Welcome to Telluride Mountain School’s first digital and interactive newsletter!

We will be emailing all future newsletters to you as a PDF file as well as posting on our website.

The new interactive format allows you to move around this file like a website, getting to the content you are interested in, in one click. On the content page, the text hyperlinks, meaning it will connect you directly with the article that interests you most. On each page, in the bottom right hand corner, you have a choice to move forward, backward or to return to the table of contents. There are also links from the content to our website for the most up-to-date and detailed information.

A copy of the newsletter will be printed and held at the front desk if you are not able to work with PDF files.

FALL /WINTER 2012 News

Outdoor Education Trips By Classroom > > > > >

L A B O R A T E D U R E … L U D I T E D U R E W O R k H A R D … P L A y H A R D

FEATURES

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

by Telluride Mountain School 8th grader

page 1

Dear Friends,

Thank you for taking the time to read the Telluride Mountain School fall/winter newsletter. This issue features our fall outdoor education trips. The Telluride Mountain School owes a debt of gratitude to educational philosopher, John Dewey. When the first through twelfth grades are scattered among western mountains, rivers and canyons, we are all heirs to John Dewey’s philosophy that experience trumps static learning. At the Mountain School, we share Dewey’s belief that true learning involves interaction with the world, opportunities to make observations of the world and the intellectual freedom to reflect. The fall trips are pivotal in bringing together students who have either been away from school over the summer or are brand new to our community and offer a shared experience. Teachers note that the post trip group is a much stronger one, ready to share the academic challenges of the year ahead. Indeed we have John Dewey to thank for our unique academic program and our emphasis on experience, experiment, and adventure.

Work Hard, Play Hard,

Last Thanksgiving, Telluride Mountain School 8th grader Sylvan Bald and his parents were walking along a county trail in Ilium Valley when Sylvan saw what would later be identified as pieces of the pelvic bones of an Allosaurus fragilis, a common dinosaur from the Jurassic Period.

Location of the fossil was kept under wraps until May 2012 when Sylvan led Dr. John Powell, a visiting geosciences instructor from Fort Lewis College, to the site. Dr. Powell was concerned that the fossil was exposed to weather and threat of theft. Thus he began preparing the fossil for removal to a safer location. Dr. Powell’s preparations became an impromptu paleontological field study with our 7th/8th grade science class.

According to Dr. Powell, “The fossils found by Sylvan probably represent pieces of the ischia (two of the pelvic bones). Although it’s always dicey predicting the type of dinosaur from isolated bones or fragments, there’s a good chance it represents a carnivore like Allosaurus fragiis, one of the most common predators from the Jurassic Period. The rocks are river channel and floodplain deposits of the Morrison Formation, sometimes referred to as ‘the original Jurassic Park.’ In addition to the dinosaur bones, thin coal seams and petrified wood support the idea of a floodplain environment with a winding river channel.”

Look for the fossil in an upcoming display at the Telluride Mountain School. Eventually the fossil will be displayed permanently at the Telluride Historical Museum.

8th Grade Student Makes Jurassic Discovery

SYLAN BALD

PELVIC BONES OF AN ALLOSAURUS FRAGILIS

Joe Stefani

page 2page 2

In September, the first and second grade class visited Tomten Farm for our Outdoor Education Trip.The class worked at the farm, which is an organic farm above the beauty of Placerville, Colorado. Tomten has two greenhouses, a chicken coop, and a large garden. It is sustained through natural processes including the use of solar power to run the house and farm. Kris Holstrom has a wealth of knowledge regarding sustainable farming, local environments, and anything else the children asked. After a tour, we began to work in the large garden, harvesting a variety of produce including different types of potatoes, radishes, beets, and garlic. Kris was generous with her time and efforts, allowing each child to take home a piece of produce. Additionally, the children worked to weed a large row in the garden and enjoyed having “multiple-children” weeds, also known as a plant resistant to one child. At the end of the day, a student appropriately summed up the experience by saying: “That was a really hard day, but it was also really good!”

1/2 CLASS > 1 DAy > TOMTEN FARM

CAREFULLY CROSSING THE RIVER!

POSING FOR THE CAMERA!

page 3

The High Camp Hut is perched above Lizard Head Pass, and offers spectacular views of Sheep Mountain, plenty of space to relax inside, and adventure outdoors. Despite the sudden change to winter weather, we eagerly hiked the 2.5 miles to the High Camp Hut. Upon arriving to the hut, students quickly settled into the many bedrooms and lofts at the hut. We played games and relaxed by the fire as the weather outside was cold and wet. That evening, the weather cleared, and we had the chance to have a campfire, roast marshmallows, and play an exciting game of Pigs in the Pen in the surrounding forest. On the second day, the sun was shining, and we took advantage of the chance to be outside. Students worked in small groups at various stations, participating in activities related to our curriculum. We marked contour lines on rocks using buckets with various levels of water. Students also learned how to use compasses and navigated through a scavenger hunt around the property using various bearings as clues. At a third station, students created Andy Goldsworthy inspired art projects. The rest of the afternoon was spent finishing art projects and admiring each other’s work. Throughout the trip, students worked in cook crews to make all of the food that we ate. On our last morning, we all pitched in to clean the hut and hike back to Lizard Head Pass. Our time at High Camp Hut was a special chance for our class to bond and work on our curriculum in the amazing outdoor classroom that Telluride has to offer.

3/4 CLASS > 3 DAyS > HIGH CAMP HUT

USING A COMPASS AND MAPS

BEDTIME!

AT THE DROP OFF - HIKERS READY TO GO!

page 4

The fifth and sixth grade class journeyed across Colorado, stopping at Black Canyon and at the Great Sand Dunes, camping out the entire time. According to students, the best thing about the trip was learning about Colorado’s unique geology. Driving to the base of Black Canyon, the class learned about the various layers of rock within the canyon and about the reasons for the canyon’s existence. At the Great Sand Dunes, they learned all about the winds that shaped these unique dunes. Then, in typical Mountain School style, they jumped on snowboards, sleds, even strips of cardboard and performed scientific experiments on the friction of the sand as they careened down the dunes.

5/6 CLASS > BLACk CANyON AND THE GREAT SAND DUNES

HAVING A BLAST ON THE DUNES!

EXPERIENCING BLACK CANYON

page 5

7/8 CLASS > 4 DAyS > GRAND GULCH UTAH

Traveling to Grand Gulch, Utah students in seventh and eighth grades hiked, camped and explored in the shadow of ancient Puebloan ruins. Stopping in Comb Wash, we spent a night becoming familiar with our stoves and tents before taking off into the backcountry.  Feeling strong and confident with the equipment, we traveled to the Kane Gulch Ranger Station access to Grand Gulch. Students began their descent into the Gulch and quickly noted the role that water has played in shaping its features. Once squarely on the “floor” of the canyon, students were treated to their first glimpse of Anasazi ruins. The dramatic, three-tiered Junction Ruin is the most visited ruin in the canyon. From there, the group continued south enjoying the fantastic canyon geology as well as the regular access to strikingly well preserved ruins. Students stopped for lunch on the trail and made camp each evening where meals were planned and cooked in tent groups of three.  

A magical night was spent at the base of Perfect Kiva, a fortified ruin that allows visitors to go inside a structure built thousands of years ago. We ascended out of Grand Gulch through Bullet Canyon at which point they headed northeast, back to Telluride Mountain School, ready to share their adventure with the community.

ALMOST HOME

JOURNALING

page 6

An experiential kayak trip down the lower canyon of the San Juan River gave Telluride Mountain School freshmen and sophomores the opportunity to experience the thrill of whitewater amongst the serenity of an inspiring and remote canyon. First stop was McPhee Reservoir to practice the most essential skill students would learn the whole trip – how to execute a wet exit, i.e. get out of their boat if and when they flipped. With that skill wired, they were ready for the river. The next stop: Bluff, Utah.

We hit the river the following day and were immediately greeted by a small rapid and the impressive geology of the river’s Goosenecks section. Under the guidance of three charismatic kayak instructors, they practiced eddying out, edging their boats, and paddling down the river. The next day, before the biggest rapids known as Government, students learned how to scout a rapid and determine the best line. They were so psyched after running it that many hiked back up to do it again – a reverse portage.

Each evening, the group camped on pristine beaches under the shadow of the surrounding red rock walls, lingering by the campfire under starlit skies. A highlight was cliff jumping in Slickhorn canyon and playing in perfect river mud at the last campsite.

9/10 CLASS > 4 DAyS > kAyAk THE SAN JUAN

BUILDING PADDLE SKILLS

READY TO HIT THE RIVER

page 7

12 GRADE > 6 DAyS > GREEN RIVER THROUGH DESOLATION AND GRAy CANyONS

EXAMINING FREEMONT PETROGRLYPHS

SARA NAVIGATES THE RAPIDS

ONE OF MANY AMAZING MOMENTS

page 8

Students in twelfth grade charted a course through both the Utah desert and western American history as they navigated the Green River through Desolation and Gray Canyons in whitewater kayaks.After a brief flight, with grand views of the cliff walls and sparkling river beneath a desert sunrise, from the town of Green River, the class landed on a rough landing strip by Sand Wash. The journey downriver encompassed 84 miles of paddling interspersed with over 60 significant rapids (up to class III in difficulty). Students spent six days on the river, learning about hydrology and paddling techniques by day and the rich history of the river by night. Beneath majestic canyon walls, the students participated in evening readings, which included pieces by Wallace Stegner, Edward Abbey, John McPhee, and David James Duncan. In their own journals, students reflected on their experiences with the water, incorporating the river into their writing as both metaphor and sacred place. Whitewater kayaking by its very nature is an individual endeavor made possible only through the strength and support of the group. The students learned to trust their own skills and rely on each other for help, building a physical and emotional bond that will guide them through their final year of high school and into the next stage of their lives.

SkI ACADEMy AT TMS

By adding new programmatic elements to our Upper School curriculum geared specifically toward the student-athlete, skiers and riders are empowered to pursue athletic excellence while maintaining a challenging academic program that promotes critical thinking, aesthetic expression, and ethical behavior.

Student-Athletes are valued at Telluride Mountain School. Beginning this winter, Telluride Mountain School is partnering with the Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club to offer student-athletes the combination of a rigorous academic program with the intensive on-snow training that has traditionally been a path to U.S. Ski Team and NCAA glory.

Small class size and low student-teacher ratios allow for maximum flexibility in scheduling classes, assignments, assessments, papers, projects and more. Telluride Mountain School accommodates student-athletes by creating individualized academic plans during the winter season that allow for training, competition, and travel while they prepare for college through compelling academic classes.

Telluride Mountain School uses technology that allows for productive interaction while students are on the road. Teachers provide pre- and post-trip counseling and personal attention for academic success. Student-athletes needing to fulfill additional graduation requirements have one-on-one, guided on-line or blended learning, and summer options available as needed.

Academic and athletic excellence are equally promoted through creative scheduling and programming. Telluride Mountain School allows student-athletes to compete at the highest levels without missing out on exceptional academic experience. LEARN MORE ONLINE>

Photo credit/aerial flip: Nori Lupfer

To learn more contact: Jenny Page, Ski Academy Program Director (970) 729-0913,

email: jpage@telluridemtnschool.org

L A B O R A T E D U R E … L U D I T E D U R E W O R k H A R D … P L A y H A R D

page 9

Wonder, Warmth, and Non-stop ActionThis fall, the Montessori at Mountain School engaged in a dynamic

combination of self driven learning and special activities. From acting,

to zumba, to learning about our continent and speaking Spanish,

the classroom is a bundle of energy and joy...come see for yourself.

page 10

Around the School

Seniors traveled to Berlin, Potsdam, Auschwitz-BirkenauThe senior class traveled to Berlin, Germany and Krakow, Poland to study 20th century European history and contemporary arts and culture. Modern historical events took vivid form as they visited sites crucial to World War II, the Cold War, the fall of the Soviet Bloc, and the unification of Europe.

Click here to read the trip blog>

World Cup Alum visits students!

Telluride Mountain School alum and snowboarder Hagen Kearney made a pit-stop at Telluride Mountain School. Hagen, fresh off the World Cup win in Austria, is set to compete in the snowboardcross events this weekend.

If Hagen does well this week, he could qualify to compete in the World Championships set to take place in Stoneham, Quebec, Jan. 15-27. Kearney was named to the U.S. Snowboarding Team in June.

Angel Baskets Every student who donated a new pair of pajamas to Angel Baskets wore pajamas to school on Friday, December 14th. Soleil Jacobson led this student philanthropy drive to collect clothing for families in need.

Penny Wars Students in every grade collected pennies to support, by selection of the senior class, Doctors Without Borders. Each classroom has a collection bucket. Pennies add value while the silver subtracts value. The result is a fun classroom competition to raise funds for a great cause.

Beyond our Borders Through jewelry and bake sales, Laila Skramstad raised $3,200 for her student philanthropy non-profit project. CARE is a leading global humanitarian organization fighting poverty around the world.

STUDENT PHILANTHROPy

page 11

New Faces at Telluride Mountain SchoolPLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER

Mary Tyler Johnson and her husband Jesse moved to Telluride in 2011 from New York City. Their oldest son Reeve is in the Montessori program at Telluride Mountain School and they anticipate their youngest son, Morgan, will begin attending Montessori in 2013.

Before moving to Telluride, Mary consulted for non-profit organizations and private foundations focused on environmental health issues.

Now Mary’s primary focus and greatest joy is being a full-time mom! In addition, she serves on the boards of Columbia’s Center for Children’s Environmental Health (CCCEH), the Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN), and the Johnson Family Foundation (JFF). She is also a member of the Natural Resource Defense Council’s Global Leadership Council.

Mary holds a Master of Public Health and a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University, NY and a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College, CT.

FACULTy & STAFF

Craig WassermanIntermediate/Upper School Art Teacher

Emily ShoffIntermediate School Humanities Teacher

Catherine MoultonMontessori Assistant

Jesse James McTigueUpper School Humanities Teacher

Jamie IntemannProgram Coordinator

Emily DurkinIntermediate School Math and Science Teacher

Julia Boldrin1st/2nd Grade Teacher

Telluride Mountain School is pleased to announce the addition of seven new and returning faculty and staff members for the 2012-13 school year. Consistent with the school’s mission, this year’s new faculty and staff comprises passionate individuals with not only credentials and experience in their fields, but resumes that list exciting adventures living, working, competing in sports, and exploring cultures and environments around the world. Click here to read their bios online >

page 12page 12

Parents Association

Upcoming PA Events Friday Night at the Movies Moms Mixer Donuts for Dads

Ongoing PA Events Wednesday Teacher Lunch Friday Student Pizza Lunch

Recent PA Events Fall Class Suppers Winter Gear Swap Parent Holiday Dessert Contest Student Cookie & Bar Dessert Contest

Creating Community, Raising Funds, Adding Value!

The Parents’ Association events are off to a successful start in 2012! The Fall Class Suppers are complete with wonderful TMS families opening their homes to fellow parents, teachers, and staff. Reports from every supper echoed the same themes; great conversation, great food, great company! These suppers

offer a real sense of the amazing, diverse, and accomplished community we have here at TMS.

The ‘Winter Gear Swap’ was recently held in the Great Room. Parents, staff, and instructors brought in their outgrown gently used winter clothes, skis, boots, and other goodies for us to sell at low prices to fellow TMS and Montessori families. PA volunteers Julie Rolfs and Ellen Geldbaugh organized a host of parents for set-up, breakdown, and sales. The event raised over $1500 for the Scholarship Fund.

Our weekly Wednesday Teacher Lunch and Friday Pizza lunch. A big thank you to Deb Gusmundo and participating parents. The teachers and staff look forward to this special lunch every Wednesday! PA volunteer Pamela Sante is organizing the very popular Friday Pizza Lunch for students offering Brown Dog pizza lunch option, every Friday. Along with All-School recess, this makes Friday a can’t-miss day for students!

PA Meetings are held monthly at 8:30 am in the school. Email notices are sent and posted on the board in advance of every meeting. Any bit of your time helps. Join us for a cup of coffee anytime!

For more information Jessica Galbo, President galbo@montrose.net

Kendall Cieciuch, Vice President kyc@me.com

Save The Date for our Annual Fundraiser! FRIDAy NIGHT AT THE MOVIES • Friday, May 17, 2012

page 13page 13

M I S S I O NTelluride Mountain School delivers a program of challenging academics that promotes critical thinking, aesthetic expression and ethical behavior, while encompassing a commitment to community service, global citizenship and engagement with the natural environment. The school culture embraces independence, personal responsibility, compassion, curiosity and joy.

C O R E V A L U E SRESPECT We honor self and community, and value that which is different.

LOVE OF LEARNING We foster lasting curiosity, creativity and passion in a challenging and safe environment.

RESPONSIBILITy We understand the impact of personal actions, and uphold service as an integral part of scholarship and citizenship.

INTEGRITy We adhere to values and ethics that enable us to approach our studies and lives with courage, pride, honesty and empathy.200 San Miguel River Drive

Telluride, CO 81435-8924Tel: (970) 728-1969

advisory trustees

Anne Brown Mark BurchillVirginia Egger Tim ErdmanCorey Fortenberry George Gage Dale Halton Carl HobertDick KearneyGrant McCargo Casey McManeminSusie Schaefer

parents’ association

Jessica Galbo, PresidentKendall Cieciuch, V. President

board of trustees

Grace Engbring, PresidentHarley Brooke-Hitching, Vice PresidentLynn Holbert, SecretaryMiles Welch, TreasurerStephanie AnagnostouMichael BradleySeth CaginMary JohnsonAndy Krueger Joe Stefani, Head of School

Calendar

January 9 Preschool Comets Ski Program Begins

January 21 No school - Martin Luther King Day

January 30- 31 5th and 6th grade ski with St. Michael’s and TASP

February 15-19 No school - President’s Day Weekend

A few upcoming important dates are listed below.

Special Thanks!Telluride Mountain School would like to recognize and thank the Telluride Institute and the Zoline Family for it’s continued generosity in accommodating parking for our Ski PE program in the Strong House Studio Parking lot. Thank you for supporting the Mountain School community!

Blues Harmonica Master Phil Wiggins and Mark Galbo deliver a knock-out performance this fall at morning meeting!

Click here to visit our academic calendar online >

www.telluridemtnschool.org

page 14