Lots going on in the Nest

The Open House was a great success. The visitors were so impressed by the hard work of all of the Nesters! As I have said before, there really is no limit to the potential the Nesters have in this world. Kudos to each of the scholars, scientist, writers, artists, historians, anthropologists and humanitarians in the making!

Today, Paula Simmons, a civil engineer, will be speaking with the Nesters and leading an engineering exercise. Paula does a great job of explaining her work and making it approachable by presenting exciting challenges for the kids.

Later in May, the Nest will be going to Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton.  Thanks to the generous support of the HES PTA we will have the opportunity to learn about and explore the ecosystems of Arcadia. More information about the trip will be sent home in early May.

Open House

We will be having a Falcon's Nest Open house on Thursday, March 27, 6-7pm.  This will coincide with the sixth grade Spaghetti Supper.  Our Open House is an opportunity to showcase the projects that the Nesters have been working on. You will see a range of terrific projects in various stages of completion. I am so proud of this creative and thoughtful group of kids.  I have no doubt you will be impressed with their work.

Nesters in the New Year

I hope this new year finds you and your family happy, healthy, and warm. I think we all can agree the weather has been a bit much these past few weeks. 2014 brings great things to the Nest. We will be doing a lot in the months to come--from finishing long term projects to developing new ideas. As always, the range of work the Nesters embark on is wide. We have some Nesters interested in reaching out to support others by organizing fundraisers for both the Red Cross and the local Audubon Society. Another Nester is working on designing a board game on different types of crocodilians. While others continue to learn about various countries in the world, historical figures of note like Anne Frank and Beethoven, and the danger concussions in professional sports. The Nesters continue to support and inspire one another. I marvel at the potential these terrific kids have as scholars and as compassionate human beings.

MacArthur Fellows in the Making

The Nesters are working on projects with topics as varied as black holes, sculptors, and Czechoslovakia! Some of the best moments in the Nest are when the kids get so excited about something they've discovered that they just  have to share it! I love to hear conversations starting with "did you know?" or "guess what I just figured out?"  Every day the Nesters share their enthusiasm for learning with each other and with me.  It is truly inspiring.
During our group activity the fifth and sixth graders learned about the MacArthur Foundation Fellowships, www.macfound.org. Each of the students picked a MacArthur "genius grant" winner and researched the work they do and why they were given this prestigious award. The awards are given to "individuals who show exceptional creativity in their work and the prospect for still more in the future".  The kids chose to learn about musicians, historians and scientist to name a few.  They will be practicing their presentation skills and sharing what they discovered this coming week. I can't help but think I may have a few future MacArthur award winners right here in the Nest!

Grit

Yesterday, the Nesters and I watched a TEDtalk video by Angela Lee Duckworth on the topic of developing "grit" in kids. Ms. Duckworth proposes that "grit" is the best indicator of success in school and in life.  This lead to a great discussion with lots of thoughtful comments about the rewards of hard work and challenge. The Nesters and I agree... we want to be gritty!   

 http://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_the_key_to_success_grit.html

On the Cusp of a New Year in the Nest

Get ready, get set, go! We are about to kick off another year in the Nest. It is hard to believe that this is the seventh year in the Nest. The first year of sixth grade Nesters are now...seniors! Over the years we have seen and done a lot. The Nesters projects have ranged far and wide. And I am sure this years' Nesters will prove to be just as creative and curious as the past students. I can't wait to see what ideas are incubated this year in the Nest. 

Wrapping Up

This spring has been a blur. A lot has been going on here in the Nest in the last few months. Our Open House showcased many of the terrific Falcon's Nest projects that were completed this year.  It is always great to see the wide array of work the kids produce during their time in the Nest.  HES has begun composting thanks to a FN student project.  We look forward to minimizing our cafeteria waste and creating some terrific soil for our gardens!  Another project that is reaching the school in a big way comes from a few budding scientists.  They will be sharing some fun science experiments with many of the classes during the next few weeks.  These experiments are hands-on, fun and messy!  The kids will love them! As the Nesters wrap up their projects I am faced with the part I like the least, saying goodbye to the sixth graders.  But as always, I feel privileged to have worked with them and confident that they will grow up to make the world a better place.