The children are loving the projects their creative teachers are exploring to engage with principles of impermanence and change in everyday life.

The Ravens and Snow Lions used jars and balloons to discover water in various forms.

The Dragons are working on mixed media triptychs of a form as it changes (like a tree as it grows, the moon as it waxes and wanes, the life cycle of a ladybug).

Snow and flowers also change, as we learn from Snow Lions in the end (sound on).

“Time may change me, but I can’t trace time” – David Bowie, “Changes” ...

Weekly assemblies at MWS have focused on the life story of the Buddha with oral storytelling. We created a game to reflect on what we’ve learned so far and discover what the children remember most. They were asked to take a close look at images and place them in order from Maya's dream until Buddha's awakening under the Bodhi tree. The back of the cards spell out “May all beings be happy and free” when in the correct order.

"I was blown away by how well the Owls remembered the story of the Buddha when they did the timeline activity. It has been really helpful to know that the kids are getting some more formal teachings connected to the dharma from people who are knowledgeable." — Hannah Sunshine, Owls teacher

#mayallbeingsbehappyandfree ...

Our admissions window for 2022-2023 is open!

“The Middle Way School started out as a wonderful school for our daughter and has become so much more ~ our entire family has benefited from the richness in the teachings. MWS now feels like a home for our whole family.” -- MWS parent

We’re looking forward to our fifth year in the Hudson Valley and our expansion in 6th grade.

Visit our admissions page for details: www.middlewayschool.org/admissions (link in bio).

Keep an eye on our events page for information about the upcoming open houses and reach out with questions! ...

Chilly weather but we’re all suited up for recess! ...

New books about change! As we enter a new year, our five-week unit on impermanence begins. Like with all of our dharma units, MWS teachers find creative ways to integrate this essential truth and foundational Buddhist teaching into their everyday classwork.

One of the most important tools for teachers are guiding questions:

How does change feel?
How does change look?
What is my role in change?
Does anything last forever?

Do you have any great questions to add to our list? Comment below!

“As I accept impermanence, I become resilient.” – Harry Einhorn

School is back in session tomorrow! We can’t wait for all the change coming our way 😉 ...

It was a beautiful full moon night and the MWS gathered together to celebrate winter solstice with a lantern walk through the Middle Way forest. Parents were guided along a path lit with luminaries, stopping to enjoy short performances each class prepared based on one of the dharma themes we’ve studied this year: bodhicitta, refuge, lineage, and taking your seat. There were songs and poems, movement, and The beautiful evening culminated with a final presentation by the Owl class, our eldest, in their role as the “Solstice Revel Makers,” reciting Shakespeare by firelight. We encircled Manjushri flied as a community and chanted LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU, may all beings be happy and free.

Look out for a video of the event coming soon.

We’re in the middle of our year end campaign! Link in bio. Thank you! ...

Middle Way students are hard at work on their lanterns for the Solstice Festival tomorrow.

Our year-end campaign is in full swing! Link in bio. ...

Today in assembly we learned the story of the Buddha’s awakening under the Bodhi tree and wore rainbows in celebration. We’re all capable of waking up like Prince Siddhartha did 2,500 years ago so we celebrate our own “Buddha nature” or basic goodness too. 🌈🌈🌈

We’re in the middle of our year-end campaign! Link in bio. Thank you for your support 🌈🌈🌈 ...

Spanish classes have launched! Our amazing new teacher, Anna Mayta @maytafusion (proper introduction coming soon), teaches “Spanish language through movement” and brings joy, physicality, and precision to every class. The children are leaping in and learning so quickly. Fantastico!

We’re in the middle of our year-end campaign. Thank you for your support! Link in bio.

#spanishlanguagethroughmovement #spanishlanguage ...

Today in math class the Ravens are looking at patterns and relationships between numbers using blocks that represent tens and ones.

Their teacher, Brian, said, "the goal is to build on their understanding of place value to break apart numbers and put them back together."

At Middle Way School our three areas of focus are Academics, Living Sciences, and Dharma. The three areas exist separately and overlap to create an integrated whole that unifies the school program.

Today is also our first snow -- a crisp and brilliant afternoon in Upstate, NY.

Please consider supporting our year-end campaign (link in bio). Thank you! ...

Next up in Changes at MWS: Yinan Lu. After generously volunteering at the Middle Way for the latter half of 2020-2021, Yinan returned in 2021-2022 as Co-Teacher with Gillian Eames for the 3, 4, and 5 year-olds of the Fawns class. Yinan brings so much warmth, expertise, and wry humor to Middle Way and we are delighted by her presence on campus. It’s also delightful that her son Alfred is in the Snow Lions this year.

"The wisdom of childhood never fails to amaze and humble me. I feel full of life when working with children, where I can witness and support their journey in discovering themselves and the world around them.

After earning degrees in Environmental Conservation and Early Childhood Education, I served as a lead teacher at Forest Explorers at the Queens Botanical Garden, as well as an assistant teacher at my son’s preschool in Thailand.

Being a part of the Middle Way School community is dreamy and empowering. I found a place where my passion in reimagining education and connecting children with nature can settle harmoniously with this compassionate community." ...

What made your day special? Here we teachers were delighted by the inspired tea ceremony some of our Owl class designed all on their own during yesterday’s rain storm. They offered to the teachers first then to each student with a bow. They suggested we have Tuesday Tea Parties and we might just take them up on that. ...

Changes at MWS continues. Next up: Kelly Peck. Kelly joined Middle Way in 2019 and has brought so much to the school, expanding her role year by year. She brings a calm and grounded energy to all she does and has joyfully embraced the task of creating connections between her deep understanding of children and the wisdom of the dharma. In 2021-2022, Kelly teaches embodiment to the entire school community, which includes traditional yoga practice for the students. In addition, Kelly is a support for the social, emotional and ethical learning teachers bring to their classrooms. She is trained in Responsive Classroom, with tools to create a positive learning environment, and the SEE curriculum, which was created by the Dalia Lama. Kelly will continue to support the Ravens class in the morning. In her own words:
“If someone were to ask me what my dream job was, this would be it. I am very happy working at Middle Way. It has been my dream to weave yoga and movement into a curriculum for students of all ages. This is possible with the support of Middle Way, the dedication and inspiration of all the teachers, and the amazing community. I am grateful and feel fortunate to be a part of this initiative to bring Buddhism into the classroom.
At Woodland Playhouse, I had the pleasure of working closely with physical and occupational therapists to incorporate movement into group play and everyday activities. For the past ten summers, I’ve led a one-week movement camp for three to eight-year-olds where children engage in creative writing activities, art projects, and collaborative group stories.
I received a BFA in Dance Education from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. I took my love for movement to NYC where I studied at the Limon Institute and performed with the Rae Ballard Dance Company. These experiences led me to teach movement classes at several YMCAs throughout New Jersey, and at various locations in the Hudson Valley.
I have lived in the Catskills since 2001 with my husband, Tim and our three beautiful children Emily, Hailey, and Calvin. During my free time I enjoy hiking, cooking with my family, gardening and vacationing by the ocean.” ...

Changes at Middle Way Part 5: We are so happy to welcome Angela Cross back to the Middle Way community. Angela served as support staff during the latter part of 2020-2021. After a solo summertime road trip, she returned to Middle Way as Administrative Assistant. In addition to supporting all things administrative, Angela is the primary contact for our new aftercare program. A special mix of artist and administrator, Angela has a unique perspective and talents that are a welcome addition to the Middle Way office. Here is Angela in her own words:
“I feel a great deal of privilege and gratitude to be a part of such a nurturing community. Since graduating from Colby College in 2015 with a degree in Environmental Sciences, I have taught science at Success Academy Charter Schools and The Tiny Scientist, both in Brooklyn. I grew up in the Woodstock area, very curious and passionate about my environment and now I am honored to be able to share my enthusiasm for learning and exploration with the students of the Middle Way School. Travel is one of the ways in which I challenge myself to step outside of my comfort zone and appreciate the beautiful world we live in. I love that traveling never fails to give me wondrous stories to pass on to others and I look forward to hearing the beautiful stories you would like to share with me as well!” ...

A beautiful day in and on the Hudson for the Ravens and Dragons, who are studying the Hudson River with Addie and Brian, Dorothy and Kelly. Our first field trip of the year! Thanks to the parent chaperones and especially everyone at the Espous Meadows Preserve who made this amazing day possible. More pictures to come! #esopusmeadowspreserve #lighthouse #hudsonriver ...

It’s 𝑆𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑖 𝐷𝑎𝑦, a day to celebrate knowledge, arts and learning. Saraswati is a benevolent figure whose name means ‘to flow’, which is the nature of knowledge and creativity—It cannot be contained and flows freely when given the right conditions. So it’s no surprise that she is also considered a river goddess. Saraswati and her relationship to rivers is richly explained in the 3500 year old Vedic scriptures. She is joyfully celebrated today across Asia as the dispeller of darkness and ignorance. Tibetan Buddhists know her as Yang Chenmo who bestows wisdom and learning. In Mongolia she is Keleyin ukin Tegri, in China she is called Tapien-ts’ai t’iennu or Miao-yin mu, and in Japan she is Dai-Ben-Zai-Ten, meaning ‘the great divinity of the reasoning faculty’. ꧁ At Middle Way, we view these classic figures as visual representations of energy that can be felt and experienced, like the bright joy of splashing paint or learning something new. ꧂ It’s a great time to embark on a learning journey and to notice those sparks. Looking forward to a beautiful day. #saraswati #creativity ...

Pure Snow Lion joy. Playing with color and feeling the brush strokes on paper. ...

Changes at MWS Part 4: Next we have Dorothy Varner. Dorothy has been with us since we first opened our doors, leading an extended specialty every Friday afternoon. In 2021-2022, Dorothy is going deep into nature with the students every day as part of our Outdoor Education program. In addition to exploring our five-acres of pristine forest, Dorothy teaches students how to build forts, tend fires, paint snow, tie knots, and even make their own maple syrup. The children come in from a day with Dorothy red cheeked and buoyed from convening with nature. This year, Dorothy also spends mornings with the Dragons. And she is mother to Ronan and Cavan. She’ll tell you some more:
“After graduating Clark University with an undergraduate degree in Environmental Geography, I worked to pair my love of travel, nature and adventure with employment opportunities with myriad exciting experiential education organizations. I spent time teaching about the endangered Orca pods off the coast of the San Juan Islands, led sustainability-focused trips to Costa Rica, and organized and led science/culture-based trips to the tundra in the Canadian arctic. Drawn to deepening my relationships with students and communities, I spent a few years at Sarah Lawrence College organizing service learning opportunities, and alternative spring break trips for students in Yonkers, NY. I completed a masters degree in humanistic and multicultural education from SUNY New Paltz in 2014. This program helped solidify my commitment to environmental education as an act of social justice. In addition to facilitating the MWS Outdoor Education program, I am currently the environmental educator for the Esopus Creek Conservancy, and facilitates afterschool and summer programming for both the Saugerties and Kingston Boys and Girls Club.
I am wildly grateful for the opportunity of continued adventures outdoors with the extraordinary children of the Middle Way School! We’ve created an outdoor classroom in the woods, shaded and protected by the hemlocks, pines and maples together.” Welcome back Dorothy! ...

Absolutely loving “Bodhi Sees the World: Thailand” by Marisa Aragón Ware. Bodhi visits Bangkok and is at first uneasy but soon learns to appreciate the sensations of being far away from home. The sounds and smells pique her interest and the rituals and customs capture her heart. The story ends with a note from the author sharing a list of facts and information about the important landmarks and places Bodhi visits, including the Emerald Buddha, the Grand Palace, the Chao Phraya River, and the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, and how to say basic greetings and phrases in Thai. #balakids @balakidsbooks #thailand #booksforkids ...

It was Bodhicitta Day on Wednesday and we celebrated being AWAKE! The wild horses and the ravens serenaded the rest of the school with the @risingappalachia song Harmonize. Megan supported their self-choreographed theater in the round performance with Kelly on drum. The day was full of explorations of wakefulness through all the senses. #goodvibes #risingappalachia ...

Changes at MWS Part 3: Dondre’s up next. Dondre Francis joined Middle Way in 2019 as a classroom assistant and has helped develop the school as we have grown. He is now leading our new Physical Education program, where he will focus on the importance of PE to develop the strength within our bodies, different aspects of team building and bonding, and respect within our community. Dondre will continue to support the 5 and 6 year-olds in the Snow Lions class every morning. Dondre is beloved by students, staff, and families alike for his talents as an educator and his super positive energy. We feel very lucky to have him on staff and can’t wait to see what he will do with our new PE specialty. We asked Dondre to re-introduce himself:

“I have been working with children since I was one myself at summer/basketball camps, helping with community events, and working at the Saugerties Boys and Girls Club. After graduating from Saugerties High School, I received my associate’s degree at SUNY Ulster Community College. I am now pursuing a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on children and adolescents.
When I am not playing basketball or engaged in other local activities, I am trying to spread love and positive energy. I am committed to educating students, colleagues, families and the community by establishing strong connections with all. These connections are what bring me happiness. In my leisure time, I enjoy meditating, traveling, eating delicious foods, and spending quality time with my wonderful family.
I am thrilled to be continuing this cheerful journey at Middle Way with Rachel and the Snow Lions, and am excited to develop a Physical Education program for the students. Middle Way School is my home base and I love it!” Welcome back Dondre! ...

Changes at MWS Part 2: Next on our list of new additions to MWS is Tracy Novicki.
Tracy serves as the leader of our aftercare program, which launched in 2021-2022. In addition to the depth of her classroom experience, we were especially drawn to Tracy’s belief in embracing a child’s natural curiosities and supporting their unique way of experiencing and learning. We asked Tracy to introduce herself. “The Catskills have long been a special place for me. Having recently moved to the area with my family from Brooklyn, I am delighted to be working in a school that is surrounded by such beauty, and takes such a thoughtful approach to working with children and preparing them for their place in the world.
I have a BA in Theater from Northeastern University and a MS.Ed in Early Childhood and Childhood Education from Bank Street College. I have 12 years of teaching experience and have worked with children between the ages of two and eleven in a variety of progressive schools in New York City. While the majority of my teaching has been in early childhood, I enjoy working with children of all ages and am fascinated by the lens through which children see the world and interact with it and others. In my spare time I enjoy cooking, gardening and exploring the woods with my husband Nick, our son Hugo and our dog Olive.” Welcome Tracy! ...

Changes at MWS Part 1: The growth and support of our team is of vital importance at MWS. Over the next week, we will introduce new teachers as well as the new roles we’ve co-created with returning staff, starting with Diana Jensen. Diana joined Middle Way in 2021-2022 to develop a new art program for the school. Diana’s experience, skills, and interests intersect beautifully with Middle Way’s mission, and we are thrilled to have her on faculty and as a parent to a Snow Lion. In the mornings, Diana will also be supporting the 6 and 7 year-olds in the Wild Horses class. We asked Diana to introduce herself. “What inspires me in my work as an artist and art educator is the joy of aligning hands, body and mind to sense, feel, discover, understand and express. I have taught art to children in schools for over 18 years, guided and inspired daily by the unique voices and expressions of my students. For the past 13 years, I have taught art to preschool and elementary school children at the Bank Street School for Children, where I have been immersed in a progressive school community committed to listening to, learning from, and supporting each child.
While my formal training as an art educator began at Teachers College, Columbia University, where I received a Masters in Art Education and learned an approach to teaching art grounded in an understanding of artistic development and child-led inquiry, I have been making art my whole life. I majored in art at Smith College, focusing on painting and other two dimensional media. It was at Smith that I first studied Buddhism and had a taste of meditation. For years I attended annual Theravadin retreats as a way to connect with these powerful teachings. In 2014 I joined a Soto Zen community in Brooklyn, where I met my life partner. Our daughter Oona was born in 2016.
Working at Middle Way feels like a special opportunity to bring together my passions for teaching and Buddhism. I’m thrilled to explore the intersection of art and dharma in and around nature. My daughter Oona will start Middle Way this year, and I’m honored to be a part of this special community, both as a teacher and parent.” Welcome Diana! ...

So grateful that the rain held off until after school today. The first thunderclap hit the moment the last student was picked up. Yay for Dondre’s soccer camp! Yay for Diana’s art on the platform. ⛈⛈⛈ it’s coming down hard now! We are 100% outside these days until Ulster County’s numbers go down. ...

Today we welcomed nearly 80 students ages 3-10 to Middle Way for their first day of school. We dove right into reading, math, making art with Diana, playing sports with Dondre, music with Megan, outdoor ed with Dorothy, meeting (and interviewing) new friends, and much more. It was a beautiful, sane, sunny day. #joy ...

Why do we offer flowers? Flowers offer their beauty and scent without hesitation, spontaneously, no fees or strings attached. May our own generosity bloom as spontaneously as a flower. The act of offering is a reminder. During our orientation tea parties, families walk our Offering Path and experience the eight offerings along the way. It’s been a beautiful week. Nearly 80 students in 6 classes this year! ...

The Fawns are back! With teachers Gillian and Yinan. This week we are hosting orientation tea party picnics. Life is sweet. ...

New additions to our library. Can’t wait to dig in! #balakids ...

And then …Harry stopped by. Something so special happened. In the simplest of terms he helped the teachers find true and meaningful connections to the story of the Buddha, the four noble truths, simple practice techniques and finally the five wisdoms. Look at the next five images, slowly and watch your mind. What energy do you associate with these colors? We went deep and we had fun. Thank you Harry Einhorn. We love you so much. ...

Another day of tuning into ourselves and the space around us with the help of the marvelous Barbara Bash, who led a moving session on contemplative big brush calligraphy. In the silence and simple ritual of making marks on paper, our teachers gained insights and deepened our sense of community. Thank you Barbara! And also to Catherine @top_salt for making this such a wonderful experience. This is what teacher training can look like! We spent the rest of the afternoon sprucing up the classrooms and connecting on curriculum. Students will be stepping into something very special this fall. #barbarabash #calligraphy #bigbrush ...

More options!!! And note the tag line. 🙂 ...

What do you think of our new tote bag design options? Thanks Anna for the design and Tenzin Thardoe for donating the original drawing. There are a few others to choose from. @art_by_thardoe ...

Supporting our students means supporting our teachers. In June, we invited Responsive Classroom to lead MWS teachers in a workshop that focused on classroom management and developmentally responsive teaching. Many of these techniques were familiar but the coherent way they were presented helped frame them in a new way. Big thanks to workshop leader Deanna Ross for making the day a memorable one. @responsiveclass ...

We are very happy to announce that Vanessa Zuisei Goddard has joined the Middle Way School Board of Trustees. Zuisei brings decades of experience as a dharma practitioner and community member, as well as a depth of understanding of children through her work as co-founder of the Zen Kids program at Zen Mountain Monastery. She has been involved in MWS since before we opened, leading ikebana and storytelling at an early open house and participating in our Dialogues gathering. Welcome Zuisei!
Zuisei trained full-time at Zen Mountain Monastery from 1995 to 2014, fourteen of those years as a monastic. In 2018 she received dharma transmission (authorization to teach) from Geoffrey Shugen Arnold Roshi, abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery and Head of the Mountains and Rivers Order.

For the last ten years, Zuisei has been leading retreats and workshops on a wide range of teachings on Buddhism and meditation for children, teenagers, and adults, all with special emphasis on the power of stillness and silence to transform people's lives. While at the Monastery, Zuisei co-founded Zen Kids, a monthly program designed to introduce children ages 3-10 to the teachings of Buddhism. She also led a number of weekend family retreats at the monastery, some of which involved camping, and helped start a teen program. Zuisei’s work with children and teens is based on her firm conviction of the importance of exposing young people to teachings that can show us all how to live saner, kinder, clearer lives.

Zuisei lives in New York city, where she works as a writer and lay Zen teacher. ...

MWS parent Fukiko Ostensen wrote a comprehensive article about Middle Way and our pedagogy for a Japanese publication now available on Amazon: “I’m delighted that I had an opportunity to introduce MWS to a Japanese audience in this Buddhist publication, ‘Tibetan Buddhist World’ published by Hozokan in Kyoto. Our school’s effort to establish a new educational model incorporating Buddhist philosophy and a holistic approach is so unique. In the article I tried to give an overview of the school as well as how kids are thriving in the experiential learning environment infused with Buddhist wisdom and compassion. 日本語で書かれた記事なので、日本語がわかる方はぜひ読んでみて下さいね。“

https://amzn.to/3vGVt9z
You can search Amazon for Tibetan Buddhist World Tankobon Hardcover – June 10, 2021 @siddharthasintentjapan ...

Yes. Bagpipes. And a parade. And that was it! ...