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Should the Junior High accept a $750 grant towards the Costa Rica trip from Vermont Yankee? Should the Junior High continue to sell Mocha Joe’s coffee even though it does not carry the Fair Trade label? Is ecotourism good for Costa Rica? These questions were debated by Junior High students this week as one of the many ways in which their field research experience in Costa Rica is embedded throughout the curriculum. Next Tuesday evening they’ll present some of their learning to parents. All parents and community members are welcome.

Meanwhile, the 3rd-4th grade is conducting its own field research on wetlands and ponds by observing the amazing changes that take place in pond water collected in an aquarium and then traveling to the Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center to deepen their learning.

MES teachers are learning, too! Tomorrow is the second annual gathering of the New England Coalition of Progressive Educators, a regional branch of the Coalition of Essential Schools. Many of us will attend in order to experience and learn more about the importance of “personalization” and “depth over breadth”, two guiding principles in our work with your children. This meeting also provides a good opportunity to meet with other educators who are excited and knowledgeable about the craft of teaching. As a pre-conference day, we will have six such educators, one from Williamstown, MA and five from Maryland, visiting MES today to learn more about how we “do school”.

There are several parent/family opportunities coming up!! Don’t forget Family Bingo Night tonight at 7pm! P&F has organized this fun event to celebrate TV/Screen Turnoff Week. Refreshments and prizes are promised! Then, be sure to send in your child’s completed pledge, signed by you, on Monday. Next Friday, at All School Sing names will be drawn for gift certificates.

Saturday morning, 9-12, is Playground Workday. Izzie’s dad, Dave Snyder, has organized the materials and figured out next steps on the plans. Please join us for the next phase of construction. The kids are eager to play on the new structure!

Next Wednesday and Friday classes will be sharing their favorite poems from their work with Ann Gengarelly this year. We will publish the 2008 edition of Paper Feelings for them to read from and then it will go home. We hope that many of you can join us for these special readings! Please check the schedule below.

Over the next few weeks 4th and 8th graders will be taking the Science part of the NECAP assessment. This test is given in 3 sessions of 45-90 minutes. The last session includes a hands-on exploration and should be interesting! If you have any questions, please give me a call.