We did it. We reopened the Seed. On Tuesday morning we were greeted by appreciative families dropping off their precious children. Some of the kids were apprehensive about not only having their hair checked for lice as they do every first day of school, but also having their temperature taken. Having to say goodbye to . . . Read More
It’s been four and a half months since there were this many cars in our parking lot. Cautiously the Seed staff has returned for a week of cleaning, planning, and preparing for what lies ahead. We’ve completed CPR training and gone over COVID-19 protocols, in addition to preparing for virtual teaching along with in-person learning. . . . Read More
My plan was to take a two-week break from my blog. I did want to share one link with you that was truly inspiring, though, an interview with the late John Lewis. His words, like his life, motivate me to keep going, to keep doing the work. Last night’s full rainbow after the storm was . . . Read More
Normally we’d be on vacation right about now, looking at scenes such as this one on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. We would be revitalizing ourselves by walking beaches on either coast, perhaps taking a ferry from one location to another. There was always a body of water involved. Last night, as we took . . . Read More
When we were in Darjeeling a year and a half ago, we visited the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center. The center provides artisan training and support of residents of all ages. People who live there make a variety of handicrafts, including jewelry, weaving, and clothing. They also make prayer flags, so I loaded up on . . . Read More
These past few weeks, as we’ve been planning for the Seed’s re-opening in August, a steady stream of podcasts and articles have filled up spare moments. I’ve been listening to a variety of voices, all devoted to one thing, making this a better world for all human beings. As I read and listen, more and . . . Read More
The warmer weather has inspired me to find a new route for my morning walks. Through a bit of exploring, I’ve discovered some sleepy, lesser traveled streets near South Mountain that even provide a bit of shade. At the point where I turn around, a sailboat is parked. It’s been there awhile, and seems like . . . Read More
Earlier this week, our board of directors had to make the difficult decision to keep the Seed closed a bit longer. We were hoping to offer a three-week summer program, to provide much-needed childcare, as well as test our projected adaptations we plan to implement in August. Before finalizing the summer opening date, we determined . . . Read More
The branches on the Seed’s apple tree are heavily weighted with dozens of apples. I’m certain the crop is larger than usual, due to the absence of small “harvesters” this year. The tree is also maturing, and capable of producing more. The apples seem symbolic of the weight upon us at this time in history, . . . Read More
One by one, each child was acknowledged and celebrated. Beginning with our tiniest toddlers, and ending with our 3rd/4th grade graduates, the day of celebration brought a most unusual school year to an end. Despite not being physically present with our students since early March, each teacher had kind, thoughtful words about the students with . . . Read More
Two weeks ago I wrote about our efforts as a staff to do what’s best for kids. I keep thinking about this topic, and a related one—children’s mental health. Daily I see articles about this subject, and have concerns that, amidst the focus on academic learning time lost, the mental health piece is not being addressed . . . Read More
It’s that time of year when everything at school winds down. Teachers are writing progress reports and making awards. Ceremonies of completion and graduation are being planned. Teachers are organizing students’ materials to take home as a record of the past ten months. The one big difference this year is that none of the festivities . . . Read More
My third grade teacher, Marie Peithman, received me for exactly who I was. She was a breath of fresh air after a second grade tyrant who made me stand on tiptoes with my nose in a chalk-drawn circle on the board, just for talking. Mrs. Peithman was kind, and had appropriately high expectations. I remember . . . Read More
When I was a kid, May 1st was a day of connection. We’d make little baskets and fill them with lilacs, popcorn, and candy, then deliver them to friends’ front doors. It was a sweet way to remember close friends. It’s not a practice we see around here. And with social distancing in place, as . . . Read More
Earth Day has historically been one of the most important days of the year at Awakening Seed. It’s an embodiment of the Seed’s mission statement: “Awakening Seed is an innovative, compassionate learning community that inspires global citizens by fostering curiosity, celebrating uniqueness, and promoting social justice.” This year, more than any other year, it was . . . Read More
As we enter our second month of days at home instead of the Seed, it’s beginning to sink in that we may be at this longer than we originally anticipated. The novelty has begun to wear off, and the list of things we are missing from our old life grows longer each day. Granted, most . . . Read More
A devoted mother dove sits in the nest she built on a small shelf above the hose in our back yard. She’s been there for nearly two weeks. There were two eggs originally, and now there is one hatchling, whose eyes are still closed. I don’t know what happened to the other one. This mother . . . Read More
On Tuesday morning I was over at the Seed taking photos for our upcoming yearbook project. Evidence of spring was everywhere. Bill has been hard at work keeping weeds at bay, and the freshly mown grass looks incredibly healthy. A few class gardens are bursting with produce, including kale, chard, and spinach. Sunflowers are blooming . . . Read More
When I returned from my trip to Nebraska, I checked out a group of mysterious cabbage-like plants in our garden. Looking closer, I discovered underneath the lush green leaves a whole collection of tiny Brussels sprouts. How could this be? I do remember planting seeds months ago, but thought our rabbit visitors had wiped . . . Read More
When visitors come to the Seed and we open the door to our playground, the response is nearly universal: Wow. One parent even asked if our school was adjacent to a city park. Many express their awe by saying, “I wish I’d gone to a school like this when I was a kid.” I’ve visited . . . Read More
Exactly a year ago today, I left for India. It was an adventure that changed my life and is still with me. The orange-pink sunrise, the smell of rose oil, and the flapping of prayer flags in my back yard all carry me back to India. Lately I’ve been reflecting on the year that has . . . Read More
A few days ago I read a plea for help posted on Facebook by one of our Seed alums. She’s living in Australia. Her post included a stunning photo of a huge plume of smoke and an article describing the fire as big as Manhattan. I thought about her post all weekend and decided we . . . Read More
Although everyone is moving a bit slower this morning, we’re all feeling the glow of last night’s performance. The amount of effort that goes into our winter solstice production is unseen by most of our audience. The vision, patience, and practice that fill up our December weeks came forth last night as we offered an . . . Read More
In most places around the country falling leaves signal the arrival of autumn. Not so in Phoenix. When leaves at the Seed finally cover the ground, we know we’re well on our way to winter. Even though the winter solstice is still a week away, the leaf-covered ground is a sign that our balmy days . . . Read More