News from the Parent Council
OCTOBER 4, 2018
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Hello MLWS Families!
Welcome to the 2018-19 school year! We hope things are off to a smooth start in your household. This year, Parent Council will once again publish this biweekly newsletter, which will include a Parent Council update, highlight activities of various classes and other school-related topics, offer Classified listings, and provide information about upcoming events in the MLWS community.
PARENT COUNCIL UPDATE
For our first event of this school year, we are delighted to announce that Anna Silbur of the Sunbridge Institute will be coming to MLWS to present a Waldorf Weekend on Friday and Saturday, October 19 and 20. Please see the flyer and description of the event that are included toward the bottom of this newsletter for more information or send an email to
parentcouncil@mountainlaurel.org
Due to low attendance at our meetings during the 2017-18 school year, Parent Council will not be holding monthly meetings during the 2018-19 school year. Instead, we will aim to work on our priority projects in small working groups which will meet as necessary to advance their efforts. These projects include the Enchanted Walk, Faculty Nourishment, a weekly Craft Circle, Food Drives at Music Shares, a Welcome Committee for new families, and this bi-weekly newsletter.
If you are interested in being involved in one of the working groups for a priority project, or if you have an idea for another initiative you would like to work on through Parent Council, please send an email to us at
parentcouncil@mountainlaurel.org
Please consider getting involved and offering some of your time to one of our projects. Many hands make light work!
We also plan to hold three or four Parent Council meetings over the course of the school year, which will include presentations from and/or activities led by members of the College. We are hoping to host a talk on media and entertainment with John Evans, a science demonstration with Aram Oarcea and a sculpture activity with Marilyn Liebowitz. Stay tuned for more details!
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Calendar of School Events
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Friday, October 5, 12:30pm
The Second Grade will perform the Michaelmas Play in the MLWS school yard at 6 Elting Avenue, followed by the Games of Courage at Hasbrouck Park. Don’t forget to dress in the Michaelmas colors: red, purple and gold!
Monday, October 8, Federal Holiday – NO SCHOOL!
Wednesday, October 10, 8:30-10:30am
Community Craft Circle
Bring your current project or work on crafts for upcoming school festivals and celebrations, and join us in the Handwork classroom to craft in community. For more information, please contact Poliana at
polianthestuberosa@gmail.com
or see the flyer at the bottom of this newsletter.
Wednesday, October 17, 8:30-10:30am
Community Craft Circle
Monday, October 22, 3:00-4:15pm
Steiner Study Group
Led by Theo Lundin, meeting in the Second Grade classroom. Free and open to all!
Wednesday, October 24, 8:30-10:30am
Community Craft Circle
Friday, October 26: Staff Development Day – NO SCHOOL!
Sunday, October 28, 6:00pm
Enchanted Walk
A Halloween-time event for K through 2nd grade families. We are seeking volunteers to help organize this event. Please contact
parentcouncil@mountainlaurel.org
to get involved.
Wednesday, October 31, 8:30-10:30am
Community Craft Circle
Monday, November 5, 3:00-4:15pm
Steiner Study Group
Led by Theo Lundin, meeting in the Second Grade classroom. Free and open to all!
Wednesday, November 7, 8:30-10:30am
Community Craft Circle
Thursday, November 8
Lantern Walk
Get your lanterns prepared and stay tuned for more details from the administration about this seasonal event for families with children in Kindergarten through Second Grade. (Rain date: November 15)
Sunday, November 11, 10am-3pm
Annual Clothing Sale
Coordinated by the Third Grade (and supported by the entire school through our clothing donations), this event raises funds for the annual Third Grade Farm Trip during the winter. This event is not to be missed, with great deals on gently-used clothing, outerwear and more, and delicious bake sale offerings as well!
Monday, November 12: Veterans Day -- NO SCHOOL
Parent-Teacher Conferences (Meetings with “Specials” teachers will also be available).
Wednesday, November 14, 8:30-10:30am
Community Craft Circle
Saturday, November 17
MLWS Open House
Who do you know who might like to attend?
Monday, November 19, 3:00-4:15pm
Steiner Study Group
Led by Theo Lundin, meeting in the Second Grade classroom. Free and open to all!
Tuesday, November 20
Thanksgiving Work Share
A sampling of the work of the students, Grades 1-8.
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QUESTION
:
On the school calendar, on the last day of school before Thanksgiving Break, it says there is a
Thanksgiving Workshare
. What is this all about?
ANSWER
:
Workshares are events that usually take place twice during each school year, just before Thanksgiving and on the last day of school in June. They typically take place in the basement auditorium of St. Joseph’s Church, across the street from MLWS. Parents, grandparents, and friends are welcome to come and watch the children in Grades 1 through 8 as they offer a sampling of what they have been working on with their class teachers and Specials teachers.
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A Peek Into the Classroom
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From Ms. Rosenstein:
The sixth grade began their year with an exploration into the Earth Sciences in order to gain our footing together as a class and as a group of emerging 12 year-olds. When you consider it, everything in our world comes from the Earth and as we continue through our blocks about Rome, Astronomy, Physics, and the Middle Ages, we will continue to connect the impact that understanding minerals has had in the development of civilizations. In addition, we will have a geography block at the end of the year which will tie it all together in an exploration of the biomes of the world and how our use of minerals affects us all.
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WELCOME TO OUR NEW FACULTY
MS. LAWSON (1
st
) AND MS. ROSENSTEIN (6
th
)
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Ms. Lawson is originally from London, UK. She started out teaching at Mountaintop Waldorf School (a mixed age kindergarten in Woodstock, NY) when her daughter Rosabel was a year and a half old. Then she did her Waldorf Grades Teacher training at Alkion Center in Ghent, NY. She was the lead teacher of a Waldorf inspired homeschool co-op from 1st through 4th grade in Woodstock, NY from 2012 - 2016. She then returned to Mountaintop Waldorf School for a further two years before joining MLWS. She is thrilled to begin the grades journey with her class.
Ms. Rosenstein comes most recently from Princeton, NJ where she taught the grades for seven years. Prior to that, she was a class teacher at the Rudolf Steiner School in NYC, Waldorf School of Baltimore, and was a founding teacher of the Shining Rivers Waldorf School (now the St. Louis Waldorf School) where she was a lead kindergarten teacher. In between being a class teacher, she also taught high school English and History to ski racers in Vermont. In the summers, Ms. Rosenstein teaches Waldorf teachers at Sunbridge Institute. She is a mother of a Waldorf graduate (grade 12) and in her spare time loves to hike, bike, read, and relax in the company of as many animals as possible.
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BIWEEKLY STEINER STUDY GROUP RESUMES
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We are excited to announce that beginning Monday, September 24th from 3:00pm to 4:15pm in the Second grade classroom, we will begin our study of Rudolf Steiner’s lecture on the Temperaments. Partners in last year’s study of
How to Know Higher Worlds
by Rudolf Steiner had requested we work with something on the temperaments. Remarkably, there seems to be just one lecture Rudolf Steiner gave about them on March 4th 1909. This was a teaching tool Steiner gave that helps classroom pedagogical effectiveness. Today, the temperaments are an exceptional bridge for parents looking to better understand classroom pedagogy and they offer a valuable glimpse of the anthroposophical perspective of the human being. Personally I treasure their great potential for encouraging tolerance and understanding among adults in a Waldorf community when reacting to the surprising differences in other people’s children, parents, and staff.
No prior experience is necessary to join the group. The group is open to all. Just bring a genuine interest in learning about anthroposophy and Steiner’s insights that form Waldorf education. The book we will study is called
The Four Temperaments
from a lecture he gave on March 4th, 1909. I have found this available in at least four different volumes ranging from 15 to 50 pages depending on the publisher. The older translation was by Frances E. Dawson and a more recent one by Brian Kelly. In addition to being published by itself, it can be found in a compilation called
Anthroposophy in Everyday Life
which are four lectures by Steiner and a few copies can still be found at the school store. Because this is just one lecture, we will consider another temperament book by Helmut Eller, published by Waldorf Publications of the Research Institute of Waldorf Education, as something to deepen and take the topic further.
If you were in the group last year, please let me know of anything you can think of to make our study time more effective for you. All ideas, criticisms, and suggestions will all be considered towards making this year even better. Also, please let me know if you will need aftercare for your child(ren) so the aftercare teachers can plan accordingly. Looking forward to working together, Mr. Lundin
tlundin@mountainlaurel.org.
The proposed dates are every other Monday, excluding holidays, as follows:
September 24, October 22, November 5 & 19, December 3 & 17, January 14 & 28, February 11 & 25, March 11 & 25, April 8, May 6 & 20, June 3
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Cleaning out your closets?
Please put aside donations for the Third Grade clothing Sale! Beginning Tuesday, October 9, Ms. Loshak and Mr. Lundin will leave their car trunks unlocked and parked in the faculty parking lot in front of 6 Elting Avenue. Please put your donations in the trunk of either car. Look for Clothing Sale signs near the cars to direct you. You can drop off donations from 8:25 am until 3:00 pm each school day. Gently-used children’s clothing, adult clothing, Waldorf-friendly toys, books, games and small household items welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Young at 845-255-0021 (land line) or Sibylle Jud at
sibyllejud@gmail.com
STUFF (For Rent, For Sale, For Free, ISO…)
ISO Healthy Cooked Meals
Organic, healthy cooking needed for family of four struggling with chronic illness. 3 to 4 meals a week needed, 8 servings per meal. Meals must be organic, gluten and dairy free. Contact Lisa Hansen via email at
sunsnake@optonline.net
or at 845 (430-4633) for more details, including compensation.
For Sale: 1/2 size violin
With case and bow. In good shape. Plays and sounds great. Why rent when you can own. Asking $140. Contact David Gandin at dgandin@aol.com or at 845 633-8767.
LEARN
Soap Making Workshop Fundraiser
Kathy Puffer, MLWS parent, is offering a presentation and fundraiser for a humanitarian project she is leading through the University of Notre Dame in Hinche (UNDH), Haiti with her non-profit Solar CITIES Inc. To help raise funds to travel and develop this program, Kathy will be holding a soap making workshop and presentation at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in New Paltz on Saturday, October 13 from 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. to share her work with UNDH and teach people the joy of soap making. She will present a slide show, soap making, cookies, and tea at the event. Her soap base is safe, without lye; she uses natural dyes, essential oils and flower petals from her garden. All ticket purchases must be made online prior to the event. This is a family friendly event. Children accompanied by an adult are welcomed.
https://solarcities.networkforgood.com/events/8339-biogas-education-hub-in-haiti
Herbalism Classes with Ashely Sapir Lathrop.
Join Herbalist and MLWS parent Ashley Sapir Lathrop for medicine making and herbal journeying, in the three-part series "Deepen Your Herbal Roots". Dates are October 28th, November 18th and December 2nd. You can read more about it at
http://www.dreamkeeperbotanicals.com/education-events/
or call Ashley at (845) 519-5067.
Traditional landscape paintings in oil
– Tim Smith
Offering private tuition for adults and 8th grade students in classical oil painting method. To organize a session around your or your child's specific schedule and needs, contact Tim at
https://www.timsmithpaintings.com/
Guitar and mandolin lessons
with Mr. Steve Bernstein at his home in Gardiner, NY. Children, teens and adults are all welcome. Please call: 845 255 0822 or drop a note in his mailbox (2nd floor) at school.
Music Composition with ‘Famous Waldorf Alumna’
Have you ever wanted to write a piece for recorder? Maybe a piano sonata? Or even a symphony? My name is Stephanie Ann Boyd, I’m a symphonic composer in New York City, and I went to the Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor. You can find me on the list of Famous Waldorf Alumni, and my music is being played all over the world. I teach music composition lessons via Skype and I have helped over 100 people write their first pieces. I charge $100 an hour, and I have financial scholarships for those who need them. Read more here:
http://stephanieannboyd.com/teaching
and contact me at:
stephanie@stephanieannboyd.com
SERVICES
Valentine and Wilder's Pet-Sitting Service
Experience with cats, fish and guinea pigs, but also open to other pets as well! (917) 309-7790 or
seanaskye@me.com
Photography for All Occasions
Roy Gumpel has been a photographer for more than 40 years. He has done assignments in many different areas, including travel, corporate, environmental portraits, cd covers, studio portraiture, still life, fashion, architecture, documentary projects and film stills. He also shoots video. Roy and his camera were featured in a National Geographic Explorer film about Rt.66. He has traveled extensively and is open to assignments of all kinds. Contact:
roygump@gmail.com
, 845.544.5373
Children’s Haircuts
Jodie Naccarato-Fanning is a MLWS parent and a hairdresser specializing in children’s haircuts. If you are interested in her services, please contact her at 845-380-8488.
FREE Sustainable Living Consultations
Would you like to live a more sustainable lifestyle? Do you need help determining what personal actions have the biggest impact? We offer consulting to help you tread lightly on the Earth and mitigate climate change. This is a free service because we truly believe in building a viable future for all of our children. Samrat Pathania (Waldorf parent) and Dan Guenther are the Climate Consultants. For more informarion, email
samratpathania@gmail.com
or call/text 631-848-1599.
Jason Boyd Contracting
Quality craftsmanship with an artistic edge, 25 years experience, Free Estimates,
www.jasonboydcontracting.com
, 845-616-6365
Newburgh Seamless Gutter
Owner Jason Fanning is a MLWS parent. Please give him a call if you need any gutter installation or service. (845) 236-7873.
http://newburghseamlessgutters.com
Home Inspections:
emfs, dirty electricity, radio frequency
Concerned about children’s cell phone or lap top use? Get protection from new electric meters. Get emf readings on prospective new homes. Learn about router signals. Create an emf free sleeping environment. Teach children about safe wireless use. Decrease overall field exposure. Measure offices, cars, dorms. Learn about resources. Public talks. Harrison Barritt,
selfkindness@yahoo.com
, 256-0446
Permaculture Home and Property Designs
installed and maintained by Andrew Faust and Adriana Magaña. We help you to adapt your vision to the ecological and geological realities of your site. We have more than twenty years of experience in the region offering the following services: Real Estate Assessment and Land Selection, Installing and Maintaining Ponds and Solving Water Problems, Creating Biodynamic Orchards and Farms, Organic Vegetable Gardens, Off-grid Natural homes and communities, Native Landscapes, Permaculture Forest Gardens. Contact us at 917-584-4588 or see our portfolio and get a quote here:
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