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The Current | VWS News & Events | #20
12/02/21
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"Receive the children with reverence. Educate them with love. Send them forth in freedom." ~ Rudolf Steiner

"For this woman creative life was not a question of having a room of her own, but a cosmos of her own." Grade 11 main lesson book.

CONTENTS

Dear <<First Name>>

On Tuesday evening, I was present for Mr. Weick's beautiful presentation on Form and Rhythm and their meaning to Waldorf education. In the beginning, I must say, I felt a bit frustrated. I was tired; it was another two-hour session in front of the computer, which seemed to be the last thing I wanted to do. I felt a sense of obligation, having enrolled in all sessions and being an advocate for parent education since arriving at the school almost four years ago, so I dragged what I had left of grey cells to my office again and Zoomed in.

It was hard for me to connect. It felt slow, I must confess. I wanted it to be done with it, so I could rest. As Mr. Weick addressed what I could only call a deep respect for the rhythm of the child, I realized that I was resisting Mr. Weick's rhythm, wanting to impose my own. My sixth-grade daughter would have said: "Boom, Mom!" I call it insight.

When I let go of my resistance, I was able to synchronize with him, and I entered his narrative. And when I was able to do that, I saw beauty. I saw the golden thread weaving his thoughts, and the image of the importance of rhythm and form appeared to me. I even saw the love he has for Waldorf education. It moved me, like so many things Waldorf.

It is very difficult to speak of a way of thinking that is so different from that which those of us who attended mainstream education have embedded in our beings. Physicist and philosopher Henri Bortoft reminds us that intuition means 'seeing into,' seeing the phenomenon in depth. We look not for what is behind it (cause-effect) but for what is within it. What allows us to see into it is a very radical and hard to reach change of consciousness.

Our kids are being formed into that different way of thinking. Some call it holistic consciousness. What they see is bound to be beautiful and rich and full of life. I am definitely thankful for that.

Joana Mortari
Development Committee Chair

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR

Window of welcome at the Grade School

WEEK AT A GLANCE

Monday, February 15 - Friday, February 19

Family Day Holiday and Non-Instructional Days No School
HS Work/Skills Experience No School

Tuesday, February 16

Parent Education: Thinking, Feeling, Willing, and Math 7:30 pm, Zoom

Wednesday, February 17

Professional Development with Marcel de Leuw

On the Horizon

Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week February 21
High School Virtual Information Session February 23
Anti-Bullying Day February 24
Ayyam-i-Ha February 25-28
Purim February 26

Recommitment Forms Due February 28
End of Term March 19

 
ECC (Early Childhood Centre) | GS (Grade School) | HS (High School)
View the Full Calendar

HIGH SCHOOL INFO SESSION

We invite you to our Waldorf High School information session on February 23 at 7:00 pm. Over the course of 1½ hours, you will have a chance to meet our High School faculty, hear about what attracted them to the VWS, and learn what they bring to the school; engage in a presentation about pedagogy, course selection, admissions and parent involvement; and have your pre-submitted questions answered.

This event is suitable for all prospective students with their parents, ranging from those currently enrolled in the middle school grades to those from the broader community who are interested in learning about our school.

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE

REGISTER HERE

NOTICES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

FEBRUARY BREAK - Please note that classes are not in session during the week of February 15 to 19 for the Family Day holiday and ProD/non-instructional days. Classes will resume on Monday, February 22.

SPRING CLEAN-UP - If you notice anything that needs attention around either campus, please let Mary know at mhenley@vws.ca.

ENTERTAINMENT HALL OF FAME - Congratulations to Board member, alumni parent, and long-time volunteer Walter Daroshin for his induction to the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame! Walter's name will be added on the Granville Street sidewalk in downtown Vancouver, an honour bestowed to high-profile artists and creators in British Columbia’s entertainment industry. Read more in the North Shore News.

COVID-19 HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE - Keep an eye on your email next week for a message from the Management Team with an update to the VWS Health & Safety Plan COVID-19.

COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE - Our community page on the website has been growing. Take a look and support local family businesses and check out the classified while you're there. www.vws.ca/community/vws-community-directory

PARENT EDUCATION - Pedagogical Manager Gideon Weick has added an additional session to the Waldorf 101 & 201 series, scheduled for next Tuesday, February 16, to cover the topic of teaching math in Waldorf schools. Mark your calendar!

REGISTER FOR THE REMAINING SESSIONS

Twin Day at the HIgh School

GR 8 HIGH SCHOOL IMMERSION

Thank you to the Grade 8 class for sharing feedback from their immersion week at the High School in January!

"During the week at the high school, I enjoyed being in the village a lot. Once it's time for lunch, we can do whatever we want, and since it's such a respected school in the area, people smile at us in the streets just for being there. I really liked science and math, mostly because of the teachers. The math teacher is really passionate about teaching and clearly wants to be there teaching us. The science teacher just makes it so much fun and gets us interested. Many of the older kids came up to me to talk with me, and it was very nice since I have a lot of anxiety talking with people I don't know."

READ MORE ON OUR WEBSITE

Students delighting in the first snow of 2021

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

In February 2020, faculty and staff formed a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Working Group, which included representatives from the ECC, High School, and Administration. In May and September 2020, more teachers joined the group so that we had representation from all programs and leadership groups (i.e., Development, College of Teachers, Board of Trustees). Three parents have recently joined the group and are participating in a critical dialogue about how we as a school can and will do better to serve all constituents.

Our current focus is creating an equity statement for our school and transitioning our working group into a Board-mandated committee. We are looking at all areas of our organization to identify challenges and opportunities. This group is not in place to segregate DEI work but to serve as a resourced committee that ensures accountability and progress. As faculty and staff, we have dedicated time for reflection, sharing and learning from each other and from DEI professionals. We will also continue offering resources and updates to parents and our wider community via our communication channels.

We will share our plans and actionable goals later this year. While we expect our equity statement, plans, and goals to evolve, we will communicate with you regularly as we progress through our work. We recognize how important it is to balance urgency with proper processes in order to minimize harm and maximize long-term impact. If you would like to connect with the DEI Working Group, please contact Mary at mhenley@vws.ca.

CELEBRATING BLACK EXCELLENCE

Trailblazers introduces young readers to Canada’s Black history through the under-told stories of over forty incredible Black change makers. 

With each short story carefully written in poetic form and accompanied by beautiful illustrations, this tribute brings complex topics and historical facts to life. Engaged readers will finish Trailblazers feeling enlightened, inspired, and ready to blaze their own trails.

https://www.blacktrailblazers.ca/

Athlete, educator and community leader, Barbara Howard was the first black female athlete to represent Canada in international competition. In 1938, in grade 11, Howard ran a 100-yard sprint in 11.2 seconds to qualify for the British Empire Games, a time that beat the Games' record by a tenth of a second. In 1948, when most ethnic minorities were barred from teaching, Barbara Howard became the first person of colour to be hired as an educator by the Vancouver School Board, teaching PE at Lord Strathcona Elementary School.
https://educ.ubc.ca/person/barbara-howard/

A nature table to honour the Lunar New Year

The Vancouver Waldorf School is situated on the unceded ancestral territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
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