Greetings!
This week in the
Leaflet we bring you the math "block swap," the Waldorf100 postcard exchange, and more student creative writing. Also, don't miss School Director Jody Spanglet's policy column. This week Jody addresses how Ashwood teachers work with conflict in the classroom. Our banner photo: Singing in main lesson. © Doug Mott
The next
Leaflet
will be published on
Wednesday, February 6
. We welcome your comments, questions, and submissions!
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Waldorf 100 Postcard
Exchange
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Ashwood is participating in a worldwide postcard exchange to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Waldorf education.
Throughout the year, students in 1,100 Waldorf schools from more than 80 countries will be sending postcards to every other Waldorf school in the world. Each postcard is created by a student, expressing some aspect of his or her life, school or country.
At Ashwood, plans are underway to create a display of the postcards we receive in the form of a world map. Our global postcard map will be displayed in the main hallway of the grade school building.
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Introduction to First Grade
On
Wednesday, February 13, from 8:15 to 10:30 a.m
. we will host an Introduction to First Grade, a free event for prospective parents, grandparents, and other interested community members. The morning will begin with a visit to the current First Grade, where visitors will be able to see the students and their teacher in action. Following the classroom visit, School Director, Jody Spanglet, will give a hands-on demonstration lesson. The morning will conclude with a Q&A session. So, bring your questions! This event takes place at Ashwood Waldorf School, 180 Park Street, Rockport.
Pre-registration required.
If you can't make it to the morning session, or if you have more questions, come to our Introduction to First Grade the same day,
Wednesday, February 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
at the Belfast Free Library, 106 High Street, where we'll offer a reprise of the demonstration lesson and Q&A with Jody Spanglet, first grade teacher Elizabeth Doshi, and specialty teacher Laura Purdom. All are welcome!
Pre-registration required.
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The Great Math Block Swap: What Is It?
Each year, Ashwood's grade school teachers consider whether or not to include a "block swap" in their calendar. Will it be of benefit to the students? To the school? In the past several years, the answer has been a solid "yes." So, once again, this year, we will have a block swap from Monday, January 28 through Friday, February 15, in which our tightly-knit multi-age classes "unzip" themselves, temporarily joining classes above or below them for a three week block focussing on math skills. Following main lesson the classes return to their normal configurations for the remainder of the day.
Read more.
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How Do Teachers Address Conflict in the Classroom?
“The answer is not the main event, the attempt to understand is.” —
Kim John Payne M.Ed.
Coping with the stress of conflict is becoming an increasingly common yet difficult challenge for children, and one that our teachers see as an important focus of our work with the students. Like all complicated issues, there are many answers, some highly contextualized to each individual circumstance, and some more global in nature. In each case our approach and response to student conflict is based on observation, listening carefully to what the students are telling us, providing a safe environment for working through problems, and letting a student who has behaved poorly know that it was their behavior that is in question, not who they are as a person. The age of the child(ren) is also essential in determining an effective response.
At Ashwood, we try to help students understand that every member of the involved group plays a role in the given situation, sometimes multiple roles, whether it is as aggressor, victim, or witness, and every participant also has the potential to influence the outcome.
Read more.
Jody
Spanglet
, Ashwood's School Director, has completed a week-long course on consensus-based facilitation through AWSNA and completed a 40-hour certificate course in Introduction to Mediation though the Mediation and Facilitation Resource Center in Augusta, Maine. This spring she will facilitate a workshop at the Northeast regional AWSNA conference on creating a Waldorf social-emotional curriculum by grade.
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Seeking Early Childhood Extended Day Teacher to Begin in February
Ashwood is seeking an Early Childhood Extended Day Teacher to begin in February. The hours are Mondays–Wednesdays & Fridays from noon until 4. Important qualities in candidates for this position are enthusiasm, joy, energy, positivity, and, most of all, a love for working with young children. Experience in Waldorf early childhood education is highly desirable, but an interest in learning more is essential. Please send your letter of interest, resume, and three professional references to
Jody Spanglet
.
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Re-enrollment and Tuition Assistance, 2019-2020
Re-enrollment packets will be mailed to all current families this
Friday, January 25
. Tuition assistance packets will be available in the office beginning the
same day
. Pick up yours from Sarah Ewing at the front desk.
Do you have friends who might be considering Ashwood for their children? Please encourage them to begin the enrollment process by
inquiring
soon!
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Pizza Friday: Make-up Day
There will be a make-up Pizza Friday on
February 1 for all students who were signed up for the first session.
Pizza Friday: Session 2
Flatbread will be delivering pizza again starting February 8. If you want a slice or two each week (dates below) for your child or children, please return
this form
and payment to the office by
Wednesday, January 30.
Thank you for supporting our Class 6–7 fundraiser!
Spring pizza dates
: February 8, 15; March 1, 8, 15, 22, 28 (Thursday); April 5, 12, 25 (Thursday); May 3, 10, 16 (Thursday), 24, 31.
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What You Can Offer
- Items that you already own (sports equipment, gently used clothing, furniture, etc.)
- Items that you make (farm produce and value-added food items, hand-made items, etc.)
- Services you provide (tutoring, consultation, babysitting, private lesson, etc.)
- Events you can coordinate or host (dinner party, boat trip, class or lesson, cottage/lodge rental)
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Serve-a-Thon Marketplace
The
Serve-A-Thon Marketplace
is a webpage where you can sell goods, services, and/or events to benefit Ashwood by raising money toward your family's $250 Serve-A-Thon fundraising goal.
The
Marketplace
will be live until May 4. This gives you four seasons (Deep Winter, Spring Fever, Mud, and Black Fly) to buy and sell on the
Marketplace
. Just think of all the possibilities! Be creative!
Here's how it works:
- Complete a Marketplace Listing Form and turn it in to the office; we'll list your item.
- You manage your own sales and money. Any amount you sell up to $250 will be donated to Ashwood towards your $250 Serve-A-Thon goal.
- If you raise more than $250 on the Marketplace, please consider increasing your donation to Ashwood.
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We’ve got $41,000 to go of our $90,000 goal!
Be on the lookout for news from the Annual Appeal in your mailbox and inbox. This will be your chance to support this wonderful school and all the work that is done on behalf of our children, our friends’ children, our grand-children: the people of our future! (And remember: once you have given, you won’t receive any further nudges to give until next year’s Annual Appeal—another great reason to give!)
Parents
: It is so important to have 100% participation in the Annual Appeal. If you have not given yet, please ask yourself what Ashwood means to you and your child(ren), and give accordingly. Not only will Ashwood be supported, but you will too. Thank you!
Eleven families out of 55 have made their gift thus far. Here are the numbers:
EC = 1 gift out of 15 possible gifts
1st = 1 gift out of 5 possible gifts
2nd/3rd = 1 gift out of 12 possible gifts
4th/5th = 4 gifts out of 20 possible gifts
6th/7th = 6 gifts out of 22 possible gifts.
Alumni Parent Challenge
: An alumni parent has challenged the current families of Ashwood to raise $10,000. If we succeed, this alumni parent will match our $10,000 with their own $10,000! This means $20,000 for Ashwood. With 44 more families yet to give, we can reach this $10,000. Be a part of securing $20,000 for Ashwood!
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They're Cooking Up Something
Two of Ashwood's bakers extraordinaire, Annie Mahle (former Development Director, alumni parent, and
board member) and parent Megan Murphy will create a sweet treat or a savory treat for the first two classes to reach 100% participation in this year’s Annual Appeal.
Class Parents
: Urge your class to make a statement! Be the first or second class to 100% participation! Grades 4/5 and 6/7 are in the lead to win. Any challengers?
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The Class of '17 plays on the ice on a wintery afternoon. Doug Mott photo
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Thursday
January
24
Board of Trustees Meeting
5:30–8:00 p.m.
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For a printable Friday Assembly schedule
,
click on
Assembly Schedule
, below.
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Friday
January
25
APC Coffee Break
8:15–8:40 a.m.
Friday Assembly: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
8:40–9:00 a.m.
Re-enrollment packets emailed and available in the office for pick up.
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To access our interactive calendar of events, click
on
Website Calendar,
below.
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Friday
February
1
APC Coffee: All are welcome
8:15–8:40 a.m.
Friday Assembly: Class 2–3
8:40–9:00 a.m.
Class 6–7 Open Mic
5:30–6:30 p.m.
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For a printable version of our annual school calendar, click on
Printable Calendar
, below
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Ashwood Parent Community News
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Parenting Discussion Group
Join other Ashwood parents every second and fourth Thursday morning from 8:45-9:45 a.m., starting on February 14. The group will meet in the Buttercup room of the early-childhood building to discuss parenting ups and downs, share advice, and swap stories and insights. There might even be tea and breakfast treats!
Read more.
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Ski Thursdays
Every Thursday until the Snow Bowl closes (excluding February Break), the Camden Snow Bowl is offering discounted lift tickets ($15); discounted ski and snowboard rentals ($15); and discounted lessons ($15) for Ashwood students and their families and friends. You do not have to be an Ashwood student to participate—you just need to sign up with our group leader, Rachel Bickham.
Remember:
You must sign up
each week you wish to participate
in the school office by Tuesday afternoon for rentals and group lessons, and by Wednesday afternoon for lift tickets. Please add names of participants to the sign up form and leave cash (labelled) or check in the envelope provided.
Note: Tomorrow, Thursday, January 24, there will be no ski program due to expected rain.
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Friday Coffee & Tea
Coffee, tea, conversation, and sometimes a treat to eat… What a great way to catch up with friends and acquaintances and get to know other Ashwood parents! Join us on the garden level of the grade school building for our next community coffee on
Friday, January 25 at 8:15 a.m. before Friday Assembly.
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APC Meetings and Minutes
The APC meets in the Buttercup Room of the early-childhood building from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. on the first Monday of each month. Mark your calendar for these second semester meeting dates! February 4,
March 4 (see article at right)
, April 1, May 6. All are welcome!
Questions?
Click below for minutes of the January 7 meeting.
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School Budget Informational Meeting
There will be a special APC meeting on
March 4 in the community room of the grade school building. From
8:30–9:30 a.m., School Director Jody Spanglet, Board President Betsy Morrell, and Business Manager Betty Wyman will answer your questions about the 2019–2020 school budget. Please come to this important annual event! All parents are welcome. Following the budget meeting, the APC will conduct its usual monthly business until
10:30 a.m.
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Solar Light Cubes Available for Campus Use
The APC recently purchased 10 Solight Helix collapsable solar light cubes for Ashwood’s use. They debuted during Ashwood’s All Hallow’s Eve Walk for the purpose of casting ambient light on the character vignettes in the woods after dark. Although they were not well suited for our purposes during All Hallow’s, the APC has decided to keep the light cubes for future use at Ashwood. Faculty, administration and parents are welcome to use these lights as needed for any Ashwood purpose, e.g.m, plays, celebrations, path lighting, party lighting, etc. Simply contact
Rebekah Smith
with your request.
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Recently, two of our 7th grade students approached me about writing a story for their 1st grade buddies…Here is the result:
Peter and the Silver Spoon:
A not-so-brief history of the Northern Mou and their stolen treasure
by Mazy and Sofia
Once upon a time, there was a young Mou called Peter who was given a great responsibility.
A long time, when even your great great grandfather wasn’t even thought of, all Mous lived together in peace. They worshiped the Holy Utensils of Wisdom, the Silver Spoon, the Pink Knife, and the Golden Fork. Then one day chaos fell, for the Pink Knife was stolen by a group of Gnaffles from New Hampshire (but that’s another story).
After the Knife was stolen, the Mou empire split in two, the Southern Mou with the Golden Fork and the Northern Mou with the Silver Spoon. Eventually the Southern Mous became greedy and they wanted all the power for themselves. So, in the dead of night they snuck into the Northern Mou’s sacred gazebo and stole the Silver Spoon!
From then on a Northern Mou had been chosen to attempt to retrieve their holy item; but none have succeeded.
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Why Kids Shouldn't Sit Still in Class
(from
The
New York Times)
Above: Ashwood eighth graders (Class of '16) act out a congressional debate from the musical
1776. At Ashwood movement is integral to the curriculum from early childhood through the teen years. Doug Mott photo
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Students Learn From People They Love
(from
The
New York Times)
Above:
The Class of '18 jumps for joy with their teacher, Ms. Doshi.
"
…children learn from people they love, and…love in this context means willing the good of another, and offering active care for the whole person." Doug Mott photo
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Let's Keep Singing!
Join us to keep the music flowing in February, until we (expect to) have Meg Chittenden back with us in March. Two Tuesdays,
February 5 & 12 at 4:00 p.m.
singing, 5:30 p.m. pot luck dinner. For additional information, please email or call
Margo
(301) 320-1145
.
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Living in Harmony with the Life Forces of Earth
Due to this Sunday's storm, we will begin Sunday, January 27.
There is still room for two more enrollments. Six Sunday afternoon classes, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., January 27 – March 3, including a therapeutic water color exercise in each class. $150. FMI or to
register.
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The Circle Widens: TheWorking of the Spirit
Lemniscate Arts presents readings of two new plays by Peter Oswald.
Sunday, March 3 from 2:00–5:30 p.m.
Spring Valley, NY.
FMI
.
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Be a Sponsor
Display or text ads here in the
Leaflet
and link to your website or flyer. 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
Laura Purdom
.
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Thanks to bizarrocomic.blogspot.com for the cartoon.
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Ashwood Waldorf School
180 Park Street Rockport, ME 04856
207-236-8021
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