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Have you ever heard the word “Gullah”? Most of our kids had not until a couple of weeks ago. The Gullah are the descendants of enslaved Africans who lived in the Lowcountry regions of Georgia and South Carolina, which includes both the coastal plain and the Sea Islands. Recently, our Friday art class was centered around learning about the Gullah people including...

In January, we sent an electronic survey (see survey questions below) to all of our parents. The goal was to find out how the parents and the students were feeling about their experience at the Yadkin Valley Community School. The results were very positive. We were thrilled to find out that 100% of the respondents would recommend the school to others, and 100% of...

Recently, on our regular Wednesday trip to the Elkin Public Library, the students heard the story of Wilson Bentley as Ms. Wendy read the Caldecott Award winning book, Snowflake Bentley. The book inspired us to dig a little deeper and find out more about this man who captured more than 5,000 snowflakes in his lifetime. We checked out the companion video from the...

Autumn’s Spring

Cold weather makes the air sink. A full moon is coming from summit to peak.   Feet squash Earth and leaves get crushed, as we head under bridges mindful of the river’s rush.   We look for Giants and invertebrate mansions, smelly lemon leaves and examine animal traces.   We’re more of a Spring lush and expansive, but Fall in rhythm to these...

The students have been studying animals (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals). Recently, we spent the morning learning about birds in a unique way. First, the kids were paired up and given a “beak”. Each team had a different kind of beak (such a straw, tongs, tweezers and a small cup with lots of straining holes). There were food stations all...

Everyone has their antennae up, finding their space within this group. Hoping the nest is well padded, adorning their nooks and cubbies with stuff. Our conversation begins like most, a push and a pull, a spin and a burst. I’m tired and excited all in the same breath, thank goodness for a weekend ’cause I need the rest....