The halls of Great Brook Middle School were bursting with families attending a “Maple Night Celebration of Learning” on Thursday night.
The event showcased a months-long, school-wide exploration of the science, history and culture of making maple syrup.
In February and March, students tapped 30 different varieties of maple trees on the school grounds and monitored sap flow, sugar content and variations in quality.
“The kids have been studying every aspect of maple syrup, which has always been very important to New Hampshire,” said teacher Maryanne Cullinan. “There’s the science of it, including the biology and the environment of the trees. Down in the eighth-grade wing, they’ve been doing a ton of math related to producing syrup. There’s the history, the culture, the business, and of course the cooking and production.”
The school had not hosted a schoolwide “Celebration of Learning” since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s great to have the event back and to see such an awesome turnout,” said Industrial Arts teacher Patrick Cogan.
In the cafeteria, some of Cogan’s students staffed a table with Great Brook-themed products from the new Bobcat Store. All items were produced by students in the Industrial Arts Technology program.
In the Home Economics classroom, Home, Family & Consumer Science teacher Rebecca Denslow and Principal Adam Caragher served maple popcorn, pancakes and maple syrup, and other treats to the crowds.
Volunteer Dale Smith of the Mt. Crumpit Farm sugar house in New Boston, whose grandson, John MacGarvey, is a fifth-grader at Great Brook, demonstrated an evaporator in the courtyard behind the school.
“These types of programs really help the kids. It’s getting out of the classroom and doing real work, and seeing the practical application of what they’re learning,” Smith said. “It’s especially great for kids at risk, getting them engaged and interested.”
