Installing Our Kestrel Home

Here's the kestrel that visited us on Thursday!

Jeremy showed us how to install a kestrel house high up in a tree on our wetlands.

If we're lucky, we'll have a kestrel of our own living here by next Spring. See the Early Elementary Blog for more photos of our kestrel visit.

A Kestrel is Coming!

On Thursday, September 11, 2008 we received a visit from the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center. A wildlife expert presented to us about American Kestrels, and then we installed a kestrel home in our forest, so that our school can host this amazing bird of prey. [View Photos]

According to Squam Lakes:

The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center developed the Kestrel Project that will use specially-designed nesting boxes installed at schools throughout the state to try and create suitable nesting sites for American Kestrels. This is a Conservation and Educational project that will allow students to take part by doing observations of these boxes. American kestrels have been in decline recently so we are taking action by creating artificial nesting boxes made from metal mailboxes to increase durability. These nesting sites serve as much-needed places for kestrels as well as getting the children outdoors to enjoy and be connected to nature.

For more information, visit the Squam Lakes Kestrel Project page.

HIS Receives "Picturing America" Award

Hopkinton Independent School has received a Picturing America award from the National Endowment for the Humanities. As part of the award, we will receive 40 high-quality reproductions of great works of American art.

According to Picturing America:

Picturing America, an exciting new initiative from the National Endowment for the Humanities, brings masterpieces of American art into classrooms and libraries nationwide. Through this innovative program, students and citizens will gain a deeper appreciation of our country’s history and character through the study and understanding of its art.

The nation’s artistic heritage—our paintings, sculpture, architecture, fine crafts, and photography—offers unique insights into the character, ideals, and aspirations of our country. Picturing America, a far-reaching new program from the National Endowment for the Humanities in cooperation with the American Library Association, brings this vital heritage to all Americans.

To view the images in the program, visit: http://picturingamerica.neh.gov/