School Calendar

Two Opportunities to see WSA at the Decatur Book Festival

This weekend!

WSA will be in booth 514 (on E Ponce de Leon near Starbucks) during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 2 from 10am-6pm and on Sunday, September 3 from noon-6pm to share information about our school with prospective parents and friends.  Our children’s activities will be to twist yarn to make bookmarks and to roll beeswax candles.  Please come by and say HI!  

We are excited to announce that WSA will also be a presence on the Sycamore Family Zone Stage (in front of Decatur Library) on Saturday, September 2 at 1pm.  Come join our flash mob audience as Mr. Smith leads with "Hey My Name Is Joe" and follows with his coyote story. 

The Decatur Book Festival (www.decaturbookfestival.com) is the largest independent book festival in the country, and it draws tons of families from Decatur and surrounding communities.  We will staff the booth in 2-hour shifts.  Please join us at this wonderful outreach event for our school, whether you are a new or veteran parent.  Email Stacey Alston (salston@waldorfatlanta.org) to sign up. 

Substitute Teacher Training

Substitute training will be held Friday, September 8th from 9 am until 12:30pm.  Additionally, trainees may choose to stay until 3:10 to observe a full day, including dismissal.  Training will include observing Main Lesson and at least one transition, daily rhythms, policies and procedures of the school, and all paperwork necessary for employment.  All substitutes are required to complete a background check.
 
The training is for anyone who would like to be a substitute teacher for kindergarten through grade 8, as well as for any current substitutes on our list that has not been to a training or would like a refresher.  Please RSVP by Wednesday, September 6th to lknight@waldorfatlanta.org  if you would like to attend or if you have any questions.

School Garden Support

Hopefully by now, some of our young gardeners have shared with you the loveliness and wonder found while in the School Garden.

We are preparing the best we know how to set up the garden for their experience to be rewarding. This can be the miracle of abundance or the reality of seeds not germinating due to lack of rain, all of which is part of the processes for that which lives in a garden.

Sometimes, however, the garden needs some extra help; help with the work that is not for the students to do. For this we would like to ask the parents to volunteer and support the success of our school Garden.

The garden could also use materials that are perhaps around your house or are not being used by your family or friends. The list for both needs is below:

        Items:                                                                           Labor:

1. gutter & downspout for garden shed                         labor to install gutter and downspout
2. rain barrel                                                                  deliver
3. overhang over potting bench                                     labor for that 
4. new rain catcher for water reservoir                          labor to replace kid pool now on top
5. for the compost: grey cardboard egg cartons, plain brown cardboard, insides of toilet tissue roll and of paper towel, coffee grounds, bunny-, guinea pig-, chicken- or cow-manure, leaf bags full of leaves (for manure pls contact me, and all of the other items can be placed to the left or behind the compost bins)

In an effort to make cardboard donations easier, we will also have a container out during Lost and Found pickup at the end of each month.

Thank you in advance for partaking in our ‘Beautiful Garden Effort’ 
If you have any questions or manure, please use the following email address:   gardenwithbrigitte@gmail.com

Adult Education Opportunities

As a member of the community of WSA, you've probably heard of anthroposophy and might even have asked yourself “What does Anthroposophy have to do with Waldorf education?” A brief answer, taken from the AWSNA website tells us: 
 
Waldorf Education, established by Rudolf Steiner and Emil Molt in 1919, has its foundations in Anthroposophy.  At the heart of Anthroposophy is the belief that humanity has the wisdom to transform itself and the world, through one’s own spiritual development.  To that end, Waldorf Education holds as its primary intention the ideal of bringing forth—in every child—his or her unique potential in a way that serves the further development of humanity.  The curriculum, pedagogy, and teaching methods are designed to nurture this potential.
 
One of the beautiful things about Rudolf Steiner's philosophy is that it is on-going and available to human beings at all phases of life. If you are interested in learning more about Anthroposophy and adult study opportunities, you might want to learn more about the Atlanta Branch of the Anthroposophical Society. Free study groups meet locally on a regular basis. 
 
If you are interested in foundational studies in anthroposophy, you might like to know about the Atlanta Cooperative for Anthroposophical Studies. One of our upcoming studies will be led by our good friend and previous WSA Faculty Chair, Randy Evans, who will be visiting from Richmond, VA.
 
Weekend workshop with Randy Evans
From Normal to Healthy: Finding Your Path with Anthroposophy 
September 8- 10, 2017 at the ARC/Decatur

** Please note change of time on Saturday, now 2-6pm, after the Board/Core Workday

Drawing from his study of George Kuhlewind’s book From Normal to Healthy: Paths to the Liberation of Consciousness, Randy will lead a weekend of discussion and group work. This book has a lot to offer someone who is new to Anthroposophy, as well as for those who are seasoned in anthroposophical study. Using the book we will explore the question of how much practical time do we usually devote to the general art of being human? Kuhlewind explains the unhealthy, unfree nature of today's consciousness and gives us practical advice for gaining freedom. All are welcome to join us for a friendly and enriching group study. 

We are planning: Friday evening Introduction at 7pm, Saturday Workshop from 2-6pm, Sunday Morning Conclusion from 9am to 11am. Soup and salad lunch provided on Saturday, as well as coffee, tea and snacks throughout the weekend. Suggested donation $30-$60. 


Email Angela Foster to register or for more info at ACAS@thirdbody.net

Media-Lite Living

 After School Outdoors Event

• Monday, September 11
• 3:15-4:15 p.m.
• "Sharing the Joys of Life Beyond the Screens"
• Admin Driveway
• Sharing games, activities, and more!
• Why?  WSA students of all ages and their parents come together to create fun and community around non-media recreation
• Middle School students may attend without a parent

Questions? Contact samichelson@gmail.com
Fun for all....hope to see you there!

Upcoming Community Book Drive

September 11^th- 29^th on the Decatur and Inman Park campuses
 
Children Read, a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity, collects and distributes early-learner books to
children through Head Start and other preschool programs for children of low-income families.
The purpose is to give all children the gift of reading and the pride of owning books forever.
Children Read puts the books in book bags and distributes them to the children to take home and
build their very own libraries.

Parent Ads

Watch for our Parent Ad email next week!  If you offer services or have a small business you would like to advertise, this is a great way to get your name to our community.  Parent Ads will arrive in your inbox the first week of every month, so if you would like to advertise, please send 50 words or less to kmacken@waldorfatlanta.org by the last day of each month.  If you wish to get something in the ads email next week, please send by this Tuesday, the 5th.

Photo Opt-out

During the course of the year, The Waldorf School of Atlanta may wish to use photographs and videos of students either demonstrating learning techniques and/or participating in class or school activities. All parents, when signing the contract, gave permission for the school to use these images on a controlled basis, including but not limited to, school publications, advertisements, articles, brochures, displays, and the internet (WSA website, Facebook and blog). With the exception of the annual yearbook, children pictured will not be identified by name.  If you wish to opt out of this agreement, please email Rhonda Wildman by Friday, September 8 at rwildman@waldorfatlanta.org.

Twin Hearts Group Meditation

Please join WSA parents, Anastasiya Zholudev and Dawn Myers, for Twin Hearts Meditation every Thursday morning from 8:30-9:30am in the Hospitality Room.  As the cornerstone of pranic healing, this 20 minute guided meditation has many benefits.  Practicing regularly, the Meditation on Twin Hearts can increase emotional and mental clarity, and support our inner peace and joy.  Feel free to stay after the meditation to receive a free 5-10 minute pranic healing.

Come join us to center yourselves! Please reach out to Anastasiya (kalnenko@gmail.com) or Dawn (dawnmyershc@gmail.com) with any questions.  To learn more about Pranic Healing please visit Dawn's web-site at: Dawnhealercoach.com or Atlpranichealing.com

Morning Connections