Last week was a big one: Theater, Classical Music, Baking, Hospitality and Fundraising, our Elementary did it all!
The week started as our elementary classrooms were filled with the delicious smells of pumpkin bread, lemon pound cake and a variety of muffins and cookies as our Upper Elementary students prepared for their fundraiser on Wednesday morning. Our 4th-6th graders split into groups, decided what they wanted to make, figure out portions, divided up who was bringing what ingredients, baked their recipes and then cleaned up! This morning was a beautiful example of the empowerment our students are given, the trust they are bestowed to be self-directed and their great capacity for working collaboratively.
This year’s coffee shop, run in tandem with our Bike & Walk to School Day, was completely run by the students. They created the prices, set up the Square account so they could accept credit cards for the first time, counted the money and made the proper change. They marketed the event, demonstrated their superb grasp of Montessori’s Grace and Courtesy curriculum, and guess what? Thanks to their good planning, delicious baked goods, and your generosity, they raised the most money ever raised at this event–$508.00! But the work isn’t done because now the students get to do some research and figure out who will be the benefactor of these funds. I trust they will discover some beautiful ways to pass on the spirit of giving that was shown to them by all of you!
But that’s not all that was in store for our Elementary students this week. On Tuesday, our 
3rd-6th grade
rs were treated to a performance of a Comedy of Errors by players from the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Somehow, this wonderful group of performers wove together classic Shakespeare, multiculturalism, feminism and a healthy dose of kid humor into a performance meant to inspire children to think about how they can step in and stand up against mistreatment. After the performance, they had a chance to workshop with the performers. I couldn’t help but swell with pride as I saw this group show our guests how bright, compassionate, patient, witty and kind they are. Our guests also were deeply impressed.
But wait, there is still a string quartet! Thursday, our Primary Elders joined all our Elementary students for a gorgeous and engrossing performance by the Boulder Phil String Quartet. Thank you to Monica, our music teacher, for bringing such a special performance to our school. From the classics to the theme from Star Wars, our students shined bright in their active listening and enthusiastic reactions! It was a great time for some of the younger members of our community to get to be with the “big kids” on campus.
Another week at Jarrow, where our students get to experience the beauty of the arts, show their bravery as they participate in activities outside their comfort zone, take on big challenges and reap the big rewards. Maybe it was just me, but I am sure I saw kids standing a little taller this week, smiling a little wider, opening their hearts a little bigger, and for that I feel great gratitude to be witness as they grow in to the amazing adults they are bound to become.
In Gratitude,
Gavin Green, Director of Admissions