Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I've worked at Davis Waldorf for a long time (10.5 years!) and after so many years, it is time for me to say farewell! So much has changed since my early days at Davis Waldorf, back when the "third grade garden" was located at the site of the current kindergarten and the 3-day preschool was in the current third grade class. Back when Teacher Mary's, Ms. Haberman's, Mr. Critchfield's, Ms. Toy's, Ms. Holt's and Ms. de Bie's children were still at the school and my own now 7th grader was in the Parent Child program. Back when the office was in the Almond House and the 1-3 grade playground was where the office and MPR now are -- and when Eurythmy was done in classrooms.
I've worked with five different administrations, five Board chairs, about 50 teachers and a few sweet dear colleagues who I've known the entire time I have been here (toot toot Vatrena, Debbie, Cori and Ben).
During my time at DWS, I've enrolled about 500 students and talked to countless parents and I must say, helping parents decide whether Waldorf education was the right path for their child and family has been the most lovely aspect of my work here. If you were one of those families, thank you so much for sharing your hardships and hopes for your children, it has been a pleasure and then some, I hope I was a help to you.
I will always remember our beautiful sacred grounds that hold us and sustain us, teeming with life and joy, giggles and mischief, earnest hard work, hopes and sorrows, often with the stains of the fiddlers "Boil the Cabbage" in the background. Oh and yes, the radiant joy of the still campus on a summer morning. I will think of how hard we all work -- teachers, parents, staff, administration, Board to try to bring this beautiful education to our best hope for the future, our children. I'm touched by despite how hard it is, how willingly everyone enters into the sacred duty of educating and supporting our children.
So! I'm off (although I will be around as my daughter is still here)! I wish you all the best and much love.
Bessie
*Parent Christina Guzman will be assisting Jenn Short through this year's enrollment season and we will be recruiting for a new Enrollment Coordinator in the Spring. Our deep appreciation goes to Bessie for her years of service and we wish her well as she moves on to her next adventure(or chapter?). Please stop by the office to sign a card for Bessie... luckily we don't have to say goodbye completely!
All School Open House - Friday, February 1st, 6-8 pm
Want to peek into the classrooms to see all the fantastic things our children are doing at DWS? Come to the Davis Waldorf All-School Open House! Each classroom from Kindergarten- 8th grade will be open with samples of work on display (grades only) and light snacks that are representative of the curriculum. The multipurpose room will showcase our grades subjects and our amazing subject teachers will be on hand for you to meet. The Davis Waldorf Strings and Band performances will round out the experience. Bring a friend or two!!!
A Special Open House Guided Tour for our Preschool and Kindergarten Parents - Friday, February 1st,
5-6 pm, begins in Golden Poppy Preschool Classroom
What does Waldorf student work and curriculum look like? Join us for this tour to find out! This guided tour will be led by Preschool teacher Jessica Efstratis and Director of Pedagogy and Programs, Lauren Hickman. They will guide parents through our open house and you will have a chance to meet the teachers, view some of the curriculum and student work, and ask questions. It's a great way to learn about how the Waldorf curriculum builds year over year. One parent or caregiver is invited to stay in the preschool with their child while the other joins the tour. For adults only. Families are then invited to stay for the All-School Open House at 6pm.
Welcome to our New Students and Families
We would like to welcome back Adriana Perez and Humberto Izquierdo and their two children, Julieta Izquierdo and Sylace Dumarce. Julieta attended DWS for preschool and kindergarten, but her family moved away where she attended Singing Stone. They have moved back and we are so excited to have Julieta join the 2nd grade class, where she already knows quite a few students. Her younger brother, Sylace, has joined the Morning Glory Kindergarten and both are settling in very well!
Welcome to our New and Returning Colleagues
We would like to welcome our newest teacher in our Early Childhood Aftercare Program. Andreas Wolf joined our staff in January and has an A.A. Degree in Early Childhood Education from Sacramento City College, and experience working in a private childcare center. Mr. Wolf is excited to learn more about our Waldorf School and the philosophy.
We are also overjoyed that Teacher Laura Ammons has rejoined us and will be providing care in our June Bug Aftercare on Monday and Friday afternoons!
DWS Benefit Auction on March 16th - Tickets now on Sale!
Discounted ticket price is available through February 15th
so get your tickets early. Group tickets of 8 will include an extra drink ticket per person. Buy extra tickets and invite friends outside of our school...they love to bid!
We also hope that auction item donation forms will be turned in to school by Friday, February 15th
to give the Auction Committee as much time as possible to organize the silent and live auction. We still need lots of donations from our community to make this event a success!
Please consider the following ideas or come up with your own:
- Underwrite our event with a family or business sponsorship to help us cover the cost of the event
- Solicit a sponsorship or donation from a business you frequent
- Donate your vacation home, timeshare or airline miles to create a vacation getaway
- Donate your services, gift cards/certificates to local restaurants, sports or theater tickets, river rafting, ride-alongs, wine bottles or a wine tour, handmade items, babysitting, monthly food item, eggs from your chickens, whatever you have to offer!
Turn in donation forms to the office or email
[email protected]
as soon as possible - no later than February 15th!
If you are interested in helping with decorations/props or volunteering during the event, please email Heather Pilmanis at
[email protected].
Have You Had a Change of Address, Email or Phone?
We want to make sure we have the most accurate contact information as we prepare our re-enrollment paperwork. Please come by the office or email Cori Brewer, our Registrar, at
[email protected].
Re-Enrollment Information
Re-enrollment is fast approaching! Please let us know if you are not returning so we don't prepare a packet for you. We will be trying to save on postage this year by asking parents to come by the office during the week of February 11-15th to pick up re-enrollment paperwork. Packets that have not been picked up will be mailed out on the afternoon of Friday, February 15th. Paperwork is due back to the office by Friday, March 1st to receive the discounted re-enrollment fee of $200/family for Preschool, and $300/family for K-8. After March 1st the re-enrollment fee goes up to $250/family for Preschool, and $400/family for K-8. Get yours in early! For re-enrollment questions, please contact our Registrar, Cori Brewer, at
[email protected].
Fundraising Committee's First Meeting - Tuesday, February 5th
Most schools have a Fundraising Committee that work together to raise the additional funds a school needs on top of tuition to operate. This helps keep our tuition increases stable and ensures we maintain the highest level of teachers and staff, as well as upgrading our campus, preparing for capital improvements and providing tuition assistance when needed. Please join us on Tuesday, February 5th, from 6:30-8pm in the MPR to begin forming our committee.
Here is an interesting article called Fundraising 101 for Waldorf Schools, we will use this to guide us and I encourage all parents read the information, it explains so much! RSVP to Co-Chair Christina Guzman,
[email protected] View agenda
here.
DWS Board Meeting - Tuesday, February 12th
William & Olds CPAs will be reporting on the DWS annual audit at the February 12th Board of Directors meeting. DWS BOD meetings are open to all members of the community and we welcome your participation. Board meetings start at 6:30pm and are held in the MPR.
We are also looking for interested community members to join the Board as it is important to have a well-balanced Board made up of Faculty, Parents, Administration and community members not directly connected to our school. If you are interested or have someone you feel would serve our school well in this role, please contact Board Chair, Ceri Beeman, at
[email protected].
Why Choose Waldorf Education? - Wednesday, February 13th, 6-7pm, MPR
How do Waldorf teachers, parents and graduates view Waldorf education? This evening's discussion is sure to be lively, with insights that only those who have experienced Waldorf education can share. Joining us will be two teachers who are passionate about Waldorf education; they will give an overview of Waldorf curriculum and speak about their experience teaching. Amy Zuber, current Davis Waldorf parent of an 8th grader and a graduate, will also join us along with a DWS alumni student. Adults only please. RSVP in the office or at [email protected].
Parent-Child and Preschool Open House - Saturday, February 16th, 10:30am-12pm
Interested in our early childhood programs for a younger child? Do you have a friend that might be curious what our early childhood programs are like? Please visit along with your child, and invite friends to our Preschool Open House. Lauren Hickman, our Director of Pedagogy and Programs, as well as our Parent-Child teacher, Simone Demarzi, will share the wonders of play in the preschool and answer parents' and caregivers' questions about our programs. Children will play in the classroom and in our beautiful preschool yard - all are welcome! RSVP in the office or [email protected].
Parent Council - Next Meeting Thursday, February 28th, 5:45pm
Parent Council is open to all community members and helps support our school. Meetings are held at the home of Ceri and Ezra Beeman, 334 I Street in Davis, from 5:45-8:00pm. We enjoy a potluck dinner so please bring an item to share. For more information contact our Parent Council Chair, Gina Murphey at
[email protected].
Vacation Care during our Teacher Conference Week - February 19th-22nd
If your child needs care during our February Break in either our June Bug or Sunflower Program, please turn in a contract to the office no later than February 4th. Click the following links for
June Bug and
Sunflower contracts.
African Drums - Still in need of a few more!
There may be an African drum somewhere around you we could use for our 7th grade class. We hope you might loan it to us for a couple of months (wooden or metal made drums, not clay please). We can refurbish the drum, fix the skin, so please, show us what you have!
School Landscaping - Thank you to Kelly Fritsch!
If you see Kelly Fritsch (mother to Landon in the Climbing Rose Kindergarten) around campus please give her a big "Thank You!" She is single-handedly planting the 100+ plants that were donated by 3 Palms Nursery! If you would like to assist in this project, please email her at
[email protected].
Come help with our Handwork Circle Auction Project - Fridays from 8:30-10:00am
We need some extra help getting our Handwork Circle Auction Project completed. We are sewing felted animals for a scene and will also have work that can be taken home. If you are unable to come on Fridays, but would like to help, please email Handwork Teacher, Dahlia Haberman, at
[email protected]. We meet in the room to the left of the preschool classrooms, look for the gold sun.
Waldorf 100 Celebration Planning Committee
A committee is being formed to start the planning of our school's Waldorf 100 Celebration activities as the momentous September 19th
date approaches. We'd love a few more parents to join the committee to help with ideas and organization. If interested, please contact Jenn Short at [email protected].
Free Simplicity Parenting Institute Online Workshop - begins February 5th
Kim John Payne's Simplicity Parenting Institute website is a wonderful resource used by many Waldorf schools, teachers and families. His latest online workshop on "Discipline and Guidance" as well as other helpful information can be found at
https://www.simplicityparenting.com.
Our Tuition Assistance Program
Davis Waldorf School is a community of shared values within an economically diverse campus. Our Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is available to all families and is needs based. If your child is 5 on or before September 1st, 2019 then your family qualifies. Tuition Assistance may be offered to families experiencing short-term crises or setbacks or to those who could not otherwise afford to be here. We believe that our entire community benefits from this practice. Tuition Assistance is made possible through the generosity of those families who are able to pay the full tuition. If you have any additional questions please contact Jody Roach - Director of Finance and Operations at (530)753-1651 or
[email protected]
DWS Middle School Basketball Fans - come cheer them on!
Our middle school basketball team is enjoying their basketball season and would love a rowdy crowd cheering them on. All games are at Sacramento Waldorf School and game schedule is listed here:
Saturday, Feb 2nd, 12pm vs. Sac Waldorf
Saturday, Feb 9th, 1pm vs. Sac Waldorf
Saturday, Feb 16th, 9am vs. Live Oak
We also now have school sports spirit t-shirts! The 7th Grade class is selling Davis Waldorf School Hawks shirts as a fundraiser for their 8th grade trip. Youth and adult sizes are available and orders can be placed in the office as well as purchased at Open House on Friday. For more information, contact Michelle Byars at
Sunflower Drop-Ins
Please call the school office to confirm availability. Ms. Karen, the Aftercare Director, has been having drop-ins without prior notification and approval when she is already over capacity. If you are a contracted family and there are days/times your child will not be attending, please let the office know so another child may be signed up. Thank you for your help! 530-753-1651 or
[email protected].
Parking Lot Mindfulness
Thank you to all for being mindful while in our school parking lot, especially during drop off. Traffic and flow is improving as parents pull up as far as they can in the circle and don't leave their vehicles unattended in the first section of the circle, thank you!!
Morning Care Staff Needed
We are looking for someone to take over our 4-5th grade morning care from 7:45-8:15am each morning. This is a paid position and is great for a parent that may have a little extra time each morning to help out at school. Thank you, Rebecca Mills, for helping the last few months! If interested, please email
[email protected].
Bring Your Friends to Join Our DWS Family
We have openings in some of our grades classes for next year. We are offering a $500 referral credit to next year's tuition to any family who refer
Submissions for our Updates/Bulletins
If you would like to share something with our community in an upcoming newsletter, please email Jenn Short at
[email protected].
Updated School Calendar
- click here
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