Faculty and Staff luncheon lovingly prepared by Sprightly and provided by the Board of Trustees
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Dear <<First Name>>
Fixed on the rudder of every ship is a tiny second rudder called a trim tab. As the trim tab swings to one side, it creates a vacuum in the water, and the rudder slips easily into that vacuum allowing a pilot to effortlessly steer a ship weighing almost half a million tons into harbour or through tumultuous waters. In my view, the Board of Trustees' role is to create this "vacuum" for the faculty and staff in their significant task of educating our children and helping them shine and lead meaningful lives.
As we began sailing together through the uncharted waters of COVID-19, the importance of our relationship with each other became even more significant. Therefore, in recognition of their tireless efforts and hard work, we hired Agathe Mathieu, Chef-Owner of Sprightly (previously Tao), to prepare a delicious living meal for all faculty and staff. Our Treasurer Geoff Woodfield also initiated the establishment of an Investment and Endowment Committee with the main purpose of supporting similar initiatives in the future. The luncheon was very well received and provided us with food for thought through a survey circulated afterward.
Maintaining a healthy working environment and culture benefits everyone, including our children. All this beautiful synergy as we prioritize the quality of the relationships between the Board, staff, and students, motivates and inspires me and gives meaning to my involvement with the Board.
Brought to you by Oleg Lights
Activist, social entrepreneur, and member of the VWS Board of Trustees
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Grade 7 Age of Exploration block (2019-20)
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Monday, March 8
Grade 4 Parent Evening 7:00 pm
Tuesday, March 9
Parent Education: The Twelve Senses and the Development of Independent Thought 7:30 pm, Zoom
Wednesday, March 10
VWSS Board Meeting 7:00 pm, Zoom
Thursday, March 11
Grade 10 Movie: Sherlock Holmes and the Copper Beeches 7:30 pm, Zoom
On the Horizon
March 15 | Community Connect 7:00 pm
March 16-18 | Grade 6 Play: Asterix and Obelix TBA
March 17 | Transition to Grade 1 Parent Evening 6:30 pm
March 18 | Class Rep Meeting 7:30 pm, Zoom
March 19 | Grade 8 Projects TBA
March 19 | Winter Term Reports Posted
March 19 | End of Term, Early Dismissal 12:20 (GS), 1:00 (HS), No Aftercare or After School Program
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Crafting in the 2nd Grade
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CIRCUS ARTS COSTUMES & DRESS REHEARSAL - Reminder to parents in Grades 7 & 8 to ensure students bring their costumes, in a bag marked with their name, to school next Monday, March 8. When selecting clothing for the performance, note that we are creating a school recording and must follow the grade school dress code. Students without costumes or costumes that are not within the dress code will be asked to use their VWS gym strips.
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COMMUNITY CONNECT - On Monday, March 15, Mary and parent volunteer Victoria will discuss findings made about the previous owners’ use of the land and buildings at 2725 St. Christopher’s Road, which the VWS purchased in 1976. Register here
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PARENT EDUCATION - In the final two sessions of the Waldorf 101 and 201 series we will discuss The Twelve Senses and the Development of Independent Thought (March 9), and Planting the Seed Through Waldorf Education: The Three-Fold Human Being in the Three-Fold Social Order (March 16). Register here
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HIGH SCHOOL CODE OF CONDUCT - Please review this document in the Parent Portal with your high school students regarding clothing requirements.
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SPRING CLEAN-UP - If you notice anything that needs attention around either campus, please let Mary know at mhenley@vws.ca.
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COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE - New listings are added week to week to our marketplace and classifieds. Come to take a look. www.vws.ca/community/vws-community-directory
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INTERNET SAFETY - This Victoria-based webinar prepared for Grade 7 families on internet safety for parents by the White Hatter is available to our entire school community until the evening of Saturday, March 6. Follow this link https://app.sli.do/event/wxnfdj8q and use the password Waldorf2021 to watch.
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THE FUTURE OF ROBOTICS - Pierre Sermanent, a leader in cutting-edge robotics, and 16-year-old Ashley Czumak, an AI enthusiast who has built AI algorithms to detect cancer in MRIs, are hosting this presentation geared to students on Saturday, March 6 at 10:00 am. There is no cost to attend, and this talk will not be recorded. There will be an opportunity for students to ask Pierre questions about a career in robotics. Register here
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WWF GO WILD SCHOOL GRANT PROJECT - Over the next several months, Grades 3, 4, 7 and 8 will be taking up a wonderful restoration project with Bonnie Gosse, Chris Henley and Vanessa Faryan Amadio. As a group, they are looking for the following resources for the project. Contact Vanessa at vamadio@vws.ca if you're able to help.
- A local signs manufacturing company in the area to create a laminated sign with pictures
- Camera for students to use to take photos of the project (for grant follow-up and sign making)
- 1 Outdoor Ladder to help remove ivy from the tree (or call a tree maintenance company to help remove it)
- 5 Loppers for Himalayan blackberry removal
- 2 yards of topsoil
- 1 yard of nutrient-dense compost
- 2 yards of wood chips
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About the Movie Screening
Title: Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Copper Beeches
Length: around 25 minutes
Date & Time: showcase on Thursday, March 11th on Zoom at 7:30 pm (Q&A with cast and crew after the movie)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance suggested) as some material might not be suitable for children
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Violet Hunter seeks help from Sherlock Holmes when a suspicious gentleman offers her employment in the countryside. But what Miss Hunter doesn't realize is that the beautiful face of the countryside can sometimes be deceiving. *Trailer briefly shows a gun.*
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Please help us extend a warm welcome to our new High School counsellor, Fiona Thatcher.
Fiona is delighted to be returning to the VWS in the position of part-time High School counsellor. After leaving the VWS admissions office in 2015, she returned to university to earn her Master's Degree in counselling psychology and art therapy, honouring a long-held wish to focus on therapeutic work. In addition to the role at VWS, Fiona currently works as a counsellor in supportive cancer care and facilitates grief and loss groups, and spent the clinical year of her training working in a trauma-focused child and youth program at Family Services of Greater Vancouver.
Fiona's role and focus at the High School will be to increase awareness and understanding of caring for our mental health, and to this end, she will be offering individual sessions to students who wish to meet with her. She will also help build a resource guide for mental health supports in the community, creating a bridge for students to seek further support. Fiona will be at the High School on Mondays, 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, and she looks forward to getting to know the students and renewing her connection to the VWS in this supportive role.
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Simone Shurney, Detroit Waldorf School class teacher
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In this article, Waldorf class teacher Simone Shurney shares her thoughts on the value of teaching universal themes through a diverse lens.
When fourth-grade students at Detroit Waldorf School dig into their main lesson each day, they study the literary, historical and cultural aspects of what it means to overcome adversity against all odds. ...students reach beyond the Eurocentric journey of Norse mythology and embrace universal themes from Sundiata, the story of an African king who overcomes physical impairment to unite the kingdoms of Africa.
“Rather than get rid of the Norse mythology that has long been a traditional study for this grade, I’m trying to allow students to develop a more dynamic world view,” Shurney says. “I’m not replacing, but telling both stories to reach the depth of the universal message we are looking for. The stories work together to convey something to the students.”
Read the full article here.
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