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September 22 2017

Integrity – Act with authenticity, act with transparency, act with uprightness
Grade 2 Knitting in the Courtyard

CALENDAR

Monday September 25
Boys Soccer Game VWS vs KDHS 3:30 pm (Trillium Park)

Tuesday September 26
Grade 5 Parent Meeting 7:00 pm (GS)
The First Seven Years Seminar Series 7:30 pm (ECC)

Wednesday September 27
Boys Soccer Game VWS vs EJV 3:30 pm (Kirkstone Park)

Thursday September 28
Girls Volleyball Practice 3:30 pm (HS)
Boys Soccer Game VWS vs STP 3:30 pm (Kirkstone Park)
Grade 7 Parent Meeting 7:00 pm (GS)

Friday September 29
Community Coffee Morning 8:30 am (GS)
Christmas Fair Planning Meeting 8:45 am (GS)
Michaelmas Pageant 2:00 pm (GS)
Find the full calendar in your Parent Portal on BigSIS or on our website.
Download the Important Dates & Closures Calendar.
High School Options: Ukulele Making

REMINDERS

Emergency Contact Forms - Login to your Parent Portal to complete or confirm these essential forms. The process should take only a 2 to 3 minutes minutes per child. All forms are due no later than September 30.

Parking & Morning Drop-off - Please be reminded that the front of the school is for drop offs only. Please do not park in this lane at any time nor block the entrance to the parking lot. May we suggest parking in the neighbourhood and walking to school, thereby using the time to invigorate your physical and mental well-being with your family and friends? The fire/bus lane needs to be free of vehicles for safety and insurance reasons. Please help us keep the school and parking lot a safe place. We do not want to resort to blocking the driveway to cars in the future. Thank you!

Red Door Store - The Red Door Store is looking for volunteers for after school shifts: M, W & F 2:30-3:30 pm, and Th 1:45-2:45 pm. The Red Door Store is sweet community hub and is an excellent place to get to know other parents at the Vancouver Waldorf School. Please stop in and say hello to Ella who manages the store, or drop her an email at reddoor@vws.ca if you are interested in helping out.

Photos - High School students have received their individual pictures from Lifetouch and the order deadline is September 27 for those wishing to order pictures. They may be brought in to Sarah Vondruska in the High School or ordered online. Grade School pictures are on their way and an update will come shortly! Grade School class photos will be taken on October 12 as will the retakes for High School and Grade School students. Please let your class teacher and Ronaye (Grade School) or Sarah (High School) know if you want retakes.

Become a Homestay Host - Are you interested in becoming a homestay host? We have an international student arriving in January for 3 months who is looking for a warm and caring, pet-free family to take them in. Please contact Karen at admissions@vws.ca if you would like to learn more.

Volunteer Opportunities - Areas to volunteer include: Friday Coffee Mornings, Crosswalk Safety, Special Event Support, Christmas Fair Planning, Event Baking, Parent Council, Gardening & Grounds, Red Door Store, Fundraising, and more! Please connect with Laura to get involved!

FACULTY FEATURE

Aspen Switzer, Choir
Hello Vancouver Waldorf School community. I'm delighted to be teaching the high school choir this year. I'm a grateful alumni of the Nelson BC Waldorf school. I attended music school at Selkirk College in Nelson after high school and spent most of my 20's as a touring singer/songwriter. At 25 I started my first choir in Montreal and then later directed choirs in Nelson and Vancouver. Eventually I relocated to Vancouver and retrained as a music therapist at Capilano University. 
Most recently my husband and I became parents to a sweet baby girl. I look forward to our upcoming year of singing together! 
 

FUNDRAISING

Grocery Cards
It couldn't get much easier! Order your pre-paid grocery cards and then use them in place of your usual payment method. You pay nothing extra and the school receives a kickback from the grocery store. Download an order form here and get your orders in by the end of the month for mid-October delivery. Visit our website for all the details. THANK YOU TO THE 24 FAMILIES WHO HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED!
SPUD Produce and Grocery Delivery
Order your organic BC apples in the Best of Fall Box at SPUD.ca/fundraising. If this is your first time supporting this fundraiser, enter the code FUNDRAISING at checkout and select Vancouver Waldorf School from the drop-down list, then complete your order. Your order may be delivered to your home or office and 25% of your produce box purchases will be donated to our school! Check out the many other box options to choose from.
VWS Spirit Wear
Our Spirit Wear is available from our online store. These comfortable sweats & hoodies make excellent birthday gifts, and we have even received the OK from P.E. teacher, Mr Jeremias, that children may wear spirit gear during PE class (in navy only please). Children's size samples for t-shirts & hoodies are available in the Red Door Store.

SOCIAL INCLUSION

"Working with Kim John Payne provided so many inspirations and practical tools for healthy social working across the grades. I am particularly looking forward to having my students involved with other grades, to share their experiences of growing up in the school and to, in turn, guide them through whatever challenges will come up during the year."

~Phil Fertey, Grade Eight Class Teacher

PARENT EDUCATION

Building Social Health in the Digital Age - Special guest Christof Wiechert will guide us on the topic of Building Social Health in the Digital Age. Please take up this opportunity to attend this unique lecture at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, October 18.

The First Seven Years - What can parents and teachers do to support a child’s physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual development? Each session builds on earlier sessions, and we encourage participants to attend the series as a whole. This Seminar Series is at 7:30 pm on Tuesday evenings.

The Inner Life of Bees Study Group - Join us for an in depth exploration of the Meaning of Bees. We will begin by screening The Queen of the Sun at 7:00 pm on Monday October 23, then continue with discussion for an additional 4 Mondays (breaking on November 6). We will meet again in the spring for an additional 5 weeks for a practical hands-on experience learning about beekeeping, as we install a hive and introduce honey bees to our Grade School campus.

AWSNA - Regarding Mexico and Puerto Rico

Dear Waldorf Community,
 
A number of you have contacted us regarding the recent, catastrophic earthquake in Mexico and the devastation from hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. As we are sure you can imagine it has been difficult communicating with our schools in the regions affected, but we did want to share the little we do know and ask you all to hold our Waldorf school communities in your thoughts during this very difficult time.
 
Right now our colleagues in Mexico report that the children in the affected areas, while shaken, are safe and receiving lots of love and TLC. In some areas, school is out until further notice while campuses are assessed for damage. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries in our school communities. However, many have no power, some have lost their homes, and others are surrounded by rubble.  
 
In Puerto Rico, communities are still bracing themselves for the aftermath of the storm and potential flooding. Trees are stripped bare and utilities are down all over the island. We have not yet heard from our member school in Aguadilla.
 
As we hear more and identify areas of support, we will keep you informed. In the mean time many blessings to you all during these rough times.
 
Very sincerely,
Beverly, Melanie, and Stephanie
Association of Waldorf Schools of North America

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Everything Flows Water Conference - Including a blessing by Wendy Charbonneau, poems, eurythmy, singing, audience participation and a talk with slides about water by Jennifer Greene from the Water Research Institute of Blue Hill, Maine. Jennifer is a leading spokesperson for environmental concerns and the nature of water. September 24th at 7:30 p.m. $10/$15/$20 at Kay Meek Theatre, 700 Mathers Ave, West Vancouver.
Water Conference Schedule | Water Conference Registration

Walk for Reconciliation - Join the Vancouver Waldorf School team! The purpose of this year's walk is to honour residential school survivors, intergenerational survivors, and to bring together Canadians of all backgrounds in a stand against intolerance and injustice. Meet at 9:00 am at Queen Elizabeth Plaza on September 24. ~ register here and search Vancouver Waldorf School.

WEEKEND READING

Make Them Scientists – Redirecting the Science Instruction Paradigm - Critical thinking and problem solving, in all fields of study, often requires looking at an old problem in a new way. The ability to observe a phenomenon with fresh eyes is a key first step in divergent or “out-of-box” thinking, which is, in turn, essential for innovation. Read More

The Powerful Force of Curiosity - I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein Curiosity killed the cat. Eve was curious about the forbidden fruit. Pandora was curious about what was in that box. Parables and proverbs of the past often warn against the dangers of seeking. Today, this notion is outdated. Read More

Happiness in the Classroom - We all want our children to be happy, and while this is traditionally thought of as an at-home concern, we send our kids to school hoping that they will have an emotionally enriching and balanced day. Read More
ABSENTEE STUDENTS
Please phone or email the school by 8:45 am to report absentee students.
* To report Grade School absences, call (604) 985-7435 x 5
(absentee line) or email rireland@vws.ca
* To report Early Childhood absences, call (604) 985-7435
Preschool x 101
Plum Cottage x 102
Red Rose x 103
Red Rose x 104
* For High School absentees call (604) 986-2999 or email svondruska@vws.ca
Thank you!

NOTES

VWS Garden & Play Yard

Happy Autumn Equinox! The Grade School campus has been preparing for their Michaelmas pageant, which will be open to the community to come watch and participate in next Friday afternoon. St. Michael is the guardian of humanity, who inspires courage, initiative and steadfastness. The image of his golden sword, gives us the courage to face the growing cold and darkness of the turning of season. As the world around us draws inward, we too begin to draw into ourselves in preparation of the coming season of introspection and contemplation.

On another note, good luck to our boys soccer team who are playing their first game of the season this afternoon at Kirkstone Park!

Enjoy your weekend every one!

Many blessings
Laura Bergstrome
Communications & Events
   
Did you see any errors? Or do you have something to contribute?
Contact Laura at communicationsandevents@vws.ca

Copyright © 2017 Vancouver Waldorf School, All rights reserved.


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