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As part of a multi-school initiative to support endangered species, Grade 7 students foster two Blanding's turtles for the school year.
Two small turtles have entered the hearts and minds of the seventh grade class at Nashoba Brooks School. While they go by many names, depending on which Grade 7 student is asked, the generally agreed upon nominations are Bubbles and Squirt. These Blanding's Turtles are two members of a species that is one of the most threatened in the northeastern United States. According to Zoo New England, it's possible that fewer than 3,000 individuals of this relatively large and gentle freshwater turtle species remain. Because of habitat loss and roads, many of the young turtles do not make it into adulthood, which hinders propagation of the species.
But here, nestled under a heat lamp in the back of Ms. Lewis's science classroom, two Blanding's turtles are nurtured as part of a program that aims to repopulate this unique, native species. "The program is run by Zoo New England's Field Conservation Department," Ms. Lewis explains, "and our students are a crucial part of making sure the juvenile turtles survive." Nashoba Brooks students will take care of two out of 100 turtles being cared for by students throughout New England. For eight months of the year, nurtured in safe environments, these tiny turtles grow strong and eventually reach a size that makes them less likely to be food for predators. "The turtles survival rate increases by 30 times, once they are released back into the wild," Grade 7 student Emily C. explains while carefully weighing Bubbles, one of the many daily tasks students complete.
All members of Grade 7 have taken a turn caring for and recording the turtles' progress. Using a form that is shared with conservationists at Zoo New England, they continue to monitor progress, keeping the turtles on track for their eventual return to nature.
"I love turtles," says Ellie E., who volunteered to take Bubbles and Squirt home during a School holiday, "and I'm so glad that we get to take part in making sure they survive."
What a bee-autiful sight! The Nashoba Brooks beehives have been buzzing all summer and have produced their first batch of honey! With the help of Mel, our apiarist partner, Grade 1 students were able to extract a few jars of honey from one of our hives. Students will further explore this wonder of nature during science class this year as they learn more about the natural world and our local environment.
Grade 3 students participated in a favorite Nashoba Brooks tradition: a Sharing of Understanding. This event hosted family members to listen and learn about what their students have been working on at School, including a recorder recital and in-depth explanations of multiple indigenous peoples.
It was a packed weekend on the Nashoba Brooks campus for Fall Weekend!
Thank you to all the parent volunteers, student ambassadors, faculty members, and all other roles who contributed to making this weekend so memorable for our School.
After weeks of hard work, Grade 3 students had the opportunity to present their Community Hero projects to their families and their interview subjects!
The Nashoba Brooks School campus was bursting with excitement Friday, November 4, through Sunday, November 6, as we celebrated our annual Fall Weekend.
After almost a year of research, school visits, interviews, self-reflection, and essay writing, the Grade 8 class is enjoying a variety of excellent high schools to choose from.
Alongside the book fair and poetry month, April has been a wonderful time for literature at Nashoba Brooks School. Sharon Draper and Jen Campbell, two celebrated authors, left their mark on the community over the past few weeks.
More than 75 parents responded to this year’s annual School survey and numbers were well balanced across all grade levels. The results of the survey are impressive and the feedback the parents offer to the School is glowing.
As Black History Month comes to a close, students and faculty alike celebrate diversity, acknowledging that a school is not only classrooms, gymnasiums, and fields, but also the people within these walls. Each year and at every grade level our students contemplate the presence and importance of different backgrounds, experiences and beliefs. And this month provides community members with an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be Black in America.
Rachel Adams graduated from Nashoba Brooks School in 2001. She went on to study at Lawrence Academy followed by Maine College of Art and Design. Now living in Portland as a successful artist, textile designer, entrepreneur, wife and mother of two, Rachel shares her journey from student to full time artist.
Situated on a beautiful 30-acre campus in historic Concord, Massachusetts, Nashoba Brooks School enrolls all genders in Preschool through Grade 3, and students identifying as girls in Grades 4 through 8. Nashoba Brooks is an independent school designed to build community, character, and confidence in its students.