Category: Student Work

  • Christmas Program 2017

    Christmas Program 2017

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    Our last day of the semester is always fun and sometimes magical, with songs and skits from every class, graduation diplomas for grades 6, 9 and 12, and usually something unusual from the staff.  Enjoy these photos and videos from this year’s, which was filled with a fun and unified spirit that seems to have characterized the whole semester.

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    And click here to see more photos by our amazing Trevor Carlson (also posted on our Facebook page)

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  • Poems and Songs of Monteverde

    Poems and Songs of Monteverde

    Our students aren’t just smart – they’re wildly creative. And, even more important, they’re BRAVE.  They stand up in front of their peers and community and share themselves, and are met with unconditional support and love.  That’s one of the defining characteristics of Monteverde – we are ready to celebrate whatever gift you have to share, and help you nurture that spark that makes you special.  Here are some examples from over the past year:

    Grade 11/12 Poetry:  Last year, our then-Humanities-teacher (now Head of School) Sue Gabrielson lovingly and unyieldingly helped CoffeeHouse2017Aug3aher students to find their inner voice through poetry, then share it in front of the whole school and also a Poetry Slam coffee house.  Click below to see videos of:

    Inspired by a visiting poet from Somalia, two of our students spontaneously stood up and shared original works of poetry with the whole upper school recently.  Click here to read the poems by Fio and Galen.

    Coffee Houses are, of course, a prime chance to strut one’s stuff.  Some examples you can enjoy again include:

    We also are currently enjoying an international family that includes a poetry professor.  Please enjoy his incredible rendition of the Monteverde rain.

    People often come to Monteverde to enjoy the beautiful nature, and deservedly so.  But the rich artistic culture and support for bringing one’s inner life to the stage is an equally breathtaking part of life here.

  • Bringing Color to Your World

    Bringing Color to Your World

    Bring Color to your World

    Monteverde Friends School

    Over the past weeks, our students have been lovingly drawing on the envelopes of our annual appeal letter (see photos below), which will be reaching you soon if you have shared your address with us.  We instructed the children to not ask for money (that’s in the letter, don’t worry!), but rather to honor the connection we feel with you all, our global community.  To bring some joy and color and a taste of Monteverde to your doorstep.  We told them it was a chance to make people all over the world smile. Imagine their joy if they start to see 20 or 200 photos sent back, perhaps with a brief message of you thanking them for their loving outreach.  For them to feel the circle completed, to know that they succeeded in their mission, and that their art touched someone’s heart, would be a true gift.

    So, want to make a Monteverde child happy for free?  Simply take a photo of yourself with your letter when it arrives, and send it back to us – preferably by posting on our Facebook page, or else by email to rick@mfschool.org.

    As always, our teachers have creatively incorporated this activity into their overall learning goals and culture.  Grade 1/2 have a basket of envelopes that children can go to anytime they have free time, and at the end of the day every completed picture is shared at closing time for the whole group to appreciate.  3/4 and 5/6 worked together to agree on appropriate pictures and messages.  Secondary students explored values-based communication and some fundamentals of fundraising.  The whole school used a pre-meeting to color while they listened to inspirational podcasts, discussed ideas and feelings, and thought about themes of Thankfulness and Peace.  The Sunday teen worship group even chose to color while enjoying Ted Talks about communication and empathy. We”re trying hard to decorate every single envelope (please forgive us if we fall short of that goal), and to continue doing it in a genuine, loving spirit.  Thank you for taking the time to return that love – it will mean the world to these children. 

  • Students Share Their Poetry

    Students Share Their Poetry

    Before the break, before Tropical Storm Nate, we were honored to have a visiting poet from Sudan. He shared some of his poetry, and also talked with students about the process of creating art. Inspired, two of our grade 10 students stood up and shared their own original work.

    The Mist – Galen Juliusson

    The mist spreads over the valleyGalen Juliusson
    Swathing all in white
    My friend and I sit under a tree
    Admiring the evening light

    The mist comes closer and closer
    And we both start to fear
    That the mist will act as a disposer
    And that we will all just disappear

    And just as it is about to hit
    It all just dissipates
    It is like we are in a protective mitt
    And it could only intimidate

     

    Vaya Muñeca – Fiorella Suarez Ramirez

    Fiorella SuarezVaya muñeca rota y descompuesta…
    Bautizada “muñeca” por una sociedad inepta
    Vaya muñeca sonriente de dia, socura y sombría junto a la noche, que desnuda, y desvela sus más terribles manías…
    Vaya muñeca fingiendo alegría, cuando por dentro estas podrida.
    Muñeca de porcelana, rota, que intenta pegarse así misma con la ironía de una sonrisa, que no es más que fantasia…
    Vaya muñeca, cansada y sin fuerzas, rodeada de tanta gente y tan sola y tan fria es su vida…
    La soledad, su fiel companía, sus pensamientos, su dulce agonía…
    Vaya muñeca, como muere al pasar los dias, en una lenta agonía, aletargada por una realidad subjectiva – invertida, una doble vida…
    Vaya muñeca, rota y descompuesta…
    Despues de toda la procelana rota, la goma y los pedazos faltantes nunca se llevaron bien…

    Thank you, Fio and Galen, for your artistic spirits and your bravery in sharing with us.