Hopefully most families are aware to some extent of the preparations being made for our Sion Community Garden. Two of the Dive Deeper classes did some of the structural preparations, and all classes will participate next week in the first round of Spring planting.

What is less obvious, of course, is the months of work contributed by parent and teacher volunteers in the Garden Planning Committee.
I caught them in action (during Spring Break even!) plotting out the crops for each bed, and creating a sign-up chart for the teacher
work room. Come on by next week to see the dream being realized!

This morning we join with Christian communities throughout the world and across the centuries to open our hearts to the divine call to repentance. Listening again to the familiar biblical texts, we receive the mark of ashes on our foreheads as a sign of our willingness to enter into the Lenten journey with prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Our school community participates in these Lenten practices through our Holy Ground process, with special devotional tools designed for different age groups. We are still pondering how to direct our almsgiving for this school year, so students will give their input on this question when we return from Spring Break.

OK, I know we are all pretty much over winter -- and that today had some treacherous aspects for many people. Still, you have to grant that it is beautiful! I have a great view right out my office window, so thought I would share it here for all.


As parents and students arrived this morning, I really enjoyed the positive outlook many shared with us, and the compliments given to our maintenance crew who labored so early this morning to make sure we could drive in and walk around safely!

We hope some young children in several parts of the city are "feeling the love" today as it is shared with them by our Sion students. At the invitation of two Sion Senior girls who are working with the Kansas City Urban Youth Center, our first and second graders gathered recess gear, craft materials, board games, and various learning materials to support this after school care program for youth in three sites. These items were delivered to the KCUYC last Friday, along with personally created Valentine cards from the heart of Sion.

Just a quick intro -- check the website photo gallery for "On Site with Science Olympiad Team" at Saturday's competition!

This morning in our Holy Ground Chapel Services, each level experienced a re-enactment of the arrival of the Magi -- the wise men from afar -- who followed the star to the stable in Bethlehem where the child Jesus was born. This Feast of Epiphany is such a fitting way to start the new semester and new calendar year. Together we paused to invite the "wise person" inside each of us to follow the best star -- to guide us in making wise choices and decisions in this new year together.

While I realize it does create hardships in many parts of the country, I really do look forward to the first real snow covering as much as I do to the first buds of springtime. There is a quiet freshness, a sense of potential, created by a world completely blanketed with new fallen snow. It holds, of course, so many fond childhood memories -- but I think, even more importantly, a middle-aged reminder about the promise of newness hidden dormant and being nourished by this time of winter. Allow me to include a Biblical reflection on this theme for our holy season of Advent/Christmas. Peace on earth, goodwill to all.

This afternoon we hosted our Class of 2010 for a Homecoming here at school. There is a certain look on these 9th graders' faces as they walk in the front door: "Wow, it looks so small!" It is very affirming, actually, to see them again and hear about their successes in high school and their new insights into life in general. They always seem to enjoy being recognized, sharing memories, and receiving the praise of their former teachers. At the same time, they often also realize how thoroughly they have outgrown grade school. This is as it should be, but speaks of various transition we all must make along the journey.

Of course, I was not personally mentioned in the Sunday Kansas City Star Magazine's article titled: 35 Stories About Design -- highlighting local people, places and products that shape our lives in unexpected ways through innovative design. However, I take some vicarious "kudos" for all of Sion to see several representatives from within our Sion Community. Check out the article , and see how many names/stories you recognize with a Sion connection!

In any school, the annual Holiday Concert is a momentous undertaking, and often wrought with stresses for students, teachers and parents alike. However, it is also one of the most beloved of traditions and usually spawns some touching tales of the "true meaning." We had just such a story occur here at school yesterday. Our students are preparing a classic Christmas pageant this year, with grade level choirs singing an array of carols to help tell the story. There will be angels, shepherds and townsfolk suggesting the busy atmosphere of Bethlehem. A few students will enact the nativity scene in center stage. Because of the collective choral nature, there is only one brief solo singing part in the program. Our music teacher arranged for three of us to listen (with our backs to the singers) to five students who were hoping to sing this solo part. After careful auditions, the two semi-finalists seemed equally suited -- so with further consultation we invited the 7th grader to sing the solo and encouraged the 6th grader semi-finalist to look forward to additional opportunities ahead of her. In response to this suggestion, the 7th grader turned immediately to her junior colleague and said, "Let's sing it together!" And so, the spirit of generous giving decks our halls.

A great day to be a "mouse in the room" here at school is during Book Fair. I love to circulate through the Grande Salle and listen at some discreet distance to the exclamations from children and adults alike. The students love their scheduled visits to the Book Fair, during which they select and purchase some books -- but also create their additional "wish list" items from the many selections. They are great partners in showing each other, "I LOVE this book, you will too!" Often they make an impromptu "sales pitch" by giving a synopsis of their favs. Meanwhile, the adults have another dialogue being exchanged. Some are talking to themselves with a gleeful sentimentality about their own beloved books from childhood. Parents are also an invaluable resource to each other by consulting together about books to consider when your child is ready to launch into the next level. Hope you'll have some time to visit our Book Fair today -- I know I will return several times for my "mouse perspective."

As we return to school this week, there is a sense of change in the air. Not only is this about a changing weather pattern, of course, but the sounds, sights and even smells predict the arrival of the special celebrations of Hanukkah and Christmas.

Traditionally, this season of Advent is all about expectation -- not only the child's eager anticipation of treats and gifts,

but the heart's lifelong quest for the arrival of the divine. In every way we can imagine, we stand attentive, expecting to notice the mysterious and oft-times seemingly imperceptible presence of our God breaking into our lives in surprisingly ordinary and genuinely intimate ways.

Today and tomorrow we have the privilege of hosting about 300 guests for our "Grandparents and Special Friends" days here at school. The teachers and students prepare all sorts of special skits, multi-media presentations, and lessons to share with our guests. We are always so affirmed as our visitors marvel over the excellence of our school. Hope you will all have the chance to ask your children and your family visitors about what they experienced here today or at the Montessori Feast tomorrow.

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to again join in the Tables of Faith Luncheon, which is part of the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council's efforts to make of Kansas City one of the most welcoming communities for people of all faith backgrounds. This year the Council awarded the efforts of Notre Dame de Sion School towards building interfaith relationships and nurturing leaders for this work. Catch the reflection from Bill Tammeus, and let me know how you have experienced this kind of faith growth through your affiation with Sion School.

Have your children become Future Foodies yet? This is what our Chef Jackie calls her menu items prepared here on Thursdays and some Fridays. She chooses whole, fresh foods and prepares them here on site in our kitchen.


Jackie is excited about our Community Garden project, and plans to incorporate these foods into our "farm to table" lunches. I caught Chef Jackie and her assistant in action today!

Have you noticed the large dirt piles in our west campus area? I can see the activity directly out the window above my desk. I'm not sure everyone is aware that this is the beginning of our community garden project. We surveyed about this idea last Spring, and a core group of parents have continued to develop the project. Our Mother Earth, Sydney Evans, has really contributed a great deal of time, energy and inspiration -- and the Alliance is contributing significant financial support along with several additional generous donors. So, for now, the raised beds and structural elements are being placed. In the Spring we have some classes poised to "adopt" garden projects, and we will be looking for families willing to commit to assisting in many different ways. Stay tuned for some video updates on the garden!