Education for the 21st Century |
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Dear Families,
We are gearing up for a busy November leading up to Thanksgiving Break! Don't forget to sign up to attend Grandparents and Special Friends Day, and we are pleased to welcome back Nola Casserly to our campus on Nov. 2 (RSVP at link below) for a Parent Enrichment event exploring the role of healthy struggle in child development. Winter greens orders close on Nov. 4 so make sure to get your orders in- thank you for supporting our Grade 8 and Grade 12 as they fundraise for their end-of-year trips. And if you'd like to learn more about what sets WSOC's high school apart and the many gifts it offers our students, we have a Parent Tour coming up on Nov. 11, RSVP below.
Warmly,
Alyssa Hamilton
Communications Coordinator
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Dear families,
Thank you to all of those who were able to attend the parent enrichment offering “Athletics & Waldorf Grades 1-8 Curriculum” last Tuesday evening. The gathering was an opportunity to hear from parents their expectations for organized after-school sports and to present a picture of our approach to sports in a Waldorf setting. I have been participating on a committee that has been looking at the possibilities for expanding sports offerings in the middle school and this gathering was another step toward that goal.
During the evening, Games teacher Brad Holm and Eurythmy teacher Pavel Hanustiak discussed the importance of movement throughout the Waldorf curriculum and the many opportunities our students have to develop their growing and changing physical bodies in alignment with their emotional, intellectual, and spiritual development.
In general, we do not consider competitive sports to be developmentally healthy at a young age and even in the middle-school years, competition shouldn’t be about winning and losing. Mr. Brad spoke about younger children being unable to distinguish between losing a game and “being a loser.” In the middle school, competition can be encouraged as a healthy part of development, but in my mind it is still important that the emphasis be on learning to support your teammates (something Waldorf students have an inherent head start on) and having fun. I try to never talk to my players about winning. My experience has been that winning takes care of itself when these are the principles we are encouraging.
One of the things I heard at the parent evening was the desire for a middle school sports program at WSOC specifically so that our students have an opportunity to participate in this type of program rather than outside programs that may push competition in an unhealthy way. We have a shared interest in achieving this goal and will continue to build the opportunities for our students with this in mind. The committee working on this issue will take your feedback as we move forward. As committee membership has changed, you may contact me directly with questions or concerns.
Once the students enter high school, of course, they can participate in a number of CIF sports teams, although the offerings necessarily change from year-to-year based on student interest.
Finally, I would like to take a moment to let you know what I plan for the middle school basketball program so you can schedule accordingly. Each year, Grade 7 and 8 students will be invited to join the team as soon as it’s cool enough for outdoor practices. These practices are generally scheduled for after school either Mondays or Tuesdays, depending on my other school commitments, and will continue through January. When we have enough players to form a team (minimum 8), we will schedule games with other schools. Following spring break, I also offer “spring ball” practices to Grade 6 and 7 students, where skill building is stressed in preparation for their Grade 7-8 year.
Warmly,
Kevin McDuff
School Administrator
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LAST DAY TO SAVE!
Deadline Today to Save 10%
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CLICK IMAGE TO PURCHASE - For new buyers, WSOC Code is 1014756838351681 |
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Our Grade 8 will be off to North Carolina this spring, and our Grade 12 will be off adventuring in Ireland!
These trips are made possible not only through class funds, but also through lots of fundraising. From car washes to selling class merchandise, our students have learned a great deal about entrepreneurship and teamwork as they work together toward a common goal. We are so grateful to our school community for your ongoing support of our young people, who are nothing short of incredible.
Below are opportunities to support their endeavors. Thank you to all of our WSOC families!
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Faculty Spotlight
Choir Teacher Lisa Taylor
& Accompanist Mr. Whipple
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Before coming to WSOC, you worked for many years at the Malamalama Waldorf School in Hawaii. How did you discover Waldorf education?
Our dynamic and very creative 4th grader was having difficulty in the public school system since the beginning. For years I felt like we just needed to "be the change you want to see" until I discovered a place where children are encouraged to be colorful, hang upside down, sing out loud, and tinker with their hands! These were things that got public school kids in trouble or bullied, and at the Waldorf school they are encouraged and fostered through art, eurythmy, music, and handwork. So, our 4th grader transferred and I switched from teaching ukulele in the public schools to teaching music to 1st through 8th grade at Malamalama Waldorf School.
What is one thing you miss about Hawaii, and one thing that you didn't mind leaving behind (like flying cockroaches?)!
We call them B52s! I definitely don't miss the bugs...especially fire ants and rat lungworm disease. Hawaii is a magical place full of beautiful people and has one of the lowest incidence of violent crimes in the country, but the small things will kill you! Well, that and tsunamis, volcanos, and hurricanes, but they have an excellent warning system now. The thing I miss the most (other than the people who became hanai [family]) is the clear water, rain, and warm weather all year round.
You also have a background in musical theatre. Will you be working with some of the grades teachers this year on their plays or other events?
Musical Theatre is my first love. I've performed in musicals since I was a teenager and started music directing at the Historic Palace Theatre in Hilo, Children's Musical Theatre Camps, Glee Clubs, and a Children's Chorus for the last 10 years. I was happy to assist in a few plays last year with the grades teachers and I look forward to having this opportunity again!
What do you enjoy most about teaching choir? What are your students currently learning?
I love harmonies. I learned from listening to my mom sing the alto lines to all the hymns. It’s exhilarating to layer different pitches and hear them lock in. The students at WSOC are learning to hold their own part but also listen to how it fits in the chord. They are also learning how to sight read (sight-sing) and how to improve vocal control through the placement of projecting sound and vowel production.
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Calling All Winter Festival Singers and Crafters! |
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Please Note: The rehearsal taking place the week of Thanksgiving will be held on Tues. Nov. 22 instead of Thurs. the 24th |
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Hark! Knitters, crocheters, painters, wood workers, tinkerers, toymakers, sewing mavens and all other crafty and artsy elves:
We need your elfin talents to bring magic to our 2022 Winter Festival Elves’ Workshop. What are you good at making? We need your masterpiece donations (20 pieces) by November 18, 2022, right after Thanksgiving.
Alternatively, if you prefer to work on prepared craft kits with materials and instructions, We will be setting up some craft kits at the Company of Angels. You may pick them up and secretly work on them when the little ones are asleep. Kits have to be returned to the Company of Angels by November 18, 2002.
Examples of past crafts kits for inspiration:
Please contact us to let us know what you would like to make:
Thank you very much for bringing magic and joyful memories to the children!!
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Middle School to High School |
WSOC middle and high school teachers work together to support the unique needs of our adolescent students. During a period of turbulent brain and soul development, the Waldorf curriculum and developmental understanding of the teachers supports both the large internal questions of the teenager while also maintaining broad learning experiences to ensure many brain pathways are turned from “old country roads to interstate highways,” as high school teacher Ingrid Feck described the neural pathways being myelinated during this period of time. |
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Grades 7, 6 and 5 (clockwise from left) show off their newly completed projects in Mr. Bryant's woodwork classes. |
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Our High School Volleyball players, together with Coach Steve, enjoyed a fast-paced and fun season together! Congratulations to Seniors Hannah Lieberman and Eire McKenney; Freshman Radha Bhushan; and Sophomore Emma Oceguera for their CIF awards. |
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Grade 5 created handmade pinch pots to hold candles for Diwali, The Festival of Lights. This festival marks new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness. The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, which means a row of lights. [Deep = light and avali = a row]. It is one of the most prominent festivals in India and South-East Asia, celebrated with great warmth, joy, and shining grandeur, like Christmas is celebrated in many parts of the world.
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The study of acids and bases and the transformation of elements under pressure mirrors the development of the soon-to-be teenager in Grade 7. The creation of a lime kiln on campus offered a first-hand glimpse of the lime cycle for Grade 7 chemistry. |
7th and 8th graders head to the San Diego Waldorf School for a middle school Halloween Dance. |
Ms. Schwarz's Grade 5 and their Mandarin teacher Luo Lau Shi recently visited the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. This field trip was focused on visiting the Chinese Garden to correspond with the Mandarin program and various gardens- Desert Garden, Rose Garden, Jungle Garden, Japanese Garden, and so forth to correspond with the Botany block in fifth grade. |
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Nursery students enjoying a walk on a gorgeous fall morning. |
8th Grade students carved pumpkins with their 1st Grade buddies. |
The Huntington’s Chinese Garden—known as Liu Fang Yuan流芳園, or the Garden of Flowing Fragrance—is one of the finest classical-style Chinese gardens outside of China. The landscape is filled with Chinese plants and framed by exquisite architecture enriched with literature and art. Many children, for the first time, saw bamboo and traditional Chinese pavilions and bridges. They also had the opportunity to take some moments to sketch or write down what they saw and enjoyed nature and scenery. |
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Ms. Rodelo's Grade 6 business math class had students using found and recycled objects along with purchased materials to create items for sale. They learned about making a budget and a simple business plan, factoring in the cost of labor and materials. Items they made included an apron made out of a plastic bag, candle holders out of aluminum cans, doggie bandannas and much more! |
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HIGH SCHOOL LUNCHTIME LECTURE SERIES continues
Sonja Yates
Principal Engineer Materials and Processes
Northrop Grumman
Sonja attended WSOC kindergarten through Grade 12, graduating in 2012. "I was the second graduating class in the WSOC high school. There were eight students in my class," she said.
After graduating, she attended Loyola Marymount University (LMU) to study Mechanical Engineering. During her time at LMU she enjoyed furthering her education and personal growth through study abroad opportunities and involvement in on-campus organizations.
She graduated in 2016 and in 2018, started a dual degree program at the University of Tennessee to pursue an MBA and an MS in Materials Science and Engineering. In 2020, she completed her MBA and MS, and started work as a Materials and Process Engineer in Northrop Grumman’s Space Division. She currently supports supplier troubleshooting, manufacturing, materials development, and project management initiatives within the Space Division.
Addressing the student audience, Sonja recommended studying abroad if programs are offered through a student's chosen university to enhance bonding with other students and enjoy opportunities to travel without falling behind in school. She also highly recommended creating strategies to cope with school stress such as a regular exercise routine, and being disciplined with a schedule to avoid overload. When asked what class every undergrad should take, she didn't hesitate: "Personal Finance or some kind of introductory finance class. Not everyone learns about balancing their budget or taking out loans or using credit cards. I can't think of a more important skill!"
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Scrip of the Week
Amis de la Terre
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HOURS:
Wed-Fri: 11am-7pm
Sat-Sun: 11am-4pm
We are closed Mon. & Tues.
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We want to make plastic-free shopping attainable and enjoyable.
We started Amis de la Terre Market with the vision that eliminating plastic packaging from pantry staples can have a dramatic impact on consumer plastic waste. However, none of the supermarkets make it easy. Having witnessed the success of local refill shops for home goods and cosmetics, we wanted to fill a gap in Orange County’s access to sustainable options.
LOCATION:
1125 Victoria Street
Suite G
Costa Mesa, CA
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Mon 10/31, 9:00a - 10:00a • Parent Study Group with Early Years Teacher Holly Richards (Parent-Infant through Grade 1 parents welcome)
Mon 10/31, 10:30a - 11:30a • Halloween High School Concert for Grades
Mon 10/31, 1:45p - 1:45p • High School Early Release 1:45pm
November 2022
Tue 11/1, 8:45a - 9:45a • Room Rep Meeting
Tue 11/1, 7:30p - 9:00p • Adult Education
Wed 11/2, 6:30p - 7:30p • Grade 4 Parent Evening
Wed 11/2, 6:30p - 8:00p • Parent Enrichment: The Role of Struggle in Healthy Development with Nola Casserly
Thu 11/3, 8:15a - 3:00p • Grade 8 High School visit day for students
Sat 11/5 • High School Homecoming Dance
Mon 11/7, 9:00a - 10:00a • Parent Study Group with Early Years Teacher Holly Richards (Parent-Infant through Grade 1 parents welcome)
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AWSNA Waldorf Alum Instagram
Have you heard? We have launched the "official" AWSNA Waldorf Alum Instagram account celebrating the incredible work and undertakings of Waldorf Alums across North America.
Do you know of an alum (or are you one) doing great things out in the world? We want to know! Please share your news, great and small, with us by using the hashtags #WaldorfAlum or #WaldorfAlums.
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Click here for WSOC College of Teachers, Board Members and Administrative Rotation
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Waldorf School of Orange County
2350 Canyon Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92627-3948
(949) 574-7775
wwww.waldorfschool.com
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