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Tibetan Monks Lead SunRidge Students in Chanting
SunRidge was honored to have three Tibetan monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery at our school assembly last Thursday. The monks spoke about focus, compassion, and how to clear one’s mind and work toward making others happy. They demonstrated some beautiful Tibetan chanting and then led us in some chants followed by silence. It was quite moving and beautiful. The monks are visiting as guests of the Pizzorno family, and were working on a sand mandala in the Barlow while here. Thank you Marcus and Miho Pizzorno for making this very special opportunity possible for SunRidge students!
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Storymaking and Storytelling for Rooting and Blossoming Relationships with Daniel Bittleston, Thursday, March 19th, 6 – 8 pm at the town campus library.
Daniel Bittleston delights in leading workshops on creating your own stories. He is a father of four, and over the course of his life, he attended six different Waldorf Schools and was a Waldorf class teacher for 20 years. He is a founder of the Santa Cruz Storytelling Festival.
Daniel will lead an inspiring and empowering workshop where participants will write a story, act one out, and practice some interpretation. Daniel will provide the opportunity to explore joys and successes as well as issues and challenges around storytelling.
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Charter Council Notes for March by Rebecca Davenport
The SunRidge Charter Council met on March 11th. Topics on the agenda included: the success of the recent open-application period; the 2015-16 school calendar; and the 2015-16 budget, which is still a work in progress but is looking healthy. We also discussed how to ensure the transition between directors goes smoothly and how to build an administrative team that supports our new one-director model. We heard reports from subcommittees that are beginning the planning for the 2016-17 Kindergarten move, and looking at developing a Spanish program for our school. Finally, we spent a fruitful and exciting hour and a half on long-term planning, priority-making, and goal-setting, with the helpful guidance of facilitator and SunRidge parent, Karin Demarest.
Charter Council meetings are open to the school community and the public. Parents are welcome to come sit in on a meeting, and also to have a few minutes to speak if there is a topic, question, or concern they’d like to bring to the Charter Council’s attention. The next meeting of the Charter Council is on April 15th, at 6pm in the school library.
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Thank You for Lunches
The faculty continues to be amazed and full of gratitude for the monthly lunches provided by each class. We have now enjoyed delicious and nutritious meals from classes 1-7. Thank you parents for all the time and energy you put into this wonderful expression of support for your children’s teachers (and administrators). We look forward to this generous and nourishing gift every month!
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Path Complete!
Our beautiful new path through the central garden area is now in use. Last week we forgot to acknowledge the living willow hut built by the 8th grade class that is part of the new garden area. Our new garden features water catchment systems and dry creekbeds that serve as storm run off as well. Thanks again to our 8th grade students for their work and design ideas (and they will be doing more as part of their graduating gift to the school), and to Permaculture Artisans for donating the water catchment tank and design time, and for their work crew that provided such a finely done completed project. Also, thank you again to Mariah Smith, for the donation that made this fantastic site improvement possible. Now, onward to planting!
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Focus on Bullying and Harassment
As part of our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) this year, we had a goal to heighten our middle school students’ awareness and sensitivity to the issue of teasing, bullying, and harassment. Toward that end we have brought in Rick Concoff to teach/facilitate 9 classes with grades 5-8 during March and April. These classes will focus on an understanding of bullying, attitudes, boundaries, social exclusion, and the related moral, ethical, and legal implications of behavior in these realms.
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Our Parent Handwork Group has started to create! We are planning on a variety of projects: knitting, wet felting, needle felting, crocheting, and anything else of interest to participating parents. All, with the goal to sell our creations at the Falling Leaves Festival. So come join, learn a craft, have some tea and meet other parents every week.
- When: Every Thursday, 9-10:30am
- Where: SunRidge Handwork Room
- Any skill level welcome; the more the merrier.
- Adults only please (babies in arms always welcome)
Crafting is not required, but highly encouraged and learning in a group setting could be a great way to get started.
We have some knitting needles available to use. Thanks to the support of the Parent Council, we do have wool to get our group started. For future projects, we welcome donations of wool yarn and wool roving.
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Rummage Sale
The 7th Grade is holding a Rummage Sale on Sat/Sun April 25-26 in the SunRidge Multipurpose Room (the gym) to raise funds for their 8th Grade field trip. If you have anything you would like to donate that is in reasonable to good condition, please drop off in the 7th grade class room before or after school with a note stating "rummage" or call Rosalie on 823-3065 or email rosalie.simmons@gmail.com if you want items picked up from your house or office.
The 7th Grade would like to thank everyone who has donated thus far.
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Pledges received for
July-February:
$131,388
Current Pledge Participation Rate: 79%
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.
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Community Events
Pumpkin and Sunflower Growing Contest
The Men's Garden Club and the Seed Bank are holding their annual pumpkin and sunflower growing contest for kids 4-16 years of age at the Heirloom Festival September 8-10th. Visit the Seed Bank in Petaluma to receive a free package of seeds or visit them at their annual plant sale in Coddingtown Mall on April 10th and 11th. The entry form is available at the Seed Bank (closed Saturdays) or email Callie at calmand@twinhillsusd.org and she will send you a digital copy. Happy Growing!
The Resilient Parent and Child: Raising Easygoing, Strong, and Can-do Kids
Presented by Kim John Payne, M.Ed. Thursday, April 16, from 7:00-9:00pm at the Sebastopol Veterans’ Building in Sebastopol. This talk will focus on how to build deep, durable social and emotional foundations for our kids through healthy inner and outer adult work. Sliding scale donation requested: $10-20.
http://www.sunridgeschool.org/events.html
Volunteer Host Families Needed for a 3 & ½ Week, Summer Cultural Exchange!
Educational Homestay Programs, a non-profit organization, is seeking interested families to host Russian, Spanish and Italian High School students arriving to Sonoma County June 24th – July 2oth for Northern California experience! Students attend English language classes at Sonoma Academy and organized cultural activities, M-F. Host families are invited to join us in these activities! Make a lasting impact on a young person’s life by opening your home and heart to one of our students. Students do not need their own room. A network of host families is developing to coordinate summer time gatherings to heighten the cultural exchange and community experience our programs create. For more information, please contact EHP Site Director: Lisa Breschi at 707-304-1739 - email: lisabreschi@gmail.com
To learn more about EF Homestay Programs: www.ef.edu/ehp/
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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)
Extended Family Yard Sale!
Fri 8-3; Sat 8-3 and Sun 9-1
8425 Blackney Road - runs between Watertrough and Pleasant Hill, follow signs.
Lots of West County Treasure! Free Lemon Aide while it lasts!
Rental Needed
We are a family of three; our daughter is almost 11yo, and we have 2 cats and one older dog. We have to move from Freestone and a lovely home, and this is what we desire for our next home: very ideally, a home w 3 bedrooms on a shared piece of land, where we can freely have animals and gardens, and share in responsibilities for them with others. We would love to live near other kids to play with, and a house that is healthy, light and warm. Our life centers around Sebastopol, Forestville, and commute to Rohnert Park, so living in west county, west SR, along that corridor, would be ideal. A freestanding/ solo house is welcome as well. Buying in to a shared property is a potential as well. Thank you. If you have any information, please call us: Chris 495-1239 and Chris and Rolf 874-6038.
Rental Needed
Long time SunRidge family looking for a place to land. We have 6 weeks to find our next homestead. Willing to get creative! Looking for 2 bedroom with some kind of yard. 2 cats, and chickens, egg layers. If no to Chickens we are looking for a home for them too! Please contact Paula Tucker (mom to Travis 6th and Galen 2nd) (707) 217-5350 leave a message if I am unavailable!
Co-own Home?
I am looking for interested folks to co-own the country home and 3 acres I currently rent on Cooper Rd. 3bed/2bath house, detached studio, barns, garden space, year-round creek, solar-powered and close to SunRidge (12-15 minute bike ride to school). I need to find interested folks within the next 6 weeks. Please call Dana if interested at 332-6225 or danagundling@gmail.com
Day Care Services
32-year old former School Garden Teacher with over 4 years experience teaching and many years of nanny/babysitting experience is available for daytime and after school care. I have a deep passion to connect children with the natural world and help them form deeper connections with themselves and their community. I am first-aid certified, trustworthy, own a reliable car, and have flexible hours. Rate depends on number of children and how many hours needed. I can provide you with a professional child-care resume and references. Contact Lindsey Whited at 330.212.3616 or lindseymariewhited@gmail.com.
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