Rounding out the Year with the Eagles

by Abra Kessler

---

As the oldest class of Red Fox students, Eagles take this important status seriously. You can see an Eagle comforting a younger student or playing with someone who may not have a play partner during our outside time at that moment. If there is a disagreement between younger students, an Eagle will step in to help mitigate the situation, explaining why talking things out is the best way to solve a problem.  

There are several events that make the second half of the year at Red Fox fun. There is always an upcoming event to prepare for and enjoy! For Read Across America we had a weeklong celebration of reading books that were: silly, global-minded, promoted activism, embraced kindness, and ended the week with the whole school community sharing their favorite book. We even dressed as one of our favorite characters for the event and then had a “read in” with our families. 

Our graduating Eagles take on prestigious roles during these events, like being the MCs for our Open Mic celebration. Open Mic is a great event where a student or group of students get up to perform for the school community. Acts this year ranged from musical performances to magic shows. Our 100 Day celebration is another fun event. Each student thinks of making or researching 100 of something and shows how they know it is 100 by coming up with an equation that proves their project has equaled 100. Some of the Eagles’ projects were: 100 table footballs, 10 kinds of pickles with 10 facts each, along with homemade pickles to sample, and 100 origami objects such as little boba tea drinks and anime inspired animals. The range of projects allows each student to create something they are interested in, some involving research and others involving hands-on creations. 

Spirit Week is a favorite time for students to have fun expressing their individuality within a theme. Our Dress Fancy day was a highlight, and this was paired with a trip to Bromley Manor to sing songs and read poems to the residents.

Another big focus during the spring is our school play. This year’s school theme has been animals, so our play was formulated to be fun but also informative of what we’ve been learning throughout the year. There were three acts, each involving Vermont animals that were extirpated but then reintroduced back into the state. Red Fox students, with the guidance of the teachers, create the play from start to finish and it is performed in front of the Red Fox community in May.

We go on many field trips that teach us firsthand about the subjects we are learning. On one of our trips to Smokey House Center, we went to the beaver pond and saw beaver tracks in the mud. We learned that beavers smack their tails on the water as a way of warning of impending danger. On a trip to Hildene, we learned that black capped chickadees’ brains expand in the winter to help them remember where they hide their seeds so they can have food. As part of our project based learning, students researched a Vermont animal of their choice and accompanied it with a diorama or a mobile. Facts that we learned from our trips as well as from our own research were included in our play. We also studied origin stories then created our own. Each of our acts in the play also included an origin story for that animal.

In the second half of the year, we continued to read engaging, thought-provoking read aloud books. We read The Search for Delicious, The Chocolate Touch, We Can’t All Be Rattlesnakes, and The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow. Each of these books gave us interesting perspectives to engage us in rich discussions.

 In Math, we worked on many skills and concepts in the second half of the year. We started by refreshing multiplication concepts and continue to work on stretching and strengthening these skills. Some students worked on building the different combinations a number can be divided by. Some other Eagles worked on reviewing how to add fractions and figured out equivalent fractions. We also reviewed recognizing different symbols used for multiplying and dividing and honed place value skills while adding and subtracting multi-digit addition and subtraction problems. To end the year we worked on plotting coordinate graphs.

At the end of the school year, we continue to take full advantage of the beauty, natural playground, and outdoor classroom of Vermont. We go on some breathtaking hikes, such as to nearby White Rocks. Our hikes are exhilarating and bonding experiences, as well as wonderful learning opportunities. The students honed their orienteering skills with compasses that they were taught how to use earlier in the year, we learned the history of the ice beds present at this site and why it is noticeably colder at the base of the hike, and students impressed us as they correctly identified Jack in the Pulpits and trilliums that they are knowledgeable about from previous trips as well as seeing them in our own woods at school.

The end of the year is bittersweet, especially for our graduating Eagles. Our 5th graders graduate with a beautiful ceremony where they read speeches they have written and it is an emotional sending off. We will miss them, but know they are well prepared for their next learning and exploring adventures.

Why Blue Footed Booby Has Blue Feet 

by Harrison

Once on an island there was a gray footed booby. The booby went on the edge of a cliff looking at the ocean for fish. Then he saw a turtle come running past him. The turtle was choking on plastic and saying, “klklkklkllkl” so the booby asked him, “Are you ok?"  The turtle said, “No,” and kicked him off the cliff.

The gray footed booby fell into a blueberry bush. He was so happy because he found food. He started eating blueberries, but the blueberries were sour so he spit them out. He was walking back-and-forth trying to think what else he could find to eat. He saw a raspberry bush pretty nearby, so he went to the raspberry bush so he went to it and started pecking, but he realized that the raspberries were sour too!

The gray footed booby looked at his feet and realized there was berry juice on his feet. He went to the beach to go wash them off in the ocean. He washed them off, but his feet were still blue. He went back on the cliff to look for more fish because he never actually got to eat anything. He found a big plump fish, he caught the fish, and he devoured the fish. After he ate that fish, he looked at his feet and they were still blue. That is how a blue footed booby got its blue feet.

Why the Golden Eagle is Gold

By Marcel

A long time ago all eagles were brown. While two brown eagles were flying in the sky, the smaller eagle says, “I want more food, I am hungry!” The bigger eagle thinks to himself, “I just want this eagle to leave me alone,” so the bigger eagle says, “Fly closer to the sun, there is more food.” The smaller eagle says, “Are you sure?” The bigger eagle says, “Yes, absolutely.” The smaller eagle flies closer to the sun. He does not see any food, but he feels the heat of the sun. It feels like jumping in a pool of fire. The eagle’s head touches the sun, and his head turns gold instantly. The smaller eagle flew down and the larger eagle was nowhere to be seen. This is how the golden eagle’s head turned gold.

How the Tiger Got His Stripes

By Rudy

Once, in the time before time, Tiger was approaching a young springbok, ready to attack. Just then, he heard noises coming from the pond behind him. When he turned around, he saw Cassius, the jungle's largest crocodile coming right at him! He tried to dodge, but Cassius was too fast, and whammed Tiger into an ancient Aztec pillar with his tail. Cassius was about to attack, but he realized that they were in an ancient temple, and the pillar he destroyed was the main support pillar!!! “This is all your fault!!!” screamed Tiger as he got up from the temple floor. “It's your fault for being so light!!!” Cassius shouted at Tiger, and Cassius lunged at Tiger. Tiger luckily dodged, only his all-orange fur stroking the monster reptile. “Why did you hit me with your tail in the first place!?!?!?!” Tiger shrieked at Cassius, hoping to get an answer for this mess. “I WAS HUNGRY, OKAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” “I WANTED THAT SPRINGBOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Cassius screeched, and then attacked Tiger again! This attack hit Tiger, though, and sent him crashing into the same pillar from before!!! But the pillar could not take any more damage, and the whole temple collapsed!!! Tiger was sprinting past debris and fallen rubble, but then he heard a noise that almost made his heart stop. The dynamite tree’s seed pods, a tree that spreads its seeds by exploding the pods, were exploding  and they HURT. Tiger saw the exit!!! He was just about to escape when he felt something trickling down his back. When he was out of the temple, he went to the watering hole to look at his reflection. When he saw himself, he gasped. Some of the seeds from the dynamite tree were crushed into a juice in the temple destruction, and the juice ran down his back, creating stripes. When he went to wash the stripes off, they stayed on. And that is how the tiger got his stripes.

Why Moles Have Funny Noses

By William 

On a nice calm day Mole was sleeping in his  bed by the tree in the woods. Every animal was jealous of his cool nose because it was so clean. He knew that his nose was awesome. One day Mole was so hungry he looked and he saw Anteater. Mole said, “What are you doing?" Anteater said, “I am eating worms.” Mole was drooling. Mole ran to the wormhole but his nose got stuck. He couldn’t get his nose out. He was so sad! He said, “It is so sad because my nose got stuck.” The next day he got his nose out. He said, "No no no my beautiful nose is ruined. All the animals ran. Deer said, “You look disgusting.” The worms were stuck on his nose and he was so sad that he went in the ground and that is why the mole got his funny nose.

How the Hedgehog Got Her Spikes

By Phoebe

A long time ago, Hedgehog looked very similar to her cousin, Mouse. She was soft and furry all over. The only difference was Hedgehog’s longer snout and stubby tail. But she was quick to trust. One day, Hedgehog met Coyote. “Oh, hello, Coyote. Lovely day, isn’t it?” But Coyote didn’t think so. He started chasing Hedgehog. “Eek! Help me!” cried Hedgehog. Her sentence was cut off as she bumped into Mouse. “Quick! Roll in some sap and pine needles! They will give any predator a nasty surprise!” Mouse told her. Hedgehog did as she was told. She rolled in some pine sap, coating her back in the sticky goo. Then she rolled in some pine needles, covering her back in spikes she could raise and lower. Just then, Coyote raced into the clearing, yowling, “Aha! I’ve found you!” But he didn’t notice her spikes. “Ouch!” he said as Hedgehog raised her spikes to his muzzle. And that’s the story of how hedgehogs have spikes for protection.

Why Dinosaurs Are Extinct

By Cassia

A long, long time ago when dinosaurs were still alive there was a tick named Fred. One day Fred got hungry and went to find some food. While he was trying to find some food he wandered into the forest. As he went deeper into the forest he found a baby micropachycephalosaurus. He creeped up to the dinosaur making sure the dinosaur didn’t hear him. Fred smelled the dinosaur’s blood and climbed up the dinosaur’s leg. It seemed to take forever, but at last he made it to the top of his back and found a sweet, soft spot. Fred opened wide and chomped. The dinosaur’s blood was so good. Fred came up with a plan. He was going to poison the dinosaurs. Back at Fred’s lab, Fred was looking through the cabinets for the ingredients he needed. “I found it!” Fred shouted out loud. He grabbed the bottle that said, Laughter of a Goblin. “This will be perfect when I mix it with the sap of a tree no human eyes have ever seen and the tears of a weeping willow,” he thought. He also added the blood of a stone and the pinch of unicorn dust. In a big bowl he threw in his ingredients and also a cup of magical water. He heated it over a fire until it boiled. He used a little bit and put it into a tiny vial that he could carry around on his back. Fred wanted to name the poison. He named it Ruasoniddaed. The next day Fred put the tiny vial on his back and went to find a dinosaur. It only took a few minutes until Fred found a dino. The dino was eating leaves. Fred put the Ruasoniddaed on the leaves. After the dino ate the leaves, the dino collapsed. Fred grabbed the dino and dragged him to his lab and put him in a cage. 

The next day the dinosaur escaped! Fred looked everywhere and then Fred saw dinosaurs biting other dinosaurs! Little did Fred know he started the plague! The next day Fred was looking for blood but he found a dead dino. “No!” Fred shouted out loud. “Now there will not be enough dino blood for my future family! What have I done? Let me get him to the nearest dino hospital.” “You should have thought of that earlier.” Fred turned around and saw a small green Sallyosaurus. “How are you not affected by the plague?” Fred demanded. “I eat a type of bug that keeps me healthy. It’s called a green goblin bug. You should start eating them.”

Why The Hyena Laughs

by Killian

A long time ago in the savanna a hyena was trying to hunt but kept failing because he was too loud. One day he saw a man. The man laughed and then another man came to the other man. The hyena was so surprised. Then the hyena realized, “All I had to do was laugh.” He tried for so long but couldn’t do it. One day he laughed and caught an animal. And that is why the hyena laughs. 

Why Polar Bears are so White

By Hunter 

Once upon a frigid Saturday morning Polar Bear was walking in his icy domain and met Joyful panda.  Panda said  “Hi,” Panda said, “I saw a beautiful palace over there.” “Okay,” said Polar Bear. “I will go and see it.” Polar Bear walked over to the palace but polar bears back then were every color of the rainbow. Polar Bear was so excited to see the palace he didn’t notice a magic snow storm blowing in and everything it touched turned it white. Polar Bear blindly stumbled into the snowstorm. He walked into a huge boulder and was knocked out cold for days. Later when he woke up he looked down at himself and he was as white as a blank piece of paper and that is why today polar bears are white and not rainbow.

---

Explore. Discover. Learn

Some of our adventures this spring:

School Year Recap 24/25

Spring Zephyr 2025

Smokey House 2025