Copy

Weekly Bulletin

 
School Closed on Monday, October 27

Kindergarten Parent Conferences and for Grades Teachers In-Service

 
IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE:
Calendar



Thursday, October 23, 6:30-8:00pm:

Class 6 Parent Evening


Monday, October 27: School Closed for Kindergarten Parent

Conferences and Grades

Teacher In-Service


Wednesday, October 29, 6:30-8:30pm:

Class 7 Parent Evening


Friday, October 31, 11:30-12:40: Kindergarten Autumn Festival,

Parents Invited


Monday, November 3, 7:00pm:

Parent Council Meeting in Library


Monday-Tuesday, November 10-11: School Closed for Veterans Day

and local holiday


Wednesday, November 12:

Class 5 Parent Evening


Saturday, November 15:

Falling Leaves Festival


Tuesday, November 18, 6:00pm:

Charter Council Meeting in Library


Wednesday, November 19, 6:30-8:30pm:

Kindergarten Parent Evening

 
FALLING LEAVES FESTIVAL

The festival planning and creation is well underway! The excitement is in the air as Autumn cloaks our beautiful town in her many colors! 
If you do not know what booth your class is responsible for, please get in touch with your FLF coordinator. Here is a quick list to keep us all in the know: 

Dragonfly KG- Crafts to sell (Marketplace)
Morningstar KG- Pocketperson and Storyroom assist
1st grade- Savory food
2nd grade-Savory food
3rd grade-Fall cookie decorating 
4th grade- Crafts to sell (Marketplace)
5th grade- Crafts to make
6th grade-Dessert and hot drinks
7th grade- Games and cakewalk 
8th grade-Entertainment  and cold drinks
Homeschool group-Crafts to make
Faculty- Storyroom 

Calling all crafters to contribute to our Marketplace! If you are someone (or know someone) that lives to create homemade beautiful things, please consider joining our crafting groups on Wednesday morning led by Jana Lombardo (jana@thelombardo5.com) or Shari Thierry (style4me@sbcglobal.net). There are two meeting spots in Wednesday mornings from 9-11ish, one on the town campus and the other at a local community room. If you would rather create at home and contribute to the booth, that would be so wonderful too!!

Also please save all of your gourds and fall decor from your Halloween displays and bring them to the school to help decorate for our NOVEMBER 15th Festival day!!

Thank you for all you do! The FLF team
Halloween Day Cooperation Please
SunRidge remains committed to keeping Friday October 31st, a normal school day with the focus on education, and keeping Halloween costumes and related activities as a parent choice for after school and evening.  Please help us keep this consistent by sending your child to school that day in normal attire.  Thank you…
Great News Regarding Paper and Pencil Option for State Tests
We are pleased to report that the State of California has just informed us that a paper and pencil option for required state testing will be made available for grades 3-5 in Waldorf inspired charter schools (all others must do the testing on-line). The Alliance of Waldorf Charter Schools has been advocating with the state on this issue and the ruling was based on an understanding that the pedagogy of Waldorf charters is opposed to the use of computers in the classroom for younger children. This is great news for our school as we prepare to administer these state mandated tests this spring. The paper and pencil testing option for grades 3-5 is being offered to Waldorf charter schools for the next three years, which will give us time to work on a longer-term solution.
Driving Cautiously in the Country Campus Parking Lots
(submitted by a SunRidge parent)
Please drive cautiously on both campuses, especially on Thursdays during short days when there's a lot of car density at drop-off and pick-up times. If you drive to the country campus, try not to block the entrance for too long as unsuspecting drivers behind you may get stranded between the entrance and the fast-moving Watertrough Road.  Once you get in and you make a left to the upper parking area at the country campus, it is important not to back up if you cannot find a parking spot as this will create a blockage at the entrance (go straight until you find a spot or loop back around). A good tip for the country campus is to enter the parking area slowly and spy a parking spot to the left or drive straight down to the lower parking where there is plenty of space usually.  Let's keep it safe and slow!
 
Class 8 Evergreen Fundraiser
Class 8 is organizing an Evergreen Sale fundraising event October 21 - November 12.  Proceeds will be applied directly to the Class 8 end-of-year field trip.  SunRidge families may contribute by pre-ordering from a selection of fresh evergreen wreaths, swag, and garlands. These festive decorations add a special touch to your home or business during the holiday season, and they also make wonderful gifts! Items ordered will be available for pick-up at the SunRidge Town Campus library December 2nd-5th, or you can request to have them shipped via UPS to you, your family or friends.  See the attached flyer or contact Tim Pudoff for more information at 707-217-3759.
Technology News from the Education Director, Kalen Wood
On October 10 and 11th, Sasha Prosser and I attended a conference on Teaching Media Literacy in a Digital Age.  It was a conference for middle school teachers teaching at Waldorf Charter Schools and highlighted the work of Diana Graber and Cynthia Lieberman, who have created a website called Cyberwise with lots of resources for parents as well as educators.  Ms. Graber has also developed a curriculum to teach ethics through educational activities related to social media and on-line research for 6-8th grades.
During our school’s professional development day last Monday, concepts from the conference were summarized.  One important insight was that Waldorf Education prepares students, through an emphasis on the arts and experiential education, to have the capacities needed to be successful when interacting with media – to imagine, create, communicate, negotiate, and think critically regarding both consumption and production of digital media.
We are now purchasing and will soon be implementing this new curriculum that explores the advantages and disadvantages of an on-line presence.  In the sixth grade, lessons focus on the ethical decision-making skills needed to use digital media appropriately.  A lesson on digital footprints (without using devices in the lesson) has the goal of helping students understand the permanence of what they post.  Devices are introduced in the 7th and 8th grade for teaching research skills and writing processes.  During our professional development day, the faculty experienced an 8th grade lesson involving the use of chrome books to check the veracity of an online article through looking at factors such as the date of publication, reliability of source, author/website credentials, and point of view or purpose of article.
As Waldorf teachers, we are always learning and growing with our students.  This conference had important messages: to become familiar with digital media, learn from one another and face fears constructively; explore positive and negative aspects of technology and identify where protections and agreements can enhance well being and a balanced approach; and how necessary it is for students to have adult models demonstrating how to interact with technology as one of many tools available in our modern world.  Ultimately, the goal is to empower young people to be discerning digital citizens.
Whole Foods Scrip Cards are Back!
Purchase $25 or $100 Whole Food gift cards at school and SunRidge will earn 3% when you shop with them at Whole Foods Market. These cards are available in the school office and will also be sold at drop off and pick up in the parking lot. Days and times will soon be announced.
Tales from the Lost and Found from Hassanah Meechan
The SunRidge/REACH lost and found has been moved! It is in the shared hall between SunRidge and REACH.
Halloween is just around the corner. Do not let your lost and found items head off into the darkness with some ghoul or sprite! Check it now before it is too late. There is clothing of all sizes along with lunch bags/sacks and other lost items waiting to be reclaimed. EVERYONE should check it out!!
This is another plea to PLEASE MARK YOUR CHILD’S CLOTHING! Put their name (last name is best) and “SR” on it so that we know it is a SunRidge student.
I am eagerly looking to pass this volunteer position off onto the next mummy or daddy. If you have five to ten extra minutes at drop off or pick up, consider taking on this task. Please, email Mark and the job is yours.
Cyberwise Resources for Parents:
Kids Email: A Safe and Parent-Controlled Email Program For Kids. Get a FREE 90-Day Subscription by using the promo code: cyberwise at www.kidsemail.com
Co-Pilot Family: A Smart Parental Control for Smart Devices. Get 50% off today by going to this special LINK 
DoNotTrackMe: Stop Sites from Tracking You. Get a substantial discount on the already low price by using the code: cyberwise25
Social Assurity: Social Media Advisory Services for Schools, Students and Parents. Get 50% off today on Social Assurity Parent services using promo code: cyberwise30.
Pledges received for
July-September:

$31,495.00

 
Current Pledge Participation Rate: 56%

Pledges pay for Teaching Assistants, kindergarten food supplies, and classes in Handwork, Eurythmy, Woodwork, Choir, Instrumental Music & More!
 
100% participation is our goal.
Please pledge at whatever level you can.
Community Events

For the Birds
Are you curious about the sounds and sights of local and migrating birds you see all around you? SunRidge parent, Rudy Yakzan, will be conducting a monthly Bird Walk in Sebastopol and other local areas to familiarize parents and children with the local and migrating birds and to learn more about what we can do to enjoy and protect our feathered friends and other animals. 
The walks will start Saturday, October 25 from 9-11AM on the country campus and they will be held monthly on a Saturday schedule after that.  We will also conduct a Christmas Bird Count (CBC) in the middle of December at both campuses in the hope of starting this tradition each year.  The CBC is a national tradition that dates more than 100 years and other than its scientific value, it brings communities together to enjoy and appreciate birds and the environment we all share. The walks and the CBC welcome everyone in the family including grandparents and other siblings and they will be a great activity for our children of all the grades and Kindergarten. Bring appropriate clothing and snacks, if needed. Rudy will bring some binoculars and a spotting scope. Please bring a binocular if you have one. For more info, contact Rudy at oceanprises@aol.com.
 
Credo High School Events
11/15 Open House Programs beginning at 1:00
12/10 First lottery application deadline
For more info or to set up a shadow day contact Jodi Boyle, 664-0600 x 4, enroll@credohigh.org 
 
Sprites Night at Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm- Saturday, October 25th
Sprites Night is Summerfield’s annual alternative to the commercialism and ‘sugary focus’ of Halloween. Lower School classes present whimsical scenes along the beautifully lit Pumpkin Path, with warm food & drinks and a roaring bonfire!
Tickets are necessary to go on a tour of the scenes along the Pumpkin Path.  The cost is $7 each and will be available starting Monday, October 20th in the Main Office. The “journey” on the pumpkin path takes around 40 minutes, and the groups leave every 5 minutes- your tickets will be for a specific tour so please be on time! The first tour starts at 5:30 and the last leaves at 7:30 from the fountain in front of the Main Office  The meal, prepared by our 8th graders, will be served from 5:00 on.
We encourage everyone to dress up in costume and children to bring a little bag for a few treasures & treats, but please- no scary, overly commercial, or otherwise inappropriate costumes.  We look forward to catching you in our web for this enchanting school event!
 
Scrooge’s Christmas and Holiday Faire at Credo High School
1290 Southwest Blvd, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Friday Dec 5 @7pm (Holiday Faire runs from 4-7pm)
Saturday Dec 6 @ 2pm and 7pm (Holiday Faire runs from 12-7pm)
Performance includes Credo High students along with middle school students from our community.
Tickets are available starting at 4pm on Dec 5 and 12pm on Dec 6, $10 adults, $5 students/children.
Our Holiday Faire will showcase local artisans selling handmade gifts and homemade baked treats. We will also be serving a light dinner. Please join us!
For more information: Marcena Hopkins Peterson, marcenapeterson@icloud.com
 
Classified
(We can list rentals, parents selling used items, free items, lost and found, or trades. With the exception of private, after-school care available for SunRidge students, we do not list for-profit business ads)
 
Free Car Seat
Yours for the taking.  A Graco car seat with detachable booster seat, 6 years old, works fine.  Call 823-4024 if you can use it.
 
Old Dinghy Wanted For Play
The playground design committee is looking for a small boat that can be turned into a imaginative play space near the sandbox. Should be small (6-10 feet long) and preferably wood. Does not need to be sea worthy!  Contact Mark with any ideas or leads.

Need After School Care?
If you are a working parent with children who would truly benefit from more time at home after school, look no further. I will supervise and assist with homework, music practice, trips to the library, baking, evening meal preparation, and provide simple age appropriate craft activities, games and more. A healthy rhythm after school supports the running of a healthy household! For more information please contact Carolyn McRae, experienced Waldorf teacher and current SunRidge first grade assistant. Excellent driving record and references.
Email: carolyncmcrae@gmail.com , or phone 707-321-3315.
 
 
Housing Needed
SunRidge Teacher looking for a 2 bedroom house to rent anywhere in West County for my son and me while looking for home to buy.  We are very neat, clean and responsible.  I must move out of my home by the first week of November!  Please call Heather Colby if you have any news of an available rental at 291-2563. 
 
Housing Needed
SunRidge family of 5 seeks housing in Sebastopol area. We have two well-behaved dogs and are accustomed to small spaces. Tight-knit artist family. More information on our activities at www.bottomlesswellarts.org and www.thingamajigs.org  Please contact Dylan 707-570-6825 or Sasha 530-574-3430.
 
Housing Needed
Family of four looking for a home to rent while they look for a home to buy.   Prefer shorter term 2-3 bedroom rental, but willing to sign a longer term lease for the right place.  Willing to sublet.  Prefer to have the option of moving our cats and dog with us, but willing to find other arrangements for them in the case of a short term rental.  Husband is a general contractor and is willing to trade work for rent or reduced rent.  Family is willing to maintain or improve gardens and landscaping, as well.  Please contact Allie at 650-283-0375.
 
Copyright © 2014 SunRidge School, All rights reserved.


unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp