MFS has long been an integral part of the Monteverde community. Started in the 1950’s primarily as a school for the children of the Quakers who had moved to Monteverde, its mission soon expanded to serving children from throughout the community. Today, 95% of MFS students are local, with families who have lived here for a year or more – but many who have lived in Monteverde for generations. So it only makes sense that the school would interact with the community. Here are just a few recent examples of that interaction, spanning arts, science, service and grandparents!

 MFS and the Arts in the Community

The arts are an area where the MFS and the community have a long history of working together. Sometimes it is a school project that lives on well after the student has graduated, other times it is the performing arts where much of the local community turns out to attend coffee houses or Broadway-style productions.

One example of art outlasting the student’s assignment is the bus stop in Monteverde’s small commercial district. During the 2018-19 school year, renowned local artist Paul Smith paired up with Sarah Heithaus, and MFS GAP year student (and, really, the rest of her family) The result of their collaboration is a beautiful mosaic that will decorate the side of the bus stop near Monteverde’s center for years to come. In another installation on the outside wall of a bank in Santa Elena, students Elli Gabrielson and Melanie Garcia Quesada brought their art skills to the community in collaboration with Fondo Comunitario.

In terms of performing arts, high school students organize a coffee house a few times per semester. They provide the refreshments, serve as emcees and often contribute their musical talents.  Anyone can sign up to perform, whether affiliated with MFS or not. It has become a special – and free! – night out for many from Monteverde and beyond. Most recently, the coffee house coincided with Halloween and the range of creative costumes was amazing!

Going beyond local boundaries

Art from MFS is not limited to the Monteverde community! In the next couple of weeks, school supporters all over the United States and Canada will open their mailboxes to colorful envelopes containing our annual appeal letter. We delight in the trail of smiles along the way, from those preparing the letters to those delivering and receiving them and are deeply grateful to recipients who donate so that we can continue our work. One of our recipients ever dedicated a blog to the envelopes and what the school means to him and Bear Creek Friends eeting in Iowa!

Welcoming Special Guests for Grandparents Day

This month, MFS carried on a long tradition to allow special people in each child’s life to see what the children’s lives are like at school. It is a great opportunity for both the children and their guests to reflect about the role they play in each other’s lives.  Those special people – mostly grandparents, but also others chosen by the child – were welcomed with coffee and snacks and a chat with Sue Gabrielson, Head of School They then attended mid-week Meeting for Worship with the children, and shared recess and classes.

In the grade 5/6 classroom, the shared class time began with introductions by both children and guests reflecting on what they have learned from each other along with special memories. Many in the class were moved to tears as one grandparent recalled attending Grandparents Day last year with her husband, who passed away recently.  To give a taste to the grandparents of what the children’s day is like – not to mention how smart they are! – they observed classes in English and math.