On Saturday we gathered on the Seed playground under overcast skies for our annual picnic. There was plenty of shade under our glorious trees where picnickers could sit and eat together. It was a calm and peaceful event that included face painting, wand making, a group collage project, and a delightful musical component. The . . . Read More
Since the Seed began in 1977, we’ve taken our role as planetary stewards seriously. Each year as we approach Earth Day, we focus on one theme to learn more about and expand awareness of it in our community. In years past we’ve drawn attention to the problems with using single use plastic bags in lunches, . . . Read More
Earlier this week toward the end of recess, one of the 3rd/4th graders approached the building with a metal pan in hand. Upon looking closer, I noticed a perfect robin’s egg, nestled in a soft bed of fresh green grass. Evidently the egg was found on the ground somewhere, dropped from its nest. As different . . . Read More
I’m not a worrier, but I do notice a level of worry expressed by many people I come in contact with these days. I consider myself generally a hopeful person, although at times it’s a challenge to remain steadfast in my commitment to hope. I immerse myself in nature as much as possible and surround . . . Read More
When the school began in 1977, in the garage of our family home, we established a set of values upon which the school would operate. They were based upon the description of a school about which my spiritual teacher would read to us. Basically, it was a place where all involved would be respected and . . . Read More
This is a bit of a sequel to last week’s blog, “Love Day.” The day after the valentine celebration at school (celebrated on the 12th because school was closed for conferences on the 14th), my great-granddaughter dumped out her personally decorated box of kindergarten valentines on our bathroom floor. It was an assortment of commercially . . . Read More
On Monday we celebrated the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. It’s an annual reminder to continue the practices he stood for that are a part of our everyday lives at the Seed. Non-violence, compassion for others and ourselves, peaceful resolution of differences, standing up for ourselves and each other, being an advocate for those . . . Read More
Until yesterday morning, when I showed up for school, I didn’t know what backflow was. It was the 100th day of school, and the kindergartener arriving with me was more than excited about the upcoming day of celebrating the number 100. Before arriving, all I knew was the school had no water. I quickly learned . . . Read More
Unlike previous years, when we’d head to the coast for a few beach days, I spent the entire winter break here in the valley. The weather was exceptionally pleasant, and it was an invitation to be outside as much as possible. I spent time in my garden, delighting in this year’s banner crop of carrots, . . . Read More
Last night we extinguished the 700 luminarias we assembled this week. Each paper bag held a candle and two cups of playground sand. At various times different crews made up of staff and parent volunteers set up the bags, hung lights, charged the solar spotlights, and created installations for last night’s Celebration of the Winter . . . Read More
In less than a week we’ll be gathering for one of the Seed’s most significant events, the Celebration of the Winter Solstice. I love what the evening has evolved into since its beginnings in the early 80s. Seeking to hold a celebration with a universal appeal, we decided to focus on the solstice and the . . . Read More
On Wednesday we’ll gather as a community to celebrate the Seed and everything about it for which we are grateful. It’s an event that has been part of the Seed history for a long time. In past years we used to spend days preparing a feast for our families to enjoy. Classes would make green . . . Read More
This morning when I walked I was greeted by a sky laced with orange wispy clouds. I’ve anticipated this day for months. In early spring I heard about a two-week trip to Bhutan organized by a group from California. I was eager to go on the trip and applied. Initially I was not selected. I . . . Read More
Normally, at this time of year, we’ve already planted most of our classroom gardens. Not this year. With temperatures consistently still above 100, very few seeds have been placed in the soil. A few that have more shade than others, and a small irrigation system installed, have been planted and are bravely poking up skyward. . . . Read More
With a slight shift in the weather toward cooler days, I noticed this morning a group of preschoolers out in Gwen’s Castle. During the warmer months there tends to be less activity in the space, but once it cools off, children begin to gravitate to that area of the playground. The Castle was created in . . . Read More
I’m writing this particular blog today because I’ll be in Nebraska next week celebrating the life of my dad, James Kenner, Jr. He died peacefully on August 11, 2024, at the grand age of 99 years, 5 months, and 8 days. You can read his obituary if you want to know where he was born . . . Read More
Today is our last day of summer camp. The two oldest classes are preparing for their afternoon performances, and teachers are going over checklists for closing up their summer classrooms. We have a few construction projects going on, and two classrooms are being prepared for painting. One of my projects for the summer has been . . . Read More
This morning, while out for my walk, I spied this sweet flower in someone’s yard. I felt fortunate to have witnessed how beautifully the sunlight shone through the petals. Summer is a good time to slow down and stay open to nature’s surprises. It also helps take my mind off the summer heat. It’s hot. . . . Read More
We held our annual spring picnic on Saturday. It ended up being a celebration of both our school and Planet Earth. Although the day was quite warm, the energy and ambiance were so extraordinary that it was easy to forgive the 90 degree temperature. For a starter, we had live music from Dr. Jesse McGuire. . . . Read More
I’m savoring these last few days of spring. The mornings are still cool enough that I need a long-sleeved shirt, and the evenings make me want to linger in the garden as long as there’s still light. On Wednesday night I sat on a large flat rock near our compost pile, meticulously removing dried peas . . . Read More
I can’t help myself from writing about the great outdoors. It’s full of surprises, discoveries, and inspiration. On Wednesday morning we were surprised by a visit from a neighborhood toad. It was about the size of a medium baked potato, and didn’t seem to be in a hurry to go anywhere else. One of the . . . Read More
I know I write about the Seed’s outdoor space quite often. I love being outside with the children, watching them play in all the ways they do. It’s when many of them are at their finest, using their imaginations freely with no adults telling them how to play. Certainly we keep track of how materials . . . Read More
In the sweaty days of August during our teacher prep week, we were approached by two enthusiastic parents about starting a volunteer garden club. It was a busy week with a long list of tasks and, to be honest, the gardens weren’t high on my to-do list. Nevertheless, the pair had such enthusiasm, I found . . . Read More
Last weekend I was out for a walk along the canal by my house. I was appalled by the huge pile of trash accumulated near a barrier consisting of styrofoam Polar Pop cups, recyclable water bottles, a GrubHub cooler, and a soccer ball. I shared this with the 1st graders to remind them that climate . . . Read More