News & Events
It’s a Jungle in There
One of the photos in last week’s Connection offered a prequel to today’s article, revealing Jen’s classroom adorned with paper vines, snakes, sloths, leaves, monkeys and lizards. The transformation of her room into a rainforest has been the ongoing process of her...
Field Notes: 7-8 Spring Trip, Price River, Utah
Monday: following rapid tests and a jump-starting of the 5-6 bus (long story, for another time), we hit the road, following 40 west toward Utah. Students took off masks for the long ride, and were therefore able to look each other in the full face, as a group, for the...
The Head of School Reflects on the Past Year
One year ago, on Monday, March 16th, we shifted to remote learning. The previous week had begun relatively normally; there were rumors and estimated timetables developing around school closures, but we felt as though we still had a few more weeks, and maybe more....
The Many Layers of Community
The Douglas Firs have lately begun a project of design thinking inspired by the work of contemporary artist Mark Bradford. The Los Angeles-based painter and muralist has gained international acclaim for his creations, which tend to focus on abstract incorporations of...
What is Culture?
Taking a couple steps back and considering the profundity of the title question indicates how its richness may define years of concentrated study. Jen’s 3/4 class recently dove deep to begin unraveling its myriad answers, a project they took on from multiple angles....
The Classroom is Everywhere
In continued preparation for their spring Outdoor Ed trips in March, the middle school cohorts ventured to Steamboat Lake and Rabbit Ears Pass over the past two weeks for learning in the field. Each trip included an array of applicable curriculum, all of which extends...
Discovering the Self
Who am I? The age-old question presents a never-ending stream of philosophical wonder available to all students of every age. Perhaps the kindergarten class presents the most fascinating case-study, as they constantly grapple with the notion, minute by minute. Who am...
Following MLK’s Legacy
Stemming from MLK Day last week, students in all grades looked to apply his core values of empathy and kindness. Jen led primary school students in thinking about the effects of engaging in acts of kindness everyday, and how small actions can make a lasting impact on...
Lessons in Civility
Certainly, the general tumult of reality during the past year has presented challenges to educators. In my 7-8 Social Science class, I find myself consistently confronted with the daunting task of trying to lucidly explain that things aren’t always like this,...
The People of Thebes vs. Creon
Shortly before Winter Break, the 5-6 section concluded their study of Sophocles’ classic play Antigone by placing one of the lead characters, Creon, on trial for tyranny. As I’m sure we all remember, Creon is the king of Thebes, and he favors one nephew over the other...
It’s a Coco Zebra Miracle
A longstanding tradition at EMS coalesced last week with a few modifications regarding social awareness and pandemic restrictions. Once dubbed ‘Secret Snowflake’ in an effort to avoid association with any specific denomination and in the spirit of an expansive holiday...
Kindness Ninjas Bring Smiles to EMS
The Kindness Ninjas have been on the loose this semester. No one knows exactly who they are, nor when they’ll next advance their cause. You haven’t heard them sneaking through the hallways, and you haven’t noticed them until they’ve left behind their gestures of good...