Office Makeover

More improvements at school. Parent Eric Dolvan organized a donation of a large desk/workstation for the office, which enlarges the space and provides some welcome organization.




That is not to say that it is all work and no play in the office, although Nerf Gun Modification is serious business.

A New Perspective on Clearwater Staff

Michelle, a 13-year-old student, dashed off caricatures of each of us staff members recently. They are quite delightful and have captured us pretty well. See if you can identify who's who. Match the caricature with the correct staff member.

__ Mat R.

__ Matt G.

__ Shawna

__ Stephanie

A.

B.

C.

D.

Mat made some buttons out of the images just for Michelle. If you're having trouble, here's a key.
C = Mat R.

A = Matt G.

D = Shawna

B = Stephanie

Parent Letter to the Editor Published in Seattle Times

Kudos and heartfelt thanks to Clearwater parent and Assembly President Amanda Klein for responding to a Seattle Times column this week.

On Monday, March 9, Seattle Times columnist Jerry Large recorded his thoughts about a recent presentation by education gadfly, Alfie Kohn. The Kohn presentation and Large column questioned the efficacy of school homework.

Amanda wrote a letter to the editor, as well as an email to Jerry Large, in which she explained her and her son's experience of Clearwater. Read her excellent letter, "Choosing real life over imposed homework", which was published yesterday.

Large reported that parents' answers to Kohn's question about their long-term goals for their children included: Be a mensch, happy, independent, curious, self-motivated, passionate, inner wildness, compassionate, self-reliant, engaged, financially independent, lifelong learner, comfortable, confident. These are just some of the qualities that Clearwater and other Sudbury school students manifest throughout their school years and into adulthood. They develop and strengthen these qualities without prescribed curricula, homework, tests or grades.

Phonathon Potluck on Monday

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Pledge Drive Update

The total for our pledge drive to date is a little over $18,000, including donations received and pledged, toward our goal of $34,000. Congratulations on our progress! At the fall Assembly meeting, there was lively discussion, then a vote, that the Assembly was committed to supporting paying staff the 17.50/hour voted on last Spring . This is not yet the living wage we’ve set goals for, but a much-needed step towards it. We are only $4,000 away from the $22,000 needed to meet the bare bones budget adopted last fall. When we raise an additional $12,000 from fundraising and other revenue we will be able to fully restore staff salaries for the year.

Let's see how fast we can reach our goal! We look forward to talking with you next Monday night during our Phonathon.

Not Your Ordinary Birthday Guest

One of our students recently celebrated her seventh birthday. Included among her many friends was a magical creature. Not too many people can boast of a unicorn party guest.

Deep Freeze

Early spring crocus and snowdrops are blooming, daylight is increasing, and the sun's rays are warming our bodies and souls. Yet, memories of the below freezing temperatures we experienced in December are still fresh in our memories. The deep freeze burst our fire sprinkler pipes resulting in our soon-to-be-completed new kitchen, new art room and improved music room.

At Clearwater, we responded to the cold by warning each other of slippery conditions, cutting through icy surfaces to ensure liquid water for our chickens, and enjoying the beauty and novelty of amazing natural ice sculptures.

Three 7-9 year old girls made and posted this sign because they were concerned for others' safety. No adult suggested or asked them to make it.


Our chickens greedily drank water through a small hole hacked in the ice of their water trough.

A student discovered and claimed a natural ice sculpture.

Creek icicles