CommunityGrows » John Muir Elementary School

John Muir Teachers on Microscopes

Barbara Wenger — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 02:53:57 +0000

On Tuesday, March 19th, 2013, CommunityGrows staff Nora Brereton and Adrian Almquist lead a professional development workshop on microscopes for John Muir Elementary School teachers. These microscopes were purchased for the garden/science program of CommunityGrows at John Muir School. Teachers received instruction on how to work with the microscopes for their students in K-5th grade. They had an opportunity to look through slides of pollen and spores, tiny creatures and animals, plants, insects and textile fibers. The teachers each received curriculum sheets to use with their students, and went through the best practices on care and maintenance of the microscopes. It is a great learning opportunity to share with the John Muir Elementary School students.

Measuring with John Muir’s 2nd Grade

Barbara Wenger — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:29:32 +0000

On Tuesday, February 26th Ms. Page’s second grade came to the Koshland Garden to learn about measurements. With the help of garden educator Adrian Almquist, and BEET intern, Julien Lundh, each student took their rulers and began measuring everything. The length of logs, the width of flower beds, the height of bean sprouts, more objects in the garden, they even measured their feet and fingers too. Learning about inches and feet, was a great start for introducing math to these second graders. Sitting in the herb garden at the end of the lesson, they all spotted a hawk flying nearby. It sure was a great day to have some outdoor education!

Thanksgiving at John Muir School

Barbara Wenger — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 21:22:38 +0000

CommunityGrows joined Community Partners United, the Western Addition Beacon Center, the Buchanan YMCA, and Mo’Magic to celebrate the 9th Annual Giving Voice to the Season Thanksgiving Dinner at John Muir Elementary School on Saturday, November 17th, 2012 from 12:00 noon to 3:00 PM. Many families and residents of the community participated. There were great musical activities, fantastic food, an a raffle for turkeys. This Fostering Season event was a means to connect residents with service providers. Youth and adults performed songs and dances, Handful Players also put on a student medley, and our very own Nora Brereton played her harp—accompanying her friend Patrice who sang. Our BEETS helped sign families in and work the food line. A great dinner was had by all!

John Muir Schoolyard gets a Makeover!

Barbara Wenger — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 06:02:23 +0000

Friday, October 19th, 2012 was a great milestone for John Muir Elementary School and CommunityGrows. John Muir School was CommunityGrows’ (formerly Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group) first partner back in 1994 when we started teaching the students science in Koshland Park and Garden a half block away. We have maintained a presence in the school all these years, and have advocated for the greening of the school in many ways. Aside from taking the pre-K to 5th graders to the garden most school days, we’ve offered training for the teachers, double-dug a garden in the front of the school—with sidewalk trees and planter boxes, supported the development of its PTA, and advocated for a green schoolyard. This advocacy became a reality in October when students, parents, teachers, neighbors, Starbucks employees, students from Drew High School, and CommunityGrows BEETS (Band of Environmentally Educated and Employable Teens) and staff planted trees and flowers in the newly renovated and transformed schoolyard. Principal Chris Rosenberg was on hand to roll up his sleeves and spread good cheer. It was great to see the spirit and enthusiasm of parents and teachers. The YMCA Western Addition Beacon after-school program was out in force as well. We are so proud of this beautiful new space and happy to be involved in this wonderful school. Thank you John Muir! To see more photos, check out our CommunityGrows Flickr photostream.

John Muir Kindergartners Learn about Plants

Barbara Wenger — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 02:43:29 +0000

On March 16th, Ms. Kalter’s kindergartners had a lesson about plants in Koshland Garden. The John Muir students were raptured by being outdoors, and learning about the garden. Elaine Walker, our garden educator, led the class with the assistance of Adrian Almquist, who would be taking her place on staff, when she leaves to do an apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture through the Sustainable Agriculture Program at UC Santa Cruz Farm for the summer. We are proud of her and will miss her great work. Meanwhile, welcome Adrian. Adrian comes from Massachusetts, and has experience working at the Boston Public Health Commmission-Serving Ourselves Farm and Salt Meadow Gardens, as well as the Brooklyn Botanical Garden as a garden educator.

Mr. Tamsky’s 5th Grade Class from John Muir!

Barbara Wenger — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 02:40:47 +0000

On October 11, 2011 Mr. Tamsky’s 5th grade class from John Muir Elementary School did their science lesson in the garden learning about water conservation and seed planting. They talked about ratios of salt water to drinking water, and why clean water is important. They discussed ideas for water conservation and how they can recycle water. Then they gathered hand-fulls of fava beans and planted them in prepared beds throughout the garden. And of course, they had a chance to water them before going back to class.
This is an Orb-Weaving Spider we found in Koshland Garden. The bite of Orb-Weaving Spiders is of low risk (not toxic) to humans. They are a non-aggressive group of spiders. Seldom bite. An adult is about 2/3 to more than 1 inch in body length – has a bulbous abdomen – often colorful – dark to light brown pattern. The common Golden Orb-Weaver Spider has a purplish bulbous abdomen with fine hairs. Often found in summer in garden areas around the home – they spin a large circular web of 6 feet or more, often between buildings and shrubs, to snare flying insects, such as, flies and mosquitoes.