In August at our GMS alumni reunion, we caught up with Harrison McClain-Rubin (GMS Class of 2010), a junior in the Honors College at University of North Carolina-Greensboro. We were eager to learn more about his recent study abroad experience in Germany, plus how his nine years as a student at GMS shape his perspective on the world.

GMS: What inspired you to study abroad in Germany last semester? Tell us about one of the highlights of your experience.

Harrison: Being a political science student at UNCG, I had programs available in Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Germany. My fascination with German history elevated her above the other countries, plus her central position in Europe was perfect for all the travel I hoped to accomplish. I met so many great people while studying at the University of Mannheim that I now consider lifelong friends. It is hard to think of a single highlight of the trip, but one of the best things that happened resulted from my decision to go to Deutsche Bank to create a bank account one morning. This one morning I was tired (still jet-lagged), late to a bank appointment, and lost in this foreign city. By the time I arrived I found myself behind four French Canadian strangers. For some reason we started to talk, then we grabbed lunch together and proceeded to explore the city. By the end of the day my new French Canadian friends asked if I wanted to go to Munich for the weekend. In my head, I thought, “I barely know these people…maybe some other time… and shouldn’t I start to study?” But in the end, I took the risk and went to Munich. I decided to leave my comfort zone and go on this trip. It was the best decision I could have made because I made four great friends. We bonded during our time in Munich and it helped set the foundation for the best six months of my life.

GMS: Do you think you see the world differently as a result of being a graduate of a Montessori school? If so, how?

Harrison: Having been in Montessori from kindergarten to 8th grade I believe I have a more creative perspective when it comes to solving problems. When problems arise, I do not feel limited by the circumstances and I am able to think critically and creatively to figure out solutions.

GMS: What do you value most about your years at Greensboro Montessori School?

Harrison: I value the teaching environment. I have always been more of a hands on learner and Greensboro Montessori gave me the platform I needed to thrive and allowed me to focus on my passion for social sciences. The ability to have one on one lessons and focus on my specific needs was pivotal in my early education.

GMS: How did GMS prepare you for your high school and collegiate success?

Harrison: Greensboro Montessori gave me the tools to tackle long-term assignments and taught me to think critically which I fear a fair amount of my fellow students in high school and, even now, in university are still developing these tools. By the time I had left GMS I had written multiple longer papers, critically discussed and analyzed novels and conducted science projects. Leaving Montessori I felt confident in my abilities as a student and I did not feel overwhelmed once I left my graduating class of eight at GMS to my freshman class of 400+ students at Grimsley.

GMS: What are some of your proudest accomplishments?

Harrison: My proudest accomplishment has been taking the initiative and deciding to go to Europe for six months, to a country where I did not know the language or any people. It was an important decision to take that step and just be open to what happens. I discovered how easy it is to travel, meet new people, and participate in local events. I grew more confident and open to new things. To other students considering traveling abroad, my advice would be this - don't worry if you can't do everything, it's only natural and don't feel that you have to be busy every minute of every day. It is just as important to take time for yourself and to relax. Your time abroad doesn't need to always be a theme park ride. The best thing I did for myself was slow down and enjoy the smaller things like spending time in a park with a friend, go for a run, or even slow down and binge a Netflix series. Mannheim became my second home. I was able to spend some time traveling, but I also spent a lot of time just enjoying Mannheim. My time abroad opened my eyes to new experiences and the opportunities that rest outside of the United States. Attending the University of Mannheim was the best decision I could have made.

GMS: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Harrison: In five years I hope to be back in Europe. My time in Europe opened my eyes to life beyond the United States. Who says I have to go to graduate school in the U.S.? Why not Europe? And as for now that is my goal. Once I am finished at UNCG, I hope to attend graduate school in Europe and continue to travel and see the world.

Few things are quite as alarming to parents as being smacked by their once-serene toddler, or watching her use aggression against another child. For so many of us, peaceful conflict resolution and gentle interactions are among the most important values we strive to instill in our children. It can be easy to wonder how toddlers in perfectly peaceful households can suddenly turn all Vin Diesel on those they love the most!

Almost all young children experiment with aggressive behaviors, even in the very best homes and toddler programs. All toddlers - even those who are never exposed to physical aggression or violent imagery - are wired to resolve conflicts in ways that are reactive and impulsive. Because they haven't yet mastered verbal communication, their hands are often the medium through which they express how they feel. On top of that, they are not yet capable of empathizing with others to understand how their actions feel to those on the receiving end. Behaviors like hitting and pushing offer a quick release to their feelings of frustration, get others out of their space - and, for bonus points, they get BIG reactions from grown-ups. Toddlers crave attention, and even the negative variety can feel gratifying. Moreover, getting an adult or another child riled up offers a little taste of POWER - a feeling that’s in short supply in a small child’s life. Therefore, toddlers will often repeat unwanted behaviors over and over just to experience that rush of emotion, and to see how the sequence of reactions plays out each time.

Your toddler knows you love him unconditionally, regardless of his actions - so you're a safe target for behaviors he wants to understand and explore, even if they are negative. In most cases, the best response is as LITTLE response as possible: "No hitting. That hurts me," then moving physically away from the child. You can say, "I can be with you when you're gentle." At school, we may ask children who are behaving aggressively to move away from the rest of the group; do some deep breathing (smell the flower [inhale], blow out the candle [exhale]); then ask them to touch our hand gently to show us they are ready to be close to others again. When they are calm, we help them to recognize the impact of their actions: “Your friend is crying. It hurt when you hit her.” Then we model the language the child might use in the future in lieu of the aggressive behavior: “You can say, ‘Move over, please.’" Toddlers learn via LOTS of repetition, so don't be surprised or discouraged if you find you are using these interventions over and over with seemingly little result. They are programmed to test certain behaviors again and again before they accept that the result is the same every time!

Of all the things we cover in the toddler curriculum, none is more important than teaching children how to exist in a community with others and resolve conflicts peacefully. Monitoring the children for their safety and well-being, and seizing every opportunity to teach prosocial behavior, is incredibly important to everyone on our Toddler faculty. With patience, good modeling, and consistency in our approaches at home and school, we can help toddlers to master alternatives to the "rough stuff" and become caring, empathetic members of our school family!

Dear Parents, Alumni and Friends,

As the search for our new Head of School gains momentum, I wanted to take a moment to re-introduce the Search Committee and update you on the exciting work in which we’ve been engaged. The Board of Trustees created the Search Committee to help identify candidates for the permanent Head of School position, and we humbly ask the entire community to be involved in this important process. The Search Committee is dedicated to a professional, open and inclusive process and is looking forward to keeping you informed along the way. Our Committee members are listed on the right sidebar of this page for your easy reference.

As announced at Back to School Night and upon recommendation from the Search Committee, the School has engaged the services of Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A), a nationally recognized educational recruiting firm specializing in independent schools. We selected CS&A after thorough research, interviews and reference checks and are confident the School will benefit from CS&A's nationwide network of contacts and industry expertise in Head of School searches.

Another tremendous advantage of partnering with CS&A is the ability to work with a dedicated, personal consultant throughout the entire process. Marlene Shaw will serve in this capacity for Greensboro Montessori School, and we are looking forward to the rich experience and caring focus she will bring to our search.

Marlene is a former Head of School at Chatham Hall School in Chatham, Va. and St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis, Tenn. Marlene holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Louisiana State University and a Masters of Education in Counselor Education from the University of New Orleans. She has also completed postgraduate work in financial stability, advancement and major gifts for independent schools and has attended the Harvard Counseling Institute. For the last four years, Marlene has worked as a senior search consultant for CS&A.

Marlene has already begun working with the Search Committee and School administration to cultivate her relationship with and knowledge of our School. We are excited to welcome her to campus from September 27th through 29th to further her understanding of our unique needs for our next Head of School. While here, she has requested to meet with you, our parents and friends of the School, along with the Teaching Faculty, Administration, Alumni, Search Committee and Board of Trustees.

Prior to her arriving, Marlene would like to gather preliminary views from the community via an online survey which will be sent this Monday, September 19. On behalf of the Search Committee, I respectfully request you make every effort to participate in this survey. Marlene will be recruiting from a large variety of excellent educational leaders who will want to understand Greensboro Montessori School through the eyes of all of us in our school community. Through your survey input and the insights from her visit, Marlene will work with the Search Committee to formulate the formal Head of School position description which will be a primary communication piece used for recruiting candidates.

I look forward to keeping you informed of our efforts and progress throughout the search process. If you have any questions or specific input for me, the Search Committee or Marlene, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, and more importantly, please take advantage of upcoming opportunities – like the survey and soon-to-be-announced meeting times with Marlene – to provide feedback.

Sincerely,

David Bouska
Search Committee Chair

Among many of the most wonderful qualities of Greensboro Montessori School are our parent community and gardening program. On Friday, October 7, we will unite these bodies at an intimate Seed to Table Dinner at the Proximity Hotel. Leigh Hesling, Executive Chef of both Green Valley Grill and Print Works Bistro, and his team will prepare an exquisite meal for us using fresh ingredients from our permaculture gardens and local farms. Even better, Chef Hesling will entertain and delight with a cooking demonstration of each course prior to our enjoying the locavore cuisine. This format mirrors what our students experience in their environmental education lessons on a regular basis.

This exclusive, adults-only evening will include a starter, an entrée and a dessert, each paired with wine. We will also feature a designer cocktail and craft beer. You're probably wondering, "What's the occasion?" We actually have a lot to celebrate:

If you don't know much about the permaculture gardening program, take a look at our School Within a Garden page. This page gets its namesake from Alice Waters who visited our School in the spring of 2010 while in town for the grand opening of the Edible Schoolyard at the Greensboro Children's Museum. Upon touring our 10-acre campus, she called Greensboro Montessori School a "school within a garden."

The Fall Festival is our biggest annual community event and is family-friendly party on the school field. Attendees bring their own chairs, blankets and snacks and spend the entire afternoon visiting various activity stations along the perimeter of the field. Past activities include inflatables and stations sponsored by each classroom in the School.

The Annual Fund is a yearly giving campaign designed to propel Greensboro Montessori School from being excellent to exceptional. The costs to run an excellent School like ours are tremendous. Simply keeping the lights on, providing a clean environment and maintaining our impressive facilities totals $177,000 a year. It costs another $137,000 annually to ensure each classroom has excellent Montessori materials and every student has life-changing experiences through unique curriculum like the Land Laboratory. And most importantly, to provide the very best in professional, passionate and credentialed educators, the School spends $2,479,000 in annual employee salaries and benefits. There are other costs, like depreciation and interest expense, that take the School's operating budget well over $3 million.

So how does the School implement the extra touches that make us exceptional? The answer is the Annual Fund. Through the benevolence of parents, alumni, community partners and friends of the School, Greensboro Montessori School is able bridge the difference between covering the basic expenses and positioning the School to deliver exceptional educational experiences to our students.

We invite each of you to an evening of delicious food, festive camaraderie and powerful learning (not only how to cook, but also how to keep our School exceptional). Tickets to the all-inclusive evening are $100 per person and you can register online or contact Jillian Crone to pay via check or cash. Seating is limited to 50 guests, so don't delay and purchase your tickets today!

Our Primary students spent an afternoon with Paul Ibsen, Interim Head of School, late in the week. With just a touch of encouragement, they started asking him questions, mostly about his favorite things. Throughout the dialogue, Paul included stories about his time growing up in California and his first career as a helicopter pilot in the United States Coast Guard. Not everything made it into our transcription for you, but the kids certainly loved every moment of their time with him.

Q: Why do you want to be a principal here?
A: I got a call from somebody that said Greensboro Montessori was a wonderful school, and they just needed somebody to be a head of the school for a short time to help the school find somebody to be a head of school for a long, long time. They asked if would I come and help out and I said, "Sure, I’d love to help out because its such a great school."

Q: Why are you here?
A: I’m here because I like being with children. I like to see what children do, and how they learn together, and how they explore. It's so much fun!

Q: What's your favorite snack?
A: Popcorn

Q: What’s your favorite ice cream?
A: Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia. You know what else I like to do too… I have two grandchildren, a granddaughter and a grandson. They live about three hours from where I live, and I love when we can get together and eat ice cream. My granddaughter is going into middle school and my grandson is in fourth grade.

Q: Do you have a cat?
A: I don’t have a cat, but I have a dog named McDuff. Have you ever read the stories about McDuff? There are some great books about McDuff, and I should come by and read some of those to you because McDuff gets in trouble a lot. We call [our dog] McDuff, and just like in the book, he is a white West Highland Terrier. When I go to bed I have to move him off my pillow because he's on my pillow when I get in bed. And he doesn't like moving very much...We have a lot of fun with McDuff.

Q: Is your dog bad?
A: He's very good, and he loves people. He won't bite people. You know what he'll do? He will lick your nose.

Paul's Cinnamon Candy

Paul's jar of hard cinnamon candies can be found on the desk in his office.

Q: What's your favorite candy?
A: You know, I like those little red, cinnamon candies. I have some in a jar on my desk.

Q: Which favorite popsicles do you like?
A: Wow, I haven't had [a popsicle in a while]. You know those orange popsicles that have the white creamy stuff on the inside? Those are awesome.

Q: What’s your favorite color?
A: Ooooh, I think blue. I have a little blue here [on my shirt]. I think blue, but it depends, sometimes I like red. I also have pink shirt that I really like...You know the color I really like? It's the green color of Greensboro Montessori School.

Q: What’s your favorite shoe, shoe to wear?
A: I don't know. Whatever I grab in the closet pretty much is fine.

Q: What’s your favorite tree?
A: You know I grew up in California, and one of my favorite trees was a tree called a Giant Sequoia. They were hundreds of years old, and they were huge. Taller than these buildings. There was one tree, and they made hole in the bottom of it. You could drive through it with your car. It was that big.

Q: What's your favorite animal?
A: Probably my dog. Yeah, I like my Westie.

Greensboro Montessori School has announced two major changes that will launch in fall 2017: 1) The expansion of its middle school to include ninth grade and 2) The transition of sixth grade, previously a part of Greensboro Montessori’s middle school, to the School’s upper elementary division. Both changes will enable the School to more authentically deliver the Montessori experience for both students and faculty, a hallmark of which is three-year, multi-age groupings within each division.

The three-year groupings that will result—grades four, five and six in upper elementary and grades seven, eight and nine in middle school—are consistent with the pivotal three-year cycle first articulated by educator Dr. Maria Montessori (1870–1952) and later supported by the American Montessori Society, of which Greensboro Montessori is an accredited school member.

Montessori’s three-year cycle recognizes sensitive periods of growth and development shared among each age group. It also allows for skills and concepts to be introduced, explored and mastered through three consecutive and collaborative years of learning.

Commenting on the addition of ninth grade to Greensboro Montessori’s offerings, Associate Head of School Nancy Hofer said: “As researchers and educators increasingly refer to ninth grade as the make-or-break year of high school, Montessori methodology changes the conversation by positioning ninth grade as a capstone year in middle school. Young adolescence is a monumental time in the life of a child. Rather than lead every student down the same path, the Montessori philosophy empowers us to look at each student individually and develop a custom learning plan to unlock his or her full potential. Offering ninth grade to our students and their families is just another way Greensboro Montessori School supports this philosophy in both theory and practice.”

Richard A. Ungerer, the American Montessori Society’s Executive Director, added: “Greensboro Montessori School is one of only six AMS-accredited schools in North Carolina, and it is the only AMS-accredited school in the state’s Piedmont Triad region offering middle school. We are thrilled to see their commitment to the continued process of self-reflection and school improvement that is a critical part of what it means to be AMS-accredited. And by introducing these curriculum shifts, the School reaffirms its commitment to developing the whole child through the time-tested, research-based educational approach of Maria Montessori.”

Greensboro Montessori will graduate its first ninth grade class at the end of the 2017-18 school year. To inquire about enrollment at Greensboro Montessori, please contact Rhea Egbert, director of admission.

Greensboro Montessori School alumni have a built in network of support with each other, and we got a bird’s eye view of how special that network is when we welcomed our college-agedalumni back to campus for a reunion and cookout on the evening of Sunday, August 7. The spirit of belonging was palpable. As each alum walked through the door, the alums who had already arrived would call the person's name and cheer. For those of us faculty in attendance, it was heartwarming to see and feel!

Several of the alumni asked for a tour of our recently renovated classrooms and reminisced as they walked through their Toddler, Primary and Lower Elementary classrooms recalling the names of their teachers and pointing out Montessori materials that they remembered. Our director of marketing and development, Jillian Crone, commented, “They wanted to see everything and kept remarking how nice the School looked. One alum asked, 'Can we see Cathy Moses’ Lower Elementary classroom?' I had to tell them things had changed and Cathy had moved to Upper Elementary, but more importantly, I was amazed how personally invested they were in their former teachers and classroom details. They clearly relate to Greensboro Montessori School as if it were their childhood home.”

At dinner, the alumni were joined by long time Middle School faculty members Deirdre Kearney, Doug Williams and Jonathan McLean, plus former teacher Angela Cook, who taught middle school science for eight years and led the School in the founding of the our nationally acclaimed Land Program in Oak Ridge. The alumni were eager to reconnect with their mentors, and share stories of their recent adventures. International travel was a hot topic since no less than eight of our youthful dinner guests had either just returned from, or are soon departing for, an extended trip abroad; some traveling with the university and some exploring on their own. We heard stories of visits to London, Mannheim, Madrid, Rome and Amsterdam and shared our well wishes for Bridget Lavender (Class of 2010) who departs very soon for a semester in Perugia, Italy. For many of our alumni, their capstone field trips in 8th grade to the United Nations in the Fall and Costa Rica in the Spring ignites a passion for experiencing life and culture around the globe.

Alumni gatherings like these are a great way for us to follow the evolution of our graduates and learn how their foundational experiences at Greensboro Montessori School continues to shape them into adulthood. As we approach our 20th graduation ceremony in June 2017, we look forward to sharing more alumni stories as a way of telling the world just how transformative a Greensboro Montessori School education can be.

At a glance - Where are they now?

Greensboro Montessori School alumni attend a variety of colleges and universities across the nation. Our Alumni Reunion on August 7, 2016 welcomed students who attend the following:

· Davidson College (Davidson, N.C.)

· East Carolina University (Greenville, N.C.)

· Lees-McRae College (Banner Elk, N.C.)

· North Carolina State University

· Rice University (Houston, Texas)

· University of Chicago

· University of North Carolina at Asheville

· University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

· University of North Carolina at Greensboro

· University of South Carolina (Columbia, S.C.)

· Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, N.C.)

· Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.)

This summer I've been introduced to Montessori Market, a summer camp Greensboro Montessori has offered for the last 17 years. Through a unique blend of environmental education and hands-on learning, campers participate in a week-long business preparing consumer goods for sale to the general public at the conclusion of camp. Just as our 2016 graduating class impressed me, Montessori Market has revealed yet another School tradition which is so much more than meets the eye.

Montessori Market is an all-hands-on-deck camp featuring contributions from the entire school community. Whatever produce we can't harvest from our own permaculture gardens, we source from local farmers. Both faculty and students work together to gather ingredients before camp even begins. This year, Nancy Hofer, Mary Jacobson, Kristy Ford and Andi Bogan chaperoned our Lower Elementary Al Fresco summer camp students to a local blueberry farm where they hand picked blueberries for jam. We also needed peaches which led me to think about The Produce Box, a service which delivers fresh produce from North Carolina farmers to my doorstep each week.  After one quick trip to Raleigh and the overwhelming generosity of The Produce Box, we had boxes of peaches, certified organic zucchini, green bell peppers, corn, jalapeños and tomatoes.

TPB_Pano

A panoramic view of The Produce Box's warehouse in Raleigh.

Pallet of produce from the Produce Box

A pallet of produce generously donated by The Produce Box.

The students began camp with a full refrigerator of fresh, North Carolina-grown produce and three sprawling gardens from which to pick fresh basil for pesto and lavender for sachets. They have also made a wide variety of handmade crafts to accompany their foodstuffs.

Mary Jacobson and students in the Montessori Market summer camp.

Mary Jacobson, a Lower Elementary faculty member, oversees food prep for blueberry jam.

Montessori Market handmade crafts

Campers prepare a variety of handmade crafts while taking a break form the kitchen.

As the students approach the end of the week, the most beautiful and compelling aspect of camp comes alive. With finished goods ready for sale, you have to wonder, "for whom and to whom will they sell their goods, and where?" I've since learned that Montessori Market has always worked for the benefit of children in need. Campers wake up bright and early to sell their products at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on the Saturday immediately following camp, and all proceeds are donated to a charity focused on kids. Hence, it's time to introduce BackPack Beginnings.

Founded six years ago by Parker White, a new mother at the time, BackPack Beginnings' mission is to deliver child-centric services to feed, comfort, and clothe children in need in Guilford County.  By ensuring food and basic necessities are given directly to children in need, BackPack Beginnings makes a positive and lasting impact on their health and well-being.  As a 100% volunteer organization, BackPack Beginnings serves over 6,000 children experiencing hunger and trauma in our community annually. Recently, Parker has been named one of four finalists for The NASCAR Foundation’s Sixth Annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide. This award honors incredible volunteers from across the country who have made a profound impact on children’s lives in their community. (You can vote for Parker daily from now until September 26; if she wins, The NASCAR Foundation will make a $100,000 donation to BackBack Beginnings.)

Our Montessori Market campers have been learning, cooking, and collaborating on behalf of BackPack Beginnings all week.  This Saturday, July 30, they will be at the Curb Market proudly displaying their finished goods, and a donation to BackPack Beginnings will allow market-goers to shop from their products. In addition to the pesto and sachets, shoppers may also select from blueberry jam, peach jam, salsa, zucchini bread, and a number of homespun crafts.

Peach and blueberry jam from Montessori Market

Peach and blueberry jams—lovingly made by students participating in Montessori Market—ready for display at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market.

100% of the donations received on Saturday will assist the BackPack Beginnings' Food BackPack Program which helps fight childhood hunger in our community by filling the weekend food gap for children in need. By the numbers, this program sends 1,600 children from 26 schools with fresh food each weekend totaling 6,400 food bags per month. This effort is in addition to their Comfort BackPack, Food Pantry and Clothing Pantry programs. While our hope is that we receive enough donations on Saturday to empty our booth, any remaining products can be directly donated to BackPack Beginnings for direct inclusion in Food BackPacks or the Food Pantry.

So this is the story of how a summer camp evolves into so much more than a summer camp. How the Montessori philosophy challenges us, as adults, to push our kids to do more than text, snapchat and Netflix during summer break. How engaged faculty and community organizations prepare children for a lifetime of success by providing real-world experiences in running a business, manufacturing, time management, and philanthropy. And how children come together to help others less fortunate than themselves. And how Montessori Market is more than meets the eye.

Greensboro Montessori School (“Greensboro Montessori” or the “School”) has named Paul Ibsen Interim Head of School for the 2016-17 school year. The School’s Board of Trustees and a formal Search Committee are actively searching for a new Head of School to assume leadership of Greensboro’s only authentic, dually-accredited Montessori institution in the 2017-18 school year.

Ibsen joins Greensboro Montessori after retiring from Providence Day School in Charlotte, N.C. as Assistant Head of School for Finance and Management. He served in this capacity for 19 years and was responsible for directing all school support services, including the administration of a $36 million annual operating budget and oversight of all facilities. As Interim Head of School for Greensboro Montessori, Ibsen will work closely with administration in the daily operations of the School while also engaging faculty and families to familiarize himself with all aspects of the Greensboro Montessori experience. He will use this knowledge to provide neutral, unbiased assistance to the Board of Trustees and Search Committee to identify Head of School candidates who match the School's unique vision and culture.

“Paul brings a wealth of experience and proven leadership skills to our thriving organization,” said Asheley Kotis, President of Greensboro Montessori School’s Board of Trustees. “We are looking forward to working with him throughout the upcoming school year and appreciate the insight and informed recommendations he will bring to the Search Committee and Board. More importantly, we are delighted for the enthusiasm, professionalism and congeniality he brings to our diverse community of administrators, faculty and 240 students and their families.”

Ibsen will begin his post as Interim Head of School on Tuesday, August 9. Inquiries about Greensboro Montessori’s search for a Head of School should be directed to Heather Goggin, personnel administrator, at [email protected].

On Tuesday, June 14, Greensboro Montessori School welcomed a group of regional leaders who work in conjunction with the national nonprofit known as FoodCorps. FoodCorps is a nationwide team of AmeriCorps leaders who specialize in connecting kids to healthy food in school by providing nutrition education, hands-on activities like gardening and cooking, and access to school lunches filled with nutritious foods from local farms.

“Thousands of young Americans have dedicated themselves to reforming the food chain, from field to table, and of all the programs that have emerged to channel that energy and idealism, FoodCorps is the most inspiring.” - Michael Pollan (Featured Speaker in the 2016-17 Bryan Series sponsored by Guilford College)

The participants, who direct FoodCorps programs locally and regionally all over the state of North Carolina, conducted a day long retreat on our campus. Cooperative Extension directors from Guilford and Warren counties, nonprofit leaders from the Sandhills to Wilmington, and public school representatives from Cherokee, Scotland, and Wake Counties were in attendance. GMS Environmental Education teachers, Eliza Hudson and Jenny Kimmel, and Admissions Director, Rhea Egbert, led them all on an inspiring tour of the three expansive garden spaces on our 10-acre campus (for Primary, Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary/Middle School).

Did you know that 2017 will mark the 20th anniversary of Greensboro Montessori School's permaculture gardening program? Many of last week's FoodCorps visitors are just starting school gardens or managing programs that are young compared to ours, and we were honored and thrilled to share our experience, expertise and leadership in this area. We're even more excited to learn there is a growing number of school gardening and Farm to School programs popping up in Guilford County and throughout the state.

We are proud to be a pioneer in environmental education programming. Our gardens have a lot to offer not only our own families, but also the wider community. What a joy to share the philosophies of both Montessori and permaculture gardening with these visitors! Our hope is to inspire and encourage child-driven work around the state with this visit.

On behalf of the School and my teammates, thank you for your support of our gardens over the years and for allowing us to nurture each child’s relationship to the natural world. It gives us great pleasure to share what we’ve learned over the years because of your generosity.

To learn more about the history of the Greensboro Montessori School gardens, check out our blog on our School Within a Garden page

To learn more about FoodCorps (and their work here in Guilford County!), check out www.foodcorps.org.

FoodCorps Meeting #2 - June 2016

FoodCorps Meeting - June 2016