Dear Friend of TCS,

I am a sixth grader at The Community School (TCS) this year and since I joined TCS in first grade, the school has been an anchoring point in my life. In these times, I believe that cultivating community and connection is more important than ever. We need places like TCS to bring us together around common values of curiosity and care. I feel so fortunate to be a part of the TCS community and the magic that happens here each day. On the weekends, I can hardly wait to get back to school!

Not only have I learned the skills of reading, writing, solving complex math problems and engaging in real life science and citizenry, I have learned something that holds even greater importance to me: the meaning of friendship and being a part of a community. Learning in community and in nature—in classes held outdoors around a fire, on camping trips, and through outings that help us get to know the people and places of MDI—has given me solid roots.

I know my community better and feel closer to it because we learn in and from community at school. This makes me want to take care of the place where I live and the people I share it with. For example, we recently studied efforts to manage green crabs. We listened to interviews and went out with fisher people and policy makers. I learned and felt that we are not the only ones doing this work that is part of caring for this place. We are not alone in this. If you are alone in something, it discourages you, but if you know you are with others, in community, it makes a big difference.

It is important to be united and work together. It’s important to have something to bring us together and help us learn to be empowered, thoughtful participants in the community, and TCS really does that. In my first year at TCS, I remember our Town Meetings, when classes meet every Friday to discuss cares and concerns and our school values and agreements. In these meetings, we worked together as a class to collaborate on norms and expectations of ourselves instead of the teacher saying what we were and were not to do. We [students] are a part of making lasting decisions at TCS and that is really unique and special.

By giving a gift to TCS, you are giving a gift to community, because we are an integral part of the community and me and my friends—the students here—are the future. Through our education at TCS, we can make the world a better place. Last fall, I gave a donation to the TCS Scholarship Fund with the proceeds I made from selling my artwork at Harvest Festival. I give because I believe in TCS and I want more people to experience this kind of education. I also hope I might inspire others to give. In that spirit, please join me in giving to TCS so that it can flourish generations into the future.

Each day, the tide ebbs and flows in and out of Babson Creek, which runs along our campus. Each incoming tide brings nutrients that feed the creek’s inhabitants: plants, animals, humans. As the year comes to a close, please help us “bring in the tide” by supporting our scholarship fund. In these uncertain times, it is our role to be solid and sustainable, ensuring that place-based education is accessible and grounding to all.

Please join Jonah and me in supporting our timely work by making a gift to TCS today.

With gratitude,

Jonah McLean, Sixth Grade Student

Jasmine Smith, Founder and Executive Director

Supporting The Community School

The Community School is non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, tax ID #46-5403427. 

If you would like to make your contribution by check, please mail to:

The Community School for Place-based Education
585 Sound Drive
Mount Desert, ME 04660

If you are considering a stock gift, please be in touch with our representative, Jane Hewes at RBC Wealth Management, and she will guide you in making your gift to The Community School. Jane can be reached at: (207) 942-8257.

To make a secure online donation today, please click on the "Donate" listed just below which will take you to our PayPal donation site.  A PayPal account is not required to make a donation.