100th day of school, and the kindergartener arriving with me was more than excited about the upcoming day of celebrating the number 100.  Before arriving, all I knew was the school had no water.  I quickly learned . . . 
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Posted by Mary in  on January 9, 2025
Unlike previous years, when we’d head to the coast for a few beach days, I spent the entire winter break here in the valley.  The weather was exceptionally pleasant, and it was an invitation to be outside as much as possible.  I spent time in my garden, delighting in this year’s banner crop of carrots, . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on December 20, 2024
Last night we extinguished the 700 luminarias we assembled this week.  Each paper bag held a candle and two cups of playground sand.  At various times different crews made up of staff and parent volunteers set up the bags, hung lights, charged the solar spotlights, and created installations for last night’s Celebration of the Winter . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on December 13, 2024
In less than a week we’ll be gathering for one of the Seed’s most significant events, the Celebration of the Winter Solstice.  I love what the evening has evolved into since its beginnings in the early 80s.  Seeking to hold a celebration with a universal appeal, we decided to focus on the solstice and the . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on December 6, 2024
I’ve had several requests for more stories about my Bhutan trip.  Here’s one that was quite meaningful: Long before I took my recent trip to Bhutan, I wanted to go to Taktsang, otherwise known as Tiger’s Nest.  Resembling something out of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, there was something about the place, constructed high on . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on November 26, 2024
On Wednesday we’ll gather as a community to celebrate the Seed and everything about it for which we are grateful.  It’s an event that has been part of the Seed history for a long time.  In past years we used to spend days preparing a feast for our families to enjoy.  Classes would make green . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on November 15, 2024
I’ve returned from my trip to Bhutan and am still in the midst of processing the experience.  To say it was extraordinary is an understatement.  I’m not ready to fully write about it, which I’ll do soon, but I do want to share one story that is related to my main takeaway from the trip. . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on October 22, 2024
This morning when I walked I was greeted by a sky laced with orange wispy clouds.  I’ve anticipated this day for months.  In early spring I heard about a two-week trip to Bhutan organized by a group from California.  I was eager to go on the trip and applied.  Initially I was not selected.  I . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on October 17, 2024
I grew up on a dead end street.  For over 70 years, the red and white house at the end of Olive Avenue was home to my parents and, in the early decades, my three siblings and me.  I am the oldest, and our ages span nine years.  Growing up in the 1950s in rural . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on October 4, 2024
Normally, at this time of year, we’ve already planted most of our classroom gardens.  Not this year.  With temperatures consistently still above 100, very few seeds have been placed in the soil.  A few that have more shade than others, and a small irrigation system installed, have been planted and are bravely poking up skyward.  . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on September 17, 2024
With a slight shift in the weather toward cooler days, I noticed this morning a group of preschoolers out in Gwen’s Castle.  During the warmer months there tends to be less activity in the space, but once it cools off, children begin to gravitate to that area of the playground.  The Castle was created in . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on September 12, 2024
Yesterday was 9-11 and I still have vivid memories of the day, 23 years ago.  It was the day planes struck the Twin Towers, the skies went quiet, and everything in the world changed.  Our world continues to have its challenges and bright spots. One of the brightest spots for me is the Seed, particularly . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on August 22, 2024
On Tuesday night I attended the Kindergarten curriculum night on Zoom.  I was there because my great-granddaughter is a student in the class this year.  Interestingly, although my daughters and two of my grandchildren went through the Seed’s elementary program, my great-granddaughter is the first of them to be a student in Kerri’s kindergarten.  Kerri . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on August 8, 2024
Around this time in 1977, my friend Anne Sager and I were busily preparing for the opening of The New School.  Months earlier, I was talking with my teacher, Erma Pounds, and she suggested the idea of starting a school.  As a young mother of a three-year-old and newborn, I said yes.   In the . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on July 12, 2024
Today is our last day of summer camp.  The two oldest classes are preparing for their afternoon performances, and teachers are going over checklists for closing up their summer classrooms.  We have a few construction projects going on, and two classrooms are being prepared for painting.  One of my projects for the summer has been . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on July 5, 2024
This morning, while out for my walk, I spied this sweet flower in someone’s yard.  I felt fortunate to have witnessed how beautifully the sunlight shone through the petals.  Summer is a good time to slow down and stay open to nature’s surprises.  It also helps take my mind off the summer heat.  It’s hot.  . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on June 4, 2024
Prior to the pandemic, we traditionally organized a summer community service project.  Sometimes we collected non-perishable items for a food pantry.  Other times we’ve collected toys and clothes.  This year we’re bringing back our summer community service project to benefit Chandler Regional Medical Center’s Eat Sleep Console Program.  There’s a story behind our selection of . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on May 17, 2024
I appreciate how nature often reflects what’s going on in my everyday life.  On my morning walk this week I noticed a mother duck guiding her family of ducklings along the canal.  I could tell she was training them in the ways of the water, giving them time and opportunities to find food for themselves.  . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on April 26, 2024
We held our annual spring picnic on Saturday.  It ended up being a celebration of both our school and Planet Earth. Although the day was quite warm, the energy and ambiance were so extraordinary that it was easy to forgive the 90 degree temperature.  For a starter, we had live music from Dr. Jesse McGuire.  . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on April 19, 2024
I’m savoring these last few days of spring.  The mornings are still cool enough that I need a long-sleeved shirt, and the evenings make me want to linger in the garden as long as there’s still light.  On Wednesday night I sat on a large flat rock near our compost pile, meticulously removing dried peas . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on April 12, 2024
It’s been a week of living creature events.  On Tuesday, an injured black cat was discovered hanging around the trash can by our front door.  It had a collar and appeared to be injured.  Though our camera system, it was revealed that it had been hit by a car.  There was a bit of blood . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on April 5, 2024
This week I had the most excellent opportunity to observe in the Early 3s.  It was during open centers, and there was no shortage of action or engaged activity.  As I entered the room, two children were finishing up snack, one sat quietly working at the writing table, some were exploring natural objects near the . . . 
Posted by Mary in  on March 22, 2024
You may notice the beautiful bulletin board in the hallway, celebrating the Ramadan holiday.  It’s part of a year-long effort to represent and celebrate the various cultures of our Seed families.  Prior to the Ramadan display being installed, I was asked to review the content of the material that was going to be used, to make . . . 
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