kids' issue 2016

Montessori Center School Kids’ Issue Insert . May 12, 2016 1

Cover Art by Lauren, age 11

Featuring

Montessori Center School

I’m the class pet in Brown Door North at Montessori Center School. A student brought me to class eight years ago, and ever since, I

have felt so lucky to be a part of this Montessori classroom. They collectively named me ‘Echo’ all those years ago and I immediately

felt loved and included. Every day, I am immersed in a joyful, kind and supportive community of inquisitive learners. Kindness, that

essential element of the Montessori philosophy, is something I am privileged to experience every day in the classroom.

This year is very special because, in addition to the daily practicing of kindness, the whole school is performing 50 ‘Acts of Kindness’ to

celebrate our 50th anniversary. I have been so impressed by the many diverse acts of kindness that I have witnessed the students

performing and even more so now that they are writing about their positive experiences to share in The Santa Barbara Independent

2016 Kids’ Issue. The acts range from donating to a Montessori orphanage in Afghanistan to cleaning up trash on our beaches and in our

local parks, from folding origami hearts for pediatric patients

to writing letters for Amnesty International to support young

people unjustly imprisoned in other countries. I am so proud

to be a part of this community of young, passionate and

purposeful people.

— EchoMCS Brown Door North

Each year, The Santa Barbara Independent partners

with one local elementary school to plan, prepare, and

create our annual Kids’ Issue. These pages compose our

twenty-second annual Kids’ Issue, co-produced with

the students of Montessori Center School. Over the

past few months, Indy Staff members have worked in the classroom with MCS students, providing a hands-

on learning experience about the many facets of newspaper publishing. The 4th, 5th, and 6th graders of Brown Door North, led by their

ambitious and fearless teacher Cydney Miller, designed ads featuring local businesses and wrote short articles surrounding the theme

of 50 Acts of Kindness.

Thank you to the many Indy staffers who helped in the classroom and behind the scenes, and to the local businesses

that supported this issue. Most of all thank you to Cydney, Amber, the students of Brown Door North at MCS, and Echo

the gecko who shared their smiles, spirit, and superhuman skills. We make a pretty great team, and we hope that you

enjoy the fi nished product. — Emily CosentinoSanta Barbara Independent

Hi, I’m Echo,

the Leopard Gecko!

Phot

os a

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esign

by M

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4 Montessori Center School Kids’ Issue Insert . May 12, 2016

Kindness Comes in Many Forms

Who would even think that a mechanical device like a robot could be associated with kindness? Well, actually, in our world today, as technology has advanced, robots have arrived to help improve our everyday lives. For instance, people who are allergic to dogs, and have always wanted a special companion, can now have a robotic dog. Robots can also help people with medical disabilities and help reduce human labor hours with dangerous materials. Robotic devices can even help people with vision challenges to see the world more clearly and to live more freely. A robotic system called the Argus 11 can bring back some vision in people made

blind by a damaged retina. The person wears a pair of glasses with a small video camera attached to it, which captures images. Isn’t that amazing?

Companionship robots, industrial robots and medical robots all continue to improve many lives around the world. All humans possess love and kindness in their hearts. We are the ones, with all of our good intentions, who have invented and built these helping hands. As you can see, kindness from robots comes in many ways, small and large.

-Lauren, age 11

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blind by a damaged retina. The person wears a pair of glasses with a small video camera attached to it, which captures images. Isn’t that

Companionship robots, industrial robots and medical robots all continue to improve many lives around the world. All humans possess love and kindness in their hearts. We are the ones, with all of our good intentions, who have invented and built these helping hands. As you can see, kindness from robots comes in many ways, small

-Lauren, age 11

blind by a damaged retina. The person wears a pair of glasses with a small video camera attached to it, which captures images. Isn’t that

Companionship robots, industrial robots and medical robots all continue to improve many lives around the world. All humans possess love and kindness in their hearts. We are the ones, with all of our good intentions, who have invented and built these helping hands. As you can see, kindness from robots comes in many ways, small

-Lauren, age 11

“Echo is a very fun class pet. She is not diffi cult to care for, and she likes to crawl on us.” —Andreas, age 11


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Bake Sale for U.N.I.C.E.F

Two students of Brown Door North named Summer and Jolie decided to have a bake sale for U.N.I.C.E.F. which stands for United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. We sold cupcakes for 50 cents and lemonade for 25 cents, and we also had Red Vines to use as straws for the lemonade. We sold in front of the Shoreline Park sign. Most people were on a walk and didn’t have money on them, but usually they said something like, “That’s a good cause to donate to” or “I’ll go back to my house to get some money.” They usually kept their promises. Sometimes it took them a while to return, but they still did. After a while we got tired of being in the sun for three hours, but we kept going strong! In all, we raised about $57.63 to donate to U.N.I.C.E.F. Every year, our school trick-or-treats for U.N.I.C.E.F., and this year our class raised a total of $117, and our entire elementary raised a grand total of $1,510!

-Jolie, age 10

Helping the Homeless

My mom and I always feel bad whenever we see a homeless person on the sidewalk. One day we decided that we should help them. Instead of giving them money, we thought that we should buy some things online to put into Ziploc bags. We spent a while choosing what to buy. We ended up getting inexpensive toothbrushes, small tubes of toothpaste, gum packets, soap bars, washcloths, a few different types of snacks, socks, and so on. We put one or two

of each thing into the biggest size Ziploc bag we had in our house. We now have these bags in my mom’s car, and whenever we see a homeless person, we give them one. It always feels good to give these packets to the homeless people, and they always seem to be really thankful.

-Devon, age 11

Too Much Trash

Around the world we all have one mutual problem: TRASH. It is the deadliest thing on earth. It smells and it is a real problem. All around the world, trash is polluting our oceans. It is fi lling our landfi lls and in 10 years that could be a real problem. For example, you know that pair of shoes that you threw out last weekend? It will take close to 70 years to decompose. So what can we do as everyday humans to help this epidemic? Well, it’s simple: when you go walking down the street if you see a piece of trash, PICK IT UP! If everybody in this world did that, then we would have no pollution in this world and just think about how awesome that would be! You need to ask yourself, are you a type of person where if you see a piece of trash on the street, will you pick it up? If you are one of these people, you do your part in society so that your children and grandchildren won’t have to deal with pollution. Please, I urge you to become a person who picks up the trash and not leave someone else to do it. Here at my school, Montessori Center, we have trash bins, recycle bins and compost. We compost our non-eaten food,

and we pick up two pieces of trash before we are excused for lunch. We maintain our environment, and Montessori Center urges you to maintain yours.

-Henry, age 11

What is kindness?

Kindness – the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate.

I believe kindness is a choice that we can all make all the time if we choose to. Kindness is a special way of acting that is unselfi sh and morally

ethical. After you do an act of kindness, you feel it inside you, and you feel strong and proud of yourself. Kindness not only makes you feel good, but makes others around you feel great, too. Being kind means you also have to be willing to sacrifi ce your needs to lift people up. If everyone was lifted up by each other’s kindness, imagine the world and what it would be now. Remember, kindness might start small, but it will always

grow, so let’s all be kind to one another.

-Connor, age 10

we do as everyday humans to

the time if we choose to. Kindness is a special

grow, so let’s all be kind to one another. Kindness is a special

way of acting that is unselfi sh and morally

to one another.

-Connor, age 10

“I love Echo, our class gecko, because when you don’t have a work buddy, then there’s always her to work with.” —Lorraina, age 9

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Spreading Holiday Cheer One Fold at a Time

For the past few years, Montessori Center School’s Brown Door North and Aqua Door have participated in an origami act of kindness. Students have generously given their time to fold

origami ornaments to hang on the Goleta Library’s

holiday tree. We made many types of origami including cranes, Santas, butterfl ies, cubes, snowfl akes, and other geometric models.

It was a lot of fun folding the origami, and we

felt proud to have our work on the library’s tree. People at the library were impressed with the origami and how hard we had worked. Folding the origami for the tree inspired some of us to fold more and more.

When you looked at the tree, it was fi lled with colors and beautiful shapes. The Goleta Library was very grateful for Montessori Center School’s decorating of the tree, and we enjoyed doing it. This year our effort was part of our 50 Acts of Kindness for our school’s 50th anniversary, so we tried to work extra hard on the origami. I hope that folding origami ornaments to spread holiday cheer can become a lasting tradition for our school.

-Craig, age 12

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Spreading Holiday Cheer One Fold at a Time

For the past few years, Montessori Center School’s Brown Door North and Aqua Door have participated in an origami act of kindness. Students have generously given their time to fold

origami ornaments to hang on the Goleta Library’s

holiday tree. We made many types of origami including cranes, Santas, butterfl ies, cubes, snowfl akes, and other geometric models.

It was a lot of fun folding the origami, and we

“Echo is my friend. Whenever I’m working with her, she always crawls up my sleeve. I love Echo.” —Michael, age 12


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Kindness is Key

The MCS Brown Door student government donates money every year to charity. Doing acts of kindness like this helps people in two ways. It helps the people getting donated to because they are receiving something that they need. It also helps the people who are donating because they feel good for doing it.

Brown Door earns profi ts from their student-run store and selling pizza on Friday. Every student takes a turn working in the store during lunch and after school. The store sells healthy snacks like fruit bars, chips and Izzes. We also sell handmade juice pops. At the end of the year, we pick a charity and donate a portion of the money

earned (which can sometimes end up being several thousand dollars) to the chosen charity. In previous years, we have donated to nonprofi ts like Heal the Ocean and Make-A-Wish Foundation. Last year, we donated to the Ebola cause. Earlier this year, we donated $500 to The House of Flowers, which is a Montessori orphanage in Afghanistan. We have also trick-or-treated for U.N.I.C.E.F. and have added student government

money to that total as well. We will be voting on another charity soon.

You can never be too young to experience the positive power of giving and turning it into a lifelong habit.

-Michael, age 12

The MCS Brown Door student government donates money every year to charity. Doing

donated to because they are receiving something that they need. It also helps the people

from their student-run store and selling pizza on Friday.

working in the store during lunch and after school. The store sells healthy snacks like

We also sell handmade juice pops. At the end of the year,

earned (which can sometimes end up being several thousand dollars) to the chosen charity. In previous years, we have donated to nonprofi ts like Heal the Ocean and Make-A-Wish Foundation. Last year, we donated to the Ebola cause. Earlier this year, we donated $500 to The House of Flowers, which is a Montessori orphanage in Afghanistan. We have also trick-or-treated for U.N.I.C.E.F. and have added student government

money to that total as well. earned (which can sometimes end up being several thousand dollars) to the chosen charity. In previous years, we have donated to nonprofi ts like Heal the Ocean and Make-A-Wish Foundation. Last year, we donated to the Ebola cause. Earlier this year, we

money to that total as well. We will be voting on another charity soon.

You can never be too young to experience the positive power of giving and turning it into a lifelong habit.

-Michael, age 12

“Our class companion, Echo, always brightens our classroom. We all enjoy her company during our work period!” —Lauren, age 11

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Happiness is Humans and Hounds Helping Each Other

There are many organizations in Southern California that help dogs in many ways. For example, humans fi nd abandoned or unwanted dogs and give them shelter, and sometimes they even fi nd homes for them. People who do this are greatly respected.

From our perspective, we feel it is better to get a

rescue dog, as opposed to getting a pet shop dog, because you’re

helping a dog fi nd a home. Another way humans help dogs is to rescue them from the pound

when they’re going to get put to sleep. Dogs also help humans by doing things like rescuing people that have been trapped under a fallen building or buried in the snow. The dogs might be scared, but they do it because they want to help us.

People also use dogs to help with therapy. For instance, if a person is scared or nervous about a medical appointment or about riding in an airplane, a therapy dog can bring them comfort.

Another way dogs help humans is by guiding the blind. This allows blind people to have more freedom in their life.

What would we do without dogs and, really, what would dogs do without us?

-Maddie, age 11 & Finny, age 10

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“Echo, the spotted leopard gecko with the nickname of ‘gecho’, is amazing.” —Aidan, age 10

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50 … Acts … of …

Kindness … by … Echo …



Kindness For, and From, the Farm

Upper Elementary classes at Montessori Center School have been doing service projects to help Fairview Gardens as acts of kindness. At the farm, we have done tasks that include mulching, harvesting, planting, and working on a children’s garden. On our last visit, while the other kids were mulching the apiary garden, the two of us interviewed the executive director of the farm, Tim Hueler. He lives on the farm with his wife and two sons. Tim shared with us that he wanted his family, and especially his kids, to know where their food comes from and how it grows. He also shared with us that Fairview Gardens donates some of the food that they have grown to the Food Bank during

Thanksgiving. Tim Hueler said, “We grow food, we grow kids, and we grow teachers.” Tim also told us that Fairview Garden has programs for toddlers as well as home-schoolers to learn to garden, mulch, harvest, and care for chickens. They offer those programs for a low price so everyone can afford it. It sure makes us feel good to know that we are helping a place that does so much to help others.

-Summer, age 10 & Jolie, age 10

Food For Thought

I had no idea how generous a grocery store (one that I shop at) could be. Laura Koffman, a manager at the Goleta Trader Joe’s, told me that every day Trader Joe’s donates their unsellable

food (which is close to the expiration date or slightly bruised) to the local community kitchen. They also give gift baskets of food, upon request. Last year, they donated $630,000 worth of food to organizations and the community kitchen! Another great thing they do is donate fl owers to local hospitals. All three Trader Joe’s in Santa Barbara donate. It’s nice to know that an organization that I support with my business is so generous to the community that I live in.

-Will, age 12

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food (which is close to the expiration date or slightly bruised) to the local community kitchen. They also give gift baskets of food, upon request. Last year, they donated $630,000 worth of food to organizations and the community kitchen! Another great thing they do is donate fl owers to local hospitals. All three Trader Joe’s in Santa Barbara donate. It’s nice to know that an organization that I support with my business is so generous to the community that I live in.

-Will, age 12

expiration date or slightly bruised) to the local community kitchen. They also give gift baskets of food, upon request. Last year, they donated $630,000 worth of food to organizations and the community kitchen! Another great thing they do is donate fl owers to local hospitals. All three Trader Joe’s

“I love Echo because she is cute, funny and very comfortable with us kids.” —Jolie, age 10


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Sharing Good Fortune

The past few years, our 4th, 5th and 6th graders of Brown Door North at Montessori Center School have helped out many schools and people in third-world countries. In my 4th grade class, we helped pack supplies at Direct Relief, an organization that gives people supplies after natural disasters. The supplies we packed were going to the victims of the Nepal earthquake. We packed fi rst aid and toiletries. We have also helped a school in India. We sent them sunglasses, some school supplies and glass prisms to hang in their windows. This fall, Brown Door donated $500 to the Montessori House of Flowers Orphanage in Afghanistan. The House of Flowers is the only Montessori orphanage in Afghanistan.

I feel fortunate that I live in a good country and go to an amazing school. I also feel good that we help the other kids who are not as fortunate as us.

-Andreas, age 11

SERVING THE HOMELESS

Our experience serving a holiday meal to the homeless at The Santa Barbara Rescue Mission was a great way to make us see how lucky we are. When we made the people happy, it truly made us feel like we were making a difference. Many people came to eat, and we were surprised by how many different characters were in the room. One person was very nice to us. He started a conversation and made us laugh. There were others

that weren’t as sure about us. Another person came up to us and asked, “Does GOD know you are here?” We didn’t know what to say, so we just said, “Yes.” He asked us another question, “Are you the angels from heaven?” Unsure again, we said, “Yes.” Then he nodded and walked off.

After everyone was served, people started praying. Then, they ate. We saw the happy looks on people’s faces. After they were done, they came back for seconds. They were served chile, pasta, bread, potato salad and dessert (we were in charge of that!). That was enough to get us hungry!! When we were done with the job, our reward was a donut each (they were good!). When we walked out, we felt very happy for what we had done.

-Lyla, age 10 & Lorraina, age 9

GIRL SCOUT KINDNESS

In Girl Scouts, we do some things that help people and animals in the world. For example, with some of our cookie money last year we donated to DAWG (which stands for Dog Adoption and Welfare Group.) They help sick dogs and homeless dogs to get well and to find a forever home. This year, we are going to donate to a place called Return to Freedom which helps horses. Every

year, we do a monthly beach clean-up at Leadbetter Beach. Also, people can donate their Girl Scout cookies to people in the service so that soldiers can enjoy cookies, too! So, as you can see, all of the money we raise from selling cookies to you goes to benefit other animals, people and things. I love being in a group that helps the environment,and I hope you feel the same way.

Buy Girl Scout cookies!

-Lorraina, age 9

Hearts for the Pediatrics

On February 12, 2016, the students of Brown Door North at Montessori Center School performed a special act of

kindness. They donated over 300 origami hearts to the Pediatrics Unit at Cottage Children’s Hospital. The beautiful hand-folded hearts were for those who could not leave the hospital on Valentine’s Day. We were told that the patients had huge smiles on their faces as volunteers, accompanied by therapy dogs, delivered the lovingly-made hearts of many colors and sizes. It sure made us feel good that the time we had spent folding the hearts brought so much joy to other people. It made us realize that everyone likes to be thought of on special days no matter where they are or what their circumstances are.

-Zahra, age 9

We sent them sunglasses, some school supplies and glass prisms to hang in their windows. This fall, Brown Door donated $500 to the Montessori House of Flowers Orphanage in Afghanistan. The House of Flowers is the only Montessori orphanage in Afghanistan.

I feel fortunate that I live in a good country and go to an amazing school. I also feel good that we help the other kids who are not as fortunate

-Andreas, age 11

SERVING THE HOMELESS

Our experience serving a holiday meal to the homeless at The Santa Barbara Rescue Mission was a great way to make us see how lucky we are. When we made the people happy, it truly made us feel like we were making a difference. Many people came to eat, and we were surprised by how many different characters were in the room. One person was very nice to us. He started a conversation and made us laugh. There were others

potato salad and dessert (we were in charge of that!). That was enough to get us hungry!! When we were done with the job, our reward was a donut

On February 12, 2016, the students of Brown Door North at Montessori Center School performed a

everyone likes to be thought of on special days no matter where they are or what their circumstances are.

-Zahra, age 9 job, our reward was a donut each (they were good!). When we walked out, we felt very happy for what we had done.

-Lyla, age 10 && Lorraina, age 9 Lorraina, age 9& Lorraina, age 9&& Lorraina, age 9&

GIRL SCOUT KINDNESS

In Girl Scouts, we do some things that help people and animals in the world. For example, with some of our cookie money last year we donated to DAWG (which stands for Dog Adoption and Welfare Group.) They help sick dogs and homeless dogs to get well and to find a forever home. This year, we are going to donate to a place called Return to Freedom which helps horses. Every

special act of -Zahra, age 9

“One thing I like about Echo is that she likes pretty much everyone! Echo is very curious about her surroundings, and I like that.” —Connor, age 10

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Hillside House

Hillside House is an organization in Santa Barbara that helps disabled adults in their daily lives. When our class found out that they were going to do a shoe drive to raise needed funds, we decided that it would be a great thing to participate in. A group called Funds2orgs was going to pay Hillside House for all the shoes they collected, and then they were going to send the shoes to third-world countries like Haiti, Honduras and countries in Africa.

Montessori Center School helped with the shoe drive

and collected 268 pairs of shoes! That mountain of shoes resulted in $321.60 raised for the 59 residents of Hillside House. We felt great contributing to a fundraiser that collected almost 1,000 pairs of shoes for a good cause locally and elsewhere in the world.

-Auguie, age 9

50 Acts of KIndness

This year Montessori Center School is celebrating our 50th anniversary by doing 50 Acts of Kindness. We are at 39 and counting. “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” I got that from a

magnet on our classroom door. Throughout the school year, we have had a goal to help out our community and beyond. Our school has done things ranging from helping out at Fairview Gardens to donating toys to Toys-for-Tots. We have also donated to a Montessori orphanage in Afghanistan and collected shoes that raised funds for Hillside House and eventually got sent to third-world countries. With the minds of the creative children here at MCS, we have been able to help the community in different ways. With only 11 more acts to go, we would love to go beyond 50 and help out our community even more. Before our 50th anniversary, we still have always tried to help out our community. This goal has just made it that much more exciting!

-Zarin, age 11

Amnesty International - Every Voice Counts

Imagine living in a place where you don’t have the freedom to express your own feelings or opinions.

That is true for many people in the world. When

my class learned about three young people imprisoned in Myanmar and the Democratic

Republic of the Congo for promoting student

rights and democracy,

we decided to do something about it. We

wrote 36 letters to the heads of states and the prisoners themselves through Amnesty International. Imagine how excited we were to fi nd out, about a month later, that one of the prisoners we had supported was set free along with many other prisoners! We realized that many small actions could make a big difference. Now we know that if there is an opportunity to try to make a difference as individuals, we should take it. To learn more and become a difference-maker yourself, go to “Amnesty International” in any browser to fi nd out more!

-Aidan, age 10

Leave No Trace

Our class just got back from our annual backpacking trip in the San Rafael Wilderness. We believe in leaving no sign that we were there. In fact, we try to make it even nicer than when we arrived. We know we are lucky to live in such a beautiful place, and we try to keep it that way.

As we drove through the Los Padres National Forest to get to our remote campsites, we were thinking about the fact that it was the 100th anniversary of national parks in our country. Having national parks is like having two acts of kindness rolled into one! The people get the benefi t of enjoying the beautiful parks, and the parklands are protected for all time.

-Brendon, age 11

third-world countries like Haiti, Honduras and countries in Africa.

Montessori Center School helped with the shoe drive

anniversary by doing 50 Acts of Kindness. We are at 39 and counting. “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” I got that from a

at MCS, we have been able to help the community in different ways. With only 11 more acts to go, we would love to go beyond 50 and help out our community even more. Before our 50th anniversary, we still have always tried to help out our community. This goal has just made it that much more

-Zarin, age 11

Amnesty International - Every Voice




Republic of the Congo for promoting student

rights and democracy,

we decided to do something about it. We

difference-maker yourself, go to “Amnesty International” in any browser to fi nd out more!

-Aidan, age 10

Leave No Trace

Our class just got back from our annual backpacking trip in the San Rafael Wilderness. We believe in leaving no sign that we were there. In fact, we try to make it even nicer than when we arrived. We know we are lucky to live in such a beautiful place, and we try to keep it that way.

As we drove through the Los Padres National Forest to get to our remote campsites, we were thinking about the fact that it was the 100th anniversary of national parks in our country. Having national parks is like having two acts of kindness rolled into one! The people get the benefi t of enjoying the beautiful parks, and the parklands are protected for all time.

-Brendon, age 11

even more. Before our 50th anniversary, we still have always tried to help out our community. This goal has just made it that much more exciting!

Amnesty International - Every Voice Counts




democracy, we decided to do something about it. We

“I love Echo the Gecko so much because she is such an amazing animal. She helps me stay calm and focused.” —Zahra, age 9


14 State Street 962-0049www.mountainairsports.com

This ad created by Andreas, age 11

Solutions Store – 3303 State Street, Santa BarbaraCox.com • 805-845-1080


500 Ninos Drive, Santa Barbara(805) 962-5339 • www.sbzoo.org


Art by

Craig, age 12 Michael, age 12

WIll, age 12


Thanks for reading! Echo, out!

This ad created by Lorraina, age 9This ad created by Will, age 12

backyardbowls.com

Downtown – 331 Motor Way • Upper State – 3849 State Street

Goleta – 5668 Calle Real • Los Angeles – 8303 Beverly Blvd

kids' issue 2016

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