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Mulberry 3rd Grade has gone to the Birds! A love of literacy is taking flight at Mulberry School.

Apr 2009

 

Starbuck, a 7 year old Timneh African Grey parrot regularly visitsMulberry's 3rd Grade. In April, 2009 when Starbuck visited the class again, Mulberry's 3rd Grade class was written up in the Los Gatos Weekely Times, the elementary school magazine Weekly Reader Edition 3 and the international parrot conservation magazine, World Parrot Trust.

Starbuck sits on a chair and listens to students as they hold an illustrated book up and read aloud to him. Starbuck responds by bobbing his head and ruffling his feathers. "I like how he looks at the pictures in the book," Bodhi Hall told the Los Gatos Weekly Times. 3rd Grader Anna Averfa-Goodman told Weekly Reader News, "When you read to people, sometimes they dont really listen, but he always listens."

Accoding to Mulberry's 3rd Grade teacher Judy Quigley, reading to Starbuck is much more comfortable for students. If they pronounce a word incorrectly, they try again rather than be corrected by someone else and feeling embarassed.

The parrot is just one of the many ways the entire 3rd Grade curriculum - reading, writing, art, pottery, science projects - is integrated with nature and birds in particular.

 

Mulberry 5th Graders Win Competition to name Leonardo's horse scuplture

Sept 2008

Mulberry 5th Graders were greeted outside the San Jose Tech Museum by the San Jose Mounted Police. The 5th Graders won the competition to name the horse "Ambrogio", a male name common in northern Italy, meaning “eternal.”


Ambrogio is a steel and fiberglass replica of Leonardo’s glorious Sforza monument, a muscular stallion two stories high that is considered to be the most authentic version of Leonardo’s horse.    

 “Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future” opened at The Tech in late September. The exhibit was curated by the Museum of the History of Science in Florence and created by renowned Italian firm Opera Laboratori Fiorentini. Representatives from the Florentine museum and the Italian firm, Leonardo scholars Andrea Bernardoni and Laura Manetti reviewed the names and selected the name submitted by Mulberry's 5th Grade class. 

 

"Yes, please!"

By Patti Wilczek, Sept 2008

When one thinks about good manners, some focus on proper table etiquette. However, manners involve much more than chewing with your mouth closed or leaving elbows off the table.  Good manners extend to making eye contact, paying full attention to the person with whom you're speaking, saying "yes", "no", "please" and "thank you", avoiding gossip, and behaving such that people around you are at ease, allowing them to feel comfortable in your presence.

I was recently at a gathering, and was surprised to run into an old friend who had his two children in tow.  Normally bringing children to a party of adults is risky business, but these two youngsters had such excellent manners that one could easily forget they were children.  Both were polite, spoke comfortably with adults, and handled themselves appropriately around food service.  When I commented to my friend about how well his children were behaving, he thanked me, indicating how proud he was of his kid’s behavior in public.  He proceeded to share with me that their behavior at home wasn’t always so stellar but how gratifying it was to observe his children utilizing and expressing good manners as they interacted in the day to day environments beyond the family home.  

So why is this so important?  These skills will enable our children to function well in any situation as they age into adolescence and then adulthood.

Another friend from graduate school works in human resources for a large corporation.  Her company receives many resumes from applicants of whom she cannot even consider for hire because of their poor manners.  Some are unaware of good phone etiquette, while others use rude language and/or speak far too loudly when addressing the interviewer.  A lack of awareness of basic manners can actually ruin opportunities for potential employees who may otherwise be quite capable.  

Fortunately, good manners can be learned by anyone.  As parents, it is our responsibility to foster pro-social behaviors in our children, such that others find it pleasant and fun to be in their presence.  Therefore, it is important to ensure that our children grow up with an expectation of good manners, acknowledging when others address them, saying "please" and "thank you", speaking in a voice that others can hear and understand when they are addressed.  And with every interaction, we have an opportunity to set a good example for children, in how we handle ourselves with manners -- or not.

We can positively impact someone's day by using good manners.  A smile, making direct eye contact, holding the door for someone, or putting aside our cell phones when we're addressing others, all reflect thoughtfulness in interacting with others.  Good manners reflect tact, diplomacy and consideration for others.  Using good manners is a powerful means by which we show our respect for one another, and at the same time feel confident in any given situation.  

Teaching our children the importance of good manners is something for which we should all be mindful.

 

Finding the Right Fit for your Child - 10 questions to consider

By Patti Wilczek, July 2009

Finding a school that fits with your child's needs and matches your expectations can be unnerving and challenging.  Here are 10 questions to consider as you conduct your search:

  1. How many students are enrolled in the school?  Is the student body small enough that your child will get personal attention and have leadership opportunities? Is it sufficiently large that your child will be able to socialize with kids with a range of interests and abilities?

  2. What types of learning experiences are there for your child?  Is learning limited to the classroom, or are students challenged to learn during other parts of their school day, as well – for example, at recess, on the playing fields, providing service to others?

  3. Is parent involvement welcomed within the school community?  What sorts of things can parents do to help? How does parent involvement enhance the experience for children and parents?

  4. When you visit the school, pay special attention to the teacher's voice:  Is it respectful and warm, or controlling and overly sweet?

  5. Are children spontaneously helpful? Do they seem eager to explain and demonstrate what they're learning for you, or are they unresponsive or seeking distraction? 

  6. Are the students eager and engaged, or do they appear bored and daydreaming?

  7. Are classroom walls covered with artwork and writing from every child, or are just the best projects posted?  Do the projects seem obviously created by students, or are they all seemingly flawless and alike?

  8. Do the classrooms have comfortable spaces for learning, which includes an open gathering space, or are chairs all facing forward or placed in rows?

  9. Is the library a comfortable place for children to read and learn?

  10. Does the school make you feel welcomed? Are the faculty and staff warm and genuine?


Finally, ask questions -- lots of questions.  Finding a school that fits your child's needs is important.  And ensuring that your decision is based on the best and most complete information possible will go far in providing peace of mind once your choice is made.

Learn more about Mulberry's unique curriculum.

 

What is the Value of an Independent School Education?

By Patti Wilczek, October 2009

As I observe and partake in the activities on the Mulberry campus, I have been extra mindful of the choices we, as parents, make every day in order to enhance the lives of our children. I began to ponder the choices my husband and I made over the past several years that brought us to Mulberry School.  Both my husband and I are educators. Personally and professionally, we have experienced the public, private and Independent school programs.  So, why did we choose the Independent school education for our children?

Intuitively, my husband and I knew we were doing the right thing, and I will share with you the reasoning behind our decision.  We liked the small class sizes and the devoted teachers. We embrace the close relationships that students develop with their teachers.  The drive for academic excellence as it addresses the “whole” child and the school’s success in helping each child achieve his or her full potential.  Independent school parents share a common interest in the importance of education for their children and a desire to see those children develop into confident adults who will lead successful lives with integrity.  Independent schools go beyond academics to instill values and leadership.

As I thought about it more, I considered all the children that as educators, my husband and I have known, who have graduated from different Independent schools over the years.  I realized there really were not that many, probably just 1000 to 1200 students.  For me, that really clarified just how individualized an education each student receives and that no one at any of these schools, including Mulberry have passed through under the radar.  Not one child is overlooked or invisible. Kids growing up in that safe and familiar environment develop a level of confidence that allows them to achieve their personal best. Sure, each child moves at a different pace and goes through his or her own phases on this road, but overall I look at my children and their friends at Mulberry and see kids who are as comfortable being themselves at school as they are at home. That’s a far cry from my own experience at public elementary and intermediate school.

In the end, I summarize it this way: my husband and I chose Mulberry because it met our objective requirements but also because we felt an instinctive connection to the school. As is the case with other Mulberry parents, we have made the financial investment in tuition, betting on a positive outcome that will enhance our children’s futures. To date, that investment has paid off more than I could have imagined. Yes, my kids are smart, articulate and confident and they would do well anywhere. But that’s in part—a very important part— because they are here, at Mulberry. Had they gone to a public school or even a bigger private school, they would be different people, at risk of being lost in the shuffle of a larger school or exposed to the unfortunate distractions and budget cuts of the California public schools.  We know life only gets harder and more complicated so the confidence and skill our kids develop now are what they will rely on for the rest of their lives. This is why the National Association of Independent Schools calls this type of education “the investment of a lifetime.”

Read more about what parents say about Mulberry.

 

Catching An Attitude to Learn

By Lisa Hettler-Smith, May 2003

 

“Attitude is not taught, it is caught” - Margaret McFarland, Eminent child development specialist

The kids were eagerly running their fingers over their throats.  Kara, her hands buried up to the knuckles in cow’s lung, was holding up the trachea so that they could have a visual as to what their own hands were feeling.  Excited voices were asking for, demanding, more information.  These kids were truly caught up in the moment.

Kara Riordan, Mulberry’s 5th grade teacher, doesn’t simply teach her kids how to learn; she inspires them to by her own personal involvement and excitement.  In her class, they “catch” the attitude that learning is fun. 

Partly it’s that Kara simply adores what she does.  “I can’t imagine doing anything else,” she says, “When I see the light go on for a child, it makes me complete.”  Kara loves to teach, but she also loves to learn.  “I love it when the kids ask about something that’s not familiar to me – then we all get to learn together!” 

As Kara grew up, her family moved every few years with her US Forest Service father. Perhaps it was this nomadic upbringing that has led her to settle in one place and stick to it.  Twelve years ago, when she first got her credential, she knew that Mulberry was the perfect place for her to teach.  Her previous experiences with Mulberry extended care and assistant teaching showed to her that she needed to teach where both she and her students could follow their muse.  “She lets people do really interesting things that come from their own ideas, like creating a class newspaper” says Mark Pfahnl, Class of 2003.  A commitment to kid-inspired learning is the order of the day for her classes and she has kept that commitment to herself through the births of two kids of her own (and another on the way). 

Still, getting 5th grade Mulberry kids ready to face the outside world is no easy task. It requires that they fully understand, and have a lot of practice in, the responsibilities that they will face in middle school.  Kara’s class is kept hopping with so many projects that she laments, “I have such a hard time fitting in even half of what I’d love to do with them.”  Not the least of her concerns is shepherding these young people through the rocky shores of pre-adolescence.  “This moment in a young person’s life is so much fun,” Kara confides. “They are right on the cusp – sharing their life-long teddy bear one minute and their Avril LaVigne souvenirs the next.”  Her “puberty” talks are famous, and no child leaves her classroom without having at least glimpsed his/her own path to adulthood – physical, emotional and academic. 

There are so many kids who want to continue to share that path with her that her 5th grade classroom is often graced by returning Mulberry grads who come by to help out and hang out.  From recent graduates to high school students looking for community service credits, Kara puts them all to good use. Teens have been spotted helping her current students with particularly trying math problems, monitoring a hands-on science lesson or just running around with the class at recess, happy to be kids again.  Michael Lanier, Class of 2000, says, “It’s so much fun to come back to her class; she still makes me feel as if I can make a difference.”  Graham Smith, Class of 2002, recounted with amusement how the kids at middle school couldn’t believe that he was going to spend his day off hanging out at his old school.  “They really thought I was nuts,” he laughed. 

Perhaps we are all nuts, those of us who have had Kara as a teacher and wish we could always hang out in her amazing “space.”  No one forgets their time with her; she has “caught” the love and admiration of all of us.  Parents and kids alike could not have a better send-off from their wonderful time at Mulberry.

Get a glimpse into Mulberry's Elementary classes.

 

Mulberry's Awesome Teens

By Lisa Hettler-Smith, Nov 2002

Ever thought about the fact that Mulberry is also a great learning environment for teens?  Every summer, Mulberry alumni and friends sign up to work in Mulberry's summer camp program. For many, this is their first real job - they come, excited and unsure, and leave more confident and in control.

 

21-year-old Katie Galioto has worked in the Summer Camps since she can remember. Inspired by her experience at summer camp, she’s now studying Early Childhood Education at West Valley .  Katie says that she loves being exposed to different teaching styles, and has learned a lot from the "learning through play" structure of the camps. "By observing the camp teachers, I learned how to deal with my own frustrations, and how to help the kids to deal with theirs. It has made me want to teach".

 

Virginia Solano Bean, Mulberry's Jr. Kindergarten teacher and summer camp counselor sees a marked evolution in teens like Katie. "They start out playing as one of the kids, and over the years they become real leaders". Katie echoed that sentiment saying that having the opportunity to supervise the younger camp aides was one of her most valuable camp experiences.

 

Virgina has always been impressed with the quality of the teens working at Mulberry. They have high academic standards, part-time jobs, and participate in many outside activities.  Mulberry third grade graduate and music major, Andrew Tablak, has worked at Mulberry summer camps for seven years.  As a music teacher, he’s been inspired by his camp experiences to pass on this passion to kids.  "I had a unique opportunity to work side by side with fabulous teachers.  I saw what works for them and figured out what would work for me.  Mulberry attracts creative people that bring out the best in each other.“

 

The young staff learn life lessons, says Virginia .  It’s great when a teen has an "Ah-Ha" moment, and realizes, for example, that the camper that is frustrating him right now was him three years ago.  "The teen sees that things really do change and get better, and they can apply that to their own current lives".  Andrew adds, "even if you aren't going to be a teacher, you still need to know how to communicate ideas.  You learn that working in the camps."

 

Long-term friendships form among the teen staff.  Second grade Mulberry graduate Ryan Nestle has worked at Mulberry for the past three summers.  Eighteen-year-old Ryan has not only gained friends, he also admitted that learning how to talk with younger kids has helped him to relate better to his fourth grade brother.  Now, THAT’s an accomplishment!

 

I found myself very encouraged by my discussions with these wonderful young people.  Ryan told me that his camp experiences have taught him to be more aware of things around him.  Since these interviews I have found myself, like Ryan, observing more.  I am looking closely at our current crop of Mulberry kids - and seeing in them the foreshadowing of some very fine young people.  Virgina summed it up for me when she commented that the Mulberry summer camp teens are truly inspirational - "I walk away feeling hopeful and energized by their positive energy.  I hope that MY child will turn out to be like THESE kids".

Get a glimpse into Mulberry's Elementary classes.

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The 5th Grade Motto:  We Maximize Every Moment!

By Kay Knowles, May 2008

 

May has officially become “Crazy Month” from this parent’s perspective. Thank goodness these kids are so young because I don’t understand how they keep up with Kara and Denise…and with huge smiles all around! They honestly beg to stay indoors and work during snack and lunch recess.

Their Autobiographies (contained in the unmistakable RED FOLDER) are expanding weekly as they add another year of memories to their stories. They are up to 3rd grade at this point and will continue past 5th grade to their thoughts about the future. This should be very interesting reading so please don’t forget to take a look at graduation. Another must-see is the phenomenal self-portraits that are coming to life under Halina’s guidance. The colors and poses chosen by each 5th grader truly reflect their individual personality. I know we all can’t wait to prominently hang them in our homes, next to our Warhol’s and Kandinsky’s. What an accomplishment!

When not at work on their autobiographies 5th grade has been having fun creating their own Civil War puppet plays, polishing and publishing their realistic fiction short stories for the Young Author’s Fair and exercising their early morning brain cells with Geometry/Data & Probablility/Ratios. They’ve also had the pleasure of decorating Ukranian eggs with Pat Lemke, a tradition that dates back to Kindergarten, extracting chlorophyll from spinach with our very own chemist, Flora, visiting the Tech Museum for an energy workshop (and some incredibly creative teamwork) and reaping the bounty from their gardening efforts with DeAnn and cooking projects with Pampa (delicious!).

They have also begun a unit on physics using a piece of equipment everyone is familiar with: a skateboard. This looks to be a really fun way to learn about concepts that could otherwise be difficult to master. Leave it to Kara and Denise to come up with an engaging way to learn! 5th grade has also managed to squeeze in some PE time with introductions to rugby and judo, which really demonstrated how quickly these kids can learn and how well they know their bodies. It was nice to see everyone working together to learn new skills and then take them a step further.

On deck for the remainder of the year: Sacramento field trip, Parents Day celebration, two nights at Pajaro Dunes, Bocce Ball party, and Graduation. It’s hard to believe there is less than a month before they go their separate ways so I asked them what they will miss most about Mulberry and if they had any parting words of wisdom for next year’s 5th graders:

Riti: I’m going to miss the teachers the most because they’re firm, but then again, they’re flexible. Also, it’s kinda hard to realize you’ll never see the whole class together ever again.

Milo:  I will miss the friendly kids, unique, funny, interesting teachers and wonderful community. My advice to the next 5th graders: Don’t waste a second, fifth grade goes fast.

Aidan: I’m going to miss all the people here. Everyone here has been in my life for a reason, and I thank all of them. My advice is the more work you do at the start, the less work you’ll do at the end; the more friends you make, the happier you’ll be. Life is like a train, and if you don’t stop at some places your destination will fly right by you.

Alexandra: The thing I’m going to miss about Mulberry most if my friends, the families, and all of the teachers.

August: I’m really going to miss the wonderful feeling of belonging here as a part of the community. I’ve realized that if I’m determined, I can accomplish many things. My advice to the kids in 1st-4th grade is to always get your work done ahead of time so you can have the satisfaction of being done instead of procrastinating and not feeling done with your work.

Chris: I’m going to miss all of the teachers and most of Mulberry and all of the fun I had here. My advice? Enjoy what you can, when you can, and don’t goof off. It won’t come in handy in the future.

Alex: I’m going to miss my friends and my teachers. Advice: Jenny is a torture teacher. Give Kara and Denise good gifts and don’t talk while the teacher is talking.

Andrew: I’m going to miss my teachers the most. Each of them has a different personality and they’re always there for me and others, and they know everybody’s personality. They take you out of your comfort zone just enough to make you improve.

Merritt: I’m going to miss all of the friends I made here and the teachers. They have all been in my life for a wonderful reason. I am glad for the influence Mulberry had on me.

Hannah: I’m going to miss my teachers, classmates and friends the most. Wisdom/Advice: I wish I had done/thought of everything sooner!

Marisa: I’m going to miss my friends and pretty much the whole school. I can’t come back to see this class because they’ll all be gone. My advice is don’t fight with people in Jenny’s class or she’ll say you should get married. Be careful of Jenny’s death quilt scissors! They are dangerous! Keep your desk clean in Jenny’s class or YOU WILL BE SORRY. Kara and Denise don’t care as much.

Adrian: I’m going to miss all of the nice people, the environment, and all of my friends.

Emma: I’ll probably miss all my friends and everything unique about Mulberry, even all the teachers! My advice: try to have fun with all you do , and do everything that the teachers tell you.

Jack: The things I’m really going to miss about Mulberry are the parent participation, and all the teachers, especially Jenny! My advice is, don’t talk while the teacher is talking. You can always rely on the teachers, parents, and staff at Mulberry.

Jessica: I’m going to miss all the teachers. My advice: stay organized.

2-Day Preschoolers Celebrate Diwali

by Erica Osman  Oct 2009

In keeping with the cultural diversity of the classroom, some of our littlest Mulberrians did not wait for Halloween or Thanksgiving to start celebrating this festive season.  On October 13th, 2-day parents and children enjoyed a wonderful Diwali celebration. 

Diwali, known as the "Festival of Lights," is celebrated among Hindus and other groups around the world. Celebrants observe Diwali with fireworks, colorful lanterns, flowers, lamps, garlands, sweet treats and worship.  While the story behind Diwali varies from region to region, the essence is the same - to rejoice in one’s inner light (Atman) or the underlying reality of all things (Brahman).

2-day mom Supriya Ferris worked hard to provide lots of new experiences for much of the class.  “Bindis” (forehead decorations typically worn in South Asia) and colorful bracelets were wonderful accents to the traditional Indian clothes, flowing scarves and music provided for the children. 

 In the art center, the children had lots of sticky fun with earthen pots, glue and colorful jewels.  However, ink pads and little feet may have provided the biggest smiles of the day. The art project initially started with kids doing their own individual footprints on single pieces of paper.  As enthusiasm grew in the center, so did the scope of the project.  In no time, the kids were walking and running on long sheets of butcher paper almost the width of the classroom.  The “group project” now hangs proudly on the preschool walls.  (Stop by and check it out!) 

The class was also treated to delectable traditional Indian fare:  bread and vegetable Pakoras (bread and vegetables dipped in chickpea flour and shallow fried) and 'kheer' (rice pudding).  The Pakoras were such a hit, parents were clamoring for recipes as a newfound way to get kids to eat their vegetables! 

Chickpea flour is available in all Indian stores and is called chana besan or besan.  There is also an organic version from Whole Foods called gram flour.  You can use almost any veggie for the Pakodas.  (Zucchini was the big hit in the classroom.)  Supriya suggests making a smooth paste of chickpea flour and water that is thick enough to coat the veggies, but not so thick that the flour taste stays raw after frying.  Hot tip: add a pinch of baking soda to make the batter crisp.  Just a pinch though; the more of it you add the more oil gets absorbed by the batter.

Supriya noted appropriately that celebrations like this are important so that our children feel a sense of pride in sharing their culture as well as for other children in the class to be exposed to other cultures.  With this kind of spirit, enthusiasm and wonderful parent participation, the rich experience and smiles in 2-day are bound to continue throughout the year.

 

Learn more about Mulberry's unique curriculum.

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