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.

I am always amazed at the amount of thought and work our PTA puts into its projects. The Holiday Boutique, which ended last week, was a resounding success. The parent volunteers, led by Martha Palacio, converted Mr. Hale’s room into a boutique, a shop, that became the center of the school for a few days. Students, teachers, and parents were able to buy small gifts for loved ones and go through the process of shopping in a safe and cordial environment. The Holiday Boutique has been a part of the Garden experience for many years, going back beyond my seventeen years as Headmaster.

Congratulations to all of those involved in making this boutique a wonderful experience for the children and a successful fundraiser for the school.