This is a very interesting and thoughtful time at Garden School. As we move toward the winter vacation, here are some of activities that have taken place or will take place this week.

Today was “switch day” for grades 1,2, and 3. Every six weeks, these grades choose a theme and then mix up the classes for special sessions, i.e., either stay in their classroom or participate in the activity of one of the other grades. Today’s theme was, appropriately, Black History Month. Grade 1 made postage stamps in honor of Afro-American leaders; grade 2 read and wrote poetry; and grade 3 read the story Tar Beach. Students had a choice of which section to attend and then worked with the classroom teacher on each project.

What else? On Thursday, our grade 9–12 trip to Italy leaves for its educational journey. Students on the trip (40 of them) have a trip-related research assignment to complete before they leave and will report to the group on that particular aspect of Italian culture while they are there. Topics range from Renaissance painting to the Keats Shelley House at the Piazza di Spagna to the development and use of pasta in Italian life. This Friday, our other travel group—from grades 7 and 8—will leave for Italy and England; they, too, have assignments to complete.

And finally, we had some one-day administrative changes this week. Noah from the 1st grade was acting Lower School Principal on Tuesday; I am told he had a wonderful time working with Mr. Vogel and the Lower School faculty. Today, Ben from 2nd grade was acting Headmaster. Together, he and I visited classes, interviewed staff members, communicated with Garden’s Board, and made some plans for the school’s future. After all, Noah, Ben, and every child at Garden are the school’s future!

Yesterday was a very special day here at Garden. A group of younger students organized a bake sale for the purpose of adopting endangered animals in threatened environments. Some of these students had asked Ms. Maisano about starting an animal rights club as well. Our first-, second-, and third-grade classes took the lead with the bake sale and then the rest of the school joined in by sponsoring a Jean Day fundraiser to support the Heiffer Project.

The money raised by the bake sale will go toward adopting an animal—a rhino for first grade, an elephant for second grade, and a gorilla for third grade—and

helping to maintain its life. The money from the Jean Day will be used to purchase a farm animal for a needy family in Africa, which will aid in making that family’s lives as farmers more productive and therefore more viable.

Children of all ages worked the bake sale table and I must tell you that it was really wonderful to see senior-class boys and girls working with the younger students. This is one of the treasures of our school—an ongoing school; older and younger students can have the experience of working together for a common cause.

Each aspect of yesterday’s project involved animals in different ways, and our students learned how people and animals have the power to improve each other’s situation. Let’s hope that our community takes away from this event a growing understanding that harmony between us and other species of the world is something that can not only be established locally but also have long-lasting and far-reaching effects.

Have a wonderful weekend, and let’s hope that the Sunday’s storm doesn’t affect Monday’s school day.

Tonight there will be mountains of pasta served at Garden School as the seniors host their annual fundraiser for the Senior Prom at the St. Regis Hotel. Rumor has it that there may also be the singing of some show tunes by staff and students. Ciao.