The Applegater

22 Spring 2022 Applegater NEXT GENERATION | SCHOOL NEWS BY KAREN WEARY Mountain Montessori offers kindergarten through third grade instruction AmeriCorps team works on Pacifica project BY DAVID CONOVER Pacifica and the Williams Community Forest Project (WCFP) have been hosting a g r o u p o f N a t i o n a l Civilian Community Corps (AmeriCorps NCCC) members s i n c e J a n u a r y 1 3 . E i g h t volunteers are working on a variety of projects during their six weeks in Williams, including building tent platforms for the outdoor school program at Pacifica and maintaining trails with WCFP. e AmeriCorps members hail from across the United States: Calhoun, Tennessee; Bethesda, Maryland; Wilmot, South Dakota; Voorhees, New Jersey; Nashville, Tennessee; Champaign, Illinois; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Boston, Massachusetts. e group's 10 months of service began in Yolo County, California. Once their projects are completed here in Williams, the group heads to Kalispell, Montana, where they will work with Habitat for Humanity and United Way. Pacifica is a nonprofit organization with the mission of providing educational M o u n t a i n Montessori is a new local homeschool just completing its inaugural year. Located on private property in Williams, the classroom is small, w i t h a m a x i m u m capacity of 10 children i n k i n d e r g a r t e n through third grade. e intention is to keep the group small and intimate so that students can get all the individualized support they need. Children attend four days a week, from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. Montessori education focuses on mixed age groups, hands-on learning materials, work time that allows and supports the development of focus and concentration, self-discovery, and the deepest respect for the rights and property of oneself, others, and nature. The classroom curriculum focuses on common elementary subjects like reading, language, math, geography, science, and culture. Instruction follows a scope and sequence yet is individualized Members of the Americorps contingent take a break from working on projects at Pacifica. and recreational opportunities for the communities of the Applegate, Rogue, and Illinois valleys of southern Oregon. Its 500-acre property is a nature preserve and park with a community center, educational classrooms, and outdoor learning labs. Pacifica is also home to Forestfarm, a nursery that specializes in native plants as well as ornamentals from around the world. Learn more by visiting pacificagarden. org and forestfarm.com. David Conover david@pacificagarden.org Photo below, left: An Americorps crew member cuts a board. Right: Pacifica Board member Rodger Miller watches as an Americorps crew member works on a boardwalk. Americorps crew members work on a boardwalk. s o t h a t s t u d e n t s move at a pace that b e s t s u p p o r t s t h e i r independent learning. Students also practice skills like self-control, t i m e m a n a g e m e n t , emotional awareness, respectful interactions, and problem solving with their peers and how to independently meet their individual needs. Also, for those involved with TEACH- Northwest, Mountain Montessori is a certified vendor. e teacher, Karen Weary, has been teaching Montessori for the past 16 years in both public and private schools. She has extensive training and experience in teaching children to read and creating a solid mathematical foundation. She is thrilled to bring her love of Montessori to her home community and offer this one- of-a-kind educational opportunity. Karen Weary Mountain Montessori owner and teacher kwearymontessori@gmail.com 541-525-5642 The language area at Mountain Montessori in Williams. The math area at Mountain Montessori in Williams. The Mountain Montessori logo. Report illegal burning If you witness what you think is illegal burning of prohibited materials or on a no-burn day, report it to: Jackson County: Environmental Air Quality at 541-774-8206 Josephine County: Environmental Health Services at 541-474-5325

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