Dear Ponderosa Students,

We sincerely hope that you, your friends, and loved ones are all well. Watching the trees and flowers come to life around the greenhouse, and being outdoors on the warm days leading up to graduation, are always joyful and exciting times. We’ll miss sharing Springtime with you. Truly. We created a video message, just for you! Check it out here.

This letter from Terra BIRDS goes out to everyone, and is specifically the coursework for our 1st period Greenhouse Class. All of us at Ponderosa understand that the pandemic is affecting everyone differently, and our ability to adapt quickly to a different version of school, not being at school, is different as well. Work in a daily journal is offered as a way to pursue your high school education during the weeks ahead. To get started, we want to share a few lines from a book titled Providence (definition: protective care of Nature as a spiritual power; or timely preparation for what will no doubt happen in the future) by Daniel Quinn.

The writer is commenting about times in human history, in any culture, before there was this thing called ‘school.’ He writes that the culture goes on “keeping the (young adults) around, paying attention to them, talking to them, giving them access to everything, letting them try out things for themselves, and that’s it.” “They don’t give them lessons…” Yet, “Every kid grows up knowing everything– without a single minute spent in anything remotely like a school. No tests, no grades, no report cards. Every kid learns everything there is to learn in that culture because sooner or later every kid feels within himself or herself the need to learn it…”

The writer goes on to describe a life where young people would explore and learn on their own, and naturally seek out adults who could help them on their quest for knowledge to pursue what they want and need to do. Now we’re not sharing this because we don’t believe in the value of school; but rather because we believe this is worth thinking about, especially now. So we’re simply asking you, “What do you want and need to know?” The question isn’t what you think the culture thinks you need to know, but again, “What do you want and need to know?”

While the school building is closed, there is no daily structure of classes to attend, and you’re being an independent Ponderosa High student. This journal is presented for you to explore your own education. Please consider using it to record your daily thoughts, artwork, and other notes. You can tear out words or images and tape in collages. We encourage you to read, communicate with people, observe, think, and ‘dig in’ during the next six weeks, and on into the future!

Yes, do the coursework for your individual classes. This journal is for you. For those who chose to put work into this, and share it with Ponderosa, it will also be an additional way to earn credit and improve your grades. At the back of the journal is a postage-paid, addressed envelope. Around the middle of May, and not later than Monday the 18th, please drop it in the mail. Ponderosa will return it to you after your teachers review it!

Here on Terra BIRDS Lessons Blog, we’ll share information and ideas to help you on your learning journey. You can chat with us; this is a way to participate in the Greenhouse Class. You are also free to call or email us. Please also check the Ponderosa High Facebook page for updates and links. For people without access to computers or wi-fi right now, you can keep up with school via work in this journal.

A closing note… Bob and I have both commented that Ponderosa students have taught us more than we’ll ever teach you. We value our relationship with all of you, we believe in you, and we look forward to continuing on life’s journey beside you.

Sincerely, JT & Bob