Dragons are working on their Hudson Valley family story. We love this project as a way to explore lineage, storytelling, collage, and the history of our shared home in New York State.

Oge Mora’s stunning book SATURDAY was our collage inspiration. Thank you @oge_mora! ...

Today is Giving Tuesday. Your contribution to our general operations fund will support things like PE equipment, art supplies, and campus upkeep and upgrades. Every donation helps, no matter the size. It’s also tax deductible. Link in bio. THANK YOU.

#givingtuesday ...

Introducing the Fawns Joy Jar! "Snowflakes on pinecones.” "My cat, Sprout.” "Stegosaurus and cheetahs and lions – their sharp teeth make me happy."

Each spark of joy is written on a slip of paper and dropped into the jar, followed by reflections on the myriad ways to bring joy to our ourselves, our family and friends, and communties. This is the beginning of our exploration of Bodhicitta, or awakened heart/mind.

TODAY is Giving Tuesday. Consider supporting Middle Way School with a tax deductible donation to support our operations. We’ll add you to our joy jar:) Thank you! 💙💫☀️ ...

From our sister organization @middlewayedu: We are happy to announce the publication of a new book by Harry Einhorn, who is a composer, artist, meditation instructor, and Dharma Learning Specialist for MWE. Published by Bala Kids, this book is a simple story that describes the aspirations and activities of Lokeshvara, and how he came to have a thousand arms and eyes.

Harry presents Avalokiteshvara (Lokeshvara), the bodhisattva of love and compassion, with simple yet evocative language. Khoa Le’s illustrations are elegant and invoke the mood and beauty of compassion itself. We see the world through Lokeshvara’s gentle gaze. Lokeshvara serves beings in multiple forms, but the text does not address reincarnation explicitly. For this reason, the book is accessible to a variety of audiences who wish to introduce the idea of compassion. Importantly, Harry touches on the essential practice of taming or resting one’s mind in order to benefit others, as well as the value of interconnection.

The experience of trying to help others, but becoming discouraged when it’s not working out as one hoped is a common human experience. Through the story we see how Lokeshvara himself feels such sorrow upon seeing beings’ continued suffering that his heart bursts, and we see how his teacher, Amitabha then helps him to become even more capable in serving others than he was before.

“It is so important for children to know about Lokeshvara. I welcome this book as one that is not only timely but long overdue.”—Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse, author of What Makes You Not a Buddhist

From the publisher:

Lokeshvara shows us that with compassion,
we can always pick up the pieces of a broken heart, and be stronger, more loving, and more wise than before.

Available now from Shambhala Publications, (link in bio)

#buddhisteducation #dharmareading #buddhistbooks #dharmabooks #harryeinhorn @khoa.le.artwork ...

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday. On this global day of generosity, we ask you to support progressive Buddhist education for children by making a tax-deductible gift to the Middle Way School.

This year we have 90 students and have expanded into 6th grade. Needless to say our campus is bustling and alive! We’re so grateful for our fantastic teachers and staff and the incredible quality of education they provide each day. Our goal is to raise $20,000 by December 31 to help us meet our daily needs, remain flexible when inevitable change throws a new challenge our way, and maintain stability for our entire school community.

Every donation helps, no matter the size. To give, go to middlewayschool.org, or send a check to 268 W. Saugerties Road, Saugerties, NY 12477. Thank you! ...

Sharing knowledge about the wild edible foods of our forest at Middle Way delights our students. They enjoy the work of learning to identify the gift giving plants, the collection and work of processing and preparing the leaves/roots/nuts into a tasty treat. Learning to forage is certainly fun - but it also offers a means of sourcing healthy, local, natural, nutrient rich, free food! There is power in connecting to nature as a means of radical self sufficiency. We hope our students will always carry with them a deep knowing that their(our) own lives are so inextricably connected to the lives of plants. And that plants are just awesome!!

Here are our Middle Way Owls processing red oak acorns. We shelled them, and we are currently cold leaching the tannins out, before we dry and grind the acorns into delicious nutritious naturally gluten free flour.

Our acorn flour cooking class and recipe experimentation to come! ...

Last week the Owls class had a glorious retreat day. They stepped away from their daily schedule to spend time in the woods. Their time was spent building a fire, cooking lunch, sharing a meal, and exploring at Plattekill Creek. The larger purpose was community building, connection, collaboration, and communication. Fun was had by all! ...

This week in PE (in the most perfect weather) we SWOOSHED into our basketball unit including learning the lineage behind the sport. Questions we are curious about this week:

What are basketballs made of?
Where did the sport originate?
Why is the ball orange?
Why is it called a basket-ball?
Where is it most popular?
Why is it called dribbling?
How do you spider?
Who invented basketball?
Who’s the best known basketball player?

We love this opportunity to have fun, leap high, and dig deep into the history of a favorite game.

SHWOOSH! ...

More than 60 humans gathered last night to be lit up by Gaylon Ferguson’s inspiring Full Moon Dharma Talk on basic goodness and cultivating enlightened society. The children had a blast too! Many thanks to the parents of the Dharma Committee and especially to Matt, Erika and Sequoia for their gracious hosting at Lite Brite Neon. @fancyswanpants @litebriteneon @mattdilling ...

A moment of glee in the Ravens movement class “dancing with scarves” // a moment of quiet as a Raven puts the finishing touches on a piece of writing. ...

Garudas explore lineage and systems through multiple lenses. Nature, math, science, writing, community, and social and emotional learning take center stage throughout! ...

Happy Halloween! ...

In our Lineage unit, we investigate where things come from and where they go. This week the Fawns class explored the amazing marigold flower! They learned about where seeds come from, harvested them, and made seed envelopes to keep them safe until spring. The Fawns also explored the petal pigment, making a beautiful work of art by using a block to transfer the pigment to cloth. ...

The Snow Lions are beaming after a fascinating visit with Ryan and Lilly of @ZenaFarmstead as part of their yearlong investigation of farms in the Middle Way School community. Thank you Ryan and Lilly!

Afterward, they created still life drawings of heirloom corn in art class with Diana.

🌽 🌱 🎨 ...

Update from the Dragons: Our major news revolves around a discovery that has taken us on a mini detour! Dragons found a stick bug by our classroom door and have given it a new home for now as we study this creature. As one Dragon put it, "We are scientists, we need to see real things to study!" One student and his family built a magnificent habitat for our stick bug (who we recently found out was female because she just laid some eggs!) This stick bug has really brought the classroom together in a new way. The children are connecting on a new level over a passion they all have. We've watched videos, read stories and articles, observed and went searching for more as well as built our own out of sticks using the correct anatomical parts of a stick bug or walking stick. We have learned a lot so far and will continue to follow the Dragons' passion for this creature. We can use this stick bug for so many areas of study and it is a natural way to bring in the Dharma theme of Lineage. We talked about the life cycle of a stick bug and asked questions about the life before she became a member of our community. When some Dragons wanted to name her, one child said, "But we do not know her story, she might already have a name." This study has also allowed us to dip our feet into many Dharma themes as well including Refuge and Impermanence. ...

Garudas *delighted* in discovering the macroinvertebrates in the Plattekill during their weekly stream visit! ...

A frog in child’s pose on the MWS campus as discovered by children during recess // child’s pose in movement class, inspired by the frog:) ...

"The school is a treasure, the children can be themselves in a positive, mindful and joyful environment. I really like it so much - the values, the environment, and most of all the community of people." — Esther, MWS parent ...

Parents at Middle Way are invited to explore the dharma through whichever pathway suits their interest and learning style - intellectual, embodied, artistic, cultural, and/or contemplative. The program is called the Five Wisdom Pathways. This week a group gathered in our pavilion with master calligrapher Barbara Bash to experience contemplative big brush calligraphy. “Thank you for bringing this to the school and for this most wonderful eye opening opportunity.” “I was truly awestruck. Such a pure and direct meditation straight into the connectedness of heaven, earth and heart.” “Loved it so much. I was giddy watching the group and the concept of beginning middle end…” “I enjoyed the beauty and letting it go. Just being together and settling into space together is beautiful.” “The programming has felt so rich this year, appreciate all the care you've woven into these offerings. Much gratitude to Barbara, the school, and the community of parents who participated.” ...

Taking Your Seat is the first unit of a MWS school year. After slipping out of the palace by the light of a full moon, Prince Siddhartha spent several years doing intense yoga and meditation until he realized it was extreme. He began to ponder his path. Svasti, a perceptive ox herder boy who sensed something important was brewing, wished he could support Siddhartha’s contemplations. All he could do was offer a mat that he wove from kusha grass, similar to our local cat tails. That evening, Siddhartha took his seat on the mat under the Bodhi tree, went into a deep meditation, and reached a state of such deep awakening that to this day we call it enlightenment. That night Siddhartha became the Buddha. One could say that Svasti's kusha grass mat played a small part, maybe even a big part, in that awakening. And so we honor the cushions we sit on still.

At MWS, the students learned this story at the beginning of the year as a way to encourage appreciation of the small objects and gestures that enhance our learning community. Gillian worked with the Fawns on caring for their cushions, making name tags and learning how to keep them zipper side down.

Dorothy brought cat tail grass in and taught the Dragons learned to weave. She also went into a discussion of the caste system “We had a great conversation about bias with our 8 and 9 year olds stemming from the kusha grass story and the role of Svasti as an ‘untouchable’. We talked about characteristics and labels. Perhaps the true gift was from Siddhartha to Svasti, offering a different perspective, being critical of observed norms. The story breathes life into the idea that labels are not always correct but limiting or even oppressive. To me the grass was less of a seat and more of a thank you. Accepting it and using it made Svasti feel like he was worth something and dispelling some illusions that came with the label ‘untouchable'." #oldpathwhiteclouds #takeyourseat #buddhisteducation ...

As part of our exploration of place value in math, the Owls used their knowledge of base ten blocks to conceptualize and create 'ten thousands rods.' This activity was a hands-on way to foster deeper understanding of large numbers! ...

This week in P.E. Fawns conquered the first of many obstacle courses for the year.

Wild Horses employed teamwork to finish their task: get through hula hoops from start to finish, using their bodies and not letting go of their hands.

Ravens used one of our newest additions to P.E… our kindness ball! With the kindness ball, we bring harmonious speech and kind language. We go around with the ball, either complimenting or naming one thing about or friends we have noticed. This is now how we start every P.E! ...

As a way into our Lineage thematic unit, Fawns talked about what they do with their families. We all agreed — we *love* to eat together.

With Yinan we read “The Rice in the Pot Goes Round and Round” by Wendy Wan-Long Shang, and made delicious Chinese egg noodles with sesame oil and soy sauce (cucumbers and chives were optional!). Fawns had a chance to practice fine motor skills using chopsticks - or fingers- to slurp up the yummy goodness.

“Sharing food is sharing love” as the proverb goes. Thank you for sharing your tradition, Yinan! ...

A glorious day at the river with the Garudas class spent foraging, exploring, and learning about the vast interconnected waterways of the Hudson Valley 🌊 💙 ...

A new year brings new traditions. Today was our first Full Moon Fancy Dress Day, and some of our friends really came through to celebrate September’s Harvest Moon. This is just a small glimpse of the finery on show. ...

Nearly forty parents showed up for our first full moon dharma talk of the year to hear from Bethany Saltman about attachment, parenting, and dharma. There were sighs of relief from the audience as Bethany spoke about the challenges and delights of parenting. “I feel like some deep need was met today,” said one parent. One main take away is that we are all attached one way or another but we must know our selves and be in touch with our own minds in order to have healthy, secure attachment. Thank you @bethany_saltman ! And to the parent-led dharma committee who helped make this such a meaningful event. More to come! #attachmenttheory #dharma #parenting #strangesituationbook #buddhistparenting ...

Leaping into the school year like…

Welcome back!!! Week one ☑️ ...

Teachers play too! Dondre led the entire staff in a kickball game as we spent the afternoon walking through the students’ day, embodying their rhythms, and tweaking the schedule. We practiced lunch ritual, explored playground boundaries and discussed the balance between risk and safety. ...

Sneak peek! Our stunning new gazebo is underway (by @bradsbarns and @countrylanegazebos) and our two new playground structures are in place, ready to be filled with children NEXT WEEK! We can’t hardly wait.

Thank you MWS community for bringing these wishes into being! ...

And…we’re back! Twenty one teachers and staff had a wonderful day convening and reconnecting at the Ashokan Center for the first day of personal and professional development. We allot a generous two week session before our 93 students return. This extra time helps teachers get energized, settled and ready to begin. We have a sneaking suspicion it’s going to be our best year yet. #weloveteachers #independentschool #buddhisteducation ...

BIG *BIG* NEWS! Middle Way School won Best Independent School and Best Elementary School in the Hudson Valley's popular Chronogrammie awards. And that's not all! Grace, our Head of School, won Best Youth Advocate and @amybrownwhite claimed Runner-Up for Best Racial Justice Advocate/Activist. We're so honored to have our entire team acknowledged in this way and so proud of our excellent students who make it all worthwhile. Swipe right for our silly dance of joy! @chronogram #chronogrammies2022 ...

In response to recent tragic events Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche wrote the following tribute, which was read aloud at a peace circle on June 3rd by Grace Ann Louis, Head of School.

“The loss of any life is tragic. But the loss of young people, especially when it is deliberate and human-made, is a heart-breaking loss for generations to come. Any one of these youngsters could have led this world into a state of peace, harmony, and prosperity. Cutting off that potential is an unspeakable tragedy.

As a Buddhist, my prayers are for all the victims and also for the perpetrator of the crime and for all those connected to them.

It is simply not right that we go to Mars and create state of the art technology, yet constantly fail to build our confidence in simply being a being. Instead, we seem to make so much business out of people’s insecurity.

I hope that we will plant a seed that the next generation will do what we are failing to do.”

~ Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse

Pictures left to right: Addie Rosenberg (Dragons lead teacher), Dorothy Lagana (Outdoor Educator) and Grace Ann Louis. ...

Last day of school vibes. More photos of these fantastic final days to come soon. ...

Sneak peek of the Owls band rehearsal in music class with megan. Eye of the (year of the) Tiger! ...

Through the eyes of Michelle Bissanti: “In reverence for the MWS community - It was such a joy to spend a couple of days at the Middle Way School. In every moment I saw the skillful weaving together of wisdom, compassion practices and progressive education. The Fawns sang their feelings. The Ravens practiced movement through different words such as wait and change, experiencing how those actions felt in their body. The Dragons invited me to their sacred circle - to meditate, share, and express gratitude. The Owls created a comic guide to the Middle Way. These are only a few of the many ways I saw children engaged deeply in learning through academics, dharma, and the natural world. I very much look forward to my work with @middlewayedu and the Middle Way School community.” Thank you, Michelle! ...

Big news! We’re hiring two new teachers for the 2022-2023 school year: A full time interim Wild Horses (First Grade) lead teacher and a full time Ravens (Second Grade) lead teacher. As one of our advisors recently commented, "Middle Way has one of the most collaborative, supportive team of teachers I've ever seen."

Visit middlewayschool.org/careers for full job postings and to apply.

Spread the word! ...

Middle Way School will be adding a combined fifth/sixth grade class next year called the Garudas. We are delighted that our eldest friends, some of whom have been with us since the beginning, will be staying with us for another year. We are equally delighted at the dynamic pair of teachers who will be working with the group:

Zak Carey, who has been serving as co-teacher of the Owls for the latter half of this year, will move into the full-time teacher role for the Garudas. Zak has brought a creative and engaging approach to classroom learning, and his care for and ability to connect with each student is quickly evident. In his role as lead teacher, he will develop and lead lesson plans for language arts and will co-teach humanities and science with
Christie Barron, who will serve as the part-time co-teacher for the Garudas class, leading math and co-teaching humanities and science with Zak in the mornings.

Christie heroically stepped in for Talia Wilo in the Wild Horses when she left for parental leave in January. She is a deep thinker and creative collaborator who brilliantly interweaves her passions for art, poetry, and embodied movement into all subject areas. This new part-time role not only accommodates Christie's pursuit of training in Somatic Experiencing, but it draws on her extensive experience with students at this age level.

Welcome to your new roles Christie and Zak! ...

Today is Vesak, also known as Buddha Purnima, a special full moon day commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Shakyamuni Buddha. Buddhists around the world acknowledge the Buddha’s great contributions to philosophy and practice that have remained relevant and useful so many centuries after he walked the earth. It’s a day to spruce up altars, make offerings of flowers and candles, raise flags, wash statues and refrain from any negative actions. It’s a great day to practice vegetarianism and offer support to others, speak kind words and do a little bit of extra practice. Today we had a short day at school because of tornado warning so we hope the children can bring this practice to life at home. ...