Dear Friends,
We have (almost) finished the whole fall field ecology schedule w/o rain outs or mishaps.
I give thanks to the great grandmother earth for setting such a lovely table,
and watching over her children.
We have one more field excursion
Tuesday, November 6, from 9:00 until 1:30 to
Horner Park (west bank of the river)
with 6th Grade, Room 305
to do chemical and biological testing of the river water, and to walk through the lovely. multi-colored plant community,
as it finishes its work, before taking a winter's rest.
Please join us, including a picnic lunch.
We have been able to take more classes out to the garden,
for work, study and harvest,
thanks to the new Garden Coordinator position,
held by Ms. Peterson,
and the assistance of garden and ecology volunteers.
This week we will bring out the whole 7th grade:
Wednesday, Nov. 7, 8:30 Room 302
Thursday, Nov. 8, 10:30 Room
Thursday, Nov 8, 11:30 Room
and
Thursday, at 8:30 2nd Grade, Room 204,
will come out to collect beautiful leaves,
learn about the old Chicago River bed that lies asleep under our grounds,
and to harvest Jerusalem artichokes (Helenium tuberosa).
We have been given some great weather to allow us time to get in these experiences
and will continue as long as the weather holds out.
The ecology program,
with serious volunteer help has finished the 1st grade leaf paste up,
and will start doing journal response for the Mighty Acorns.
Let me know if you are interested in this very delightful task.
With the gap in my field ecology program,
I will now be schedule post-trip follow up lessons in the classrooms for 4th, 5th and sixth grade,
and I will begin weekly lessons on trees with the 1st grade.
On Friday, Nov. 23,
we will host the Recycle Captains luncheon
and I hope I can find some volunteers to help set up, serve and clean up.
I also am thrilled that I have been invited to accompany several classes in the Winter Musical performance in December.
Music makes me happy.
Finally,
These days outside are achingly beautiful. Please have a listen and read along
with this Poem by Robert Frost, put to music by friend and neighbor Doug Lofstrom,
performed by our Bullfrogs Community Choir.
October,
by Robert Frost
Oh hushed October morning mild
Thy leaves have ripened to the Fall
Tomorrow's wind
If it be wild
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call
Tomorrow they may form and go.
Oh hushed October morning mild
begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief
Hearts not averse to being beguiled
Beguile us in the way you know
Release one leaf at the break of day
at noon another
One from our tree
one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist
Enchant the land with amethyst
Slow,
slow!
For the grapes sake
if that were all
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit
must else be lost
For the grapes' sake along the wall.
O hushed October morning mild
Beguile us in the way you know
Begin the hours of this day
slow.
We have (almost) finished the whole fall field ecology schedule w/o rain outs or mishaps.
I give thanks to the great grandmother earth for setting such a lovely table,
and watching over her children.
We have one more field excursion
Tuesday, November 6, from 9:00 until 1:30 to
Horner Park (west bank of the river)
with 6th Grade, Room 305
to do chemical and biological testing of the river water, and to walk through the lovely. multi-colored plant community,
as it finishes its work, before taking a winter's rest.
Please join us, including a picnic lunch.
We have been able to take more classes out to the garden,
for work, study and harvest,
thanks to the new Garden Coordinator position,
held by Ms. Peterson,
and the assistance of garden and ecology volunteers.
This week we will bring out the whole 7th grade:
Wednesday, Nov. 7, 8:30 Room 302
Thursday, Nov. 8, 10:30 Room
Thursday, Nov 8, 11:30 Room
and
Thursday, at 8:30 2nd Grade, Room 204,
will come out to collect beautiful leaves,
learn about the old Chicago River bed that lies asleep under our grounds,
and to harvest Jerusalem artichokes (Helenium tuberosa).
We have been given some great weather to allow us time to get in these experiences
and will continue as long as the weather holds out.
The ecology program,
with serious volunteer help has finished the 1st grade leaf paste up,
and will start doing journal response for the Mighty Acorns.
Let me know if you are interested in this very delightful task.
With the gap in my field ecology program,
I will now be schedule post-trip follow up lessons in the classrooms for 4th, 5th and sixth grade,
and I will begin weekly lessons on trees with the 1st grade.
On Friday, Nov. 23,
we will host the Recycle Captains luncheon
and I hope I can find some volunteers to help set up, serve and clean up.
I also am thrilled that I have been invited to accompany several classes in the Winter Musical performance in December.
Music makes me happy.
Finally,
These days outside are achingly beautiful. Please have a listen and read along
with this Poem by Robert Frost, put to music by friend and neighbor Doug Lofstrom,
performed by our Bullfrogs Community Choir.
October,
by Robert Frost
Oh hushed October morning mild
Thy leaves have ripened to the Fall
Tomorrow's wind
If it be wild
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call
Tomorrow they may form and go.
Oh hushed October morning mild
begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief
Hearts not averse to being beguiled
Beguile us in the way you know
Release one leaf at the break of day
at noon another
One from our tree
one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist
Enchant the land with amethyst
Slow,
slow!
For the grapes sake
if that were all
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit
must else be lost
For the grapes' sake along the wall.
O hushed October morning mild
Beguile us in the way you know
Begin the hours of this day
slow.
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