Sunday, March 29, 2009

Junior Ranger Program to Continue in April





Shenandoah National Park offers a Junior Ranger Program, where children complete a series of worksheets in the Jr. Ranger book, and attend two or more ranger led hikes or lectures. The third, fourth, and fifth grades have completed two ranger led programs this past fall. The programs will begin again on April 4. We plan on attending the Appalachian Trail hike and the ancient volcano hike. By May our third, fourth, and fifth grade students will all be official Junior Rangers of the Shenandoah National Park!

Video Contest - High School Video on Recycling

The more views their video gets, the better. This is a contest to spread awareness of recycling and its benefits. If their video gets the most views by April 22nd they will win $500.00. The class decided that half of the money won will be used to fund their beach trip at the end of the year, and the other half will be donated to Hearthstone School.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7hGXB1li2c

Adventures at Rikki's Refuge - Febraury 2009





Ms. Liz's class has been working with Rikki's Refuge since 2007. Last year the class raised over $100 for Rikki's Refuge by growing organic vegetables and flowers and selling them at the Waterpenny plant sale. This year the class will be making a book about the animals at Rikki's Refuge to sell at the Rainbow Market. In preparation for the book the class (along with the first and fifth grades) went to Rikki's Refuge in Orange, VA for a day of feeding, petting, and sketching the animals. We were also able to meet with Kerry Hillard, founder and director of Rikki's Refuge, for some questions and answers as well as a few stories about living with 1,200 animals.

Rikki's Refuge in Orange County, Virginia, is a 367 acre, no-kill, all species peaceful sanctuary supported solely by donations of kind and loving individuals. The refuge is home to over 1200 animals of 20 different species, including but not limited to cats, dogs, sheep, goats, rabbits, pigs, emus, chickens, ducks, geese, a chukar, peacocks, and more. Visit their flikr site to see the refuge in action! It is owned and operated by Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc. an approved not-for profit Virginia Corporation and IRS tax code 501(c)(3) corporation as determined by the IRS. Federal Tax-ID number 54-1911042. A financial statement is available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs.

Lower Grades Shelter Construction Complete


Hearthstone lower grades, third through fifth, completed the construction of the Plains Indian tipi. The tipi is located in our beautiful play yard, just beside the herb and vegetable gardens. The tipi measures 14 feet in diameter and approximately 18 feet tall. The tipi door faces east for maximum sunlight in the mornings. There is a smoke flap and rain guard that can be utilized if needed. We have decided fires will be off limits inside the tipi. It will be used as a classroom for various lessons, and a meeting room for mediation and story-telling.
While constructing the tipi the students engaged in hands-on learning utilizing various information they have learned throughout the year. For example, when positioning the tipi poles to the north, east, and west they used their geographical knowledge, and when spacing the tipi poles the students used their measurement knowledge. The children's craftsmanship and determination truly showed when they were stripping the trees of their bark and applying the oil to protect the wood. History and creative play were evident when the classes imagined they were Sioux Indians building their home in the windy prairies in the west, hunting bison and telling stories of Wakan Tanka.
The tipi has already withstood strong winds and heavy rains, the structure is sound. The class decided while building, that the best way to keep the tipi grounded would be to bury the three main poles in the ground. This may be something we will have to remember for the next tipi we build.
This spring the lower grades will be painting the tipi. The classes have brain-stormed various ideas for designs, and we have the plans down. Unanimously the classes decided that the Hearthstone symbol will be the main focus of the tipi. Geometric shapes and perhaps an eagle may adorn our tipi by summer. Stop by and check it out if you are in the area!
Thank you to Jane Mullan for the tipi canvas, and to Christina, Eric, and Leif for the donation of the poplars for the poles. Also a big thanks to Ms. Liz, Mr. Aron, and the third through fifth grades for a job well-done.