If I can spread love’s message that the Master taught,
Then my living shall not be in vain.
Then my living shall not be in vain,
Then my living shall not be in vain,
If I can help somebody as I pass along,
Then my living shall not be in vain.
Dear Families,
We have had a successful start to our new year, and have hit the ground running, so to speak. Our celebrations in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day were filled with enlightening words, hope and encouragement for the profound, hard work Dr. King was engaged in. Many thanks to school parent Alex Forrester for his insightful descriptions of Dr. King’s philosophy and vision for the power of Love to work in the world as an active force in the Beloved Community. Alex spoke both during our celebration on Monday for the greater school community, as well as during our in-school assembly for grades 3- 12. Thanks is also due to Janene Ping and the Magical Puppet Tree Theater crew for presenting The Story of Hambakahle, an African tale of love and service, in silk marionette theater.
Sophia Pyfrom, Ms Ally, Mrs. Vineis, and Kelly Kristen help the magic of Hambakahle unfold.
For those observing the Lunar New Year that begins with the new moon on Sunday, may the Year of the Rabbit bring hope for peace and prosperity. We sure could use it!
In the high school these last two weeks, we have continued our “J-Term,” or special January schedule of classes around a theme, which we initiated last year. Last year’s focus was on the American Civil Rights movement, and this year we chose the theme of Migration. Teachers explored our theme during main lesson blocks, as well as in mixed-grade mid-day seminar and after-lunch art classes. The mid-day classes looked at migration through various lenses, including the environment, economics, music, language, and the many causes and effects of both human and animal migration throughout the world. The arts classes allowed students to explore eurythmic expression of diverse languages, sing songs of migration, work on artistic representations of national flags in fabric, or create art of a multitude of bird species. We screened two documentary films-- one on seasonal bird migration, and the other covering the tragedy of human forced migration and the plight of millions of refugees throughout the world. We wrap up our J-Term today, before beginning new main lesson blocks and our usual daily schedule again on Monday.
Special events and changes in our routine can be disruptive, as they usually require sacrifice and compromise on someone’s part, in order to allow something new to emerge. Each event is like a miniature birth process, whether it is a J-Term, a class play, a concert, a circus, or a field trip. When everything goes well, the event re-enlivens our experience of school, and we return to our familiar class schedules with a renewed appreciation for rhythm and routine, while also anticipating the next events on the calendar. Whenever possible, we review how the event has gone and consider whether there are ways to improve it the next time around. Thanks to all the teachers and parents for being flexible, in order to allow for special events to take place!
With warm regards,
Simon Frishkoff, High school chairperson
School Enrollment 2023-24
Thank you to everyone who has returned an enrollment contract or submitted an application for an adjusted tuition for the 2023-2024 school year. The prompt returns help to keep us all on track with the enrollment process during this busy season.
As a reminder to all:
Tuition Adjustment Applications - fully completed applications submitted through theBlackbaud Financial Aid Managementportal were due by January 19, 2023. If you have not yet completed your application and intend to do so please complete the process right away. If you received an adjusted tuition for the current year and are not in need of doing so for 23-24, please contact me so that you can be sent a full tuition contract.
Full Tuition Contracts that have been posted inBlackbaudare due back by January 25, 2023. Parents that this pertains to have received an email with a link and directions. (Check your junk mail folder if you have not seen it.) If you have not received a notice yet please contact me
A note on Blackbaud for clarity: There are different login portals for each section:
The Blackbaud parent portal- for student records, forms, permission slips, directory, calendar, etc.
From the Resources page on the parent portal you can get to the other two. At the moment all three are not yet connected with a single sign on but that is in the works at Blackbaud and coming soon.
For more detailed information visit the calendar page on our website, here.
Robin's Nest Kindergarten
Roll a snowman, roll him round,
plant him firmly on the ground.
Put a big black shiny hat,
and a carrot nose, like that !
Strings and Orchestra
“Nothing great was ever accomplished without ENTHUSIASM!” R.W. Emerson
From Third through Eighth Grade our young musicians have been hard at work. The Middle School orchestra is now split, which allows more room to breathe and move. The strings are working on a powerful piece called Boreas, about the cold north wind. Full orchestra including winds and percussion is learning the William Tell Overture. It is one of the most famous classical tunes ever written, so if you ever watched cowboy movies or Saturday morning cartoons you have probably heard it.
Fifth Grade is playing the melancholy By the Waters of Babylon and starting Pachelbel Canon. These players survived the 1812 Overture and are ready for more great music!
Fourth Grade is working on the Tallis Canon, and starting Old Joe Clark, with its characteristic foot stomping energy.
Third Grade is beginning work on music literacy, recognizing open A, D and a whole assortment of rests. Happy Birthday is our latest project. These students are very identified with their instruments, practicing with determination and heart.
Our fabulous cleaning staff has noticed that many instruments are left at school, making it hard to clean. But beyond that, they have commented: how can the kids practice and get better, if they don’t have their cellos etc. at home?? It is a rare privilege to have regular music lessons, play in an orchestra and participate in creating beautiful music together. I am sad to see so many instruments left at the end of the day. Parents we need your help: please make sure your child takes full advantage of this opportunity to build skills on their instruments. The brain-to-finger coordination, counting in real time, listening, teamwork and sensitivity bring academic as well as artistic gifts. Music classes are built on the assumption that regular practice happens at home.
We have an amazing group of private teachers guiding our students. Huge thanks them, and to our families for all you do to help these young musicians reach for the stars!
Alison Eldredge
Let the 12th graders make your supper tonight!
Students will be selling quarts of homemade, organic vegetarian soups all throughout January under the apple tree during after-school pick-ups and some morning drop-offs. $15 per quart and all proceeds go toward their senior trip to Spain!
Here is just a sampling of some of the yummy soups they'll be selling: Thai coconut curry, Minestrone w/ gnocchi, Borscht, Roasted squash w/ ginger...... hungry yet?
So grab a baguette and a salad from the farm store and dinner is done!
Bake Sale!
Hosted by the Grade 7 Parents
Keep your eyes out for delicious baked goods this coming Wednesday 1/25 and Friday 1/27 after school!
Parent Craft Night
starting next Thursday 1/26 at 6:00 PM
Join the PTA at Rivertown Lodge in Hudson to begin making some crafts for next year’s Yuletide Fair, and have a relaxing evening of some handwork and getting to know our wonderful parent community.
Handwork teacher Caroline O’Neil will lead a felted wool project.
Location: Rivertown Lodge, 731 Warren Street, Hudson, New York 12534
(Please note, the hotel restaurant will not be open.)
When: Thursday January 26, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Note: This evening is intended for parents and adults.
Earthly and Cosmic Nutrition
Presentation by Branko Furst, MD
7 pm, Friday, January 27
Windy Hill, 1030 Route 21, Ghent, NY
What is it that nourishes us in food? Conventional nutrition science focuses primarily on its mineral content and caloric value. However, food’s vitality and dynamic properties are hardly recognized by modern science. Yet it is these qualities that define food’s true nutritional value.
Plants are autotrophic or self-feeding in that they assimilate water and minerals from the ground and convert sunlight by means of the green pigment, the chlorophyll, into carbohydrates, proteins, and oils. In contrast, animals and human beings derive their sustenance indirectly from plants in the process of digestion. In addition, the peculiar nature of animal and human organs and tissues call for the presence of cosmic forces that enter through the breath and the senses. Thus, two nutritional streams meet in humans and animals, earthly and cosmic.
The essential nature of these parallel physiological processes as well as their importance for the mutual evolution of the earth and humanity will be presented.
Suggested donation: $5 to $25 to support Windy Hill and the Hawthorne Valley Center for Social Research.
Note: If you are not able to attend this presentation, a written two-part version of it can be found in the 2023 “Stella Natura Biodynamic Planting Calendar,” which is available here.
Valentine's Gifts at Turose!
We have many great items on our shelves and back in stock including: Ostheimer wooden items, valentine doilies, bags of assorted wool fleece, among many other items! Come in soon for best selection!!
Our hours are:
Mon-Fri 8-3:30
Sat 10-3
Tall Oak and Small Owl
Written by our School Counselor, Nina Pick
Our School Couselor, Nina Pick has written a book for children ages 3 - 6 years old, and it is now Available at Turose and Steiner Books.
Small Owl is born in a huge oak tree in the middle of the forest. As Small Owl grows and learns to fly, she and Tall Oak become the best of friends.
Day by day, the seasons pass and the weather grows colder. Soon Tall Oak loses his leaves and falls asleep, leaving Small Owl alone through the long winter. She finds, however, that the return of spring brings new surprises, as life and joy return to the forest.
(Ages 3 to 6 years)
Hawthorne Valley Place Based Learning Center is offering a Winter Week Day Program again! February 20th-24th, children ages 6-11 will participate in a myriad of activities, including farm animal care, story time, hiking, crafting and more. An organic snack and lunch will be provided by our chef each day. The price for the full week is $500, or $140 per day. Email vsp@hawthornevalley.org to sign up.
Upcoming Workshop at The Nature Institute
The Wisdom of the Animals, Exploring their Dynamic Forms and Behavior
February 24 - 26, 2023
(Friday/Saturday 9 am to 5 pm; Sunday 9 am to 12:30 pm)
Our interactions with nature will become ever healthier, and support a productive co-evolution of humanity with the natural world, when they are based on a deeper understanding of nature. In this weekend course we will explore how everything within an animal is interconnected and expresses a deep wisdom. We will take up the challenge that Goethe formulates in these words:
“The agreement within the whole makes every creature what it is… Every creature is one tone, one shade of a great harmony that one must study as a whole if the particulars are not to become dead letters.” - Goethe
We will also work to gain a better understanding of the differentiated nature of animal behavior: What is instinct, what are drives, what is desire in animals?
Facilitators: Craig Holdrege, Henrike Holdrege, and Jon McAlice
Sliding scale fee: $100 - $400.
Morning and afternoon snacks will be provided. Please bring your lunch or plan on going out to lunch (the midday break will be 1.5 hours long).
Troop 1621 hosted an event for troops in our service unit to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to service. Kudos to Esther, Izzy, Addy, and Honor!!
Troop 1008 is interested in helping a local animal shelter. Although we have not been able to actually schedule an in person visit with the humane society or animal kind, the Girl Scouts are collecting pet food for the shelters. They have a collection box in the foyer of Turose.
Hawthorne Valley is a diverse non-profit 501(c)3 organization committed to social and cultural renewal through the integration of education, agriculture, and the arts. Initiatives include:
