Greetings!
This week in
The
Leaflet
, we have news of the latest doings of the Class of 2020 as well as pictures of Class 3-4's shelter model project. There's more evidence of creativity in the EC as Ms. Morgan finds a way to celebrate Bridge Crossing with our rising first graders. Don't miss the news of events, including the End-of-Year Assembly, graduation, and our announcement that there
will
be a Forest Camp this summer for 5-7 year olds.
Photos:
Sofia Howell demonstrates her 8th grade project, an electric violin she designed and built.
This is the final edition of the
Leaflet
for the 2019–2020 school year. Publication will resume in late August.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
May the rains fall soft upon your fields,
Until we meet again,
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Burst of Creativity Caps Class 7–8 Ashwood Experience
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Harrison works on his chess set with Mr. Valle.
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Student Independent Projects: "More Than Just a Click of the Button"
Raising and butchering pigs, pinhole photography, primitive skills, learning to cook and bake cakes—these are just a few of the independent student projects completed by our graduating class this spring. Each year, our oldest students take on a yearlong independent project that allows them to explore an interest or learn something entirely new.
While the global pandemic forced a cancellation of the school’s annual project presentation night, we have compiled a project "look book" that highlights key aspects of each of the projects, including lessons learned, gratitude to mentors, quotes that inspired, and photographs of the students' learning process and final products.
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Sanbate's illustration for "Gravity's Tale"
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How the Cactus Got Its Prickles:
Short Story Compilation Is Class of 2020's Gift to the School
Have you ever wondered how the turtle got its shell, why the sun and moon rise and set, what makes flowers so colorful, why pebbles are so patient, or why the rooster crows?
How the Cactus Got Its Prickles and Other Stories
will take you on a journey to explore these mysteries and many others, as you wind your way through space and time with animals, humans, and elements in search of lost friends and new adventures.
Dedicated to Ashwood's young readers,
How the Cactus Got Its Prickles and Other Stories
was a project of Ashwood’s Class of 2020 language arts class and is their gift to the school. A printed copy will be placed in the lower grades classroom for all to read and enjoy in years to come.
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Class 3-4 Shelter Models Honor First Nations Design
This spring, during their distance learning program, Class 3-4 rose to the challenge of creating a model shelter based on the homes of First Nations people across North America. The children were each provided with a book from Bonnie Shemie's Native Houses series featuring the
igluvigak
housing styles of Arctic area people, plank houses of the Pacific Northwest tribes, houses of hide and earth made by Midwest Plains tribes and the birch bark wigwams crafted by the people of the Northeast. In ordinary times, the class would have spent time together learning about these houses and their unique features but circumstances required that this class be pioneers and go at it independently. The result of their pioneering spirit are beautiful, as you will see. Congratulations, Class 3-4 on your well-built shelters! I am proud of you all!
Mrs. Buczacz, Class 3-4 Teacher
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Bridge crossing diorama by Morgan Wade
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Rising First Graders to Cross the Rainbow Bridge at Home
T
he first-grade-rising children have been much in my thoughts as the year comes to a close! After much consideration with my colleagues and with the parents' permission, I came up with a plan to help each child celebrate Bridge Crossing at home on Friday, May 29. The children will dress in
celebratory clothing and families will create makeshift bridge-crossing areas with logs or stones in their driveways or yards. I will visit each house, placing a gift basket for the student on one side of the "bridge". The family and I will watch each child walk over the bridge and applaud their crossing! After a brief visit with the family, I will head to the next child's home. To help create a community feeling for this celebration, each family will be sending a flower or bouquet with me to bring to the next child. I look forward to seeing each of the families and to celebrating this wonderful right-of-passage with our rising first graders!
Morgan Wade, EC Teacher
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End of Year All-School Assembly
Join us online on
Friday, May 29 at 3:oo p.m. for an end-of-year assembly. We will honor each of the classes with a slideshow featuring a sample of each student's work, and Class 5-6 will pay tribute to the graduating class. We'll end with a rousing at-home sing-along of the "School Song." Everyone is welcome! The program will be brief to minimize screen time. We hope to see you all there! (Assembly link forthcoming.)
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Honoring the Class of 2020 with Joy and Sorrow
On
Friday, June 5, from 1:00–2:30 p.m., the Class of 2020 will celebrate commencement with an in-person, physically-distanced ceremony on the Ashwood campus. The faculty is thrilled to be able to share this moment of celebration with the Class of 2020 after a lengthy spring of separation; however, we are deeply saddened that parents are not able to attend because of the current Maine CDC guideline against gatherings larger than 50.
Perhaps reflecting the sentiments of many in the class, 8th grade parent Brooks Crane writes, "
It shocked me at first to think about not being there. I thought, 'Isn’t graduation for us?' But then it sank in that part of what we want for our kids as they get older is to have their own lives and experiences. What better way for them to realize that their hard work is for their own benefit and the world's—and not just for our parental pride—then to let them be together without us?"
The ceremony will be recorded and shared with the entire community. In the meantime, if you'd like to send a celebratory message to the Class of 2020, see the APC article, below, "Send a Message to the Graduates."
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Service During Stay-at-Home
If you would like to lend a hand during these uncertain times, please consider these requests from the residents of Quarry Hill and Knox Center for Long Term Care, and Knox County Recovery Coalition.
- The residents of Knox Center for Long Term Care would love to receive hand-made cards. They can be mailed to Knox Center, Activities Department, 6 White Street, Rockland, ME 04841
- Quarry Hill has requested videos of students reading stories and showing pictures, or videos of students playing instruments. Please click here for instructions and guidelines
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Many thanks to our Serve-A-Thon Sponsors:
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Friday
May
29
Last Day of Classes
EC Bridge Crossing
All-School End of
Year Assembly
via videoconference
3:00–3:30 p.m.
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Monday
June
1
Deadline for
Re-enrollment
Summer Faculty Meetings Begin
1:00–4:00 p.m.
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Thursday
June
4
Graduation Rehearsal
1:00-2:30 p.m.
Board Meeting
6:00–8:00 p.m.
Friday
June
5
Graduation
1:00-2:30 p.m.
(Rain date: June 6)
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Forest Camp Is a Go!
We are very happy to announce that we will be able to go ahead with our Forest Camp! We will be unable, however, to hold our previously planned circus, woodworking, and cooking camps. We look forward to another time when we can offer a full slate of camps.
We will have more details available very soon about Forest Camp, but in the meantime, please be in touch if you are interested in a camp for your child, aged 5-7. The camp will be "99.9%" outdoors and will follow all of the health and safety recommendations issued by the governor on May 20 concerning summer day camps. The original date, August 10–14 may need to be adjusted. We are also considering offering an additional week. Stay tuned!
With regard to cancellation:
As a reminder, you will receive a full refund for any
cancellations taking place up to one month prior to the start of the camp session.
In addition, if the camp session does not run for reasons of insufficient enrollment or changed social distancing policies, you will receive a full refund.
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Business Office Manager Betty Wyman Says Farewell
It was in 2009 when my older son Aidan spent a wonderful, enchanted and cozy summer camp at Ashwood. The campus, with its trees, open fields and crisp, rolling brook, captured our imaginations, and since then we have never left. Aidan and my younger son Benjamin have walked the same paths for the last 11 years, and I was fortunate to be able to watch them daily from my window in the past four in my role as business manager for the school. Now my 14-year old is ready to graduate, and my 11-year old is entering 5th grade. Big changes abound!
Editor's note: Look for a profile of our new business office manager, Tamara Cody, in a future issues of
The Leaflet.
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Gratitude from Handwork Teacher Donna Wenckus
To all the wonderful children and their families of Ashwood, I want to extend my deepest, heartfelt gratitude for the beautiful cards and well-wishes that you've sent to me recently. Your loving words, messages, and drawings made me smile and brought tears to my eyes. My stay-at-home time has been spent reflecting on the many, many people that I've had the privilege to meet and gather with over my years at Ashwood. I am placing all of you in my family and in my heart. Please know that you all have a special place in my story. Be well, and be careful out there. Have a wonderful summer!
Ms. Wenckus, Handwork Teacher
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Send a Message to the Graduates
The APC is putting together a little video that will be shared with the graduating students through email around graduation time. As part of the Ashwood community, we have all had little moments or special memories with the graduates throughout the years. This special group of people have touched our lives. Let's share with them what we will remember. If you feel inspired please send a simple
video with a message of support, or words of life wisdom, or a special memory you have for graduates. Simply take a short video on your phone and text or email it to me at 207.701.9557 or
karilue@gmail.com. Please send by this
Monday, June 1, if possible. Clips from parents and students welcome! These are strange times, but let's send the 7th and 8th graders off with love and support from our whole Ashwood community.
Kari Luehman, APC Facilitator
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Two New
Waldorf100+
Initiatives
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Paper Star Creation
In this challenging time when we are apart, we are constantly seeking out ways in which we can join together. With this in mind, we invite you to participate in a continental paper star-making project!
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Run! Skip! Dance! Across the Continent
The initiative began on May 4 and will continue through September 11, 2020 (the 100+1-year anniversary of Waldorf education). We invite you to run/skip/dance+ your way with us from Waldorf school to Waldorf school, starting in Maine and ending in Hawaii.
How it works:
- Choose your activity/ies (see activity-to-mile equivalents).
- Log your weekly miles.
- Every Monday, submit your logged miles here.
- Every Friday, check here and on Facebook and Instagram for a video update on where we have traveled that week!
Share your photos with us on social media!
Use these hashtags: #Waldorf100plus1
#WaldorfRunSkipDance #RunSkipDance
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Ashwood Waldorf School
180 Park Street Rockport, ME 04856
207-236-8021
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