Five Oaks Academy welcomed one of our newest members of the Five Oaks Academy faculty, Matt Lehman, back from a summer training experience in Ohio. Matt Lehman officially joined our school community this spring, and is working alongside Emily Gagne in mentoring our adolescent middle school students. Matt became acquainted with the middle school students before summer vacation through mentoring in lessons and work, attending and helping with graduation, and participating in the construction of the garden house.
Matt spent the summer engrossed in the Orientation to Adolescence Studies in Cleveland, Ohio through the North American Montessori Teacher Association (NAMTA) training. His studies included a two-week stay at the Hershey Montessori Farm School as well as four weeks of course study at Montessori High School at University Circle in affiliation with Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
While the whole experience was memorable, the learning opportunities at the farm school resonate with Matt the most. As a Farm School, the children are responsible for all tasks, duties, and chores that keep a working farm running. The farm is home to cows, pigs, and chickens; the students are responsible for all daily chores and maintenance including collecting eggs, feeding animals, and cleaning stalls. The Hershey Montessori Farm School at the Huntsburg Campus serves adolescents ages 12 to 15 years. The Huntsburg Campus has a working farm, residential house, program barns, bio-shelter, and classroom buildings. The program also includes a boarding option for families who wish for their children to reside on campus. Matt is eager to develop new experiences for the Middle School students from lessons and experiences he gained over the summer.
