12.18.13

Head Start Preschool 

The best part of my day today was seeing Carla smile when I pushed her on the swings. 

-Amanda M. 

Amanda and Carla

Maddy out on the playground!

Drawing with Amanda!

12.12.13

Storyteller Preschool

My favorite moment from Storyteller today was when we arrived- all of the kids ran up to meet us! We spent some time playing hide-and-go-seek, and when I asked one of the kids if he wanted to play something else, he said yes, and we ended up having a great time together. Today I learned that it doesn't take much to make a kid smile. Before today, I never new I had the power to make so many little kids smile! The one time I felt uncomfortable was when a little girl who did not want to play anything just sat by herself. I felt uncomfortable because I wanted to make her happy, but I did not know how. I feel that I could have changed this by just reaching out to her. 

-Charlie M.

Charlie building structures with a friend at Storyteller

12.11.13

Wildlife Care Center

I really enjoyed visiting the Santa Barbara Wildlife Center. Even though we could not have a lot of physical interaction with the animals, we did the real hardcore service learning stuff: folding laundry, making bird food and washing dishes. I loved learning about the different birds and what their dietary needs are. I also liked being there and meeting Clyde the duck!

-Sofia M.F.

Sofia, Kyle, Charlie, Alex and Forest wrapping up a day of hard work!

Head Start Preschool

I went to Head Start yesterday and it was really great because I play with one girl named Ashley every time I go, but this time, she brought her friends to play too! We all read books together. The little girls loved the books about Barbie and also the books where you had to find objects in the drawings. I felt really happy that all of those little girls wanted to play with me! I felt that they really looked up to me and I thought that was really sweet. Before that visit to Head Start, I never thought I would read another Barbie book again, but I'm really happy I did because it brought back so many memories for me. One of the only problems I encountered while at the school was when I was playing with a group of kids, and one of them would want to go ride the trikes, and some of the others would want to play on the swings. I had to make compromises between them a lot. Next time, I plan to have one of my friends maybe take a few of them to do what they want, and I'll take the others to do what they want to do. I love going to Head Start Preschool. I wish we could go every day!

-Regan W.

Regan playing house!

All smiles here with Maddy and Jack 

Maddy and some of the sweet girls at Head Start

Amanda and friend on the farm!

CALM (Child Abuse Listening Mediation)

One family in need is going to be blown away this holiday season when this array of presents from Crane students and staff are dropped at their door! CALM is an organization that works to prevent child abuse and neglect. CALM provides prevention initiatives and rehabilitation services to its families. Crane 7th graders began supporting CALM last year during their Service Learning class. As part of an indirect service project, Crane students adopted a family from the CALM organization, and granted them their Christmas wish list. This year, students were again eager to participate in this holiday miracle. Even teachers wanted to pitch in! We are so grateful to be a part of a community that cares so deeply for others!

12.4.13

StoryTeller Preschool

Today I felt proud of a little boy at StoryTeller. Last time we visited the school, the boy did not talk at all. His name is Andy. This time though, I had a conversation with him transitioning from English to Spanish.

- Kisea H.

Kisea and Andy making fast friends

12.3.13

Head Start Preschool

Stella, Tessa, Olivia, Josh and I went to Head Start Preschool in Carpinteria today. Something I learned is that our group interacts with children very well. The director complimented us on how much the kids look forward to our visit. Also, the directors said they were proud of the great influence we are able to have on the children. Overall, it was a great learning experience for all of us.

- Clare B.

Claire B. is having a great time at Head Start!

The little ones love Josh!

Wildlife Care Center

Forest, Sofia, Alex, Kyle and I went to the Wildlife Care Center for the 3rd time. At the care center, we all did different jobs to help out. We either helped to fold and wash laundry, make food for the song birds, wash dishes or any number of other jobs that the director asks us to do. Something I learned is how hard it is to take care of these wild animals. Everyday, volunteers have to tend to their needs by washing cages, feeding them, administering medicine, and many other tasks. All of us are really interested in the animals they have there, including swans, seagulls, pelicans, other pelagic birds, and baby raccoons.

-Charlie Mac.

Santa Barbara County Food Bank

6th Grade Holiday Food and Funds Drive!

Help Us Help Others

This year, the sixth graders are running the “Food and Funds” drive for the Santa Barbara County Food Bank. The Food Bank has asked for healthier foods this year such as wild or brown rice, and canned fruits in 100% juice or water. They have also asked us to bring in money so that they can buy fresh food for people such as salad, bread, and chicken. The Food Bank has gotten enough sponsors so that if one dollar is brought in, the Food Bank gets seventeen dollars from sponsors. The sixth grade has been doing their best to help out by putting up several posters, designing cheerful boxes to put the food in, and coloring jars to hold the money that is brought in. The “Food and Funds” drive ends December 20, 2013. By helping the Food Bank, the number of hungry people is decreasing, one dollar and one can at a time.

- Ainsley M. (6^th)

Funds Incentive

Every $1 you donate = $17 at the Food Bank! You can bring your $ to the front office or your classroom! 

Food Items Needed by Grade

K: Rice, brown or wild

1st: Canned beans

2nd: Canned vegetables, low sodium

        Canned soups & stews, low sodium

3rd: Dry beans, lentils, peas

4th: Canned tuna & salmon

5th: Canned fruit in 100% juice/water

6th: Peanut & almond butters

7th: Olive & canola oils

8th: Coffee & tea

Bici Centro 12.4.13

Bici Centro

It was so satisfying to be able to replace the brakes on a bike today. We never thought we would be able to install a chain on our own! We felt like we were taking a risk when we changed the shifters and hubs. None of us thought we would actually be able to get it done, but we did!

- Sebastian, Carson, Katie, Mason, Sam and Sully 

Conway and Mr. Ingersoll check tire rotation on a child's bike

Ty is a natural when it comes to fixing bikes!

Conway and Oliver checking out some treads

The group getting instruction from Bici Centro volunteer coordinator

Conway doing some fine tuning

Oliver makes sure the spokes are intact

Ty working on cleaning up some gears

Oliver does some fine tuning 

Meals on Wheels!

In our 6th grade Service Learning class recently, we made pinecone turkeys for Meals On Wheels, a program that brings meals to people that can’t go out and get food. The pinecone turkeys will be delivered with their meals as a Thanksgiving gift. We wanted to cheer up their day by giving them this handcrafted item. We felt good after the experience because we know that it will make someone very happy.

- Kimberly R., and Ainsley M.

Zoe's cute creation 

Chris T. working hard 

Kimberly shows off her turkey

The finished products!

What is Service Learning at Crane?

Upper School students in Service Learning at Crane learn what it means to be a philanthropist. They examine successful service projects carried out by peers, and each section chooses and designs their own service projects. This year at Crane's annual Country Fair, Arin Pieramici, an 8th grader, decided that Crane should set up a Service Learning booth so that people could learn more about Crane's Service Learning program. Arin and some friends helped to design a SL Wheel of Fortune: "People would spin the wheel and whatever organization they landed on, we would tell them about it. We wanted lots of new families at Crane to learn about the Service Learning program and the organizations that we support. SL has been an important part of my experience in the Upper School and I wanted to spread the word to other kids so that they could get excited about it too."

Arin P., Isabel G., and Shelagh M. paint the wheel for the fair

Arin and Isabel creating the wheel!

What else is happening in service around campus?

Coin Drive for the Phillipines 11.18 - 11.22

A couple of weeks ago, Super Typhoon Huiyan hit the Phillipines. We decided to start a fundraiser to help the victims of this disaster.  We figured that holding a coin drive would be a useful way for doing a fundraiser because everyone always has spare change floating around in their pockets. Tomorrow is the last day for the fundraiser.

- Olivia G. and Zane M.

Coin drive!

Avianna G., Elizabeth P., Hala A. showing off their can for the drive

Service Learning Week 2

Crane kids have been busy all over Santa Barbara County giving back to our community!

STORYTELLER PRESCHOOL  9.17.13

Today at Storyteller, there was no way we could have wiped off the grins from those kids’ faces. They were so excited to have us play with them. Mostly they wanted to play games like "Hide and Go Seek" and "Duck Duck Goose." This was the first time that we have ever been to Storyteller and we cannot wait to go back.

-Tyler D. & Ian C.    

Amanda plays with some of the kids at the water bucket

HEAD START PRESCHOOL 9.18.13

During our second trip to Head Start, we made treasure maps with the preschoolers and then we searched for treasure with them. We drew the treasure maps with crayons. Most of the kids at the preschool knew what a treasure map was already. We used whatever we could find in the classroom as treasure, such as stickers, balls, and other objects. The kids had a blast. We took them all around the campus. It was fun knowing where we had hid the treasures and watching the kids' faces light up when they found something. 

- Josh T. 

Nobody is too old to play in the sandbox!

Ryan having girl time!

         

Rovi loves drawing with these tots!

Olivia reading with her new buddy

Tessa makes discoveries with some of the little ones

Playing in the sandbox with Tessa

Josh holding it down as the only boy in the group!

Maddie plays with stamp pads

Bella working with her little friend on some artistic creations

Rawwrrrrrrr! 

Olivia C. and her new friend 

Clare Bear and Co. play with sidewalk chalk!

Ringggg ringgg!!! Hi Tessa!!!

WILDLIFE CARE NETWORK 9.18.13

Checking out the bird rehab area

Sofia and Forest separating meal worms for bird food

Yum! Meal worms!!

Butterfly Beach Clean Up 11.12.13

Our 7th grade group headed over to Butterfly Beach to check for trash.

For such a small beach, there sure was a lot of TRASH!