A quick comment on last Friday's Lake trip.
Truly,
the gallery on display last week was gone,
and the Sun and air was sweeping up, 
clearing the way for the next show.
So what we saw was transitional:
large plates of ice keeled up on mounds of thawing sand,
and last week's crystal balls were shrunken and sunken in the sand-snow mix.
But here's the thing,
if you touched the crystal balls with the toe of your boot, 
and gave a small input of energy,
they would splinter!
Splinter into crystal shards, 
sparkling in the sunshine,
like jewelry set out for display. 
And the ice plates, 
sweating water below,
if you stood on them, 
even the smallest and lightest of our kids, 
and gave a tiny bounce, 
the plates collapsed with the most satisfying and thorough disintegration. 
And there were thousands and thousands of these plates for our kids to test.
Inevitably, some had water below, deep enough to go over their boots
and produce shocked shrieks of surprise.
I was corralling a group of kids straying too close to the fissured ice that would eventually cave into the lake. 
We were near the north end of the shore and the natural (dune) area.
A man was approaching us from the fence line, 
hurrying, without testing the ice he stepped on.
At one point he broke through, 
and went in knee deep.
He motioned to us, 
and mouthed the words:
"Snowy Owl! Please stay quiet, don't move."
I turned to tell the kids.
They quickly turned towards shore,
the ice broke beneath them, 
they shrieked, 
a giant, beautiful Snowy Owl took off over the Lake, 
circling against the blue sky and green water and headed back to shore, 
a hundred yards north.
It was like that, 
surprising things lurking, always.

This week:
Monday morning we start perfomances of:
"The Legend of Snake and Turtle",
a play that is acted out by 1st graders and performed for Kinder, 1st grade and 8th grade. It tells the story of our school's place history. 
A short  120 years ago the school grounds were a wetlands, 
with the Chicago River loitering through it, making its way to Lake Chicago.
Around 1906 the North Shore Channel was dug, 
and the spoils were pumped over two block to silt in the old stream and wetlands. 
All the previous ecology vanished in a moment, including our protagonists Snake and Turtle. The aim of the play is to tell the story, and enlist the help of our kinder-kids and 1st graders to protect the Snake and Turtle effigy mounds, and the gardens around them.
The Kinder performances are on Monday morning between 9:30 and 11:00.
The First Grade performances are on Wednesday afternoon, 1:30 till 3:00.
We mostly have this thing under control, 
but if anyone would like to assist supervising our 6 actors, 
as I set up the stage in each room, 
and prepare the classes, 
oh, that would be very good!

On Tuesday, January 30, 5th Grade Room 307 Mighty Acorns are off to Sauganash 
to cut brush and explore the space in Winter. We leave at 9:30, and are back by 1:00. 
Volunteers are invited to meet at the Fish tank at 9:00.

On Wednesday January 31, 5th Grade Room 308 Mighty Acorns repeat the above trip,
the same times.

On Thursday, February 1, 4th Grade Room 209 Mighty Acorns repeat the above trip,
the same times. 

On  Friday we rest!

On Saturday February 3, 
Riverbank Neighbors will hold its MidWinter Gathering in the Waters Green Wing Annex.
RBNs connection with Waters started in the last Century, in 1994! 
Riverbank restoration and the Waters School Gardens are sister sites 
involving the two communities in a huge Venn diagram overlap. 
The event starts at 10:00 and finishes at 1:00.
Find flyer with description of our activities here.
Please join us!

We are off into the winter wonders.
Last Friday, 7th grade, Room 301, went to Montrose Point.
Our theme was geology, and specifically the formation of the great lakes and our local topography, the glaciers, etc.
I love this trip, because often the weather is extreme, 
and the landscape so altered and foriegn, 
I love the students' response,
the wonder and awe.
This past Friday,
the temperature was a bit more balmy than what I hoped for.
But the week before had been frigid.
When we reached the dune and beach the scene was surreal.
There were swirls of snow and sand, 
streaked like tiramisu (student description)
that formed an infinite number of platforms, or mounds, 
on top of which sat a galaxy of .... crystal balls,
from baseball size to basketball size,
many almost perfectly clear, 
but with fine stringers of gas bubbles suspended in them.
Some were like "cat's eyes" marbles.
It was like the birth of the orbs, 
a discovered planet where the stars, or outer planets were birthed. 
The students loved it. They lifted and cradled these globes,
and held them close and frozen until they realized that there was nowhere to go with this treasure, 
so they were released,
gently or with great energy,
to their own fate.
We broke through these superbly fashion sculpture,
like the proverbial bulls in china shops,
crashing and breaking and so much perfectly created art,
I am reminded of the seemingly endless generosity and creativity of Mother Nature.
This Artist was preparing to erase this work anyway.
Ephemeral art.
New ideas in the works.
By the time we return to the lake next Friday,
there will be a whole new show up,
minimalist or Gaudy-crazy,
always thrilling.

This week begins with the regular Monday tree classes with 1st grade.

Wednesday, January 24, 5th Grade, Room 304 Mighty Acorns will lead us into Sauganash Prairie Grove to cut invasives and to identify trees in winter using clues that we discussed in class: bud arrangement, distinctive bark, persistent fruit or seeds that hang in through winter. Volunteers meet at 9:00 by the fish tank for a briefing, then, onto the bus at 9:30. Back to school by 1:00. Lunch will be in the classroom upon return.

On Friday, January 26, 7th Grade, Room 303, travels to Montrose Point for the same trip as described above. Meet at 9:00, bus leaves at 9:30, returns by 1:30.

Talk of goofy wonders and things that go bump in the night, my sister sent me this clip of a meet up between a fox and an owl, in the dark of a winter night.

Mr. Leki

​Dr. King's day is one of the most joyous, profound and challenging holidays for me. In years past we have tried to find ways to speak out, to stand up with the needy and oppressed, to somehow, in my own small way,  take up the torch left to us by Dr. King. I value this day too, to allow me to meditate on, and re-consider the legacy of courage and commitment modeled by Dr. King. 
The other day, Deb and I sat in front of the fire in our home and read aloud Dr. King's address at the Riverside Baptist Church in NYC in 1967. In this speech Dr. King came out against the VietNam war, risking backlash from his erstwhile supporters in government. Bu, Dr. King not only displayed courage. His analysis, the reasoning he lays out for his decision brought depth, and breadth and clarity to a movement that was struggling for a path forward. This man, under constant death threat, under surveillance by and subject to covert attack by out own security state, nevertheless, took a stand for peace and justice. I think about this when I consider my own willingness to stand up and speak out against racism, and fascism, and sexual assault and economic inequality. Listening to Doctor King gives me courage and inspiration.
Here is a link to the written speech, and here is the audio link, though not of the best quality. It is good to hear his voice, and cadence, and prophetic oratory.

Here, also, are three links to
wonderful music that celebrates the achievements led so thoughtfully and
with great sacrifice by our brother Martin.

Stevie Wonder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KibW1FBhQlU

King Chorus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGKW3O6EpMo

Mason Jennings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHpvpLquOWk

Hopefully, these bits of unity and hope will help carry us through the
struggles ahead in the new year.
Mr. Leki

Just a heads up that the lovely Rock Maple near the north side of the gym is in a dangerous state of rot, and will be coming down. The wood will be left on site to use in the garden. This is sad, but the prospect of that giant limb falling on the mob of parents and students gathered there before and after school is too appalling to consider.

Several parkway Norway maples were removed before the holidays and I was able to capture some of the trunk and branch sections. During break I sawed them into sections for use as firewood for the fire pit and wood burning oven. Some branch sections were rotted and dead. And as I cut through these large larvae kept falling out into the snow. And the wood itself was ravaged with bore holes and stuffed with frass. I was getting nervous to think that the larvae might be Asian Long Horned Beetle, the species that devastated the maple tree population 10 years ago. Were they back?! I called up the City Forestry Dept and talked to Joe McCarthy. also know as "Beetle Joe" (he was in charge of the response to the beetles). He asked me to send photos of the larva and  the bore holes. I sent him the photos below, and Joe got back to me a bit later.


Pete,
Identifying larvae is not my forte, but the photo showing wings of an adult deep in the wood would suggest a wood wasp most likely a Pigeon Horntail. Here's more information.  

Quick Facts…

• The pigeon tremex is a type of non-stinging wasp, known as a horntail.
• The giant ichneumon wasp is the most common natural enemy of the pigeon tremex.
• Pigeon tremex are not considered serious pests since attacks are limited to trees and limbs that are in serious decline or very recently dead.

Two large and bizarre looking insects are commonly associated with dying branches and trunks of several commonly grown hardwood trees. One of these is an insect that develops as a borer within the tree—the pigeon tremex horntail (Tremex columba). The other is the most common natural enemy of this insect, the giant ichneumon wasp (Megarhyssa
macrurus). The pigeon tremex develops as a wood borer and the larvae are cylindrical-bodied, cream colored grubs that live within the wood. However, they are not considered serious pests since attacks are limited to trees or individual limbs that are in serious decline or very recently dead.

Only certain hardwood trees are attacked by pigeon tremex, notably silver maple, ash, cottonwood, and elm. (Several other species of horntails also occur in the state but these are limited to conifers, usually those growing in forested areas.) However, the insect may become locally abundant as these host trees become increasingly susceptible due to old age or disease. Because pigeon tremex is not considered to be a primary pest, controls have not been developed, although it likely can be temporarily managed by use of insecticides in a manner similar to that of other wood borers. (See Colorado State University Extension fact sheet 5.530, Shade Tree Borers.)
 
Joseph J. McCarthy
Senior City Forester
Department of Streets and Sanitation
Bureau of Forestry

​
Awesome wasps in our neighborhood. And think how different a lifestyle between the Pigeon tremex horntail (Tremex columba) (whose larva eat rotten wood) and the giant ichneuman wasp Megarhyssa macrurus (whose larve eat Pigeon tremex horntail larvae)! I recall 4 to 5 years ago we had some cottonwood stumps at school, full of bore holes. And for some days the giant ichneuman wasps would come and rear up its abdomin, insert its very long (2-3 inch) ovipositor into one of the bore holes, and search for a larva to puncture and insert its eggs. The things that go on everyday!

​Neither of these wasps sting!

One of the insights that has illuminated ecological restoration work, 
has been the relationship between "stability" and "disturbance" in the creation and/or maintenance of high quality ecosystems. Or to put it bluntly:
orchids won't grow on construction sites, 
or front lawns, 
or parks, 
or Forest Preserves that have been disturbed.
I say "orchids" to signify rare,
highly developed, 
very conservative organisms
that require a very stable community to survive. 
That is also why you could almost certainly guarantee 
what species of plants and animals will inhabit an abandoned construction site, 
from Boston to LA: tall goldenrod, canada thistle, bur dock, etc.
They are important weedy species that specialize in 
covering the ground, 
sealing the wound. 
They create a scab to protect the earth. 
Given time (alot), stability, and an outside seed source, 
they would eventually evolve into another of earth's masterpieces.

This relentless disturbance is our challenge in ecology and restoration 
because the vast majority of land around us (95+%?) 
is in a constant state of disturbance and instability (agricultural land, parks, gardens, wayside, etc. )

I thought about this when I was reflecting on the fact that our school, 
Waters, has had an unprecedented period of stability. 
Since 1992, our administration and LSC, 
our University and civic partners, 
have shared a common vision of progressive education:
learning as a social task, 
fed by curiosity, 
nurtured by teacher/coaches,
made joyous (or at times tortuous) by collaborations, teams and partners;
learning that included families in the adventure of education through shared experiences and efforts;
learning that engaged the world and welcomed the world into the school, 
and that fearlessly led our students back into that world to experience and effect it;
learning that integrated the disciplines 
and in so doing activated the many components of  human capacity, 
and shared strengths to go farther than anyone could go alone;
learning that valued diverse learning styles, 
languages and 
cultural differences 
as assets, 
indispensable parts of a real community. 

Waters is so unique, 
to have been able to sustain this vision through a whole era during which it became politically demonized. 
We are living though our 2nd decade(!) of a ferocious push, 
nationally and locally,  
to judge education and our schools reductively, 
through high stakes, 
low resolution,
testing 
that punishes good teaching and educational leadership 
by seeking to rank our children and schools, 
and teachers and administrators
on a flawed and ugly scale. 

We have been able to weather the relentless pressure to "score higher" 
to sacrifice the "whole child", 
the whole miraculous suite of talents and wonders that is each of our students.  
It has not been easy. 
We have faced crisis several times in the past 
that could have thrown our carefully crafted, 
hard won, 
unique educational offering 
into the chaos and tumult of crisis, disturbance and regression.

The first line of defense at Waters has been our LSC and parent community. 
Our local school council is the one independent center of local power and decision making 
not controlled by Central office or the Federal Government.  
It can see , 
on the ground, 
what does not show up in statistical abstracts used to judge, 
punish and harass schools to be "accountable". 

I worked at the Center for City schools for 5 years, at 50+ schools, 
trying to help strengthen the pedagogical understanding in the parent community 
to help support these schools' courageous attempts 
to move towards a more human method of education. 
Later, as a mentor for CPS schools attempting to compost lunchroom waste, 
I got to visit know another 60+ schools, 
and to meet fabulous teachers and administrators, 
willing to give of themselves to make education more real, 
more powerful, 
rich and engaging. 

The most awful thing I witnessed during these years, 
was turmoil in an LSC, 
conflict that resulted in the loss of a progressive administrator, 
always followed by the loss of the best teachers, 
and momentum, 
and vision 
and hope, 
in favor of the promise of higher grades on standardized tests. 
The neglected garden, 
the abandoned compost bins, 
the closed down arts program, 
the end of field outings...

It is the public education allegory of a natural system in collapse, 
from complexity to paucity, 
from orchids, and otters, and checkerspot butterflies, 
to ragweed, Canada thistle, rats and roaches. 
(We actually teach this phenomenon in 5th grade Mighty Acorns).

All this to say that, 
We have built something very beautiful, 
powerful and resilient, 
under a lot of adverse pressure. 
Please hold it close and dear. 

If you would like to talk to me more about the upcoming 
LSC decision regarding renewing the Prinicipal's contract, 
please feel free to write. call, or grab me in the hall, 

******************************************

I have had a picture book sitting in my file cabinet for the past 15-16 years.
It is a 16 page collage.
The story is about a beautiful place of flowers and sweet smells and bird songs.
It was invaded by Noise, of all type.
Quiet seeks help from trees, butterflies, orchids, even thunder
to try to silence Noise. 
But .... I can't tell the ending.
I am determined to publish this book this year, 
and use part of the returns to fund the ecology program at Waters. 
I am looking for a graphic arts professional with access to high quality equipment to 
digitize the originals and prepare them for publication. 
I have met with a publisher / printing company for preliminary conversations about the first run. 
Is there anyone in our community, with access to technology, that would be willing to take a a look at this project? Most is camera ready.
I hope the book will be popular enough to raise substantial funds for our school. 
Please let me know.