Weekly Bulletin

Last Week of School – Next Week!
Thursday, June 9^th is the last day of school this year. Early release days next week will be Wednesday and Thursday.

IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE:

Last Week of School - Next Week!

Thank You for Pledging!

NO PLEDGE AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL!

Last Assembly of The Year

Rose Ceremony

Next Year's Dragonfly Kindergarten Parent Meeting Scheduled

Next Year's First Grade Parent Meeting Scheduled

Community Time to Honor Country Campus on June 8th

Pledge Report

Staffing Updates

Summer Creativity to Help Kindergartens

"So Many" Poem for Ms. Brighid

Community Support

Library Thanks

Community Events

Classified

Calendar

Wednesday, June 1^st, 3:30-5:00pm:

Rising DFK Parent Meeting w/Ms. Merrie Rivera

Friday, June 3^rd, 5:30-9:00pm:

6^th Grade Knighting Ceremony at Country Campus

Monday, June 6^th, 6:00pm:

4^th Grade Parent Appreciation Potluck Concert

Monday, June 6^th, 7-9pm:

Parent Council Meeting at Peter Lowell's

Tuesday, June 7^th, 11:00am-1:00pm:

4^th Grade walk to Screamin’ Mimi’s

Tuesday, June 7^th, 6:30-8pm:

Rising 1^st Grade Parent Meeting with Dayla Greenfield

Wednesday, June 8^th:

Early Release

Thursday, June 9^th:

Last Day of School/Early Release

Friday, June 10^th, 5:30pm:

Rising 1^st Grade Rose Petal Ceremony

Saturday, June 11^th, 5:30pm:

8^th Grade Graduation at Country

Thank You for Pledging!
Many thanks to all of you who have contributed pledges all year, and/or who have come through with back-pledges and pledged for May and June. We are catching up, but still a bit short of our needed amount, so please join the effort by pledging as much as possible for May and June.
NO PLEDGE AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL!
We want you to feel great about participating and we are so close – $20,000 more achieves our goal! Pledge and ensure that your child’s class receives the $250 incentive for 100% class participation. The incentive goes towards the class’ 8th grade trip. Help us reach our 100% participation goal before June 17th.

Last Assembly of The Year
On Wednesday, June 8^th, students in grades 1-8 will meet to reflect on the year, appreciate staff and honor those who won’t be returning to the school next year. Parents are welcome to come.

Rose Ceremony
On our last day, June 9^th, at Noon, the school gathers in the gym to conduct our traditional Rose Ceremony, when our 1^st graders each give a rose to the graduating 8^th graders (who gave 1^st graders a rose on their entry to the grades last August). This is our time for everyone to honor and say goodbye to our class of 2016, prior to their graduation on June 11^th. Parents are welcome to attend this ceremony.

Next Year’s Dragonfly Kindergarten Parent Meeting Scheduled
Ms. Brighid and Ms. Kalen will be introducing Ms. Merrie Rivera, the Dragonfly Kindergarten teacher for next year on Wednesday, June 1^st from 3:30-5:00pm in the Dragonfly Kindergarten Room at the Country Campus.
We will get to know one another, discuss summer projects and plans and address questions. We look forward to meeting with you!

Next Year’s First Grade Parent Meeting Scheduled
On Tuesday, June 7^th, from 6:30-8:00pm, Ms. Dayla Greenfield will be introduced to next year’s first grade families in the First Grade room at the Town Campus. Our current First Grade teacher, Ms. Inna Soroka, will provide a curriculum overview and our Director, Ms. Kalen Wood, will answer general questions. We look forward to meeting with you!

Community Time to Honor Country Campus on June 8th
Many of the classes have made special arrangements to spend a day with Ms. Tess gardening on the country campus and reflecting on the experiences and memories shared there. Wednesday, June 8th, from 1:45-3:15pm families are invited to join faculty and staff in appreciating the school's first home. More details in the newsletter next week!

Staffing Updates
Heartfelt Farewell from Miss Dolly

“In each seed the flower is formed as its petals dance in lightness toward the sun.”

With open arms and a loving heart I say goodbye to the SunRidge community, whom has held me for so many years. Twenty-seven years ago I began the Waldorf journey, seeking a safe place for my children to unfold. Little did I know, I too was being nourished. After many years of desk building, parent meetings, and class field trips, I consciously chose the Waldorf teacher experience by enrolling in a certificated program, returning to college for my state credential, and grasping at the invitation to teach woodworking and later the arts here at SunRidge. This spark ignited my flame of creativity, fueled by a passion toward art-based education. Remember making something out of nothing is a fallacy! It takes vision as well as skill building, and a commitment to hard work. Only through this process can something become valuable. And when something becomes precious, it is often (as I have seen repeatedly through my students’ actions) generously given away. The gift is special because it is saturated with and exchanged in love. These meaningful experiences strengthen a person, giving one confidence to take risks and follow one’s dreams. Today as I greet my 2nd Grade Class at River Oak Charter School in Ukiah, know that I hold each one of you - child, faculty member, and parent – in my heart. Each individual has nourished my soul and become a part of my fragrant essence. With heartfelt – genuine, warm, and deep - appreciation I embrace you into my next journey where I continue to grow. My best always - Miss Dolly

The hiring committee for the instrumental music position is Jehanne Hale, Sasha Prosser, and Kalen Wood. The committee with be interviewing in mid-June.
SunRidge has a community wide value of educating children through experiential learning through gardening and field trips. Ms. Kalen is researching funding options for strengthening the garden position, and expanding SunRidge’s garden program.
Suzanne Hue, our current Dragonfly kindergarten aide will be moving into the first grade aide position next year.
We will be hiring for the Dragonfly kindergarten and second grade instructional aide positions as well as for woodworking.

Summer Creativity to Help Kindergartens
Thank you to those who have contacted me with offers to help with some aspect of the big kindergarten project this summer. Timing and specifics are now firming up. We still need a bunch of helpers who can contribute as little or as much as possible. Please look over this list and see if there is something you would enjoy doing:
• build railings, sandboxes, planters, structures, etc.
• assemble a small, ready-made shed
• put in the support structure for the tire swing
• assist with de-construction work: removing cabinets from walls, remove a small section of suspended ceiling, remove shelving, remove partition walls, etc.
• move sand into sandboxes
• move bark/mulch into pathways
• move dirt into planters
• install irrigation to planters
• paint interior undercoat
• paint exterior
• add wood accent trim to windows and fascia
With lots of people participating, this could be fun, right? Feel the satisfaction of being part of creating a beautiful, nurturing environment for our kindergarteners! Contact Mark at arkice@sonic.net.

“So Many”
A poem, of sorts, for our Dear Ms. Brighid

With love and gratitude from Ms. Kate
So many smiles,
So many kind pauses to give thought and attention,
So many Band-Aids upon so many hurts.
So many stories for so many ears and hearts,
So many bright ideas for so many creative solutions,
So many songs, so many verses, so many details to hold each day together.
So many ways of listening,
So many ways to reach out a loving hand,
So many sparkles of delight in those beautiful Irish Eyes.
So many wise words,
So many flowers for so many seasons,
So many minutes of so many days, so many weeks that became so many months, that so quickly filled eleven years of loving dedication and joyful mastery to greet so many Dragonfly children and so many parents.
How does one thank such a dear and wondrous member of our SunRidge Community?
How does one say good-bye to such a valuable treasure of a colleague?
How does one say good-bye to such a gifted and talented teacher?
So many hugs, so many tears,
So many “Are you really leaving?” looks,
So many words upon a page,
So many wishes yet to be made,
So many waves of so many hands.
So many hearts full of gratitude and love,
So many good-byes, so many thank yous!!!!
So many from so many.

Community Support
Joe Lieto, the owner of the Land that has been the Country Campus home to SunRidge for the last 14 years and Willow Wood School for 13 years prior to that has recently undergone major surgery. Dolly Oberti and I have organized meals for Joe as a way to offer support during this time of healing. If this is a way you would like to help please follow this link: https://mealtrain.com/g05w7m
If you would like to send a card, Joe’s mailing address is: 495 Watertrough Rd. Sebastopol, Ca 95472
Joe, we wish you a speedy recovery! Thanks for sharing your land with us for so many years. May the land always be filled with the laughter of children.
-Kate O’Brien

Library Thanks
SunRidge would like to thank the parents and friends of the SunRidge Library who have spent many hours over this past year working on the steps involved in getting our library up and running for the 2016 - 2017 school year. Some of these folks took home books to upload on our digital system and others came in weekly to do the uploading in the library. A big thank you to Michael Powell, Director of Library Services at SCOE, Yvette Simone, Kathleen Stroh, Michelle Pope, Tomoko Watanabe, Miho Pizzorno, Linda Cloptin, Bill Kenney, Kat Kraus, and Tracy Kinney for their commitment to the future of our library.
The library committee would also like to thank Mr. T and the Student Council for their help with aspects of getting the books ready to be checked out. A big thank you to Silas Grossman, Sophia Thomasson, Lhasa Gray, Violet Comins-Wilson, Branwen Polo Schlosberg, Sage Boek, Spencer DeBeers, and Nikko O'Riley for their good cheer and efforts towards this work.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Camp Tamarack is Back!
Enjoy horseback riding, archery, drama, swimming, games,
crafts, hiking, fishing, boating and star gazing during campouts
in the great outdoors while building wilderness skills
and life-long friendships, June 26 - July 10, 2016. More information posted here:
http://www.sunridgeschool.org/events.html (5/11)

Circus Summer Camp in Sonoma
TrapezePro offers flying trapeze, juggling, acrobatics, tightrope, stilts, trampoline, aerial arts & other circus skills
Hours: 9:00am – 2:00pm
Cost: $270 /week or $60 /day
Recommended for children who have finished 4th grade or higher. Younger children considered on an individual basis.
Email: Summercamp@TrapezePro.com, or visit website here:
http://www.trapezepro.com (5/11)

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)

Live In Community!
One bedroom cottage for rent in a three home micro-community in Graton. The cottage is situated on a fully fenced one acre beautiful property in west Sonoma County, we are ¾ mile from Graton. There are three homes on the property, and a conscientious spirit of community, with the expressed intent to live ever more connected, sustainable lives. This place is a safe haven for children and animals. $1500, with option to also rent an extra office or bedroom on the property. Please call Aspen 510-305-6531 (6/1)

Waldorf Mama and Son Looking for a Wonderful Home!
Looking for a stable, quiet space with some privacy.
We are okay sharing a large room, but would be grateful for more living space. Able to do some work in exchange for partial rent, if that is a consideration. I have extensive skills in many areas, which I'm happy to share. I am also a Waldorf Teacher, looking to find a position in one of the many Waldorf schools in the area. My son has been accepted to Sunridge Waldorf Charter for kindergarten in the fall.
Would love to share carpool duties with someone from the school as well. We are very happy to start our new life and look forward to joining the community!
Please contact Darina at lovedarina@hotmail.com, or call 510-846-1620 (5/11)

After School Care Needed
Family of soon to be 1st grader seeking a fun/active environment for our daughter one or two afternoons a week from pickup to 4:00. We are also interested in care this summer. Ideally this would be in a small group setting with one or more other kids near her age. Please call Hillary at 707-483-2272 if interested. Thank you! (5/11)