Middle School

So Much Science!

So Much Science!

If you have been on campus at Hollis Montessori School at the end of the day lately, you may have noticed Adolescent Program (AP) students and guides hiking up from the pond looking wet, tired, and happy. They have been studying Dunklee Pond in the Hollis Town Forest. This fall they are doing a water quality assessment of Dunklee Pond to submit to the NH Department of Environmental Services. The Adolescent Community has taken on a water quality study every few years so they have now begun to accumulate long term data and can begin to look at the trends.

Civics in the Real World

Civics in the Real World

New Hampshire is an amazing place to study civics! Although they aren't yet of voting age, the students of Hollis Montessori’s Adolescent Program (AP) got to experience being active participants in the democratic process this winter. The theme of their studies this term has been governance, and this was a great year to work on that topic. In addition to lessons on the structure of government, the rise of governance (going back to early humans, how laws are made, and political media, they got to visit presidential candidates, the State House, a Courthouse, and attended a convention and debate.

Shakespeare Dinner Theater: Behind the Scenes of an Adolescent Program Event

Shakespeare Dinner Theater: Behind the Scenes of an Adolescent Program Event

It is really hard to describe the incredible growth and learning that happens through putting together a big event in the Adolescent Program. Adolescents thrive on real, big, creative work that happens in community with others. When I say “real work,” I mean work that has a purpose besides one’s own learning, work that affects other people, work so complex that if you don’t pull your own weight other people and the quality of the whole will suffer. The recent Shakespeare Dinner Theater, our classroom Gala project, was one of these events. 

Where Are They Now Part 2: Allie Campbell

Where Are They Now Part 2: Allie Campbell

Hollis Montessori opened in 2008 with classes for children age 3 through 6th grade. In 2011, we added the Adolescent Program for grades 7-9. As a young school, we have fairly young alumni, but after 15 years, some of our alumni have become adults. Over the next few issues, we will be featuring stories about them in our “Where Are They Now” series. In Part Two, we talked to Allie Campbell.

Where Are They Now Part 1: Owyn Desrochers

Where Are They Now Part 1: Owyn Desrochers

After 15 years as a school, some of Hollis Montessori’s alumni have become adults. Over the next few issues, we will be featuring stories about them in our “Where Are They Now” series. In Part One, we talked to Owyn Desrochers. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, Owyn accepted a role with the PGA TOUR in Florida.

Seeing the Forest for the Trees

Seeing the Forest for the Trees

This past fall, during their Earth and Human Studies (EHS) class, the Adolescent Program (AP) researched two plots of forest in a Forest Health Assessment which compared a mature forest to a recently logged forest. The project was completed with help from local foresters, and used curriculum resources from Project Learning Tree, which is the educational arm of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.