Los Gatos-Saratoga Observation Nursery School

In July, LGSONS (better-known as Mountain School) ran a one-week drop-off forest camp for children aged four to seven. Summer camp at Mountain School was a completely new experience for some of these children. At first, there was trepidation and grumbling as we hiked down to the lower forest, but by the third day, the children were flying down the trail, not wanting to miss any time in our special canyon classroom.

This particular group started their days with a craft and conversation. Since the group skewed a little older, we saw some complex and richly creative tinker- and maker-projects. After the collective crafting, the group seemed to have no problem diving right into play.

Some children became engrossed in complex imaginative-play scenarios. One child took on the role of exploration leader. This child would chart a path independently, return, review it with me, then take younger children on the same exploration. Seeing the little ones following behind, weaving through the trees, was magical. It was authentic multi-age emergent learning.

At circle time we shared stories and books, sparking conversations about environmental and social-awareness topics. On the scientific side, one child thanked the trees for making oxygen. On the social side, another child thanked the teachers for enabling her to attend camp in this fantastic forest.

At the end of each day, we did a thank-you reflection. Almost every child contributed. Our school-year classes share this magical canyon classroom, our school’s play yard, and numerous offsite locations. The 2025-2026 school year begins the second week of September. We have limited space available in our classes for two-, three-, and four-year-old children.

Visit lgsons.org or scan the QR code for more information. Lakeside School News Steve Burrell In August, a team of dedicated volunteers rolled up their sleeves and gave our campus a much-needed refresh. Armed with pruning shears, leaf blowers, wheelbarrows, and garden gloves, Lakeside families showed up in full force, bringing their tools, their time, and most of all, their heart.

Thanks to their incredible efforts, our walkways, greenery, and blacktop are looking better than ever. A special thanks to the Johsens, Marshall, and Propp families for going above and beyond, and to Eddie Kluding for keeping everything humming along smoothly.

As we begin the new school year, we welcome three new members to our instructional team. Kerry Edels joins us as our new special- education teacher, bringing over 30 years of experience in education and most recently serving as a mentor with the Santa Cruz/ Silicon Valley New Teacher Project.

Rachel Carlson will be teaching kindergarten after relocating from San Diego, where she spent the last two years sparking joy and curiosity in her classroom. Sarah Roseland, who previously worked on the early-intervention team at Nimitz Elementary School in Sunnyvale, is coming aboard as an instructional assistant.

We look forward to a year of connection, learning, and growth. We’re so glad to warmly welcome back our returning staff, students, and families, especially those new to our Lakeside community. Lakeside School Community Foundation Kathy McKinney The Lakeside School Community Foundation will host a Goodwill donation drive on Sunday, September 21, from 9 a.m.

to 2 p.m., at 19621 Black Road. Clean out your closets and clutter while you support our local school. Goodwill Silicon Valley can’t accept furniture, mattresses, large appliances, exercise equipment, automobile parts, weapons, household trash, food, carpeting, construction debris, hazardous household chemicals, liquids of any kind, pet-related items, items over fifty pounds, and television sets with over 27-inch screens.

On Friday, September 26, we welcome the to our family movie night under the stars. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, purchase a delicious taco dinner prepared by the Agrillo family, then stay for our screening of Bad Guys 2. Tacos will be served beginning at 6 p.m., and the movie will start at sundown.

Our students have already begun training for the annual Walkathon in October, one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. If you would like to sponsor our event, email foundation@lakesidelosgatos.org. Save the date for our annual Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 26. Everyone is welcome to enjoy games, food, prizes, pumpkin carving, and more. Details will be shared in the October issue of Mountain Network News.