Weekly Bulletin

IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE:

Making a Difference

Online State Test Results Now Available

Save the Date

Thank You 7th Grade Parents!

School and Classroom Visitors

Walk & Roll to School Day

Homework Support

Extra Funding Opportunity

SunRidge Library Needs You!

Parent Handwork Group

Santa Rosa Symphony

Welcome Dada Gundling

Coffee with Ms. K

Parenting Workshops

Community Events

Classified

Calendar

Tuesday, September 15th-18th:

6th Grade Field Trip to Mt Lassen

Wednesday, September 16th, 6-9pm:

Charter Council Meeting in the Library

Monday, September 21st-25th:

7th Grade Field Trip to Mt Eddy

Monday, September 21st, 6:30-8:30pm:

Kindergarten Parent Evening

Friday, September 25th, 9am

SunRidge Educational Foundation Meeting in the Library

Tuesday, September 29th, 6:30-8:30pm:

Middle School Meeting

September 30th-Oct 2nd

5th Grade Field Trip to Jug Handle

Thursday, October 1st, 11am-12:15pm:

Michaelmas at Ives Park for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade

Thursday, October 1st, 5:30-7pm

2nd Grade Parent Evening

Making A Difference:
In the 5th grade, Ms. McKenzie teaches the students how to knit socks, providing a high quality woolen yarn for their work. One of our ambitious students decided to knit a pair of socks for her mother and father. Upon seeing the quality of workmanship taught in knitting the socks, an uncle insisted that the socks be entered into The County Fair.
Inspired by the idea of entering knitted items in the Fair, her younger sister assembled the animals she had knitted in the 1st grade, under Ms. McKenzie's tutelage, into a farm scene complete with corrals and a barn.
The socks won First and Second Place ribbons. In order to have won, her work was compared to a pair of socks where one sock was blue with a green heel and toes and the other sock was green with a blue heel and toes.
When a judge was asked why the SunRidge socks were considered better than the blue/green socks, she responded:
"I didn't judge this competition, but the socks were most likely turned inside-out to look at the technique and workmanship."
The farm scene won not only a First Place ribbon, but was also awarded Best of Class.
A special thank you to Ms. McKenzie for the inspiration she brings to her classes.

Online State Test Results Now Available
The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, or CAASPP, which has replaced the Standardized Testing and Reporting, or STAR Program, is the new state academic testing program. CAASPP is a system intended to provide information that can be used to monitor student progress and ensure that all students leave high school ready for college and career. Last spring, the 6-8^th graders took a CAASPP assessment that included computer adaptive tests in English–language arts and mathematics as well as paper-based tests for science. As a public Waldorf charter school that does not introduce technology in the younger grades, we were successful in obtaining a waiver from the online test for the 3-5^th grades; these classes took a paper and pencil version of the test. The paper and pencil results have not yet been released.
Grade level results of the online testing process for SunRidge’s 6-8^th grades are now available on-line. Parents will receive individual student reports by mail (these are not available online). The reports will include an overall score, a description of the student’s achievement level for English–language arts and mathematics, and other information. It is important to note that these scores cannot be compared to scores that your child previously received on the STAR Program tests because this test is based on the new Common Core State Standards, involves different types of test questions, and will not be reported using the STAR Program reporting categories. The middle school results for English Language Arts (ELA) averaged 66% meeting or exceeding the standards and 38% in Math. The Sonoma County averages were 46% for ELA and 33% in Math and statewide the averages were 44% in ELA and 33% in Math.
This is the first year of this new type of test and we see these averages as a baseline for planning professional development, instruction, and support to increase student achievement. This test is only one of many indicators of student progress. Please contact your child’s teacher or the director with any questions you may have. As we analyze the data, more information will be shared in the newsletter.

Save the Date
Come to a parent meeting open to all regarding the Middle School Program.
Middle School Teachers will be presenting an informative evening on Tuesday, September 29^th from 6:30-8:30pm in the library. Meet the current class teachers and Math specialist. The focus will be on the curriculum as well as student skills, such as the development of good work habits, self-regulation and home-school communication. A more detailed agenda will be published next week. Parents in all grades, and especially 4^th-8^th, are encouraged to attend!

Thank You 7th Grade Parents!
A Full-bellied thank you to the parents of the 7th grade who provided the faculty last Thursday with a sumptuous array of salad options, drinks and desserts. We appreciate this gesture tremendously!!

School and Classroom Visitors:
We welcome parents to observe and volunteer in the classroom. The school has guidelines established for all visitors to the school that ensure safety and minimum disruption of student learning. If you wish to observe a class in session, the first step is to schedule a time with the teacher at least 24 hours in advance. Once the teacher lets you know what day will work, on that day, please check in at the office, sign the visitor's log and take a visitor's badge. When the observation is complete, sign out and return the badge in the office. This same procedure is also necessary when volunteering in the classroom. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact Theresa or Kalen.

Walk & Roll to School Day
Wednesday, October 7th, is the date for Sonoma County's Walk and Roll to School Day! Are you interested in promoting the idea of walking and bicycling to school? Would you enjoy organizing some publicity and reception for this event? Let Kalen or Erin know (by September 25th) if you'd like to help create this celebration of sustainable transportation at SunRidge.

Homework Support
After school Homework Support for students in 6-8th grades will begin on Monday, September 28. This program is being offered by the middle school teachers and staff on Mondays-Wednesdays from 3:15-4:00, and Thursdays from 1:10-2:00 and there is no fee. This is a quiet time offered after school to complete assignments and homework. Students are to be picked up promptly. Next week's newsletter will have additional information.

Extra Funding Opportunity
We recently sent home a form regarding Supplemental Funding for SunRidge School. If your family meets the Income Eligibility Guidelines given on the form, please complete the survey and return to the SunRidge School office by noon on Thursday, September 17th. Extra forms are available in the office. This could translate into additional funding for SunRidge. Thank you !

The SunRidge Library needs you!
Christina Bush, Dianne Namkung, Kalen Wood, and Michael Powell (librarian from the Sonoma County Office of Education) discussed the tasks necessary for our school library. We are interested in forming short-term teams to cull the collection, barcode the books, and shelve the collection.
If you’d like to be part of a small team with a specific task, please contact Erin at egreen@twinhilllsusd.org with your name, contact info, and the best times for you to volunteer. Thank you!

Parent Handwork Group meets on Tuesdays Now!
The Parent Handwork Group’s goal is to sell our creations at the Falling Leaves Festival. We are working on a variety of projects: knitting, wet felting, needle felting, crocheting, and anything else of interest to participating parents. So come join, learn a craft, have some tea and meet other parents every week to create.
When: Every Tuesday, 8:30-10:30am in the SunRidge Handwork Room
Current Project: Needle-felting Mother Earth, Autumn Fairies, Toadstools, Pumpkins.
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.
If you have extra supplies, we welcome donations of wool yarn and wool roving. Unfortunately, we'll have to put off the family crafting afternoons that we had planned. We might try again in the future...

Santa Rosa Symphony

Your child can learn the violin,viola, cello or double bass

The String Orchestra Workshop provides beginning musicians with an opportunity to learn to play with others in a small ensemble, in preparation for the full-orchestra experience. Players work directly with string coaches. The small group allows for greater personal attention and builds strong foundational skills.

Classes are held on Saturday mornings at Santa Rosa Junior College in Forsyth Hall

Next session begins September 26 for beginners and advanced beginners, ages 5-adult

Classes will be held for 8 weeks from September 26-November 14.

LEVEL ONE (less than one year of experience okay) 9:00 am to 9:50 am (high strings), 11:45am to 12:35pm (low strings)

LEVEL TWO – adults welcome (one year experience required) 9:00am-9:50am (all strings)

Tuition: $150. A $25 non-refundable deposit is required at the time of application.
The remainder of the tuition ($125) will be due in full on or before the second rehearsal.

To apply, please submit the following:

Completed Registration Form
A $25 non-refundable deposit

Click here to apply:

http://santarosasymphony.com/Santa_Rosa_Symphony/media/Documents/2015-SOW-Registration-Fall.pdf

Welcome Dana Gundling
Maestra Dana ha pasado algunos años en países latinoamericanos, como Mexico, Cuba y Brasil, trabajando con movimientos comunitarios de agricultura ecologica y justícia social. Hizo su carrera en Estudios Latinoamericanos en la Universidad de Stanford. Trae una pasion para la cultura, ecología y arte latinoamericana a los niños. Le encanta conectar los niños al idioma, la historia y perspectiva de otras culturas. Maestra Dana esta enseñando espanol dos veces a la semana del 4 al 8 grado y a los estudiantes del programa de aprendizaje en casa, aparte de ofrecer su tiempo voluntario al 2 grado, la clase de su hijo. Le da mucho gusto enseñar idiomas como una manera de tejer nuestros valores y experiencias comunes como seres humanos.
Maestra Dana has spent several years in Latin American countries such as Mexico, Cuba and Brazil, working with grassroots organic farming movements and social justice. She got a degree in Latin American Studies at Stanford University. She brings a passion for Latin American culture, ecology and art to the children. She loves to connect children with the language, history and perspective of other cultures. Maestra Dana is teaching Spanish twice weekly in 4th through 8th grade and for the homeschool students. Apart from offering her volunteer time in her son’s 2nd grade class, she enjoys teaching languages as a way to weave our common values and experiences as human beings.

Coffee with Ms. K
Wednesday, September 30^th, 8:30-9:30am
Come join us for a morning cuppa joe to hang with Ms. Kalen and other SunRidge parents. The Bistro will be at the benches in the courtyard. Questions? Contact Ann (grade 4) annh@pacific.net
Sponsored by the Parent Council.

Parenting Workshops:
Understanding Your Child
Two Workshops For Parents and Teachers

The 9-10 Year Old Change
Becoming Aware of the Emerging Self
At 9-10 years old the child “Crosses the Rubicon” from early childhood into the tween years. Some call this experience a time of crisis but if we look deeper, we can see the unique “Self” awakening. Advertisers coined the word “tween” as a group to lure into shopping so they could increase profits. We will explore the experience of the emerging Self and how the parent can give support through this phase of life in a world that tries to draw them into the teen years before they are ready.
Two Mondays: 9/28 & 10/5
3:30PM – 5:00PM
From Tween To Teen
This workshop will explore the experience of young people as they move from the Tween years into Puberty when they become “Ripe For The Earth”. We will explore issues facing youth from 12 – 14: the birth of thinking and sexuality, how to speak and listen to your child, discipline, falling in love and the crush and the development of the human heart. Movement and art can bring needed support and nourishment to teenagers.
Three Mondays: 10/19, 10/26 & 11/2
3:30 – 5:00PM

Space is limited!
Both workshops will be led by Don Basmajian, who has been a class teacher for over 35 years. He is also the founder and director of Center for Educational Renewal, which trains Waldorf Teachers in Sonoma County. Register: www.edrenew.org Fee: Sliding scale $50 - $200 Location: 3rd Grade Classroom at Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm 655 Willowside Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95401

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Mindfulness for Children and Families
The Joyful Mind Project is offering opportunities for children ages 0-12 and their families to cultivate awareness, generosity, and compassion. See link below and scroll down for the flyer.
http://www.sunridgeschool.org/events.html

Sophia’s Sunday Circle
A Spiritual gathering for families and individuals led by Linda Delman and Sophia community members, embracing a compassionate, creative, and inclusive spirituality. Sunday, September 27^th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday Circle is held monthly. See http://www.sophiassanctuary.org for events calendar.
Sophia’s Sanctuary
2836 Bloomfield Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-827-3536

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)

Mother and daughter looking for a new home.
One to two-bedroom house or cottage with a yard for children play in and a bit of space for a garden. We would like to stay in Sebastopol or find another place in West County. Will consider a house-share. Our household also includes the two sweetest little kitties ever. selmaruth@hotmail.com or (707) 621-4005

Mentor/Tutor Needed
We are looking for a responsible, kind teenage male mentor/tutor for our almost 11 year old son. Ideally this person would be available one afternoon a week for a couple of hours to hang out with our son: play basket ball, help out with homework, math, organizational skills, talk about sports, and overall be a kind, caring, responsible role modal for our son as he goes through this transition into becoming a “big kid.” We are willing to pay well for the right person. If you know of an outstanding young person that might be interested in an opportunity like this, please let us know. JenMichiahRothman@gmail.com

Dear SunRidge Community,

After several months, we are still looking for a home. We want to be back in Sebastopol or closeby as soon as possible to be back in our community again. I am the Spanish teacher at SunRidge and my son, Ayani, is in the 2nd grade. We are looking for a shared home with others, ideally a 3-4 bedroom place with some land for gardening and our chickens. We have others that are looking with us that would fill a home together. Our price ranges are $1500-$1800 for a 2-bedrm/2 bath, $1800-$2500 for a 3bed/2 bath and $2500-$3500 for a 4 bedrm/2-3bath. We would like to be within biking distance of SunRidge if possible but having a place with land (an acre or more would be nice) that is close to town yet in the country is most important. If you have any leads, please let me know as we ideally would like to move by September. Feel free to call me at 707-332-6225 or send me an email to danagundling@gmail.com. Thanks so much! Dana Gundling

Childcare Needed

We are looking for a creative, responsible, sensitive person to be with our daughters (ages 11 and 8) on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons. Responsibilities include picking the girls up from school, playing with them, taking the occasional trip to the library or park, helping with homework, and very minor dinner prep. The approx. hours are 2 PM-5 PM (Thursdays will sometimes be 1-5) with periodic increased hours on random school holidays or late work nights. Previous experience with references, a reliable (safe) car with a clean DMV record, and an excellent reading voice are musts. We are located in downtown Sebastopol. $15 an hour. Starting August 17th. Please contact Marla at marzipan29@sbcglobal.net or 707-824-5659.