Do You Know How Our School Is Governed?
There are many unique and wonderful aspects of Waldorf education that set it apart from other educational systems. How Waldorf schools are governed is an important part of the education, and while students are not directly aware of how the school is administered, they do over time become aware of the essential role that their teachers play in governing the school.
 Ashwood, like all Waldorf schools, is self-governed, with formal areas of responsibility for the faculty (teachers and administrators) and the board of trustees. The school also has a parent council (PCC) that promotes and supports the community life of the school. All these essential roles bind the school together and, when working well, create a pedagogically strong, fiscally and legally responsible, harmonious and nurturing school. This week, I would like to describe the role of the faculty in some detail.
The faculty at Ashwood Waldorf School is responsible for all pedagogical and programming decisions, as well as hiring, evaluating, mentoring, and, when required, dismissing teachers. This faculty work is grounded in an understanding of Waldorf education in the light of anthroposophy. The administrative faculty is responsible for implementing school policies and advancement, including enrollment, development, public relations, finance, and facilities management. The director is responsible for hiring, evaluation, and when required, dismissal of administrators. At Ashwood, and at many Waldorf schools, the director serves as faculty chair. The faculty makes decisions using a consensus model.
Full faculty meetings take place after school every Thursday. The meeting schedule is somewhat flexible, in order to effectively address the school's most pressing business in a timely fashion. The following is representative of the typical schedule: read more.
-Jody Spanglet
School Director
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Dismissal Tips
Dear Parents,
The faculty has carefully observed dismissal time during these first weeks of school, and we have a request for all parents or responsible adults who are picking up children. In your children's best interests,
we ask that you park and come to meet your child or that you park and stand at a spot on the path where your child's dismissing teacher can see you when you are ready to receive your child. We want to ensure that each child is being picked up by the correct adult.
 For safety's sake, students must not enter the parking lots without the awareness of supervising adults. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
We love to see children and parents lingering on campus after school. However, please make sure that your child has first checked in with you before they go off to play and that school rules are followed at all times when your child is on campus. Thank you!
Sincerely,
-The Faculty
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New Families
We welcome two new families to Ashwood's early-childhood class; both enrolled after the school directory was compiled. Here is their contact information:
Bruin Gaylor (7/18/13). Alex and Andrea Gaylor 1021 Heald Hwy., Union 04862 207.542.1835
Noah Gelinas (6/24/11). David Gelinas and Rae-Ann Means 26 Molyneaux Rd., Camden 04843 207.479.3176
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Another Season
Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry!
We must all get fat and furry!
Not a moment to be lost!
We can hear bold Jackie Frost!
Jack Frost is just around the corner, and the early-childhood classes are getting ready for the changing of the seasons. These autumn days are quite simply...spectacular!
Last Thursday, we celebrated our second annual early- childhood harvest festival. Families from the parent-child class joined with kindergarten families to enjoy delicious homemade soup together. Then we peeled and chopped apples to make applesauce that we will enjoy in class throughout the winter
(or as long as it lasts!). Thank you to all who participated in this event.
 We have been enjoying watching the acorns literally shower down from the trees; thankfully, no one has been conked on the head-- yet! Those acorns are featured in many a delicious "meal" mixed with sand, leaves, and water. Now, that is an interesting soup, too!
In the last few days our garden cart has been used as an "ambulance." Many hapless victims have been seen in the play yard awaiting their turn for the blanket stretcher to be loaded into the cart. This is so much fun for the teachers to watch; we listen to the sirens as we go about our work.
Fondly and with joy,
-Ms. Beth
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Milkweed Babies
Did you know that our own early-childhood teacher, Beth Lunt, is offering
workshops and puppet plays at venues throughout the midcoast on Friday mornings throughout the year? These delightful programs are for children 2-6 yrs. old with an adult.
 This Friday, Beth will be in the Buttercup Room at Ashwood, leading a crafting activity at 10:30 a.m. Come along, bring a friend or two, and create some sweet milkweed babies to take home! Suggested donation: $5.00.
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Grade Four-Five Trip to Common Ground
On Friday, September 23, 2016 my class went to the Common Ground Fair. It was raining really hard and most of the time my group went from tent to tent. We were going to watch the sheep dog demonstrations but that's when it started raining cats and dogs! So we went to another tent that had felting and weaving.... All in all it was pretty wet and cold but I still had fun.
-Mazy,
Grade 5
At the fair I saw many things like chickens, rabbits, horses, sheep dogs, and people making bows and more. The bunny barn was my favorite. There was one bunny named Angel, one with babies, and some really fluffy ones that looked like puff balls....The Common Ground Fair was amazing!!
-Sanbate Grade 4
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All Hallows' Eve
Ashwood Waldorf School offers a festive All Hallows' Eve celebration each year for all families with young children. The event is an imaginative, protected alternative to traditional trick-or-treat activities. For one magical evening, our campus and woodland are transformed into a place of enchantment.
This year's walk will be on Friday, October 28, at 5:00 p.m.
 We heartily invite alumni, parents, and friends to get involved; working behind the scenes is a lot of fun! We need trail guides, parking attendants, scarecrow makers, cookie bakers and distributors, cider servers, tree face creators (ask me!), poster distributors, and entertainers. If you'd like to pose in the woods as a character, we can help with costuming.
Please contact me soon if you'd like to help make this annual gift to our community a very special one!
-Judith Soleil
Enrollment and Outreach
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From Our Correspondents
Caroline Ginsberg, Ashwood 2000, and Alden Robinson (Ashwood 1998), are our alumni correspondents. We will be publishing their periodic reports of the doings and whereabouts of our grads. Thank you, Caroline and Alden!
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Judith Soleil
 Abraham Stimson was a member of the Ashwood class of 1998. He lives in Hope, Maine, and works as a carpenter and wooden boat builder, and moonlights as a web designer. He loves playing music, hiking, and brewing beer -- he dreams of doing the latter professionally. Abraham lives with his partner, Valerie, who is also an Ashwood alum, and is excited about embarking on an extended road trip this December in a lovingly restored camper. Upon return, he needs to figure out how to malt a large quantity of barley, organically grown by another Ashwood alum.
 Brianna Shepard graduated from Ashwood in 2000. She enjoyed a winter exploring New Zealand with best friend (and Ashwood alumna) Zoe Geer, and spent several years working in the sailing industry, eventually owning and chartering her own wooden boat on Mount Desert Island. Currently she is based in Washington state, where she runs her own massage business and was recently certified as a yoga instructor. Brianna and her partner have spent the last few summers in Alaska, completing a 1200-mile kayak trip through the Inside Passage and, most recently, working as a guide at a wilderness lodge. Brianna is busy planning her next adventure (and looking forward to a warmer winter) with a boat delivery from Panama to Hawaii.
Please send your alumni updates to Caroline.
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Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences will be held October 20 and 21. Please remember to sign up to speak with your child(ren)'s class teacher and specialty teachers. If you have questions or are having trouble with the emailed sign-up links, please contact
Sarah in the main office.
Deadline for sign up is Wednesday, October 19 at 4:00 p.m.
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School Tour
Wednesday, October 19, from 8:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m., we're
offering a tour of grades 4-5, 7, and 8. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce Waldorf education to curious friends!
We're also offering a tour of Ashwood's early-childhood classroom, also on Wednesday, October 19 (9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.). This tour is separate from the tour of the grades, and attendance is limited.
After the tour there will be time for questions and conversation with Ashwood's director, Jody Spanglet. Advance registration is required, by phone:
207.236.8021 or email. All are welcome! Free of charge.
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Thursday, October 13
Parent-Community Council Meeting
8:45 a.m. Conference Room
Friday, October 14
All-School Assembly
8:40-9:00 a.m.
French with Grade 8.
Milkweed Babies with Beth Lunt
Buttercup Room, Rosewood Early-Childhood Center at Ashwood
10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, October 19
School Tour
Grades 4-5, 7, and 8
8:15-10:30 a.m.
Early-Childhood: 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Thursday, October 20
Parent-Teacher Conferences
1:30-5:50 p.m.
Friday October 21
Parent-Teacher Conferences
8:30 a.m.-3:55 p.m.
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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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The Gift of Learning: Waldorf Education
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A British overview with lots of charm and informative commentary.
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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 26. Deadline for submissions is Monday, October 24, at 9:00 a.m.
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Support Waldorf education in midcoast Maine. Make a tax-deductible donation today by clicking the button below.
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