Greetings!

This week in the Leaflet we roll out Ashwood's new position statement on diversity and welcome new board member Lisa Newcomb. With the arrival of spring, Class 2-3 is especially busy. Not only are the children tapping trees and boiling sap, but they have also spent a day making bread—starting from scratch—and we mean scratch! Check out our article, and be sure to click through to our website where we have photos and videos of the event. Mark your calendars for our spring events. And, guess what! It's time to sign up for summer camps at Ashwood.

The next Leaflet will be published on Wednesday, April 10 . We welcome your comments, questions, and submissions.

Welcome, New Board Members!
Over the past weeks we've been introduction new Board of Trustees members. This week, we meet alumni parent Lisa Newcomb. Lisa goes "way back" and we couldn't be more pleased to see her energy and enthusiasm—here and now!

Lisa Newcomb has been an active member of the Ashwood community since 2005. Her daughter Zaela attended Ashwood from early childhood through eighth grade. Lisa has been active with parent groups and fundraising projects. She has been a class parent, an after-care teacher, an early childhood substitute teacher, and has subbed for various other classes. Lisa has a strong commitment to Ashwood!

In 1985, Lisa founded the Belfast Dance Studio, which she continues to direct. Movement and dance have been the cornerstones of her life. Working with children has been her lifelong passion. In the early 1980s Lisa started a parent cooperative, play-based preschool in her home. She has taught dance and movement residencies in public elementary schools for 30 years. Currently, Lisa teaches dance, movement, and yoga classes for children and adults at the Belfast Dance Studio. She lives in Montville with her partner Buck, daughter Zaela, dog Stella, and a few goldfish. When not reading or knitting, Lisa can be found dancing!
From Grain to Bread: A Day of Purposeful Work in Class 2–3
One brilliant day in mid March, with the wonderful help of parent Tabatha Tucker, Class 2–3 made bread from grain to finished, delicious product. The week prior to making the bread the class planted seeds in planters in the classroom. Some students chose wheat and oats for their seeds and some students made the connection that the seeds that a few of them planted might one day produce wheat berries like the ones they ground with the flour mill. The process of grinding, mixing, kneading, and baking took the class the entire first half of the day, and a few students remarked, "Wow! It's way easier to just buy bread!" to which others replied, "But it's not as yummy!" This is just the beginning of a very active spring season in Class 2-3. Check the Leaflet for updates on their adventures! — Michelle Buczacz, Class 2-3 Teacher

Ask the Director
Diversity at Ashwood
Throughout this school year, the leadership of the school has been working on creating a diversity position statement. As a school we are fiercely committed to attracting and embracing families without regard to classifications of gender, ethnicity, religion, or race. In the last few months a small group of parents stepped forward expressing their interest in diversity work. These parents have prompted us to move this work along, and I am deeply appreciative of their initiative and passionate devotion, both to our school and to social justice issues.
 
AWSNA, the Association of Waldorf Schools is currently engaged in research and study, trying to penetrate how, as a modern and fast-growing educational movement, the association can support our schools in our commitment to inclusion, to sensitivity, to compassionate communication and to growth. Recently, both Ashwood’s Board of Trustees and faculty approved the following statement.  The bulk of the statement is taken from AWSNA.

Ashwood's Position Statement
on Diversity
Waldorf schools are independent schools, which are designed to educate all children, regardless of their cultural or religious backgrounds. This pedagogical method is comprehensive, and, as part of its task, seeks to bring recognition and understanding to world cultures and religions. The Waldorf School, founded in 1919 by Rudolf Steiner, is not affiliated with any one particular religion.

Ashwood Waldorf School is committed to developing the human potential of each child to its fullest. Admission to the schools is open to everyone, without regard to race, physical ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, creed, religion, national origin, or ethnicity. In company with many other tuition-based independent schools, Waldorf schools seek ways to increase the economic and ethnic diversity of their student populations.

It is a fundamental goal of our education to bring students to an understanding and experience of the common humanity of all the world’s peoples, transcending the stereotypes, prejudices, and divisive barriers of classification by gender, race and nationality. We most emphatically reject racism, and all other forms of discrimination, and embrace the principles of common humanity expressed by the founder of Waldorf education, Rudolf Steiner: "[We] must cast aside the division into races. [We] must seek to unite people of all races and nations, and to bridge the divisions and differences between various groups of people."

Board and faculty approved, March 2019
Announcements
Tomorrow & Friday!
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent Teacher conferences will take place  Thursday and Friday , March 28 and 29 .   If you have not already done so, please use the links below to sign up for conferences. 

Saturday, April 6
10 a.m.–noon
Open House & Pancake Breakfast 
Homemade pancakes, sugar shack visits, and hands-on activities for all ages, including math games, circus arts, ribbon stick making, and sand painting. Plus: Sing-along flash mob! All are welcome! Invite your friends! 
This is a great way to introduce them to our community. Show your interest on our  Facebook events page  to receive periodic updates.
Tuesday, April 9
4–5 p.m.
Spring Concert Join us at the John Street Methodist Church, 44 John Street, Camden, for Ashwood's spring concert, featuring the strings and vocal ensembles of Class 4-5 and Class 6-7. Show your interest on our  Facebook events page  to receive periodic updates.
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Pizza Night
Tuesday, April 9
5–9 p.m.
After the concert, grab your friends and head on over to Flatbread Company for the Serve-A-Thon fundraiser !

May Fair 2019: Save the date!
This year, our May Fair celebrations will take place on Friday, May 3, 3:30–5:30 p.m. Welcome in the season with traditional fun for the whole family. Dancing, music, willow-crown making, face painting, and games. Public welcome!
Summer Camps at Ashwood!
Ultimate Disc Camp
June 24–28, 9–Noon
This camp is for both boys and girls, and no experience is necessary. Participants will learn all the skills and rules they need in order to play Ultimate and other frisbee games. 

Sign up with your friends!

Who: For all midcoast students, grades 4-8.

When: June 24-28, 9 a.m.–noon

Where:  Pick up and drop off are at the Marge Jones Recreational Fields, West Street (Route 90), Rockport. 

Cost: $100 per student 

Teacher: Jeremy Clough, Ashwood class teacher
Circus Arts Camp
July 22–26, 9 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Come one, come all! No experience is needed. Spin, juggle, balance, and tumble! Your skills are sure to improve, but the main goal is to have fun! Skills will include: poi, juggling sticks, human pyramids, unicycling, diabolo, ball & pin juggling, partner balancing, stilts, plate spinning, rola bola, tumbling, and tightrope. Campers will make a circus T-shirt, as well as poi and juggling balls to take home. Campers will put on a brief show-and-tell circus at the end of the week.

Who: For all midcoast students, grades 4-8.

When: July 22–26, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 

Where:  Ashwood Waldorf School campus, 180 Park Street, Rockport. 

Cost: $200 per student

Teachers: Rose Swan, Ashwood Movement Teacher; Jeremy Clough, Ashwood class teacher
For more information or to sign up : Sarah Ewing or 207-236-8021.
Serve-A-Thon News
Our New Web Page
Click here  to visit our new Serve-A-Thon web page! Enjoy our gallery of photos from the fall service day. Check out important Serve-A-Thon dates. Buy your Dance Party tickets. Sign up to volunteer. You can even download a Flatbread menu to get ready for Pizza Night. It's one-stop Serve-A-Thon shopping.
Family Information Packets
Be on the lookout for  Serve-A-Thon packets —coming home with your children soon. Inside you’ll find information about the nonprofits we’ll be serving, how your family can reach its $250 goal, and details about our raffle (including tickets)! 

Your Business Can Become a Serve-A-Thon Sponsor
Attention Ashwood families! Do you own a business?  Please consider having your business become a Serve-A-Thon sponsor. ( Click here for the sponsorship form.)  Your personal business will get the benefits of sponsorship and your family could meet is Serve-A-Thon fundraising goal! ( Click here for the benefit sheet. )

Business sponsorships must be received by Monday, March 25. The Serve-A-Thon (Ashwood’s spring fundraiser) will launch Monday, April 1. 

Questions? Please contact Sarah Ewing .
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.

Serve-A-Thon Save-the-Dates
Tuesday, April 9
5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Flatbread Benefit Night
Come on over after the spring concert (listed above). Grab your friends and bring your appetites! Each pizza sale benefits Ashwood.
This includes take-out orders!
Friday & Saturday
April 26 & 26
10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Service Work Days
Pitch in and help our neighbors while raising funds for Ashwood.
Saturday, May 4
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. The Right Track
Dance Party!
Midcoast’s 11-piece R&B/funk/soul band. Beaver Lodge, Hope. Adults only.
Development News
New Annual Appeal Giving Opportunity
We are so happy to offer all current families a new and easy way to give to the 2019-2020 Annual Appeal (next year’s appeal). Our hope is that this new way will be easy, budget-friendly, and make it affordable to give a bit more than usual.

Drum-roll, please! You may now establish a monthly pledge ($10 per month, $25 per month, $100 per month, whatever you choose) toward the Annual Appeal campaign and include payment of this pledge with your monthly FACTS payments or set up automatic monthly bank or credit card payments.

Forms will also be mailed to you this week.

If this makes sense to you, and you would like to join, simply print out the form you receive, fill it out, and drop it off with Sarah Ewing in the office. (Forms available in the office, as well.)

If you would like to know more, please me at 207-236-8021, extension 106. I would love to answer any questions you have.

$59,500 = Total raised toward our $90,000 goal
100% Participation Challenge
Congratulations to Ms. Buczacz and all the parents of Class 2/3! They are the first class to reach 100% participation in the Annual Appeal. They will be celebrating with either a sweet or savory treat at their next parent evening, May 7th. Ashwood is so grateful for your effort and commitment. Hooray, and thank you! 

Alumni Parent Challenge
Current parents have raised $8,895 toward our $10,000 goal!  We are so, so close. Just $1,105 more to go to secure an additional $10,000 from an alumni family challenge. Let’s do this! If you have not given, please give something toward our $10,000 current parent goal.

The simple beauty of a classroom nature table. Photo © Doug Mott
Upcoming Events
Thursday
March
28
Parent Discussion Group
8:45–9:45 a.m.

Parent-Teacher Conferences
1:30–6:00 p.m.
For a printable Friday Assembly schedule , click on Assembly Schedule , below.
Friday
March
29
Parent-Teacher Conferences
No classes
8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
To access our interactive calendar of events, click
on Website Calendar, below.
Monday
April
1
APC Meeting
8:30–10:00 a.m.

Official Serve-A-Thon Launch
Pick up and drop off times
For a printable version of our annual school calendar, click on Printable Calendar , below
Ashwood Parent Community News
Parenting Blog
We're starting a parenting blog, and you are invited to contribute! Ashwood's new parenting blog will be a monthly or bimonthly publication with the goals of 1) offering meaningful content to parents with children of all ages; 2) sharing a Waldorf perspective on parenting from everyday topics (school lunches) to the profound (choosing a school); 3) heightening awareness of Ashwood and the warm, inclusive, and unique community we provide for children and their families

Short and informal in style, the posts will feature parents talking to parents. All parents and all approaches are welcome! We encourage everyone who has something to say to try this out, even if you don’t think of yourself as a writer. In fact, if it works better for you, just provide an outline, and we will shape it into an article that you can give feedback on. Or, set an appointment with Laura Purdom , and we can do it interview style. Alternatively, sit down with another parent and interview each other, record the interview, and transcript the best bits!


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Tomorrow!
Parent Discussion Group
Join other Ashwood parents every second and fourth Thursday morning from 8:45-9:45 a.m. The group meets 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!

This week, we'll be wrapping up the discussion of Kim John Payne's book The Soul of Discipline and looking forward to beginning a discussion about the temperaments and the parent-child relationship in April. Join the  Facebook group  for links to reading material and other resources.

The next meeting is tomorrow, Thursday, March 28!

RSVP to  Amy Thompson, Ashwood parent or 207-891-2010.
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, Friday, April 5 at 8:15 a.m. before Friday Assembly.
APC Meeting
The next APC meeting will be Monday, April 1 in the Buttercup Room of the early-childhood building from 8:45 to 10:15 a.m. This is a rescheduled meeting. The group normally meets the first Monday of each month. Mark your calendar for these future meeting dates: April 1, May 6. All are welcome! Questions?


School Budget Meeting
Join us on Tuesday, April 23 in the community room of the grade school building from 8:30–9:30 a.m. School Director Jody Spanglet, Director of Development Julia Dodge, and Business Manager Betty Wyman will answer your questions about the 2019–2020 school budget. Please come to this important annual event! We encourage all parents to attend.
Student Writing
Umpire Saves the Game
by Harrison, Grade 7
It was our first baseball game of the season, and we were in the lead by a point as the score stood one to two I was in my favorite position—catcher—behind home plate. It was the bottom of the sixth with a runner on third base getting ready to tie the game. As the pitcher threw the ball, I saw the runner sprint towards the plate, and the ball passed me. I checked my helmet off and chased after the ball. When I took the helmet off, I saw where the ball had stopped, and without looking at the ball, I tossed it to the pitcher, and he steered the glove to the runner. Everything went dead silent for a moment. Everyone was staring at the umpire, and as he looked at the scene, disoriented, he made a fist and punched the air, shouting, "Out!" We all celebrated with ice cream after the umpire saved the game.

Every morning in language arts, middle school students start with five minutes of free writing to build their written communication fluency. Here's a free write from one of the 7th graders.

A Morning Free Writing
by Scarlet, , Grade 7
The wind rushes through my hair, the icy cold numbing my cheeks, nipping my nose, and making my ears glow red. I can feel the muscles of my Pegasus beneath me, shifting with powerful strength, propelling us forward. I can't make it without her. She comforts me. I care for her. She protects me. I protect her. We are a team, interdependent, a necessity in this raring wilderness we call life. Above the clouds, sun beating down on us with uncouth ferocity. The wind thumping a steady rhythm, like my beautiful stead's wings.

Waldorf News
New video from AWSNA provides a glimpse into the principles of Waldorf education.
In the Media
"It's an intentional way to look each child in the eyes every morning and let them know that who they are, how they feel and what they bring to the classroom matters."

"Schools organized with relationships as a priority can benefit children in many ways."
Community Classifieds
Long-Term Rental Sought
Looking for a long term house rental (minimum 6-12 months) in Camden-Rockport-Rockland area, July/August, 2019. Ideally 2-3 bedrooms with yard. We are flexible on furnished or unfurnished. Contact Merideth Butler.
Nanny Looking for Work
Experienced n anny looking for work. Interests include music, crafting, reading, and all things outdoors. Willing to travel to locations between Brunswick and Camden. Hoping to find full time work but willing to be flexible for the right family. Contact for further questions and references. Click here for contact information.
Come Together in Harmony
Join Meg Chittenden, of the Misty Mountain Singers, to learn and sing beautiful songs in harmony. All songs are taught by ear, and classes begin with vocal exercises to help you access your freest, truest voice. Sliding scale fee of $10-20/class per adult; children free. Content is geared towards ages 9 and up; all ages welcome.  Tuesdays, 4:00–5:30 p.m ., April 2, 23 & 30, May 7 & 21. FMI Margo, 301-320 1145. Optional potluck a fter singing.
Support Our Sponsors
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 .
The Last Word