It is hard to believe that an entire school year has gone by and that June is upon us. In a few days the school year will end, and gardening, swimming, boating, and all other sorts of summer merriment will ensue. Summer is that wonderful time to get away from schedules and routines and to just play. I have often thought of summer as being like a dream.
I hope that you dream big and fall deep into the sun's wonderful slumber.

 

I want to extend a special farewell to our graduating eighth graders and their terrific teacher, Lesley Finlayson, and to our dear Ms. Beth. These goodbyes are always bittersweet:  our support, hopes, prayers, and well wishes go with you on your journeys. We will miss you all dearly and hope that you will come back and visit us often and soon.

 

I wish all of you the most glorious summer ever. For the children who have worked hard all year, my wish for each Ashwood student is to play like there is no tomorrow. To the parents of the school, you have also worked hard and you have enriched Ashwood in innumerable ways. This year the Serve-A-thon and the Pentathlon called for hours and hours of volunteer support, in addition to all of the many other ways that Ashwood's parents give and give again to make this community the warm, welcoming, and rich place that it is. Thank you!

 

To the faculty, my wish for each of you is to put away your studies, at least for a few weeks, and your crayons and your chalks, and your recorders and violins, and your knitting and your hammers, and your storytelling and your math problems, and your games and your computers, and, and, and.... You deserve a break from the dedication and the hours that you give. We know you will be back soon, refreshed and ready to begin anew.

 

I will also be away from school from the end of June and for the first three weeks of July. I will be attending the AWSNA conference in Portland, Oregon for a week, followed by three weeks walking the Camino de Santiago. Last year I walked the coastal route by myself and I am thrilled to return and walk the interior route through Portugal to Santiago, Spain, this time with my husband, Bill Laurita. Betty, Judith, and Sarah will take turns tending the school and I will then join the rotation of administrators here to hold up the fort for the remainder of the summer, making sure that everyone gets a much-needed rest.

 

There will be faculty meetings from June 12 - June 21;if you need to be in touch then, please leave a message and the administration will get back to you as soon as possible. The school office will be closed on July 3 & 4. Beginning on July 5, and extending until August 25, the office will be open for business Monday through Thursday from 9:00-1:00 p.m. Faculty work week begins on August 28 to prepare for the start of the new school year in September.

- Jody Spanglet
School Director

Over the door of the classroom farthest from ours, brave phoebes have built their nest on a light fixture. Every time a person walks near it, the adult bird flies off, perches in the nearby maple tree, chirps anxiously, and waits until all is calm again to return to her nest. We have been observing some of this when we are outside, wondering when we would see what was in the nest. On a sunny day, after lunch, while hanging laundry, we saw the bird return to her nest with something in her beak. A few children and I quietly walked nearer and stretched to see...at least two tiny yellow beaks, wide open, and, with a stretch of our imagination, fluffy heads!  We left quietly again, so the little ones could be fed. It has become a lovely ritual, when we have finished our outdoor lunch, to go see the birds.

The school year is almost over. As always, it seems it just flew by us. When we look at how much the children have grown, we get a better measure; they have matured so much, developing their social and practical skills, and their play is as active as ever. It has been a pleasure to work in the early-childhood program, with all the people involved. Thank you for a very good year!

- Marianne Böckli
Early-Childhood Teacher
 

The Class of 2017, along with their dedicated teacher, Lesley Finlayson, look forward to seeing you at the Strom Auditorium at Camden Hills Regional High School this  Saturday, June 10, for their graduation.

The ceremony begins at 1:00 p.m.; doors will open at 12:45. Grades 5 and 6-7 are to arrive at 12:30; grades 1, 2-3, and 4 at 12:45.

At Ashwood, graduation is seen as a significant moment for the whole community: for the younger children who are inspired by the eighth graders and who look forward to their own graduation; for the teachers who have all had a hand in their education; for the parents of children in other grades who have watched and helped the eighth graders grow through the years.
 
All Ashwood students grades 1-7 will take part in the graduation and are expected to attend. Class teachers will provide details.
 
Our hope is that all parents and friends of Ashwood will also join us. It truly is a wonderful event!

-Judith Soleil
Enrollment and Outreach

Ashwood Waldorf School has been awarded a grant to start a beekeeping program on campus, thanks to the efforts of parents Joe DeStefano, Rebecca Jacobs, and Betty Wyman. The grant was awarded by "Maine Agriculture in the Classroom," and will focus on the natural history and environmental aspects bees exert on our agricultural food system.    

Prepare to celebrate! Our lively end-of-year assembly will be on Friday, June 9, at 10:00 a.m. at the Camden Opera House. The festivities will last for about an hour; dismissal will be from the Opera House immediately following the assembly.

Dropoff will be at the Camden Opera House at 8:30 a.m.  Parents, please bring your children into the Opera House and be sure they are under the care of their class teacher before leaving. Please send a snack along with your children.

This event is a wonderful way to introduce our school to friends and family: all are welcome!

The FIRST Ashwood Community Reunion is scheduled for Sunday, July 30, 2017, 3:00-6:00 p.m.
 
Join your classmates, alumni new and old, and alumni families for an afternoon on the beautiful Ashwood campus. See how the campus has grown and changed, and learn about where people's lives have taken them since they left the school.
 
Snacks, refreshments, group art projects, music, and games await!

For more info, email Alden Robinson or Caroline Ginsberg.

Ashwood will be offering four summer camp sessions this year. You can download a form, or pick one up in the office! SIGNUP DEADLINE IS JUNE 9!

Nature Explorers
for children 4-7 yrs. old, June 26-June 30.
Leader: Rose Swan

Ultimate Frisbee & Archery Camp
for children entering grades 4-8, July 17-21.
Leader: Jeremy Clough

Jump for Joy!
for children entering grades 1-4, July 17-July 21.
Leader: Rose Swan

French Cooking
for children entering grades 2-4 , July 24-July 28.
Leader: Sarah Trapani

The Lost and Found basket is located just to the right of the side door of the grade-school building as soon as you walk in the door. It's piled high with valuable clothing and other gear: come find what you're missing! We will display items outdoors this week, weather permitting; what's left will be available at school until Friday, June 16, after which they will be donated to a good cause.