Community Memo
April 23rd, 2023
Dates to Note:
- MS Track vs. West Noble & Central Noble AWAY: 5:00pm @ WN Middle School
- HS Golf vs Bethany Christian HOME: 5:00pm @ Cobblestone
- Kindermusik Make-Up: 3:30 - 4:30pm @ VH Rec Room
- Musical Rehearsal: 3:45 - 6:00pm @ CLC
- MS Golf vs. East Noble HOME: 4:30pm @ Cobblestone
Wednesday, April 26:
- Musical Rehearsal: 3:45 - 6:00pm @ CLC
- MS Golf vs Prairie Heights HOME: 4:30pm @ Cobblestone
- MS Track vs. Lakeland AWAY: 5:30pm @ Lakeland Middle School
Thursday, April 27:
- 6th Years JA Field Trip: 9:00 - 2:45pm @ JA Biz Town
- Let's Get Cooking: 3:30 - 4:30pm @ VH Kitchen
- Art, Adventure & Storytime 3:30 - 4:30 @VH
- Origami Creations: 3:45 - 4:45pm @ UE Club Room
- Musical Rehearsal: 3:45 - 6:00pm @ CLC
- MS Golf vs. Central Noble AWAY: 4:30pm @ CN Jr-Sr High School
- HS Golf vs. Woodland HOME: 4:30pm @ Cobblestone
Friday, April 28:
- Elementary Sleep Over: 6:00pm - 8:00am @ OFMS WC
Saturday, April 29:
- HS Prom: 7:00 - 10:00pm @ GFH
NEED TO KNOW
Cinderella
On May 5th, 6th and 7th our talented cast and crew will take the stage at the Community Learning Center to present Cinderella. OFMS Director, Kavin Ley, will bring this classic fairy tale to life. A sparkling fantasy of music, magic and romance, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella captivates from overture to finale with a delightful score and performances. Freshman, Gretchen Lowe, is the raggedy waif turned belle of the ball with Sophomore, Sami Al Jabari, as the Prince. Freshman, Ivy Witmer, was cast as the Fairy Godmother, and the evil stepmother will be portrayed by Sarrazine Prough. From understudies, to props and chorus, this production requires many hands! Be sure to visit the online ticket website to read the bios of each cast member, more about the crew, production and creative team behind the production. Pre-sell tickets are $2/students & $5/adults.
Friday, May 5, 2023, 07:00 PM
Community Learning Center, East Diamond Street, Kendallville, IN, USA
Community Coffee Notes
If you missed the last Community Coffee with Candice, you missed a lot! (information and great conversation.) Never fear though, Nikole works diligently to capture all of the pertinent facts to share with those unable to attend in these notes. The only item that cannot be shared are the blueprints that have not been finalized, attendees got a sneak peak; yet another reason to add these meetings to your calendar!
Planning for next year?
We have had several requests lately for calendar dates for next year. Our full school year calendar for 2023-24 is published and available on the school website! Simply go to My Oak Farm and click on the School Calendar button. There are two tabs at the bottom, the current year and next year...easy, peasy!
ATHLETICS
Notes from the Falcon Nest
Read the FULL Falcon report with individual scores here
Spring sports are off and in full swing for the Falcons. Both golf and track have busy schedules now until the end of the season. Check out the schedules and then come out and see the Falcons in action.
TRACK:
Middle School Track:
Despite the cold weather, the track team has been practicing hard to get prepared for a busy upcoming 4 weeks. The team participated in the Churubusco Invitational on March 23rd just before spring break. What an exciting track meet to see our OF Falcons run hard. Our team is large enough we were able to have a Falcon represented in every event in that meet, both boys and girls.
Coaches: Courtney Pillars, Sandra Deacon, John Brittenham
Student Coaches: Sullivan McCreery, Cooper Routsong, Derek Hale
GOLF:
Middle School & High School Golf: (Coach: Scotty Borger)
Golf matches started for both the middle and high school teams. Just like track, the weather always comes into play. The golfers adjusted well and gave it their best.
Middle School Golf:
Last Friday the middle school team traveled to Eel River Golf Course to face the Churubusco Eagles. The Falcons did an amazing job traveling to a course that many have never played before. The Falcons came out on top beating the Eagles 210 /229. Great job Middle School Falcons.
High School Golf: (Coach: Lance Waters)
High School Golf also started their season off last Thursday facing the West Noble Chargers at Cobblestone Golf Course. Mother Nature was good to us, giving our high school golf team great weather to officially open up the High School Golf season. This is the first year for high school golf and the Falcon team cared themselves with lots of pride.
COMMUNITY
EarthFest 2023 was a success!
Wow! Not only did the weather cooperate, but we had a great turnout of families, students, alumni and faculty.
We love highlighting the secondary campus and the amazing work of the Erdkinder program: the farm, greenhouse, micro-economies and student led interests! If there was something you really enjoyed (or think could use some improvement next year), give Nikole or Gena a shout so we can be sure to include, or remove, it next time!
Meanwhile, enjoy the photo dump from all the fun!
**A special shout out to our talented middle school student, Riley Fitzharris! Not only did he provide the awesome DJ services during the event, but he is also a budding drone enthusiast who also squeezed in time to take some cool shots of all the activities on Friday. Thank you Riley!
National History Day
Back in February, eight of our OFMHS students qualified to compete in the Indiana State National History Day competition held yesterday, April 22nd at Marion University. While no one placed in the top three of their category to advance them to Nationals, Freshman, Gretchen Lowe, did make it to the final round of competition.
High School English and Humanities Teacher, Amy Norton, shared that she was impressed with the kindness, grace and desire to grow from the experience that she saw from the students. "I loved seeing how they read through the rubric and comments to strategize how to do even better the next time."
Judging from the pictures they shared, they also had a great time just spending time together. Congratulations!!
Elementary Sleepover
The Elementary Sleepover is this Friday, April 28th! Parents of participants should expect an email tomorrow with all the details about what to pack and times for drop off and pick up! Email Nicole Lowe with questions.
Summer Camp Highlight
Feel the Rhythm with Leah Watson: June 19 - 23
Let's make music together! Campers will explore the beat, rhythm and art of music using their entire bodies, and craft their own instruments to explore song and dance. Our music endeavors will help develop coordination, language, self confidence, self esteem, and fine motor skills. Can you feel the beat? Open to 3 - 6 year olds, must be toilet trained.
Blue Fins Swim Team
Looking for a way to stay active this summer or interested in trying something new? Hit the water with the Cole YMCA Bluefins Swim Team in May. Come try it out during trial week of May 1st and kick off the 2.5 month season with them starting May 8th. Practice will be after school the month of May, then alternate between morning and evening practices In June and early July. It's a short season, try a lap or two! Contact Coach Jess with questions coleymcabluefins@gmail.com
Free to good home!
Lost & Found
Two sweatshirts were found after EarthFest, are one of these yours? They may be picked up at the Vic House!
There was also cash found by a student at the event. Please reach out to Kristy at the Vic House if you misplaced money and share what the amount was.🥰
Passion Presentations
Each year, our 8th year students choose a topic they are passionate about and how they could make a positive impact on the Oak Farm Montessori community. Faculty members are invited to serve on the professional panel to provide feedback, ask questions and help support any future work the students might need to pursue these passion projects.
The projects included: musical instruments & clubs to our programming, mental health resources, a student theatre director position, expanding library resources, using art to celebrate diversity, creating a softball team, horse therapy volunteer opportunities, InnoLab technology at the MS, a secondary aftercare program and a fishing pond.
Congratulations to all of these 8th years and to the teachers and parents who supported and encouraged them in this important work! Here is a link to photos of all the presentations.
FW Museum of Art Summer Camp
Over the past 40 years, Mark Kistler has taught millions of children how to draw at thousands of K-12 school assembly and visual arts workshops around the world. During the week of June 5th - 9th, Mark will be at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art leading both virtual and in person classes for students 6 - adult at $99 per class. Visit this website to register and learn more.
SOCIAL SHARING
Let me show you!
Today our toddlers played the role of teacher when they invited a parent or special guest into their classroom for OFMS Toddler Day. The joy and pride they felt was so evident as they carefully practiced their favorite works. Whether it was counting, stringing, matching, or just offering a great big hug...these future leaders are practiced in the art of presentation
Lifelong Learner
Lifelong Learner
Congratulations Tiffany Fennig for being selected as @Trine University's Outstanding Graduate of the Year! Director of The Center for Montessori Education at Trine University, Laurie Stockton-Moreno, complimented Tiffany for her level of dedication and understanding shown through assignments and honored her for a positive attitude and leadership throughout the entire program.
This attention to detail comes as no surprise to her Oak Farm Montessori family.
Life on the farm...
Each month our Farm Manager, Crystal Leu, shares a birds eye view of what life is like at Oak Farm Montessori Middle School. Each spring our barns are full of new births, renewal, growth and important lessons in life.
Reading, writing and arithmetic aren't always practiced in a book or classroom. Sometimes, they're used in woodshop to calculate an angle, debated intensely to find the best method to unload 160 bales of hay, or creatively preparing for an FFA quiz bowl.
Thank you for always making learning fun Crystal! Read her farm journal at this link:
Technology in mooootion
Students in our Upper Elementary 1 class visited @Homestead Dairy, LLC to see how agriculture and STEM overlap in the modern world. When you have almost 3000 cows needing to be fed, milked and cleaned up after each day; you need a lot of manpower...or robot power! Cows can enter, at will, into an area where they receive a treat and are milked by friendly robots. Other robots provide soft massaging brushes, provide food, or swiftly scrape unwanted waste away from them; keeping their home nice and clean. Humans are still everywhere though, including: 14 veterinarians, 2 nutritionists, 2 mechanical engineers, and a robot maintenance person! In addition to all of this hands-on learning about innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking, they got to name a few of the newborn calves: Blue, Milky Way and Holy.