Beautiful Day for Yoga

Here are a couple of pictures from yoga class this past Friday! Spring has definitely sprung, it almost feels like summer.

Shoulder Stand - Sarvangasana

Tree Pose - Vrksasana

Earth Day Science Projects: a Big Hit!

The students of Hearthstone School should be very proud of themselves! The entire student body, except for the kindergarten/1st grade (they will join next year), participated in the second annual Hearthstone science fair. This year the theme was Earth Day! The projects ranged from saving rain forests to solar ovens. Below are pictures of some of these magnificent projects! Well done kids!

Clay Frogs for a Cause

The chytrid fungus is spreading throughout South and Central America and causing frogs and salamanders to die in large numbers, thus negatively affecting these delicate eco-systems.

Fortunately there are concerned people who are trying to find a cure for the infections this fungus causes, and they are saving local frog populations by putting the frogs in a safe place to reproduce and then putting the frogs back after the fungus has been regulated.

Jill Fetterman, our pottery instructor at Hearthstone School, has decided to create colorful clay frogs with her class. These frogs will represent the frogs being affected by the fungus. They will be sold to raise money to donate to various projects that are helping to deal with the fungus epidemic. The third, fourth, and fifth grades are the creators of these beautiful frogs!

Stay posted to see when and where you can get your very own Hearthstone frog!

In the Garden

Miss Kitty's movement class will have a sharing with the Youth Performing Arts Ensemble at the BB&T Center on Saturday, May 30 at 7 pm.

For more details contact the office at (540)987-9212 or check back with this blog soon!

Childhood is a journey, not a race...

Here is a collection of photos I thought would be nice to share.

Trusten's guitar pick to add to his collection, given to him by Mr. Paul Reisler.

Kids playing at Darden Towe Park after the hike!

Jasper jumping a creek by the Rivanna River!

Thiassi the Storm Giant disguised as an eagle. (Norse Mythology)

And they're off!

Snoopy!!! The Musical

The play is moving along as planned! Rehearsals have been going smoothly and the students are in preparation with Frances & John Miller (directors extraordinaire) for the two performances! The musical will be open to the public on May 7 in the afternoon and May 8 in the evening. Reservations will be taken through the office at (540)987-9212, admission as a donation only. If you are interested in posting an ad or congratulations in the program please contact the office. Stay posted for more details!!!

Artwork done by Trusten Murrah, grade 3

Hearthstone Garden Beds Prepared

Thursday, April 9, the Hearthstone students gathered during the morning lesson time to pitch in and help clear the garden beds of rocks, and till the soil. We will be ready to plant starting next week. Our plants have been growing healthfully in the cold frames the high school built in woodworking class. We plan on growing greens, tomatoes, peppers, sunflowers, horseradish, eggplant, and squash.

Easter Egg Hunt

Thursday afternoon the children of Hearthstone School searched the play yard for brightly colored eggs. It was a beautiful day for such an event!

Intergenerational Songwriting with Paul Reisler

Paul Reisler, musician and founder of Kid Pan Alley, invited the Hearthstone lower grade students to join him at the Rappahannock Senior Center for a morning of questions and answers between the seniors at the center, and the children of Hearthstone.

We learned a lot of interesting facts about growing up in Rappahannock County from the talk. We also learned how easy we have life compared to yesteryear. It was humbling, rich, and sometimes comedic hashing out the differences between generations. Paul will come to Hearthstone next week, April 15 & 16 to write a song about what we learned from the folks at the senior center. He will also be meeting with the people at the senior center to write a song about us next week.

There will be a concert at Rappahannock Elementary School on May 1st. More information to follow.

Celebration

The fifth grade completed their study of ancient India on March 30th, and Kalila's birthday just happened to be that next Wednesday! The class decided to take a trip to Charlottesville for the day to eat lunch at The Royal Indian Restaurant and then take a hike by the Rivanna River in Darden Towe Park of Charlottesville, VA.

Eel on the Playground

Last week one of the fifth grade students, Leif, found a dead eel on the playground! This was a first for our school. We are located on the Thornton River, adjacent to the Shenandoah National Park. The eel had been caught and partially eaten by either a hungry bird of prey or raccoon, then it was left on the edge of the play yard.

The eel happened to be an American Eel in its adult stage. The eel was approximately 12 inches long, with a girth of about five inches. These eels like freshwater, and live most of their lives in rivers and estuaries from the Chesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The females spawn in salt water, going as far as the warm waters of Bermuda. These eels hunt at night, eating dead fish, carrion, invertabrates, insects, and in extreme situations other eels. During the day they hide in sand, gravel, or mud.

We decided to leave the eel for another hungry creature. The next day the eel was gone.