Spring reminds you why community matters. And in May, Maharishi School is marking it with an evening that brings everything together: live performances, alumni recognition, student showcases, bonus giveaways — and four extraordinary grand prizes up for grabs.

The Spring Fusion Live Event on Friday, May 15 is completely free and open to everyone. You don’t need to be a Maharishi School family to attend. You just need to show up — or tune in online — and be ready to celebrate.

Friday, May 15 | 6:00–7:30 PM | Henry Ogden Clark Auditorium, Maharishi School, Fairfield, Iowa Free and open to the public — in person and online

And if you want a shot at one of the grand prizes? Raffle tickets are $30 each, or 4 for $100, and every single dollar raised goes directly toward supporting Maharishi School’s teachers, staff, and tuition scholarships for families in need.

👉 Purchase your raffle tickets at maharishischool.betterworld.org

The evening: highlights you won’t want to miss

The Spring Fusion Live Event is co-hosted by Head of School Brett Potash and Alumni Coordinator Devin Olson, and the lineup is genuinely special:

💃 Iowa Dance Collective takes the stage for a captivating dance performance — dynamic, precise, and not to be missed.

🎶 Live music by Meara Rose Oberdieck sets a warm, celebratory tone throughout the evening.

🎤 Student performances from Grades 1–4, led by Madeline Thomas — always the highlight for families and a heartwarming reminder of why we do this work.

🌸 Haiku Poetry Reading by Lawrence Eyre — a quiet, beautiful moment of reflection amid the celebration.

🏆 Alumni Achievement Awards — honoring the Maharishi School graduates who have gone on to make their mark on the world.

🎁 Bonus giveaways throughout the night — eligible for both in-person and online attendees.

🎉 Grand Prize Drawing — four winners announced live. You don’t have to be present to win.

The grand prizes: four reasons to get your tickets now

This year’s raffle prizes were selected to delight — whether you’re a family looking for a summer adventure, a food lover, a bargain hunter, or just someone who deserves a beautiful getaway.

PRIZE #1: Costco membership + $1,000 shopping spree

PRIZE #2: Golden Dome Café — $500 gift account

PRIZE #3: Waterfront cabin in Moose Lake, Minnesota — six nights

PRIZE #4: Camp Waziyatah —four weeks of overnight camp in Waterford, Maine

Why your ticket matters

Every raffle ticket purchased is a direct investment in the Maharishi School community. Proceeds support our dedicated teachers and staff and help provide tuition scholarships for families who need them most.

Tickets: $30 each | $100 for four

Drawing: May 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM CDT No need to be present to win

Join us on May 15

Whether you come for the performances, the prizes, or simply the spirit of community, the Spring Fusion Live Event is an evening worth being part of.

📅 Friday, May 15

🕕 6:00 – 7:30 PM

📍 Henry Ogden Clark Auditorium, Maharishi School, Fairfield, Iowa

💻 Also available online

🎟️ Free admission — all are welcome

👉 Get your raffle tickets now — support our teachers, support our students, and you just might win something extraordinary. Buy Tickets

There’s something special about spring at Maharishi School. It’s not just the shift in seasons — it’s the return of science fair season, where months of curiosity, research, and innovation come to life.

And once again, our students have risen to the occasion with an incredible showing at both the State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa (SSTFI) and the Eastern Iowa Science & Engineering Fair (EISEF).

A season of innovation and recognition

From local competition to international recognition, our students demonstrated not only academic excellence but also creativity, persistence, and a deep commitment to solving real-world problems.

At SSTFI, Maharishi School students earned an impressive range of honors across multiple disciplines — from behavioral science and engineering to environmental studies and computer science. Highlights:

Big ideas, real impact: students tackling tomorrow’s challenges today

Our students brought remarkable focus and purpose to this year’s science fair competitions, presenting innovative, real-world solutions to complex global challenges.

Projects ranged from a colorimetric lateral flow assay to detect neurodegeneration from tears (Phase II) to The Home Unleft, an education initiative addressing social barriers faced by first-generation immigrant students.

Others explored cutting-edge technology, including multimodal deep learning for early health risk screening using skin, tongue, and nail biomarker fusion, alongside practical sustainability tools like SortWise, a platform designed to guide smarter recycling.

Each project reflected not only scientific rigor but a deep commitment to impact, showcasing our students’ ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and apply their learning meaningfully.

These achievements reflect not only strong academic preparation but a willingness to explore, question, and innovate.

Taking it to the international stage

Our students also shone at EISEF, where their work was recognized among top young scientists from around the world.

These accomplishments highlight the depth of talent and dedication within our student body — and their ability to compete and excel on a global stage.

More than just awards

While the recognition is impressive, what matters most is the process behind it. Students spend months developing their ideas — asking questions, testing hypotheses, analyzing data, and refining their work. They learn how to think critically, communicate clearly, and persist through challenges.

This makes learning real.

At Maharishi School, this kind of experience is part of a larger vision — one that prepares students not only for college but for meaningful contribution. With our Consciousness-Based Education foundation and programs such as the Global Impact Diploma, students are encouraged to connect their academic work to purpose and real-world impact.

Looking ahead

As another spring science season wraps up, one thing is clear: our students are not just participating — they’re leading, innovating, and making their mark.

We couldn’t be prouder of their hard work, curiosity, and drive. And if this season is any indication, the future they’re stepping into is full of possibilities.

Mark your calendar for Sunday, March 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and come share a meal with purpose at Maharishi School’s annual Empty Bowls event.

Since 2015, Maharishi School students have welcomed the community to this heartfelt fundraiser dedicated to fighting hunger and food insecurity. What began as a student-led initiative has grown into a meaningful tradition that blends creativity, education, and service.

Why Empty Bowls matters

Food insecurity remains a serious issue both locally and across Iowa. In our state alone, 385,130 people — including 120,220 children — face uncertainty about where their next meal will come from. The annual meal gap in Iowa is nearly 73 million meals, and more than $248 million in additional funding would be needed to fully meet those needs.

Closer to home in Jefferson County:

These aren’t just statistics — they represent neighbors, classmates, and families in our own community.

Students leading with purpose

Master Potter Mark Wilkins coaching Maharishi School students in the ancient art of creating ceramic bowls.

This year’s event brings together students across grade levels in a powerful act of collaboration and service.

High school students have been crafting one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls under the guidance of Master Potter Mark Wilkins, pouring creativity and intention into each piece.

Meanwhile, 8th-grade students are helping lead event planning, designing posters, and creating educational infographics about food insecurity in Jefferson County.

The project reflects three of Maharishi School’s core values in action:

Students are not only learning about global and local challenges — they are stepping up to be part of the solution.

A simple meal, a lasting impact

For a $25 donation, guests will receive:

Each bowl serves as a reminder that while many face empty bowls each day, together we can help fill them.

We are deeply grateful to our local partners who support this effort:

All proceeds from this year’s event will benefit a local hunger-relief organization or Action Against Hunger.

Event details

Sunday, March 15
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Maharishi School Student Center Kitchen
804 Dr. Robert Keith Drive, Fairfield.

Guests are asked to RSVP in advance – click here.

Join us for a nourishing meal, meaningful conversation, and the opportunity to make a tangible difference. We hope to see you there.

handmade bowl with soup and bread

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Rhian Tomassetti is the MIU News Editor for Maharishi School.

The hallways of Maharishi School are buzzing with more than just the usual academic energy this week. On Saturday, December 6, five of our students traveled to the FBLA District 5 competition at Fairfield Middle School, and the results were nothing short of spectacular.

Facing off against seven other schools, our students secured a staggering number of top-three finishes. While the trophies and certificates are a point of immense pride, they represent something much deeper: the cultivation of the next generation of conscious, capable business leaders.

The winners’ circle

Our small but mighty team proved that focus and preparation are the keys to success. Please join us in celebrating:

What is FBLA?

For those new to the name, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is the largest business career and technical student organization in the world. It is designed to bridge the gap between the classroom and the corporate world, helping students in middle school and high school develop “aggressive” business leadership skills.

FBLA is built on three main pillars: service, education, and progress.

1. Real-world competitive events

The competitions our students just conquered are not just “tests.” They are industry-validated events that simulate the workforce. Students can compete in over 60 categories, ranging from Artificial Intelligence and Coding to Public Speaking and Financial Math. These events require students to apply classroom concepts to real-world scenarios, often presenting their solutions to a panel of judges who are professionals in their fields.

2. Leadership development

FBLA isn’t just for future CEOs. It’s for anyone who wants to lead with confidence. Members have the opportunity to hold officer positions at the local, state, and even national levels. They attend leadership conferences where they network with thousands of peers from across the country, learning how to direct a group, manage projects, and communicate effectively.

3. Scholarship and career opportunities

Being a member of FBLA opens doors. Many universities recognize the dedication required to succeed in this program, offering exclusive scholarships to active FBLA members. Additionally, through their Business Achievement Awards (BAA) program, students can build a professional portfolio that gives them a significant head start on college applications and internships.

Why FBLA fits at Maharishi School

At Maharishi School, we often talk about “cultivating the knower.” FBLA provides the perfect “field of action” for this. By combining our Consciousness-Based Education — which develops the student’s inner clarity and creativity — with the practical, high-stakes environment of FBLA, our students learn to perform under pressure with a sense of calm and focus.

“Watching our students take home these awards is wonderful,” says Brett Potash, Maharishi Head of School. “But watching them walk into a room of experts and speak with such poise and deep understanding of global business issues is the real victory.”

What’s next?

This District win is just the beginning. Many of our students have now qualified for the State Leadership Conference, where they will compete for a chance to represent Iowa at the National Leadership Conference this summer.

Did you know that there is a K-12 Consciousness-Based™ education opportunity? To learn more about Maharishi School, visit www.maharishischool.org

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Rhian Tomassetti is the MIU News editor for Maharishi School

Yes, that’s a little bit of ice on my beard. It grew yesterday, as I was greeting families in the morning. And suddenly I understood why everyone kept asking me if I was ready for “Iowa winter.” It’s real.

But even with sub-freezing temperatures and arctic windchill, there remains an undercurrent of joy coursing through this place. The snow has simply delivered another way to express it.

Learning outside the classroom

You’d think that the weather would have kept us inside for classes, but it just hasn’t.

Our third graders visited Jefferson County Park before Thanksgiving, and then watched a snow volcano erupt this week.

Our fourth graders planted their own succulents and took them home.

Our fifth graders went to Iowa City — twice, including today! — to visit the Natural History Museum and the Englert Theater to watch The Nutcracker ballet.

Our eleventh graders went to see The American Gothic house as part of their US History course.

And our 12th graders visited the Co-Lab in Fairfield as part of their Global Solutions class.

International Festival success!

Elsewhere, our World Fair Field was hugely successful, with hundreds of people learning about the traditions, dances, and food of over 30 cultures.

Giving thanks

Both our Middle School and Upper School had meaningful Thanksgiving celebrations. The Middle School hosted a (very popular!) potluck on Wednesday, November 19, and then held a special assembly to share what they were thankful for.

The Upper School organized a “Pie and Chai” event on Tuesday, November 25, where each class was responsible for making a part of the feast.

Discover the difference in Consciousness-Based education

If you’re looking for a K-12 school environment that reduces stress, inspires creativity, and builds character alongside academic rigor, it’s time to learn more about Maharishi School.

Inquire today and find out how TM supports your child’s success. ➡️ Maharishischool.org

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Brett Potash is the Head of School at Maharishi School.

We are thrilled to announce that we are participating in the ISACS Parent Series 2025-2026, a cornerstone program designed to strengthen the vital partnership between independent schools and parents.

This outstanding series comprises six one-hour webinars led by renowned experts, providing guidance and support across all aspects of your child’s development.

We invite you to join our monthly series

Jonathan Haidt

We invite all parents, caregivers, faculty, and administrators to join fellow independent school communities for these evening webinars.

Immediately following the webinar, Brett Potash, Head of School, will be available for a Q&A session to delve deeper into the topic. 

Our most recent webinar featured renowned author and researcher Jonathan Haidt, who discussed “How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Impacted Everything, And What We Can Do About It.”

Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist whose most recent book, The Anxious Generation, brings to light how play-based childhood has been replaced by phone-based childhood.

Haidt continues to push reforms to put an end to the youth mental health crisis. He believes that there are four steps that we all must take now: delay smartphones until high school, delay social media until 16, establish phone-free schools, and encourage more independence and play in the real world.

Haidt will share his research and leave parents with inspiration and concrete plans to facilitate change in their families and communities.

View the Full Parent Series Brochure to see the upcoming featured speakers. All parents, teachers, and caregivers in the Fairfield community are welcome. Directly after the webinar, Brett Potash, Head of School, will be available for a Q&A to dive deeper into the topic.