The gifts of Roots & Wings

Amy

“purposeful activity that develops motor control and coordination and develops independence, concentration, and a sense of responsibility”. In response to the maturing needs of the third plane, students are offered even more elective choices for personal and creative expression, they are engaged in year-long projects where they explore their passions through an interdisciplinary approach, they travel both in-state and out-of the country during InterSessions, and they are involved in off-campus service learning and internships. Last year, we camped and hiked at the Red River Gorge, upperclassmen planned a trip to Ireland, a senior organized a food train for foster families in DeKalb County as part of her Capstone project, a student interned with our school librarian, and students did invasive species removal work at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center. All of these experiences nourished the needs of that third plane of development and led students toward valorization.

Independence

Independence in the third plane is also different because for the adolescent it turns outward to social and economic independence. Some of the ways OFMHS provides opportunities for this independence is through the meaningful work of the Pathways program, apprenticeships for our upperclassmen, finance committee work, and Capstone projects. Students realize their place as part of the economic, social, and ecological grandeur surroundings of the community and this leads toward further exploration of their place within the world.

Students are given four Pathways to choose from: Bike Shop, InnoLab, Coffee Shop and Land Mangement. Events throughout the year provide opportunities for students to offer these services to customers.

Teaching in a program that provides so many opportunities for self discovery, so many opportunities to explore and deepen academic interests, and so many different means for students to express themselves creatively and socially is, indeed, a gift. The roots and wings of our Oak Farm Montessori High School graduates are sure to take them to some amazing places because they come to realize themselves as valuable participants in a larger community; which will be a gift to the world they will move into as young adults.