A letter from Roisin Duffy and Rachel Miller, Grade 5 Co-Teachers
At the very beginning of the school year, our fifth graders step outside the familiar routines of the classroom and travel to The Farm School in Athol, MA. This trip in grade 5 kicks off a series of overnight adventures for CRS students in grades 5-8. For many students, this overnight trip to Farm School represents a significant milestone: stepping into the unknown of being away from home, often for the very first time.
While a new environment can naturally bring feelings of apprehension, it also provides a profound opportunity to build belief, confidence, and trust in one another. It serves as an incredible vantage point for us as educators to see our students thrive outside the traditional classroom setting, just as it allows our students to see their teachers in a whole new light.
From the moment they arrive, the students immerse themselves in the active pace of farm life. Working alongside their peers, teachers, and the farmers, they take on real responsibilities, such as tending to livestock, harvesting fresh produce, and preparing shared meals. Beyond their structured chores, the children enjoy moments of independence. They explore the vegetable fields together, play on the swings, and pay the animals a visit.
Moments of genuine curiosity fill these busy workdays, whether observing nature up close, enjoying fresh treats straight from the soil, or gathering together as a group. By embracing the willingness to get their hands dirty, enjoying the freedom to roam, and taking genuine responsibility for living creatures and the land, our students practice vulnerability and build strong, lasting bonds. The deep sense of community, teamwork, and mutual respect forged during these days together creates the essential framework for our classroom agreements once we return.
Leaving the farm is never easy, as two short days are more than enough to make a new place feel like home. Fortunately, those rich experiences carry right into our academic work. The trip becomes the heart of our early writing units: students first channel their farm memories into creative personal zines, then zoom in to write focused, detailed stories capturing a single 30-minute moment on the farm. This ongoing reflection after the trip is essential, allowing students to recognize and celebrate the tremendous personal and social growth they have already made since fifth grade began.
As the experience comes full circle, the transformative power of the trip is unmistakable. By discovering what they can accomplish together early in the year, our fifth graders expand their horizons, gain a broader understanding of the world around them, and build the confidence needed to make a meaningful difference.
Some students return so inspired that they step into the car on the drive home and ask their parents if they can move to a farm.
Warmly,
Rachel and Roisin