Welcome to all our First Grade Students who crossed the Rainbow Bridge on August 27th, 2019
Barret Bolin, Aliyah Duley, Adele Herbert, Anella Stocker, and
Noah Whitaker
Administrator's Notes
I am so pleased to offer a warm welcome, and welcome back, to our students and their families! I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful summer break, with plenty of time for visiting family and friends and exploring the amazing county and world we live in. After months of consideration, preparation and planning we are all thrilled to have students back on campus, bringing our school back to life. Thank you for making this choice and commitment to education and to being a part of our community. In addition to the education of children, which is our primary objective, as a Waldorf school we also strive for social renewal in all our relationships. This provides an opportunity for us in our one on one conversations and in meetings to incorporate the principles of Waldorf education, a copy of which can be found here: Principles of_Waldorf_Education.pdf.
In this school year WSMC Faculty and leadership are committed to bringing the study of these principles more into consciousness with the parents of our school. We believe this will increase the integrity of our school and is also a preparation for our Accreditation visit, which we hope will happen in the next year or two. During this visit, Accreditation Team members will speak with all bodies of the school, including parents. They are looking for alignment with Waldorf Principles and how they live in our school community, policies and procedures.
One way we practice alignment with these principles is through our Direct Communications Policy: "...All communications are expected to be direct, clear, honest, timely, sensitive, respectful, supportive, and useful. Initially therefore, concerns should be addressed, directly and kindly, to the person involved." Often times parents come speak with me in the office prior to approaching a teacher or fellow parent. This is natural (I am often available) and acceptable. I am available to support parents bringing their concerns directly to the person involved - I can do this by coordinating a conversation and am happy to attend such conversations if that is helpful. Most concerns can be addressed simply by speaking with the person or people involved. When resolution is not found, the matter can be escalated to me or the Chair of the College of Teachers (Ms. McCarthy) for further attention. It is of utmost importance to all of our leadership spheres that we do address concerns adequately so please do not hesitate to bring them so we can work towards mutual satisfaction and understanding. I notice our community striving with real heart and ever increasing skill towards direct communication and I hope many of you find this rewarding.
As many of you know, the Governance of our school is taken up together by three spheres:
- Faculty & College (primarily concerned with pedagogical matters, curriculum and the spiritual health of the school)
- Board (primarily attending to legal and fiduciary responsibility)
- Administration (primarily tasked with the day to day implementation of our mission in accordance with the guidance from the other two bodies)
There is a lot of overlap, with many WSMC staff members and parents serving in more than one capacity. This helps us make decisions that work for as many of our constituents as possible. Parents are encouraged to participate in the life of our school through Board membership, by serving on a committee, working as a Class Parent and by attending Parent Meetings. If you would like to be more involved, please let me or a Class Teacher know, we would be happy to talk with you about the best use of your time, skills and interests.
The Heartbeat is now available in hard copy! If you’d like to receive the newsletter on paper, please let Jami know. There are copies available in the office. We are making this extra effort in order to increase readership. The Heartbeat newsletter is one of our primary communication tools. We work hard to make sure parents have all the information needed to create a safe, healthy and inclusive learning environment. If you want to see the pictures—check out the online version.
Entering my sixth year at WSMC I am so happy to see families, alumni and staff returning to WSMC in new capacities. I see other families preparing to graduate students and step off committees. I am struck by the cyclical nature of our institution. We have tried approaches and hosted trainings of so many kinds over our years as a school. Some of this knowledge is held institutionally, and can be shared. Other information needs to be revived and revisited so our current community members have a common language. Many things remain unchanged year to year. In other areas there is growth—please avail yourself of the news and updates shared by your Class Teacher, Class Parent and the office.
Each year is a blend of families and individuals at all stages of this cycle. The enthusiasm, dedication and openness of our incoming community members is balanced by the steady leadership and support of veteran parents who are leading various events and committees. This year we are seeking many individuals with all sorts of talents, energy and vision to take up leadership at WSMC. This leadership is critical to the success of many beloved events and also the stability of our school. It often feels it isn’t the right time to take on responsibility and leadership. It feels impossible with young children to even get everyone fed in a day, let alone agree to make sure Enchanted Pumpkin Path (EPP) guests are fed. In the older grades we can be busy carpooling our children to sports, dance classes and play dates. How could we agree to arrange transportation and gear for Field Trips? There is really never an ideal time to step up out of our comfort zone and add another responsibility to our lives. WSMC is able to provide all we do, for our students, for each other, and for our community because, for years, parents have been willing to take one more than was comfortable or seemed possible.
Please consider saying yes to one of these opportunities, I believe you will be glad you did:
¨ Enchanted Pumpkin Path seeks several leads to work with Autumn in producing this event
¨ The Auction requires an Event Lead—this position includes a stipend
¨ The Board of Trustees seeks 4—6 new members
¨ The Poker Tournament seeks a lead—this position includes a stipend
¨ Individual classes are soliciting key volunteers to support fundraising, field trips and other projects (varies class by class)
¨ Our administrative staff seeks support with graphics and several other key areas. If you have expertise in Outreach and Marketing we’d like to talk with you.
What is it that makes a Waldorf school a Waldorf community? Parent engagement. Over the tenure of your children attending school you will be asked many times to help. Many times you will say yes. I know this to be true because I look around every day on our campus and see the loving and dedicated labors of parents. Thank you! I hope you see the great benefit of your gifts—I do. I look forward to working with all of you this year.
New WSMC Staff
Our program is anchored by our lead faculty and it is elevated to the level of exceptional by our Specialty Teachers. They bring depth, breadth and practical experience to our program. We are so pleased to have a full Specialty staff this year. Joining our veteran teachers are the following teachers, when you see them on campus please introduce yourself and help us extend a warm welcome.
Christy Barron,Red Rose Kindergarten Assistant, Sports, Beeswax and Clay modeling
I started working with children in Early Childhood Education when I was a high school student in Richmond, Virginia. I received my B.A. in Elementary Education from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC and shortly after, discovered my interest in Waldorf Education.
Upon finishing college, I applied to serve as an Americorps member in Ukiah, California at FIRST5 Mendocino. After completing my service, a position as Debra McCarthy’s assistant in Red Rose Kindergarten at the Waldorf School of Mendocino County became available. The first year I worked in Red Rose, I was also the Aftercare Provider for the Grades; the following year, I was the First Grade Teacher. After my class finished fourth grade, I worked within the Waldorf movement as the Enrollment Coordinator at Yuba River Charter School in Nevada City, and taught first grade at a Waldorf-methods school in Shenandoah, Virginia.
I am overjoyed to be back at WSMC, working again in Red Rose as Ms. McCarthy’s assistant and a specialty class for the Grades children.
While students primarily interact with the teachers at WSMC, parents often work closely with administrative staff. Many of you have witnessed the almost complete turnover of our administrative staff in 2018/19. We are settling into a new year with Jennifer Krauss at the Business Manager desk.
Jami O’Connor, WSMC parent and Board member, takes her place at the front desk.
Jami O’Connor, Office Coordinator & Registrar
I am excited to take on this role at WSMC. My family and I have been at this school for 12 years, with my oldest going until 6 th grade and my youngest is in her final year and will be graduating in June 2020! I have worked in many capacities at this school from Board member, parent, and lead roles for our events. I love this school and look forward to getting to know all the new parents and students!
For the last two years Kori Allbritton has been working at WSMC providing additional support in math and language arts, mostly using funds from the State, administered by our local school districts. This year, she is joined by Kathleen Hennings in order that more of our students can receive support in small groups. Both Kori and Kathleen work under the guidance of our Care Team (captained by Ms. Evans).
Kori Allbritton, Resource Teacher
I grew up in the Bay Area and after high school I attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies and then went on to receive my multiple subject teaching credential a year later. After college I substitute taught for several years and I taught horseback riding lessons during the summers. I also went back to school to earn my Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Presently, I am enjoying working with students here at WSMC in a small group setting, providing extra support in reading and math. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, swimming, horseback riding, skiing, and snowboarding.
Kathleen Hennings, Resource Teacher/ Kindercare
I received my BA degree in Child Development from the California State University, Chico, and my California State Teaching Credential from Dominican College in San Rafael.
I began my public school teaching career of 21 years, in Willits, when my daughter, Emily Rose, was three years old. Up until then, I had taught preschool, and worked with children in various educational capacities.
When my four year old daughter aged out of preschool, and was, in my mind, too young to begin public school kindergarten, I discovered the Waldorf School Kindergarten program in Willits. It was the perfect solution for my country raised, sensitive, imaginative young child. Thus beginning, and continuing a valuable and treasured relationship with the Waldorf School of Mendocino County.
The more I learned about the philosophy of Waldorf education, the more of an integral part it played in my own teaching. For that, and the innovative, well-rounded 10 year education Emily Rose received, I am eternally grateful.
And, here we are, many years later, Emily Rose and I are working at the Waldorf School, and my sweet, sensitive, creative granddaughter, Eva, has begun her educational journey at this very same school.
School News
New Parent Orientation
Parents new to WSMC should plan to attend our New Parent Orientation on September 27th (Michaelmas) at 8:45am. This is a required, two hour orientation to our school. Waldorf education offers learning opportunities for the entire family in the form of Parent Meetings, volunteer opportunities, parent education events and festivals. When parents understand our culture, calendar, expectations and philosophy we are all able to best support the success of our students. This meeting is a time to welcome you to our school, for you to meet other new parents, ask questions and understand our policies and procedures. We will discuss the culture of WSMC, the expectations we have of parents, and some of the more critical policies. Please make sure that at least one parent attends this event.
Roots and Shoots
We are happy to announce the next session of our Roots & Shoots Parent Toddler Course. We are thrilled that Ms. Amy will be teaching the Fall Session. Come together with other families to joyfully sign songs, learn finger plays and bake bread. For parents and caregivers, a Roots & Shoots class provides a platform for discussion on child development and parenting and offers sources of inspiration for life at home. Adults with young children (ages 1-3) welcome.
Six Consecutive Wednesdays:
October 2nd-November 13th
10:15-11:45 AM
$180 for six classes
Pre-registration encouraged. Limited space available.
For information and to register www.mendocinowaldorf.org or speak with Emily Rose in the Office.
Reminders & Updates
TADS Payment Reminders
The WSMC partners with TADS.com for our tuition billing and management. If you would like to set up automatic payments from your bank account, log onto TADS.com, then go to Billing>Settings>Edit to enter your account information.
Payments can also be made by check, credit card, or cash in our office at anytime. TADS adds a 3% convenience fee for credit card payments, however, no additional fees are incurred if a payment is made using a credit card in our office.
Please note, a $35 late fee is automatically applied to any invoice unpaid by the 20th of each month. In extenuating circumstances, one late fee per family may be waived. In the past we were able to waive fees, this is no longer possible. To avoid fees, please pay your bill as soon as you receive it.
Feel free to contact our business manager, Jennifer Krauss, in the office or by phone or email: waldorf.bookkeeper14@gmail.com if you have any billing or TADS questions.
Afternoon Pick Up
Preschool and Kindergarten classes are over at 1pm daily.
Grades 1 - 8 finish at 3:30 Monday through Thursday and at 1:20 on Friday. Parents of First Grade students are encouraged to pick their children up at 1:20 for the first half of the school year when possible. This allows them to rest and renew themselves in the afternoons as they adjust to the new rigors of academic work (such as it is in First Grade). For students who do stay until 3:30, the afternoon is structured so the students enjoy less demanding activities.
For families that need it, Aftercare is available for PreK - 8th Grade students (see some details below).
Pick up time is a natural time for socializing. WSMC encourages this! We do ask that all children and families not staying for Aftercare leave campus by 4pm and observe all school rules the entire time they are on campus. This supports our Aftercare program and all the children participating in that program.
Extended Care Updates
Morning Drop off
Each morning all the teachers convene for a morning verse and meeting at 8:05am. After this time, they have a few moments to make copies or otherwise prepare for their day. Morning Yard Duty supervision begins at 8:10. There is Precare available to Kindergarten & Grades school students beginning at 7:30, Monday through Friday by prearrangement only! There is not always precare. Please DO NOT drop off your children before 8:10am unless you have confirmed precare with the office at LEAST 48 hours ahead of use. Precare requires preregistration and is held in the Aftercare/Movement Room. If you would like to sign up for Precare, please call the office. Please do not drop Preschool students off until 8:10 when they can be supervised. The charge for Precare is a flat rate of $8/student/use.
Reminders
Late pick ups: Last year, if parents were late to pick up their children, the office called before sending them to Extended Care. This creates quite a bit of confusion for students, Class Teachers and the office at an already hectic time of day. This year, teachers will send students directly to Extended Care if they are not picked up within 15 minutes of school dismissal. While we are not able to accommodate chronic requests, we are happy to help with the occasional traffic emergency that causes rare tardiness. In these situations, please call the office to let us know you will be late. Please note, last minute communications with Class 7 & 8 are slow and not always possible with limited staff. If your student is in Class 7 & 8 it is critical that you make arrangements early in the day.
Kindercare: Kindercare is limited to 12 students (due to State Licensing regulations). We are working on hiring a second Kindercare provider. Until we do, Kindercare may fill on some days. Please be aware of this and do not assume there is space for your student if they are not Pre-Registered (before 11am on the day care is needed). You can sign up on line, using your BIgSIS portal. If you aren’t sure how to do this, please stop by the office with an extra ten minutes and Jami will train you. Alternately you may call the front desk . There are only three ways to know your Kindercare request has been fulfilled:
1) You sign up online succuessfully
2) You talk with someone in the office who signs your child up and verbally confirms with you.
3) You receive a call back from the office confirming a place for your child on your requested day.
Absence: If your child has been marked absent by their teacher and is signed up for Extended Care, the office will assume you do not need the spot and will cancel them for the day. Grades students come to the office for late slips before entering class and this triggers the office to check Aftercare. If you are dropping off a student late for Preschool or Kindergarten, please stop by the office to let us know they are here for the day so they don’t lose their Kindercare spot.
Mendocino Transit Authority Bus
If your child/ren are taking the bus, the office MUST be notified prior to 2:30pm. This is to reduce the risk of a student disembarking with no one waiting to pick them up. You may email, call, stop by or send a note to the office. We will CONFIRM any messages. If we do not confirm your message, we have not received it. Now that Class 7 & 8 are way up at the top of the field last minute communication is more difficult. Please notify the office PRIOR to 2:30pm about bus rides.
Students who are riding the bus will be dismissed by their teacher and proceed to the TOP OF THE STAIRS above the bus stop where they WILL WAIT for the bus duty to collect them. For their own safety, children are not allowed in the bus stop without supervision.
BigSIS
The WSMC office staff sends sincere gratitude to all WSMC parents! Thank you for your patience and perseverance while logging in and filling out paperwork on BigSIS! Many enrollments paired with the turnover in our office staff late and BigSIS technical difficulties in August created a few more hiccups than normal, especially with BigSIS. We are still working hard to make sure everything is accurate and working smoothly. We appreciate your ongoing patience as we finish. BigSIS is working out kinks in their system, which is heavily affecting our school and users. They hope to have everything resolved and working smoothly this week. BigSIS is used to track pick up, health and contact information for students and parents. It helps keep us organized in our communications and to take care of WSMC students safely and well.
If you haven't already explored your Parent Portal, take a few minutes to do so. In addition to being the place to sign up for Extended Care it also gives you access to the entire school directory, including class lists.
If you are using a smartphone, we can add the URL to the portal in your contacts, so that it is easily retrievable for you. Once you save your password, you should be able to login with one to two clicks. If you would like some assistance setting this up, please stop by the office and we can spend a few minutes navigating your how's, why's, and what's, together.
Class Parents
Thank you to the dedicated and organized parents who have agreed to serve as Class Parents. The Class Parent from your class serves as an important link between the parents in your class and the Class Teacher and Office. Please support your Class Parent by offering your help when asked.
Rosebud Preschool: Erika Anello anello3700@yahoo.com 707-391-1583
Red Rose Kindergarten: Taj Uvaro tajuvaro@gmail.com 321-917-9677
Class 1 & 2: Megan Prout meganprout@gmail.com 707-367-7696
Class 3 & 4: Vanessa French vfrenchwsmc@gmail.com 707-621-3387
Class 5 & 6: Elizabeth Blecha dailydaffodil@gmail.com 707-485-2425
Class 7 & 8 : Kori Allbritton koanut@hughes.net 707-485-4280
Directory
The Office will be printing a 2019-20 School Directory. It will be ready for distribution at the beginning of October. Changes to your contact information can be made in your Parent Portal. Please fill out your Information Verification form, if you haven't already.
If you would like to advertise in the Heartbeat or School Directory, please call Jami in the front office to get more details. There is a small fee scale for specific ad space. If you're interested, the deadline for business cards, and/or your graphic will be September 22nd. Dress Code
Copies of WSMC's dress code went home to each student in the Back to School Packet. The dress code is designed to reduce distraction in the classroom and to enable students to move and play freely. The free uniform exchange rack will be up - feel free to bring in clean clothes to pass on, and to take clothes that your child can use.
Please take the time to read our dress code thoroughly and support your child by helping them to follow it. Small things, such as jewelry, temporary tattoos and nail polish are noticed by observant students. Skirts or jumpers are to be worn over leggings, which may be patterned.
Students not wearing school approved attire will be given alternate clothing to wear. This clothing may be washed and returned or kept and used. We have a limited supply of used clothing. If we run out and provide new clothes to a student, parents will be charged for the items.
. Cell Phones
WSMC adheres to a strict policy of no cell phones on campus. This enables everyone on campus to give their full attention to the children, and the conversations at hand. If a parent needs to use a cell phone on campus they are welcome to do so in the office or in the parking lot. If asked to refrain from using a cell phone on campus, please comply promptly. Please inform friends and family members of this policy to spare them being told by staff.
Food Labeling
This year in addition to many students with food sensitivities, we have at least two students with severe, life threatening allergies to peanuts and/or hazelnuts. As a result the entire WSMC campus is completely peanut and hazelnut free and teachers have communicated with the parents in their classes.
In order to support and protect these students, and others, we have developed a more complete food labeling procedure to be used during school functions.
When you bring food for a class event (birthdays or other celebrations) please speak with the teacher about the food allergies or sensitivities present. When possible, please avoid trigger foods. Everyone should always exclude completely peanuts and hazelnuts. When not possible, please label your food according to the instructions below.
When bringing food for an all school event (for example Michaelmas) please plan to have 10 extra minutes to make a label. We will provide laminated paper and dry erase markers. Please list ALL INGREDIENTS and your name on the paper. Then, using paper clips, attach the appropriate allergen labels to your tag (nuts, meat, dairy, soy, eggs, gluten).
If everyone takes the time and care to use this system we will support families in easily making healthy food choices for themselves. If you have any questions please direct them to Jami or Spring.
. Calendar on Website
Our WSMC Calendar is available, in real time, on our school website: . All school events, including scheduled Parent Evenings, Field Trips and Festivals can be viewed online. All families received the School Calendar in their Back to School packet. Click here for a PDF version: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/1e12bee2a44dd702c165a8c03/files/ae11174f-3db4-47f4-8da3-ced22de4705b/18.19_SCHOOL_Calendar.pdf
Our school calendar is built in Google Calendars. If you would like to program this calendar (and all the real time addition and changes to it, into your computer, tablet or phone, this is easy to do and enables you to have all your school activities automatically merged with your personal calendar. Please let Jami know if you'd like to activate this feature.
School Events
The Enchanted Pumpkin Path
Hello! My name is Autumn Whitaker, mother of Noah (first grade). I am the new coordinator for this year’s Enchanted Pumpkin Path (EPP)! This is our third year at WSMC with a year taken off for homeschooling. I am very excited to help create this wonderful and unique tradition here at WSMC. I have enjoyed the path for many years, coming even before my son was born to support friends, the school, and to soak in the magic that abounds during this event!
I am a lifelong resident of Mendocino county and I have organized events in the community for the past several years, including the Winter Solstice Spiral dance and the Maypole in the park in Willits. However I have never taken on an event quite this size. As of now our team is in need of some key volunteers who want to help make this year’s EPP happen. Many of the generous people who have taken a main part in the event in the past are stepping down this year. I want to invite all of you who may be interested in helping in any way to please reach out, we need all of you to make this happen!
Looking forward to working with you and celebrating our school through this special seasonal event and community offering.
You can reach me at 707-367-5443
Editors note: We are fortunate to have Autumn at WSMC and willing to coordinate and lead this magical Halloween tradition. However, the event will not be possible without three more volunteers to lead aspects of the path. These volunteers are needed by Friday, September 6 or we may not be able to continue this wonderful community tradition. If you love the EPP, please reach out to Autumn to get involved. Thank you.
Open Classroom Night, Waldorf 100, International Peace Day
Thursday, September 19th, 5:30 - 7:30pm
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this very special event at WSMC! The event is open to all WSMC families, friends and our broader community. This is a great time to socialize with community friends and see what students are working on. Most children love to share their work with parents. A centennial only comes once a lifetime for most of us, and this is a special time to appreciate Waldorf educations’ contributions to a healthy world and the potential it holds for a more peaceful and inclusive future worldwide. We look forward to seeing everyone there, please invite your friends! Evening Schedule
5:30pm Performing Assembly (Grades 3—8) - Movement Room
5:50 pm Open Classrooms, visit with teachers and see student work
6:00 pm Waldorf 100! Looking Back and Looking Forward Corner of 3rd and Moore Streets
6:30 pm Plant Peace Pole in honor of International Peace Day, remarks and song
6:45 pm Birthday Cake!
Later, in November, we will have a newly formatted Open House event, during morning hours. More details about this will come next month.
Michaelmas
WSMC will celebrate Michaelmas on Friday, September 28th with our annual pageant and shared soup lunch. This year Sixth Grade students will be presenting their volcanoes, which promises to be explosive and entertaining. Please plan to attend this wonderful fall community event. Please visit the "Events" section of our website (https://mendocinowaldorf.org/michaelmas/) to learn more about the historical roots of Michaelmas and how we celebrate this seasonal festival at WSMC.
As always, to make this event run smoothly we need some parent support. We will post sign up sheets outside classroom doors (Preschool, Kindergarten and 1st Grade) and the office (Grades 2 - 7). Please support our first festival by signing up if you can help!
This year at Michaelmas we will be implementing our new Labeling Procedure. Please see above in School News. If you are bringing food to share, please plan on spending a few minutes writing up your recipe. This small step supports our students and families who have food allergies and sensitivities.
Beautification Day
By Carissa Chiniaeff and Site Committee
Thank you to each and every one of you, and there were many, who showed up bright and early for a long, hot work day. The list was knocked out in just enough time for people to escape the brutal heat of the day.
When I recollect the day I remember one distinct feeling. I imagine it akin to the inner workings of the honey bee hive. There was a loud buzz of projects happening all over campus, not one person still enough to be seen. Nole and his chain saw cleaning up unsafe and unsightly branches, Martin riding his lawn mower around the field, Calvin shoring up the bench on the black top, Spring, Craig, Leif, Amy, Jessica shoveling many wheel barrows of sand, Alejandro building a new fence in Rosebud, Morgan constructing a new adventure for the wee ones, Chuck power washing away, Caleb cleaning up the creek. And just because you couldn’t hear Andy doing the safety check in the Kindergarten yard, the handicap line painters, the pruning crew in ECE or Emily pushing wheelbarrows of sand from upper campus to the kindergarten sand box doesn’t mean they weren’t working to full capacity.
Wow, the list goes on.
We had Eliza driving the trailer around picking up all the branches, Ben picking up hay, Adam Gaska and his gutter cleaning techniques. Joann and Wendy making a new garden under 3/4 class window, Stephen repairing the retaining wall, Sam discovering a much bigger project while working to repair a handicap access ramp, Grades teachers sorting and organizing resources, Emily Rose and Jami cleaning and restoring order in the Costume Shed.
That is just the list of people I saw. I also know that the Red Rose bathroom got painted, the Rosebud garden got cleaned out and new art was framed for the bathrooms.
We had fairy workers come to campus before and after work day to weed eat (Dennis!!!!), weed gardens, re-stripe the black top and leaf blow.
So you see, like the beehive, there was a flurry of activity. All happening at once, and all for one main purpose: to make our school a beautiful and safe place for our children. Sweet as honey. So thank you. And of course if we didn’t mention you and your job it’s not because we didn’t notice your hive contribution. Indeed, it was the collective labor of all of us that created such a successful work day.
Thank you to everyone that came!
Logg Family Alejandro Gutierrez and Alea
Caleb Morris Steve Faulk
Brewer Family Calvin Turnwall
Emily Rose Smith Kathleen Hennings
French Family Eliza Giacoma and Emma
Hathaway/Reda Family Martin Fitts
Palmer/McConnell Family Prout/Harrington Family
Senerchia Family Chuck Fischor
Stocker Family Hurtado Family
OConnor Family Alexis Silva-Doyle and Kai
Orozco Family Whitaker Family
Bolin Family Allbritton Family
Ranna Shamiya Eliza Frey and Bo and Iris
Gaska Family Shuster Family
Harris Family Melody Bettencourt
Noah Cornell Ben Strasser
Ryan Ballou Minor Family
Halper/Hill Family Debra McCarthy
Stephanie Croft Joy Evans
Inge Schaefer Kelly Austin
School Events
The Enchanted Pumpkin Path
Hello! My name is Autumn Whitaker, mother of Noah (first grade). I am the new coordinator for this year’s Enchanted Pumpkin Path (EPP)! This is our third year at WSMC with a year taken off for homeschooling. I am very excited to help create this wonderful and unique tradition here at WSMC. I have enjoyed the path for many years, coming even before my son was born to support friends, the school, and to soak in the magic that abounds during this event!
I am a lifelong resident of Mendocino county and I have organized events in the community for the past several years, including the Winter Solstice Spiral dance and the Maypole in the park in Willits. However I have never taken on an event quite this size. As of now our team is in need of some key volunteers who want to help make this year’s EPP happen. Many of the generous people who have taken a main part in the event in the past are stepping down this year. I want to invite all of you who may be interested in helping in any way to please reach out, we need all of you to make this happen!
Looking forward to working with you and celebrating our school through this special seasonal event and community offering.
You can reach me at 707-367-5443
Editors note: We are fortunate to have Autumn at WSMC and willing to coordinate and lead this magical Halloween tradition. However, the event will not be possible without three more volunteers to lead aspects of the path. These volunteers are needed by Friday, September 6 or we may not be able to continue this wonderful community tradition. If you love the EPP, please reach out to Autumn to get involved. Thank you.
Open Classroom Night, Waldorf 100, International Peace Day
Thursday, September 19th, 5:30 - 7:30pm
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this very special event at WSMC! The event is open to all WSMC families, friends and our broader community. This is a great time to socialize with community friends and see what students are working on. Most children love to share their work with parents. A centennial only comes once a lifetime for most of us, and this is a special time to appreciate Waldorf educations’ contributions to a healthy world and the potential it holds for a more peaceful and inclusive future worldwide. We look forward to seeing everyone there, please invite your friends! Evening Schedule
5:30pm Performing Assembly (Grades 3—8) - Movement Room
5:50 pm Open Classrooms, visit with teachers and see student work
6:00 pm Waldorf 100! Looking Back and Looking Forward Corner of 3rd and Moore Streets
6:30 pm Plant Peace Pole in honor of International Peace Day, remarks and song
6:45 pm Birthday Cake!
Later, in November, we will have a newly formatted Open House event, during morning hours. More details about this will come next month.
Michaelmas
WSMC will celebrate Michaelmas on Friday, September 28th with our annual pageant and shared soup lunch. This year Sixth Grade students will be presenting their volcanoes, which promises to be explosive and entertaining. Please plan to attend this wonderful fall community event. Please visit the "Events" section of our website (https://mendocinowaldorf.org/michaelmas/) to learn more about the historical roots of Michaelmas and how we celebrate this seasonal festival at WSMC.
As always, to make this event run smoothly we need some parent support. We will post sign up sheets outside classroom doors (Preschool, Kindergarten and 1st Grade) and the office (Grades 2 - 7). Please support our first festival by signing up if you can help!
This year at Michaelmas we will be implementing our new Labeling Procedure. Please see above in School News. If you are bringing food to share, please plan on spending a few minutes writing up your recipe. This small step supports our students and families who have food allergies and sensitivities.
Beautification Day
By Carissa Chiniaeff and Site Committee
Thank you to each and every one of you, and there were many, who showed up bright and early for a long, hot work day. The list was knocked out in just enough time for people to escape the brutal heat of the day.
When I recollect the day I remember one distinct feeling. I imagine it akin to the inner workings of the honey bee hive. There was a loud buzz of projects happening all over campus, not one person still enough to be seen. Nole and his chain saw cleaning up unsafe and unsightly branches, Martin riding his lawn mower around the field, Calvin shoring up the bench on the black top, Spring, Craig, Leif, Amy, Jessica shoveling many wheel barrows of sand, Alejandro building a new fence in Rosebud, Morgan constructing a new adventure for the wee ones, Chuck power washing away, Caleb cleaning up the creek. And just because you couldn’t hear Andy doing the safety check in the Kindergarten yard, the handicap line painters, the pruning crew in ECE or Emily pushing wheelbarrows of sand from upper campus to the kindergarten sand box doesn’t mean they weren’t working to full capacity.
Wow, the list goes on.
We had Eliza driving the trailer around picking up all the branches, Ben picking up hay, Adam Gaska and his gutter cleaning techniques. Joann and Wendy making a new garden under 3/4 class window, Stephen repairing the retaining wall, Sam discovering a much bigger project while working to repair a handicap access ramp, Grades teachers sorting and organizing resources, Emily Rose and Jami cleaning and restoring order in the Costume Shed.
That is just the list of people I saw. I also know that the Red Rose bathroom got painted, the Rosebud garden got cleaned out and new art was framed for the bathrooms.
We had fairy workers come to campus before and after work day to weed eat (Dennis!!!!), weed gardens, re-stripe the black top and leaf blow.
So you see, like the beehive, there was a flurry of activity. All happening at once, and all for one main purpose: to make our school a beautiful and safe place for our children. Sweet as honey. So thank you. And of course if we didn’t mention you and your job it’s not because we didn’t notice your hive contribution. Indeed, it was the collective labor of all of us that created such a successful work day.
Thank you to everyone that came!
Logg Family Alejandro Gutierrez and Alea
Caleb Morris Steve Faulk
Brewer Family Calvin Turnwall
Emily Rose Smith Kathleen Hennings
French Family Eliza Giacoma and Emma
Hathaway/Reda Family Martin Fitts
Palmer/McConnell Family Prout/Harrington Family
Senerchia Family Chuck Fischor
Stocker Family Hurtado Family
OConnor Family Alexis Silva-Doyle and Kai
Orozco Family Whitaker Family
Bolin Family Allbritton Family
Ranna Shamiya Eliza Frey and Bo and Iris
Gaska Family Shuster Family
Harris Family Melody Bettencourt
Noah Cornell Ben Strasser
Ryan Ballou Minor Family
Halper/Hill Family Debra McCarthy
Stephanie Croft Joy Evans
Inge Schaefer Kelly Austin
Recommended Reading
Waldorf Education News September 2019
The official enews of AWSNA
Promoting curiosity
Curiosity is a wonder of the human mind. It goes to the heart of modernity, as a driving force for learning, novel insights and innovation, both for individuals and communities. In societies dependent on science and development, finding out what promotes or hampers curiosity and wonder in school curricula and science education should be accordingly essential. The article suggests a framework for curiosity-based science education and discuss possible options for its wellbeing during preschool, prepuberty and high-school. Distinctions between wonder, diversive and epistemic curiosity are discussed, and possible ideas for better maintenance of curiosity across school curricula are presented.
In preschool, wonder and curiosity are triggered by perceptive beauty rather than by scientific facts, and a method emphasizing “maximism” (as opposite to reductionism) in preschool science education is proposed. Concepts and terms should be kept in a flexible mode during the first years of children’s language development, to allow growth and knowledge-based development. Awareness of the difference between children’s questions of ‘what something is’ and ‘why something is’, is of particular significance. Moreover, maximism promotes friendship with the environment, and nature friendships need to be established before any systematic learning can set in.
In prepuberty, where facts and clear-cut knowledge assemble to a firm foundation, curiosity is rather encouraged by exploring the diversity of the natural world. The 9 to 12 years age is characterized by rapid growth of executive functions, and manifest as joy of gaining new motor skills, such as cycling, swimming, skating, football, dancing, or games. Increased physical freedom and the mastering of knowledge go along with growing explorative behavior, and during these years the sense for diversive curiosity flourishes.
Facts are clear-cut and unambiguous and need to be consciously and systematically learned through exercises, repetition and memorization, and the passion for reliable and diverse facts is a striking feature of the human mind during prepuberty. Students exercise and learn terms and facts with joy, strengthening the cognitive knowledge-based robustness of the pre-teen mind. While maximism promoted wondering during the pre-school age does now the diversity of the world correspondingly stimulate curiosity. However, the facts should not yet proceed to science and meta-questions. That step should remain as a half-spoken goal for the state that twelve-year-olds look forward to: that of being a “teenager”.
In high-school, science education should nourish deep knowledge-based epistemic curiosity. A certain obstacle here is the extensive use of models, which dominate contemporary science education. Models represent a problem in classrooms which is mostly overlooked: the confusion of models with reality. Instead of treating models as simplified illustrations of possible mechanistic relations, they are viewed as the reality itself. Most textbooks rather describe ‘model-realities’ where real world examples are cherry-picked only to confirm the model. Students accordingly perceive science as a set of clear-cut truths and facts, and not as a developmental process of doubt, explorations of inconsistencies and contradictive examples, invoking the impression that “everything is explained”. Many students leave high-school with learned and not explored scientific knowledge, making them indifferent towards scientific approaches in general, as the knowledge they gained was acquired by means of memorization rather than through curious and critical thinking.
Models are indeed mandatory in any science education, but empirical data which contradict them are equally important, because they unveil the other side of scientific analyses – science as a process of contradictory and competing perspectives. Models keep the thinking literally “inside the box”, as doubts tend to be framed by the model itself. Answers which invoke new questions must accordingly stem from “outside the box”, from the confusing, rich and diverse reality. A better balance between empirical oriented phenomenology and theory-generating models is needed to promote students deep and knowledge-based epistemic curiosity, leading to a better balance between closing and opening science answers.
I hence advocate a methodology for curiosity based science education departing from maximism and deep wonder during preschool age, correspondingly emphasizing rich fact based knowledge and focusing on the diversity of our world during pre-puberty, turning to deep curiosity-driven scientific thinking in adolescence and high-school.
Give Back to Schools Week at Ukiah Coop
September 15th—21st, 2019
Every time you shop at the Ukiah Natural Foods Co-op and designate our school at checkout, we will receive a donation of 3% of sales that week. (If someone in line doesn't mention a school, maybe you could tap them on the shoulder and suggest ours!)
This generous offer by the Co-op gives significant funding to WSMC and other local schools. A big thank you to them.
Please plan to buy your groceries at the Co-op during this week for the easiest donation ever!
Mindfulness and Massage for Babies and their Families.
The class will be an opportunity to connect with yourself, your babies and each with each other as we explore what it means to be a mindful parent. In this exploration we will use the tools of baby massage, meditation, singing and being curious.
Looking forward to being with you all.
Karla Downing RN, CMT
415-722-1258 Info@aliveretreats.com
Karla Downing has been in the world of bodywork, babies, birth, meditation and wholistic living for over 40 years. She enjoys being in nature and sharing with others.
This class is being offered at WSMC in our Primrose classroom.
Tuesdays 10-11:30am
Starting Oct 15th for 6 weeks, the 6th class will be on Friday Nov 22nd with guest speaker Barbara Juniper on Sound, Energy Medicine and Babies.
$120/family per six week class.
Please be sure to buy your groceries at the CO-OP and select WSMC!
Gratitudes
Spring Senerchiathanks the Site Committee:Alejandro Gutierrez, Carissa Chiniaeff and Jim Logg, for gracefully hosting our Beautification Day! Under your lead campus got an incredible amount of love and care.
Spring Senerchiathanks the administrative staff:Emily Rose Smith, Jami O’Connor and Jennifer Krauss for making the tremendous amount of work and all the tedious details fun. WSMC could not function well without you and I would not want to.
Joy Evans thanks: Anya, Jim and Anastasia Logg for coming on Sunday to paint the blacktop! Anya Loggfor her work on workday, including tidying cubbies. Spring Senerchiafor her vision presence and all that she holds and carries with such grace.
Parent to Parent Sharing
Share your small and large businesses with your school community. For a small fee, you can advertise quarterly in the newsletter. Email office@mendocinowaldorf.org or call the front desk for more information.
Tara Moratti supports our school in many ways:
as a Parent, and Volunteer. Mom to Leo (7th Grade).
Top Notch Realtor for residential and land sales in Mendocino County Real Estate; locally owned and socially responsible.
