SCHOOL EVENTS

Graduation 2005
This spring's graduation saw a new tradition instituted at Gorrono Ranch as eager students and family members were forced indoors by a sudden and torrential June downpour. Previous Mountain School graduations have seen commencement ceremonies take place under sunny skies on the expansive decks of Gorrono with its captivating views of the Wilson Mountain Range.

The darkening skies did little to deter spirits and, in true Mountain School form, students adapted quickly, moving the ceremony inside and upstairs in the rustic, mountain lodge for a cozy hour of laughter, cheers and inspiring words from Head of School Ernie Patterson, faculty and guests. Renowned outdoor author and columnist Peter Shelton addressed students and encouraged them to "know their history, love their friends and cherish each second of the day."

This year's Founders' Awards went to Upper School student Shane McLean and Ciara Green of the Intermediate School. Each year faculty bestows the Founders' Award to two students that best exemplify the school's four core values: respect, love of learning, integrity and responsibility.

Wednesday Night at the Movies
The historic Sheridan Opera House played host to a crowd of film buffs and school supporters on Wednesday, February 23, as the school presented its 2005 fundraiser to benefit the Mountain School's scholarship funds. In its third year, "Wednesday at the Movies" raised over $20,000 for the school's financial aid budgets.

The event featured seven award-winning independent shorts, a wide selection of silent auction items, as well as hors d'oeuvres and desserts by the now-famous Mountain School cooks/caterers.

The event welcomed Aimee Lagos, director/writer/producer of the internationally acclaimed film Underground, which was screened at the event. Lagos traveled from Los Angeles to discuss her film with Mountain School students during the day, and to attend the fundraiser that evening.

Upon returning to Los Angeles, Lagos wrote of her time in Telluride, "I was incredibly impressed by Telluride Mountain School. You should be very proud of the atmosphere you have created for these kids; it is clearly making a tremendous difference in their lives. The conversation I had with the 5th and 6th graders after viewing the film was phenomenal. They were all so wonderfully engaged and insightful about what they had observed and their own experiences, beyond anything I would expect from students their age. They are clearly being taught and nurtured well!"

An Unlikely Friendship -
School & Community Celebrate MLK Day with Filmmaker Visit
In January of 2005, the Mountain School invited the whole Telluride community to join in its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration, with a screening and discussion of the award-winning documentary film An Unlikely Friendship. As part of its Cultural Outreach Program, the school hosted filmmaker Diane Bloom, PhD. Dr. Bloom came to Telluride to meet with Mountain School students during the day, then with the public during an evening screening of her film at the Wilkinson Public Library.

An Unlikely Friendship tells the story of a surprising friendship between the Exalted Grand Cyclops of the Durham Ku Klux Klan and an outspoken black woman activist. The film brings to life the topic of racism, countered by mutual understanding, respect and friendship, themes which are central to the Mountain School's values-based curriculum.

Dr. Bloom's visit began at Morning Meeting, when the whole school gathered to discuss the meaning of friendship and the value of "unlikely friendships" in their own lives. After showing her film to 7th-11th grade students, Bloom's time at the school culminated in a conference call between students and Ann Atwater, the black woman whose story is told in the documentary film.

Dr. Bloom said of her visit to the Mountain School, "I was deeply impressed by the depth of insight the students displayed, as well as by their compassionate and respectful dialog."

That same evening, the library's program room was filled to capacity with patrons who came to see the 43-minute film. After the screening, community members asked questions of Dr. Bloom, offered comments on the film, and shared their own experiences with racism.

Heifer International is Winner in School Penny War
Although the 5th & 6th grade classes won the penny war, Heifer International and the needy families it helps world-wide was the big winner. This past winter Grades 1-12 competed in a penny war to raise money for Heifer International (www.heifer.org), a nonprofit organization that gives micro-credit in the form of livestock to help families around the world. Warring students raised a total of $700.60 in pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters, with which the school purchased a water buffalo, a pig and an order of chicks.