Greetings!
This week in the
Leaflet we welcome our new French teacher, Mademoiselle Spinks, and our Development Director gives us the numbers in the "100% Participation Challenge." Also, don't miss the Valentine craft suggestions, the latest from the Serve-A-Thon Marketplace, and new student writing. Our banner photo: Playing recorder in main lesson © Doug Mott
The next
Leaflet
will be published on
Wednesday, February 27
. We welcome your comments, questions, and submissions!
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A Warm Welcome to Our New French Teacher
We are happy to announce the hiring of Joanna Spinks as Ashwood’s new French teacher!
Joanna has a Master of Arts in French Language and Literature. She is certified to teach French in Maine for grades K-12 and also certified to teach theater for these same grades. Joanna is fluent in French and has directed a French arts and culture camp. She has worked as a French tutor for the New York City school system and as an assistant teacher in a first grade French immersion program. She has a great deal of translating experience, as well as performing arts experience. Joanna is currently part-time Creative Director at Oyster River Winegrowers in Warren and curator of a foreign film series at the Camden Opera House.
In order to support Joanna’s growth as a new Waldorf teacher, Ashwood has hired two of our former class teachers, Ursula Leonore and Lesley Finlayson, to mentor Joanna. Both alumni teachers are French speakers who have lived in French speaking countries. The team met to support Joanna’s first week of classes, and Ms. Leonore and Ms. Finlayson will continue to observe and meet with Joanna regularly.
Many, many thanks to Liz Sizeler, who has done an extraordinary job guest teaching and, to Madame Trapani who has faithfully prepared lessons and gathered all of Ashwood’s French teaching resources for Joanna’s use.
Please join me in warmly welcoming Mademoiselle Spinks to Ashwood’s fine faculty.
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Early Childhood News
In the winter garden,
Covered with snow,
Little seeds are sleeping,
Deep down below.
Here come the children 1, 2, 3,
Skipping in the garden, happily.
The kindergarten play yard has been a blur with busy children at work and play in the snow. They've been sledding and sliding, digging and building. A group of older children have been working together for the past couple of weeks on a canal or "river," which may eventually go all the way to the ocean! Most days they get right to work picking and digging, creating a stream which flows through the yard. Other children have been building snowmen and snow houses, which even have beds and little windows. The large rock has been a good challenge and a lot of fun for the children as well. Even for those not able to climb up the slippery surface, it provides the opportunity to exercise and build gross motor skills and is something to look forward to mastering as they grow.
This week the children are enjoying the puppet play of "The Rabbit and the Carrot." Some animals struggle to find food in the deep snow, but Rabbit has an extra carrot and brings it to her friend, Donkey. The animals kindly pass the carrot onto their neighbors, until it eventually ends back with Rabbit.
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The Adventure of First Grade: Belfast Presentation
Tell your Belfast friends! On
Wednesday, February 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
School Director
Jody Spanglet, First Grade Teacher Elizabeth Doshi, and Language Arts Specialist Laura Purdom will offer a participatory, hands-on introduction to the Waldorf method, specifically as it applies to the first grade. Demonstration lesson, brief presentation and plenty of time for your questions. This event takes place at the Belfast Free Library, 106 High Street. All are welcome!
Pre-registration required.
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The Adventure of First Grade: Tour & Demonstration
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. This event takes place at Ashwood Waldorf School, 180 Park Street, Rockport.
Pre-registration required.
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Re-enrollment and Tuition Assistance, 2019-2020
Re-enrollment packets were mailed to all current families in January. Tuition assistance packets are now available in the office. 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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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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Tuesday
April
9
Spring Concert
Performances by Grade 4-5 strings and chorus and
Grade 6-7 string ensemble and chorus at the John St. Church, Camden
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
&
Flatbread Benefit Night
Grab your friends and bring your appetites! Each pizza sale benefits Ashwood.
This includes take-out orders!
5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
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Friday
April
26
Service Work Day
Pitch in and help our neighbors while raising funds for Ashwood. Students, faculty, and parent drivers
10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Saturday
April
27
Service Work Day
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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Saturday
May
4
The Right Track
Dance Party!
Midcoast’s 10-piece R&B/funk/soul band
Bishopswood Camp, Hope
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Adults only
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Two Requests from the Development Office
#1. Think.
Think about how much we—the families and the faculty of Ashwood—benefit from the strength and stability of our school. Think of the valuable lessons and skills our children learn every day at Ashwood; think of the loving and supportive community that surrounds them, and us, because of Ashwood; think of how fortunate we are to have this gem of an opportunity for our children, our families, our faculty, and our neighbors, right here in Midcoast Maine.
Just think!
#2. Donate.
Please join me and your fellow Ashwoodians in supporting our gem of a school through your gift to the Annual Appeal. Together we keep the school strong, stable, and a great place for our children, ourselves, and our faculty.
Just donate!
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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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100% Participation Challenge
For the first two classes to reach 100% participation in this year’s Annual Appeal, 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.
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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Winter memories
. From left: Class of 2010, Emma Moesswilde, Cailin Darling, Zia Sulick; Class of '2011
Jay Wilder.
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Thursday
February
7
Class 6–7 Parent Evening
6:00–8:00 p.m.
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For a printable Friday Assembly schedule
,
click on
Assembly Schedule
, below.
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Friday
February
8
APC Coffee Break
8:15–8:40 a.m.
Friday Assembly: Class 4-5
8:40–9:00 a.m.
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To access our interactive calendar of events, click
on
Website Calendar,
below.
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Wednesday
February
13
Introduction to First Grade Tour at Ashwood
8:15–10:30 a.m.
Introduction to First Grade at the Belfast Free Library
6:30–7:30 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 Starts Next Week!
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.
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APC to Host School Budget 2019-2020 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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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, February 8 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!
March 4 (note time and venue change, above)
, April 1, May 6. All are welcome!
Questions?
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More descriptive writing from Class 6-7—wherein Jonny has a memorable run-in with a ski rail, and Vishal earns his first hat trick.
— Editor
Black-Blue-White
by Jonny (Grade 7)
I had just slid off the chairlift, and as I paused to wait for my friends, I gazed out at the horizon. A stretch of misty blue loomed in the distance. My friend poked me on the shoulder, "You ready?" We hurtled down the mountain at an alarming rate. The wind whistled in my ears as we kept to the sides of the trail, hitting side jumps and curving down the mountain, careening to a stop at the top of the terrain park.
I had promised my friends that I would try a new trick this run: a 270º of the rail. They cheered me on as I snowplowed to lose speed and hoppped on the rail. As I got to the end, I tried to spin off of it, but my edge stuck. My face grazed the cold, slick metal of the rail before I hit the ridged lined snow of the landing. I scrambled to my feet, and retrieving my skis, gave the thumbs up, and started hiking up again. Four tries later I landed it. I punched the air in victory and cruised down towards the bottom.
First Hat Trick
by Vishal (Grade 6)
We were down by one in the first half. I dribbled down the field and I scored a goal to tie it up. The referee blew the whistle for the second half. The second half was nerve-wracking. When I was running with the ball, the field felt very silent. A defender was standing in the way, so I juked him out, and it was just the keeper and me. The keeper was big, so I buried it in the back of the net. The crowd roared. There were only five minutes left. My teammate Charlie gave me a perfect pass. I thought I was offsides, but I kept playing, and I fired it. It floated in the air and … goooooood! Three to one whistle blew and that was game. After the game I went over to my parents, and I felt so happy and good.
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Singing & Potluck
Let's do it again, this time
Bennett Konesni
will lead us in work songs and other fun tunes.
$10– $20 per person; children free.
Tuesday
,
February 12,
4:00 –5:30 p.m.
followed by optional potluck dinner (301) 320-1145 or
Margo Burnham
.
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Living in Harmony with the Life Forces of Earth
An exploration of some of the works arising from the insights of Rudolf Steiner’s spiritual science.
Sunday afternoons, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m
., through March 3, including a therapeutic water color exercise in each class. $150. FMI or to
register.
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The Circle Widens: The Working 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 MichaelLeunigAppreciationPage for the cartoon.
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Ashwood Waldorf School
180 Park Street Rockport, ME 04856
207-236-8021
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