Goats, Bunnies, 8th Graders and Preschoolers... Oh My!
Maggie Weis, Assistant Head of School, Lower School
One of the most fascinating topics at school has always been space. There’s personal space to learn about in preschool, parking space anxiety on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and outer space to study in the 5th grade. But those topics are better addressed another day. This space is devoted to our campus as the needs adjust according to seasons and situations.
Goats & Bunnies
February is the season of goat births. Just north in Marin County, The Hicks-Jablons family (Emmy, 6th, and Josie, ’09, currently at Lick-Wilmerding HS) has a goat farm (tolumafarms.com). Last year, they asked our 2nd graders and Solveig if they would like to take over stewardship of two kids on our campus and we jumped at the opportunity. Students and adults in our community were charmed by the goats gamboling in our yard and their powerfully urgent tugs on the makeshift bottles at feeding time. Two newborn goats will return to campus in the first week of March. An ad hoc committee made up of a number of 5th graders, plus staff and a parent volunteer, met to discuss their shelter. We arrived at creating a barrier within the bunny cage to place the goats for the evenings. Prior to their arrival, the bunny cage itself will undergo some refurbishments to enhance waterproofing, exercise opportunities, and waste removal. The goats will continue to use the Adventure Playground for daytime romps, and the fenced in run area when outdoor class activities require they be penned in.
8th Graders
As with dominoes lined up, one space consideration at SFS impacts another! Our ad hoc group also grappled with the impending 8th grade locker move to the Art Deck and the current bunny cage location and structure. 8th grade lockers are moving away from the entrance to the art room because the area is too constricted. An awning will be placed on the east wall of the Herbst Building and an additional entrance/exit to the Art Deck will be created to allow greater ease for 8th graders comings and goings.
Preschoolers
The North Preschool Classroom is undergoing a major refurbishment this summer. As soon as we end the school year, we will be packing up the entire North Class. One wall will be moved to allow full visibility of the entire room from all points. The floors, ceiling, lighting fixtures, kitchen and acoustics (to name some of the new features) will be upgraded, and by the first day of preschool next year the North Class will be larger, brighter, and more welcoming than it already is!
We want to thank the many faculty and parent volunteers who are supporting these campus refurbishments across the school. In particular, Site Committee Chair, Carl Scheidenhelm (Anja, 4th), Project Committee Chair, Liza Pannozzo (Nathan, 5th) and 4th grade parent Greg Wright (Quincy). Without their amazing efforts (on top of their already busy lives), none of this would be possible.
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