Teacher Margaret's "View From My Window" - September 25th

Dear Westfield,

cedar run hawk At our core, Westfield Friends School teachers believe children learn experientially. Lately, we have been grounding our students in their local environment. We want them to know - through all of their senses - their homes, their communities, and the living systems they are a part of. Today, that world came to us with our friends from Woodford Cedar Run Animal Rescue. Students met a Red Tailed Hawk, a Box Turtle, and a Screech Owl. All of our students, from the youngest two-year-olds to the oldest 8th grader, interacted with a portion of the wildness in our backyard.

Second, Third, and Fourth Grades traveled to the Pinelands to discover the unique environment that sustains so much life just to the east of our school. They kayaked on the Mullica River and learned about the region's hydrology. PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade students went to Locust Hall Farm to explore an apple orchard, learn how these delicious fruits grow, and pick some themselves. Next week, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students will spend two days at Camp Dark Waters, also in the Pinelands. This is a Westfield Middle School tradition. Students will spend their time under the tree canopy, extending their understanding of their environment. Later in the month, Middle School students will travel to the Jersey shore for their Clean Ocean Summit. In November, Prek through 8th grade will travel to Taylor’s Farm to experience a 300-year-old working farm situated on the major waterway in western Jersey, the Delaware River.

serviceberry tree Along with these adventures, we are actively exploring our own campus. Every day, in rain or shine, our Preschool 2 and Preschool 3 children are out in their playground, digging in the sand, climbing on the tree cookies and logs, collecting leaves, and observing bugs and birds. I have a personal goal that all of our students will be able to identify at least ten native trees on our campus by the end of the school year. So far, we have introduced them to the Serviceberry (four on campus) and the Magnolia Grandiflora (three on campus).