Political Songster Brian Dewan's Visit

Last Friday musician Brian Dewan visited PCD as the first in a series of visiting artists. It was a really great day--Dewan visited Upper and Lower School assemblies as well as six different classes. The PCD website has the story on the visit, which you can read here. We do have some pictures of him from one of the classes that did not make the website story, so we are posting them here. We're also working to track down some video--if we can, we will post it here as well.




 

Revolutionary! The Seventh Grade Visits Lexington and Concord

Mr. Andruchow and Mr. McLaughlin took the 7th Grade Civics class to Lexington & Concord, Massachusetts on Friday, October 26. The class first visited Lexington (pictured), taking in the historic sites of Battle Green, the statue of Captain John Parker, and Buckman Tavern. They then went up the road to North Bridge, seeing Paul Revere's capture point and Meriam Corner along the way. Once they were at the bridge, the 7th graders hiked up to the Militia's vantage point atop Punkatasset Hill and reflected on what it would have been like to be at that very spot on that fateful day of April 19, 1775.

Thursday at Nature's Classroom

Today, the 6th grade took a field trip, including a five-hour hike! Then, students took part of a simulation called "albatross." They discussed the definition of culture & what it means to be part of several different cultures. They then took part of a "ceremony" of the Albatross people, trying to interpret (or misinterpret) different aspects of the fictional culture. Night featured s'mores and TNL skits (Thursday Night Live, of course!). 

Our First Update from Chewonki!

There have been a steady stream of updates from the 6th and 7th grades at Nature's Classroom this week, as teachers have been in cell phone range and able to relay pictures back to us. The 8th graders, however, have been doing some serious backwoods camping so far into Maine that, the rumor has it, cell phone signals are unable to reach such high latitudes!

Today, however, Ms. Randlett, who had been at Chewonki with the 8th grade, returned to PCD and brought with her several photos. Although she was exhausted and @PCD was unable to catch up with her for a more formal account of how life was up in the great north, we figured we would upload the pictures and let them tell the story...

                               

Today's Update from Nature's Classroom (with video!)

Today's update from Nature's classroom, with pictures courtesy of Ms. Hanover and two videos from the indomitable Mr. Andruchow! Video is below the jump (click the "read more" button)

6th/7th Grade Night Sing

Before bed, the 6th and 7th graders end each night with a quiet song.

Silly Songs Get Giggling Going

Courtesy of Ms. Hanover: After each meal, kids participate in Entertainment! They sing a silly, interactive song. It gets the blood pumping & the giggling going.

A Few Quick Pics from the 6/7th Grades

Courtesy of Ms. Hanover, a few quick pics from today's action on the 6th/7th grade trip. Looks like it was a great day for our Middle Schoolers to be outdoors, using their hands, and learning to work as a team.

Constructing a geodome, learning
about the strengths of different shapes

Stay posted for more pictures and info in the coming days...

Building a fire

A Post from the Road

The 6th and 7th grades are off to Andover...! More updates will be forthcoming throughout the week on the progress of the Middle School trips.