It’s the last day of April and we’re already looking at May, our last month of the 2024-2025 school year. Classes have taken field trips to the Phoenix Zoo, Hole-in-the-Rock near Papago Park, and The Heard Museum. In-depth class studies are culminating by inviting special guests in to share experiences. For example, PreK welcomed a family to come share aspects of their Colombian culture with the class, which included dancing, pan de bono, and presentation of facts that the child had gathered. The Pre4s have been studying the rain forest and are busily creating decorations for their upcoming open house.
1st-4th grade students have been reading and writing poetry for several months. Each class published an anthology, with every child’s work represented. During this week, both classes looked through their newly bound poetry books, practiced reading their own poem with a friend, then participated in an all-class poetry reading. What a beautiful experience to hear each of their voices read words from their hearts.
A true sign that we’re closing in on another school year is the ripening fruit on our apple and peach trees. Normally, the peaches ripen first, around the end of May, and the apples are harvested later during our summer program. It’s a time of year when little hands are eager to pick the fruit and reminders to keep them on the trees to grow are abundant.
This May will be different for me. On Thursday evening I’m leaving for an 18-day journey, which will be my third trip to India. I’m traveling with my same friend, and this time we’re going to the Himalayas. We’ve been planning this one ever since we returned from India in 2023, long before my Bhutan trip was an option. A friend asked what draws me back to India, and I’ve been thinking about that a lot. I love the ancient aspects of the various cultures, and the raw experience of navigating our way among such a vast collection of human beings. I love the variations of land and biomes. It feels like the place where the roots of my being originate.
I’m mentally and physically prepared. It will be hard to leave my family and the Seed for eighteen days, but I trust that all will be well in my absence. Given the depth of personal challenges I’ve faced in the past year, I’m glad for this opportunity to step out of my everyday life for a few days and experience a new version of myself. I will carry my love for all of you in my heart and look forward to seeing you the last week of school.