Zoom Meeting of April 22nd
 
Marshwood High School Garden
 
Grace Hanson, the current president of the Marshwood Interact Club but also a member of student government for the senior class of MHS spoke to us in greater detail about the student garden for which she was soliciting funds from our club on behalf of her graduating class.  The plans are to build an area that has already been approved by the school officials and located on the high school campus which would serve as an outdoor learning area where students could read, relax, and also gather peacefully in the tranquility of nature.  They have solicited donations and help from Wentworth Gardens, Marshwood parents and staff, and fellow students.  The CAD (Computer Aided Design) class is designing their plant beds which will be constructed of wood.  Mr. Childs, the class advisor, can provide specifics about the budget.  They are requesting donations in the form of plants and money.  Currently the seating that will be part of the garden has not been determined.  They will likely be collecting donations for about another month.  This will be a gift from the class of 2021.  We will hear more about the budget later from Grace.
 
The Waldorf School
 
Jacqui Boyco, the interim adminstrator for the Seacoast Waldorf School in Eliot, has been there for 7 years.  Peter Stein, the Board chairman was also in attendance at our Zoom meeting.  The first version of this local Waldorf School starting in 1999, aka Tidewater Waldorf School, which was located iat the site of a former henhouse on Beech Road in Eliot.  It also had a yurt.  Parents got together to increase the impact of the values instilled at Waldorf schools by building a bigger school with more grades offered.  When a building became available on Route 236 they were able to purchase it at auction at a reasonable price and now can provide education through the 8th grade.  At Seacoast Waldorf School, they help children use their natural curiosity to create their own path, intellectually, socially, and emotionally so that they can confidently meet the world with reverence, passion and vision.  Waldorf education understands that developing human potential requires far more than just excellence in academics.  Yet their students have gone on to excellent academic institutions fully prepared to meet the challenges there.  The campus sits on 5 acres and includes a couple of buildings and a yurt for woodworking and other projects.  Students do things there with care, beauty and creativity.  They also learn German and Spanish, starting at a very young age.  There are woods and trails for mountain biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, etc.  When children have a reverence and love of nature they will become adults who will sustain it.  There is no technology in the classroom until middle school.  They are taught cyber civics to make them responsible when they do use that technology.  The school philosophy is based on every child developing differently and teachers hone in on those differences.  The teachers used to move with their students throughout their school years there, but recently they have had the first graders in a stand-alone structure and then in second grade begin the matching of teachers to students.  Almost everything they do is outdoors.  They are a non-profit and licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services.  They have stayed open during the pandemic without incidents and their enrollment increased to 99 students (their capacity is about 115-120).  They also have after school programs and summer camps.  Because of their focus on young people's social-emotional skills, the students do very well when they go on.  They are striving to have kind human beings who will make the world a better place.  They have only had 8th grade graduates for the past 3 years, but they have gone on to exceptional private schools as well as public schools and adapted well.  Some of their favorite activities have had to be curtailed or postponed due to COVID, but they will be having their plant sale and yard sale on May 22, so mark your calendars!
 
Other Announcements
 
Amy Miller reported that Life and Hope in Haiti has received $12000 from the York Rotary.  We are thankful for their support!
Amy's daughter has created a Geo-Jeopardy game.  If you are interested, contact Amy.  Intriguing...
 
Jeremy Fogg provided more details about the Electronics Recycling Fundraiser scheduled for May 29th at the Eliot Commons parking lot.  We will need volunteers:  2 shifts of about 3-4 people per shift.  He is also simplifying the guidelines for what to bring and suggested donations for drop offs.
 
Mike Lassel, as Rotary Foundation chairman of our club, would like you to check your records to see if you made a donation yet this Rotary year (July 1-June 30).  We all know that we need to see EVERY ROTARIAN EVERY YEAR donate something (preferably $100, but any amount will do) in order to be a responsible club supporting all the good that Rotary does around the world.  So, if you haven't donated yet, PLEASE SEND IN YOUR DONATION TO ROTARY FOUNDATION this Rotary year.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!