Anticipation
To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle.
-Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass
As we return from the Thanksgiving break, it is hard to believe that the school year is already a third over. The bounty of our collective harvest feels very full. The school year has been marked with good, hard work, lots of learning, and plenty of laughter sprinkled throughout the days. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday.
The next three weeks will be filled with an abundance of riches. There will be a midnight visit by Saint Nicholas; the children will leave out their shoes in the hope that he will fill them with citrus and other treats. Sometimes he also leaves a note for the class, letting them know what they have accomplished and what they need to work on.
The Winter Spiral of Light for our students will occur during the school day on December 7, and the Winter Revels will take place at the Camden Opera House at 4:00 p.m. on December 16. The Revels is a time to enjoy a variety of presentations by the grades; the Winter Spiral is a unique, non-denominational festival.
For the Winter Spiral, each class will enter a darkened room that has been prepared with a spiral of evergreen boughs, golden stars, and shimmering crystals. As quiet music plays, each child has a turn walking the spiral, lighting his or her candle from a large candle that has been lit in the center, and then placing it on a stump along the pathway back out from the center. Each child's candle brightens the path for the next, until the entire room glows gently. It is a delight to observe each child finding their way, walking the spiral alone at his or her own pace: some rushing, some proceeding more slowly, some walking tentatively at first, and all with emerging confidence. It is just this sense of confidence in humanity's capacity to create light out of darkness that is palpably experienced during this festival.
Adults and all alumni (ninth grade and up) are invited to the Winter Spiral of Light that will be held in the early-childhood building on December 7 at 6:00 p.m. Please note that, to preserve the experience for all participants, once the walk begins no latecomers may enter the building.
In these weeks preceding Chanukah and Christmas, I wish each of you peace and joy.
-Jody Spanglet
School Director
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Winter Darkness, Winter Light
The first light of Advent
Is the light of stones
Light that lives in seashells
In crystals and in bones
Today we will light the first candle of our Advent wreath. We offer gratitude for the strong stones of the earth beneath us, which ground and support us on our way. Then, in the opening verse of our morning circle, we honor the expansive realm above us, acknowledging that we are all part of a great universe:
Down is the earth, Up is the sky, Here are my friends, And here am I!
 The inner impulse for this time of the year is light, as the days grow shorter and colder. Each day outside, we notice the changes in the natural world around us. Soon we will gather moss and greenery (we always ask first), bringing a bit of the forest into our classroom. We are fortunate indeed to be surrounded by the natural beauty around us; the silent wood takes on a different feeling now--well, silent, that is, until we enter it!
Blessings!
-Ms. Beth
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Grade 4-5 Animal Shelters
Here is a glimpse of some of the inventive animal shelter dioramas and related artwork created by students in grade 4-5.
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Annual Appeal
Okay, Ashwood! It's time to talk annual appeal. This is a really important part of our fundraising efforts. Last year we had 100% participation of our families, board, and faculty, and other schools took notice-- calling and emailing to congratulate us. It's a big deal! We did it last year and we can do it again. Here are some fun things to keep in mind:
- The first class to reach 100% receives a Chocolate Extravaganza Torte at their next parent evening!
- If you would like to be an angel in honor of another family in our parent body, let Annie know.
- This year, Ashwood's 30th, is all about our alumni. When you make your gift, think of all those children who graduated from Ashwood and entered the world equipped with a deep, rich education that helps them do good in our world. Then, think of your own child/ren doing the same.
- Lastly, don't allow the dollar amount to define the significance of your gift. Yes, give as generously as you can, but no one but you can define what that is.
If you ever have any questions about how our fundraising process works, or if you'd like to be a part of this effort in any way, reach out to
Annie Mahle, Development Director: 542-6956.
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Annie Mahle
Development Director
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AmazonSmile
 Of course, we all love to support our local businesses, but when it just can't be found in the Midcoast, AmazonSmile is a great backup. What's more, when you shop with AmazonSmile, they automatically make a donation (.5% of your purchase price) to the charity of your choice. While this may not seem like a lot, it adds up!
1. Go to
www.smile.amazon.com.
2. Add Ashwood Waldorf School as your charity.
3. Bookmark
www.smile.amazon.com.
4. Use AmazonSmile every time you shop at Amazon, and they will donate .5% of your purchase to Ashwood.
-Annie Mahle
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Class and Individual Photos
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Pick Up Your Photos!
Photographer Doug Mott will distribute class and individual photos on Friday, December 9, between 2:50 and 3:30 in the community room downstairs in the grade-school building. Pickup for EC families who don't also have children in the grade school will be at 12:15 on Wednesday, December 14, in the early-childhood building. Questions? Contact
Doug.
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Wed., Thurs., Fri., November 30, December 1 and 2
Grades 6-7 and 8 trip to Camp Kieve.
Thursday, December 1
Board of Trustees Meeting
6:00-9:00 p.m.
Friday, December 2
All-School Assembly
Grade 2-3 presents.
8:40-9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, December 7
Winter Spiral of Light
All classes throughout the day.
Adults and alumni, 6:00 pm.
PLEASE RSVP FOR THE EVENING WALK.
Friday, December 9
No assembly. All-school games.
Class and Individual Photos Pickup
Grade School downstairs
2:50-3:30.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Friday, December 16
Winter Revels
Camden Opera House
4:00 p.m.
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Honoring Susan Junge
 As many of you know, I am re-opening my community clay studio later this month in Rockport. One goal is to double the numbers of wheels available for classes from 5 to 10!
I would like to celebrate Susan's memory by naming one of these wheels for her. If you would like to help purchase Susan's wheel, please donate
online, or send a check to the address below. In an email to me, or in the "Special directions to seller" online, will you write a single word (phrase) that you think captures something special about Susan related to art?
Avery Larned
Clay! Community Ceramics
201 West Street
Rockport, Me 04856
207-613-6253
avery@claymaine.com
New website is under construction -- so see
www.hopeclay.com for most current state of things!
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Bonny Birds
Dear Friends,
I hope you can join me this Sunday for my art show - Art of the Songbird. I will be sharing many of my new drawings from the last year. I will also be selling cards and calendars printed from my bird drawings to help fund expenses for my 8th grade project. Please come and enjoy some refreshments and conversation. I hope to see you there!
Sunday, December 4th 11:00 - 2:00
Lincolnville Community Center, 18 Searsmont Rd, Lincolnville
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Caleb Edwards
Grade 8
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Doll Workshop
Make your own soft doll of all-natural materials. The perfect gift, handmade with love, to be treasured for a lifetime!
Bridget Qualey will direct this two-part workshop on December 3 and 17, 9:30-noon, at Spindlewood in Lincolnville. Please contact Susan Silverio to register by
email or by phone: 763-4652. Space is limited, so register soon for this two-morning workshop! $20 supply fee covers all materials, including upcycled wool and cashmere sweaters and wool fleece from the
Spindlewood flock.
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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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Whimsical rhyming picture books by two Steiner alumni. Ideal holiday gifts for young readers.
Available from
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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, December 14. Deadline for submissions is MONDAY, December 12, 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.
Thank you!
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