2009 | Grove School

3 ways to start an earth-friendly holiday tradition

Britt Stromberg | December 11, 2009 | Comment

Winter holidays are a great time to start a family tradition of giving back to the earth and instilling the values of sustainable living in your children. Here are three suggestions.

Buy a living Christmas tree. A potted or balled tree (roots still attached) can be replanted in your backyard or donated to the parks department. Planting a small tree together as a family also offsets the loss of a tree. Learn more about caring for living Christmas tree here or from LivingChristmasTree.org.

Take a family nature hike. A peaceful walk through nature on Christmas day will be remembered and valued more than the score of the football game. Pick a local place such as an arboretum or nature preserve that you can return to throughout the year and watch the seasons change. Or volunteer an hour helping to clean up or enhance the trail. This introduces children to volunteering and acknowledges nature as a source of our well-being.

Decorate a tree for the birds. In addition to ribbons or popcorn garland, place seed bells, suet or pine cones with peanut butter on any tree in your yard. It’s preferable to find a tree in the open where cats can be seen easily by the birds. This is a great activity for kids because it connects them with the world outside their window. Plus it offers an important food source for birds during the winter.

Ideas from Eartheasy.

Britt is the editor of The Grove School website. She's got 15 years of writing and editing experience, a 6 year old daughter, a garden and a healthy obsession with all things green.

Keywords: earth friendly, Grove School, holiday, traditions

Video: weekly Cary construction update

Scott Andersen | December 10, 2009 | Comment

See how the interior of the school is coming together and preview our amazing outdoor classroom.

Keywords: Cary, construction update, Grove School, video

The Grove School goes to Washington

David Roy | December 9, 2009 | Comment

While in Washington, D.C. last month, we had the opportunity to meet with several members of Congress and their staffs. Every senator and congressman we sat down with understood the importance of a child’s early years, and showed real appreciation for what Knowledge Universe and other providers do to serve children and families. Most of the members had championed important early childhood education programs in their respective states when they held state office.

Early childhood education works because of partnerships. The education and care we provide to young children is part of a community effort to ensure quality experiences for all children. In turn, our school-readiness emphasis at The Grove School not only benefits the children we serve, but the schools and school systems that will serve these same children down the road. Together, The Grove School, families, primary schools, local, state and national policy makers, and community organizations are all partners in creating a world of educated and curious children who are primed for a lifetime of success.

Community is fundamental to The Grove School, and we are eager to join the communities of Cary, NC and Plano, TX. We are looking forward to meeting those of you in Cary and Plano over the coming weeks and learning more about what makes these places so special for children.

David is our guru of community partnerships. He's the one bonding at the local level with families, schools, groups and businesses. Ever the amiable fellow, he has a background in non-profit resource development, fundraising, government and public relations, and policy analysis.

Keywords: Congress, D.C., early childhood education, Grove School, Washington

Green holiday tip #2: toys

Regan Sheeley | December 8, 2009 | Comment

Push-Along_Small_Duck With toys, a little bit of research goes a long way. Try to shop locally when you can and ask questions about the contents of the toys and the manufacturing process.

Plan Toys are widely available. These are made out of organic rubber wood, non-toxic glue and water based dye. The company has a strong environmental stance. My child has several of these toys. They are indestructible and really cute.

Green Toys are toys made out of recycled milk jugs in California.

And Healthy Child has a good list of “green” toys/manufacturers. They also have good tips for reducing, reusing and recycling during the holidays.

Regan is a communication and events specialist with Knowledge Universe. She advises us on environmental issues with expertise in child care center operations and the Eco-Healthy child care provider endorsement process. She has a young daughter and a passion for decreasing children's exposure to environmental hazards and toxins.

Keywords: gifts, green, Grove School, holiday, Preschool, toys

Green holiday tip #1: wrapping paper

Regan Sheeley | December 8, 2009 | Comment

Wrapped presents don’t have to be pretty for kids or even wrapped for that matter. Consider not wrapping presents or using paper bags to wrap presents. You can involve the kids in having them decorate the wrapped presents with crayons or markers. Or reuse drawings they’ve made on scrap paper.

For younger children, remember that the packaging is often more interesting as the actual present. Don’t be hasty in throwing away boxes and used paper. These items can lead to meaningful play in the days following the holiday, from playing with the different textures of ribbons and paper to making “art” out of the leftover pieces!

Keywords: green holiday, Grove School, wrapping paper

Everyday sustainability

Serena Ross | December 3, 2009 | Comment

Sustainability. The word is everywhere, but what does it really mean? How can we get past all the green washing, green bling, green this or green that to understand what sustainability means in our everyday lives?

I like the UN definition of sustainability: to “meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs” (WECD, 1987 UN conference). This definition helps me keep my kids and their future in mind as I go through my day. Not that I think about sustainability every minute of the day, but it reminds me that there is no magical solution. There are, however, decisions I can make right now that will make a difference. It means that sustainability isn’t just about “stuff,” but about community, choices, design and the world around us.

The Grove School’s focus on community is such a wonderful embodiment of the word sustainability. Check out our local events and meet the fantastic staff and teachers who are part of The Grove School community.

Serena manages print production for us. She is also the mother of 2 teenagers, and a certified Master Recycler performing volunteer community outreach on sustainability and recycling.

Curbing obesity for future generations

Dan Flood | November 25, 2009 | Comment

One of the things I am personally very passionate about is physical health and its two necessary components: exercise and nutrition. As the father of an 18-month old, I try to model healthy behavior for her, and give her a well-rounded diet that includes an appropriate amount of protein, carbohydrates and fats.

That being said, it’s difficult to see the multitude of unhealthy food options available – and marketed to – the parents of young children. When you factor in the realities of modern society – busy schedules that leave little time for exercise and a plethora of convenient, yet unhealthy, food options – it’s no wonder that obesity rates are on the rise in the U.S. This is one of the pressing reasons that we felt The Grove School was necessary (and why I am personally involved). We wanted a place where we could model, teach and foster healthy behavior for future generations.

A recent study by the United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention entitled, “The Future Costs of Obesity,” outlines the potential costs to America in the coming years of this trend. The authors find that, beyond the obvious social and public health problems, rising obesity rates will have a real economic impact, primarily in health care costs, over the next ten years. Other major findings by the study include:

· Obesity is growing faster than any previous public health issue our nation has faced. If current trends continue, 103 million American adults will be considered obese by 2018.
· The U.S. is expected to spend $344 billion on health care costs attributable to obesity in 2018 if rates continue to increase at their current levels. Obesity-related direct expenditures are expected to account for more than 21 percent of the nation’s direct health care spending in 201.
· If obesity levels were held at their current rates, the U.S. could save an estimated $820 per adult in health care costs by 2018 – a savings of almost $200 billion dollars.

Clearly, we aren’t going to fight this problem alone. However, our first two schools are an important step toward elevating the importance of health in those two communities. Furthermore, as we look to expand nationally, we hope that The Grove School will play an important role in not only curbing the rise of obesity, but in setting an example for other schools and pushing the education field toward the future as well.

In order to address this and other pressing social issues, we must start by educating our children.

Dan steers our business development. As the father of a toddler and a conscientious consumer, he's energized by The Grove School's focus on high-quality education and the triple-bottom line (social and environmental responsibility in tandem with profitability).

Keywords: Grove School, nutrition

It's time: a lesson learned from Y2K

Scott Andersen | November 24, 2009 | Comment

I am sure many of us remember all the frenzy around the Y2K bug from 1999.

If you recall, there was world-wide concern over how the many systems that rely on computers were going to be affected by the change in date from 1999 to 2000. Because many software programs were written with only two characters in the date field for the year, e.g. 05/06/99, instead of what we are now accustomed to 05/06/1999. There was concern that many computer programs were going to cause serious problems at midnight on 12/31/1999 when the year rolled over to 2000 because many of the computers might think it was the year 1900 versus 2000.

Leading up to this most important New Year’s Eve, there were many news stories. I am sharing one that I heard today in church.

This would be a typical television talk show. The host was interviewing a man who was an expert in computer software for the airline industry. He was answering questions and he seemed to not be alarmed and was relatively calm about the potential fallout of the Y2K bug. As the show was winding down and the end of show music was beginning to play, the host asked one last question, “Will you be on a plane on New Year’s Eve at midnight?” After speaking for about 19 minutes on his relative lack of concern about this issue, his response to that question brought great concern to the viewers I am sure. He responded, “No way.”

This story reminds me of something that I think we all get caught up in from time to time: saying one thing and doing another. This software expert professed one thing but acted in another way. He was in essence, a hypocrite on this matter.

From its conception, to the planning, to the implementation and to the impending opening, The Grove School has put itself forward as a “seriously fresh new preschool.” We are professing to be something that no one else is. We have a vision that intersects with a commitment, ability and most importantly, the passion to move our profession of being a “seriously fresh new preschool” into the realm of reality.

Unlike the software professional in the story above who did not need to be held accountable for what he was saying in the first 19 minutes of the show by actually flying on a plane at the stroke of midnight, we do need to hold ourselves accountable at The Grove School to bring about our vision.

I am calling on all of us: staff at the corporate and local levels, parents, students and members of the community to be stewards of our vision and purpose. We must walk together in communion to bring to pass the fruits of that vision: a school that is serious in immersing its students in extraordinary educational opportunities and is fresh in how its sense of purpose is as healthy for our student’s minds and bodies as it is for the planet.

These following words were written on whiteboard in a room several years ago when the concept of The Grove School began to take shape. I think they are even more powerful today. Two simple words that are a clear call to action for all us committed to this vision: It’s time.

Keywords: Dr. Scott Andersen, Grove School

First look at our sign

Scott Cervenak | November 24, 2009 | Comment

sign progress 2 It is so inspiring to see the culmination of our team’s work come together. So much has gone into the development of our new brand in discussions, on paper, in numerous research exercises and so on. With both of our projects now under construction, it was really exciting to see our sign for the very first time.

We developed a prototype street sign to be used in Plano, TX and had it shipped to our offices for inspection. These photos taken from the production floor prior to shipping are the first any of us has seen of this important part of the school’s exterior.

sign progress 1 Our sign strategy echoes many of the cultural traits consistent with The Grove School. We used recycled metal products for starters. The main components of the sign give it a very unique, contemporary and forward looking feel. In addition, the sign is externally illuminated which should save us energy and maintenance.

We feel that our sign is very representative of how we do things and that you will find the inside of our schools and playgrounds equally unique, contemporary and forward thinking.

Scott oversees design and construction of our school buildings and playgrounds. His vision is to create sustainable spaces that encourage amazing learning experiences.