Manchester Life 2024 | Page 66

“ This bank is great ! They believed in our vision for rebuilding our pizza restaurant , and like us , they are passionate about community .”

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and ice . Fun , ice-related activities like making hand-cranked ice cream transform the classroom into a wonderland of discovery . The indoor classroom is equipped with a play kitchen , musical instruments , and cozy reading nooks . Children engage in a variety of engaging pursuits , from baking bread using locally sourced ingredients to crafting herbal teas from garden herbs . Nimbus and Smudge , the resident rabbits , add a touch of charm and companionship to the classroom . These gentle creatures offer valuable lessons in caretaking , responsibility , and respect for all living beings .

When spring arrives , the focus transitions to earthworms , dirt , and gardening , preparing young minds for the emergence of new life and growth . Field trips to nearby natural attractions like Equinox Pond and Merck Forest offer more lessons beyond the classroom , providing opportunities for firsthand exploration of larger wildlife habitats . The culmination of each academic year is marked by a moving butterfly ceremony , a symbolic celebration of growth and transformation . After releasing butterflies they ’ ve nurtured from caterpillars in the final weeks of the semester , students make wearable wire butterfly wings , paint them , and decorate them . On the last day of class , students and parents are invited to a potluck-style picnic celebration . “ The kids put their butterfly wings on and wrap up in little white sheets that represent cocoons . Beforehand , we ask them some of the things that they are most proud about learning that year at school . We read their responses as they unwrap themselves from their pretend cocoons . We all clap for them as they run around in their hand-painted wings , and they metaphorically spread those wings and embark on new journeys .” The ceremony honors the students ’ achievements , reinforcing the cycle of life and the importance of embracing change .

In the summer months , the Fiddleheads summer program packs similar excitement and learning into a five-week period . The program operates on a flexible sign-up

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