Last Wednesday was a sparkling clear and sunny day on Ashwood's bucolic campus. Inside Rosewood, our early-childhood center, was about as cozy a gathering as could be. Thirteen new parents, their "buddies," and Ashwood faculty and board members gathered to share a lovely brunch and welcome new families to the school. Two tables were filled with food cooked up from the bountiful harvest that Maine's September brings. We sat around tables chatting convivially, hearing stories of how families first heard of Ashwood, and listening to Nancy Harris Frohlich (Board trustee and chair of the strategic planning committee) speak about the school's strategic plan, now in its second year.
This gathering, just days after the school's fabulous 30th birthday celebration, once again reminded me of how fortunate we all are to be part of this warm and supportive community of people dedicated to serving our children. It was wonderful to enjoy the warmth of the adults while hearing the children playing joyfully next-door in the kindergarten under the gentle guidance of Beth and Marianne.
Several parents asked me to share some of the recipes from the feast; here is the muffin recipe. Thank you to everyone who participated in this lovely event.
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Jody Spanglet
School Director
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Michaelmas
Our annual Michaelmas pageant and hike will take place on Friday, September 30. Parents are encouraged to join us at 9:00 a.m. for the festivities: music, verse, and pageant, followed by challenging games for the students and a picnic lunch. You can download the schedule
here, and read about the festival's significance
here.
After lunch, we will hike to the summit of Mount Battie. A bus will depart from Ashwood at 12:00 p.m. and deliver grade-school students to the Route 52 Carriage Road trailhead. Because of very limited parking, we encourage parents who wish to join the hike to arrange carpooling to the trailhead. The most convenient option is to carpool from the Route 1, Camden Hills State Park Headquarters entrance.
After a snack atop Mt. Battie, we will continue down to the Camden Hills State Park Headquarters, where we will play games until dismissal time, 3:15 p.m. We encourage parents to arrive early and join in the games! All grade- school children must be picked up at Camden Hills State Park Headquarters at 3:15 p.m. on Friday, September 30.
The Parent Community Council has reserved the pavilion at the park (across Route 1) and everyone is invited to end the day there together.
The PCC will provide popcorn, and ask that volunteers from each class bring a gallon of apple cider. If you wish to bring a dish to share, you are welcome to do so, however, it is not necessary.
Please email
Betty Wyman with your donation of cider.
Gear for the Hike
For the Michaelmas hike on September 30, we encourage parents to send their children to school wearing sturdy footwear and, if possible, with a backpack (rather than a satchel or sack) containing suitable clothing for the weather (including rain gear if necessary). Layers, layers, layers! It is often windy and several degrees cooler at the summit of Mt. Battie. Also, please include a hearty snack and plenty of water.
Decorations Needed
Help make our festival festive! We need corn stalks, hay bales, pumpkins, and gourds for the Michaelmas pageant. If you are able to donate any of these items, please bring them to school by Thursday, September 29. Donated items may be left by the news kiosk near the office. Thanks!
NOTE: If the morning is very rainy, the pageant will be performed in the community room (downstairs in the grade school building). If hiking isn't advisable because of the weather, we'll sing together, and then resume a regular schedule for the rest of the day. Rain cancellation of the hike will be announced by 8:30 a.m. Friday via email.
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The Ashwood Faculty
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30th Birthday
Thank you to Tina Lipmanowicz, and to everyone who made our birthday celebration so memorable! Thirty more years is too long to wait; maybe again next year?
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Growing Together
Early-childhood programs are off to a good start. Many new children have joined the kindergarten: some "graduates" from parent-child classes and from Spindlewood; two children of grade-school teachers, and a few without previous history with Ashwood. In parent-child class as well, we have mostly new families. To them and to all our returnees, we wish a hearty WELCOME!
Ms. Swan is a wonderful addition to our staff "up on the hill." New to the early-childhood program but familiar to grade-school students (as their movement teacher), Rose Swan greets the early-childhood children who are staying for aftercare at 1:00 p.m., then leads them into their cozy classroom to the sound of a flute.
The children are discovering their classmates and forming new, flexible friendships, according to mood or activity. All of us are settling--mostly harmoniously--into our daily and weekly rhythms. Every year, it is fascinating to observe how so many different personalities form a group within a short time.
For some of the younger children and their parents, it is a big transition to say goodbye for several hours. Some partings are tearful, but generally, once the children's interest is sparked by the play of others or the activity of the day, sadness is forgotten until the next transition. Older children have been very sweet in reminiscing: "I remember crying when my Dada left me, too, when I was little." They also like to "initiate" the new students into the kindergarten ways.
Our weekly rhythm is:
Monday Snack: rice, gomasio, fruit or vegetable sticks. Activity: painting.
Tuesday Snack: Oatmeal, maple syrup, fruit. Activity: bread making.
Wednesday Snack: bread, butter and honey. Activity: drawing.
Thursday Snack: soup. Activity: soup preparation.
Friday Snack: corn on the cob (for as long as the season lasts), hard- boiled eggs, fruit or vegetable sticks. Activity: forest day!
Our first parent evening was well attended and the discussion on how media affects us and our children was lively.
We look forward to our Harvest Festival this Thursday, September 29, which will mark the end of our harvest circle. Early-childhood and parent-child classes will meet outside (weather permitting) at 10:00 a.m. to make applesauce, string apples to dry, and tie herbs to hang to dry for our tea. If anyone has apples to donate, please bring them to the classroom by Thursday morning.
We look forward to spending much time together and enjoying the changing of the seasons!
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Marianne Böckli
Early Childhood Chair
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Apple Picking
Last week, grades 1 and 2-3 went on a local field trip while grades 4-8 visited the Common Ground Fair. Here's a report:
The day began drizzly and gray as we packed 15 excited first, second, and third graders into three minivans and headed to Schoolhouse Farm's orchard. Upon arrival, we watched two adult and one baby black cow go about their cow business, and then a Brazilian farm intern told us about the 2000 apple trees spread over about 6 acres. As we approached the little farm stand, the smell of doughnuts was enough to drive even the adults to distraction. We gathered our baskets, made our way to the orchard, and found we had it all to ourselves.
When finally surrounded by trees, the children wanted to eat an apple right away, so we all selected a snacking apple and got down to business. We paused halfway through picking to hear about John Chapman, a.k.a Johnny Appleseed, and his legacy. Seventy-eight pounds of apples later, we prepared for the next leg of our journey, but not until Mrs. Brainerd had treated everyone to a farmstand doughnut!
Next stop: the foot of the Spruce Mountain lookout trail. We hiked the gentle slope to the summit, where we sat and enjoyed our lunches. The view of the Camden Hills, if ever- so- slightly threatening due to dark clouds, was exquisite. Refreshed, we made our way back down the trail and returned to school, where the rest of our day was spent in restful reflection and/or boisterous play, as needed.
Despite the dampness, it was a lovely day, and a fine and educational time was had by all!
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Michelle Buczacz, Grade One Teacher
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Thursday, September 29
Early-Childhood Harvest Celebration
Rosewood Early-Childhood Center
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Friday, September 30
Michaelmas Celebration and All-School Hike
9:00 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
Thursday, October 6
First Grade Parent Evening
6:00 p.m.
Friday, October 7
All-School Assembly
Grade 4-5
8:40-9:15 a.m.
Grade 6-7 Overnight
6:00 p.m.
Monday, October 10
Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day
NO SCHOOL
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Book Launch
School parent, Ronni Arno (Morgan, grade 7), is launching her latest novel, and you're invited.
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Bay Chamber
Bay Chamber in Rockport offers instrumental musicians of all ages several opportunities to play in a variety of ensemble settings, including full orchestra, chamber ensembles, and as soloists. All ensembles are FREE to families enrolled in Bay Chamber's private instruction program, and generous scholarships are also available to any qualifying students.
See the
website for details.
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Sailfish Open House
Tuesday, October 4th
5:30 p.m. at the Penobscot Bay YMCA. Click
here for more info.
Have you ever wondered about Swim Team and if it's a good fit for your child? Join us for an Open House on Tuesday, October 4, to get all your questions answered!
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Spacial Dynamics® CORE STUDIES Program
Receive training in Spacial Dynamics® with a 2- year part-time program led by Jaimen McMillan in Mechanicville, NY or Portland, OR. Further study is then offered in courses of specialized interest by certified Level III trainers at locations around North America.
Starts Oct. 6-10, 2016 in Mechanicville, NY For more
information 518-695-6377.
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Teacher's Husband Seeking Work
To the Ashwood Community:
I am looking for a position that will challenge and inspire me, and allow me to continually learn and grow.
I enjoy working individually or with a team. I have experience managing employees in service industries and high-pressure hospitality settings.
I take pride in maximizing efficiency, customer satisfaction, and employee morale.
I am skilled in customer service and have many technical and practical skills including mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and computer experience. I have worked with heavy equipment such as excavators, backhoe loaders, tractors, mowers, and more.
I'm looking forward to finding employment in an exciting, growing, challenging field where I can continue to learn and improve myself and those around me.
Yours,
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We publish community-service announcements from and for Ashwood community members at no charge (50-words max.). Send to: Judith Soleil.
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Be a Sponsor
Display or text ads appear here, in the right column of the
Leaflet, and link to your website. The cost is $5/edition for a square ad (170 x 170 pixels) and $10/edition for a long ad (170 x 340 pixels). Discounts are available for long-term ads. The
Leaflet appears every other week except in July. For more information, email
Judith Soleil.
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Do you have a story to tell about Ashwood? A review of a book or an event? A reflection on Waldorf education? Photos you've taken?
A question about the Leaflet?
Send us an email! We would love to hear from you. The next Leaflet will be published on Wednesday, October 12. Deadline for submissions is MONDAY, October 10, at 9:00 a.m.
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"Know Who You Are"
Excellent snapshots of Waldorf grads from the Waldorf School of Garden City in New York.
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Waldorf Alumni Series: Know Who You Are
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Support Waldorf education in midcoast Maine. Make a tax-deductible donation today by clicking the button below.
Thank you!
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