NEWS FROM THE PARENT COUNCIL
November 19, 2019
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Hello MLWS Families...
With the Lantern Walk behind us, we are moving swiftly into the darker months of the year. The Advent Spiral, with its reverent beauty, and the Winter Faire, with its joyful celebration, are upon the horizon. We hope you enjoy this issue of our newsletter, which includes a Parent Council update, highlights activities of various classes and other school-related topics, offers Classified listings, and provides information about upcoming events in the MLWS community. But first, a Blessing for our school…
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A BLESSING FOR OUR SCHOOL
Much gratitude to Paola Tayvah, who composed this blessing during a moment of inspired reflection, and shared it with the community at the Welcome Back to School Celebration at the start of the school year:
In the year ahead, may this gathering of teachers and parents grow in wisdom, integrity and gratitude for the blessings of this Mountain Laurel community.
On overcast days, may we keep n mind the rich colors, shapes, tomes, gestures, words and the triumph of goodwill that daily pervades this school.
When discouragement creeps in, may our hearts fill with wonder at the beauty of our children’s growth and the community that nurtures it.
In facing the challenges ahead, may our minds resolve to cultivate innovation while being rooted in responsible stewardship.
May each of us find ways to enthusiastically join hands to shape a renewed Mountain Laurel Waldorf School.
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PARENT COUNCIL UPDATE
Parent Council is delighted to share that we are once again meeting on a regular basis during the 2019-20 school year. Please join us at our next meeting, which will be held this coming Thursday, November 21 at 1:30pm at the school. We will discuss our priority projects and form small working groups which will meet as necessary to advance their efforts. These projects include Faculty Nourishment, Food Drives, a Welcome Committee for new families, and this 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!
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Calendar of School Events
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Thursday, November 21, 1:30pm: Parent Council Meeting In the meeting room on the right, at the top of stairs in the entryway of the school.
Tuesday, November 26, 1:15pm: Thanksgiving Work Share
A sampling of the work of the students, Grades 1-8, in the basement of St. Joseph’s Church.
Sunday, December 1st: Advent Spiral
Time to be confirmed.
Monday, December 2, 3:15-4:30pm: Steiner Study Group
Led by Theo Lundin, meeting in the Third Grade classroom. Free and open to all!
Sunday, December 8: MLWS Winter Faire
Please help spread the word to the larger community. We look forward to working and celebrating with our community!
Friday, December 13, 7:00pm: Holiday Benefit Concert for FAMILY of New Paltz featuring the MLWS Alumni Orchestra, Reggie Harris, Betty and the Boomers, and the Redeemer Jam Band.
Benefit concert at the Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, 90 Route 32 South, New Paltz. Suggested donation: $15 adults, $5 children under 12. 100% of donations go to FAMILY of New Paltz.
Monday, December 16, 3:15-4:30pm: Steiner Study Group
Led by Theo Lundin, meeting in the Third Grade classroom. Free and open to all!
Friday, December 20, 7:00pm: Winter Music Share
Please join us in the New Paltz High School Auditorium, for musical offerings from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades and from the upper grade choruses, ensembles and orchestras. And don’t forget to bring your bag of non-perishable donations for the MLWS Food Drive!
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A Peek Into the Classroom
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From Ms. Fridlich:
Another month has flown by in the Mountain Dandelion Nursery. The children are well-settled in our rhythms. In most cases, a song has just begun, and the children know exactly what to transition into next. We have just finished our second circle and story for the year and are beginning a new one in November.
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From Ms. Lawson:
The Second Grade spent September working on the Michaelmas Play, and bravely tamed the fiery dragon with the help of the Third Grade! In October, they discovered the wonder of place value through many fun stories about the King’s treasure. In November, they are hearing many Fables, learning about animal attributes and starting to work on creating their own sentences. Balls and pumpkins have been knitted and many beeswax sculptures molded!
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From Mr. Neel:
The Sixth Grade began the school year with the first of three astronomy blocks which are spread over the middle-school years. This block focused on the observations and perceptions of the constellations as the Ancients would have without instruments or notions of a heliocentric universe. Gazing at the stars in consideration of the ancients reminds us that we perceive the universe as geocentric -- that we are, of course, the center of God's universe and that they (the stars) were placed in the sky "for signs and for seasons" so we may know when to plant and harvest and to guide us through the dark night of our souls. The Seventh Grade astronomy block will focus on the early astronomers from Copernicus to Kepler, the invention of the telescope, and the perplexing conundrum of planets in retrograde. (Ever wonder what "seven for the wanderers in the sky" means?) Finally, in Eighth Grade astronomy will focus on modern technology and space travel.
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Now the class has come back to Earth from the cosmos and has landed in the Roman Empire, picking up where they left off last year, the Trojan War.
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From Mr.Steve Bernstein:
The Mountain Laurel Recorder Ensemble working on Menuet #37 by Georg Philipp Telemann:
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STUFF (For Rent, For Sale, For Free, ISO…)
For Sale: Boys Shoes
- Brown, barely-used dress shoes (perfect for Music Shares) sizes 3 and 4,
- Merrells, size 6, gently used
- Adidas soccer cleats, sizes 5 and 6 1/2
All shoes 10 dollars a pair.
ISO Families for Locally Raised Meat Share Seeking 3 or more families to purchase a quarter or more (depending on the number of interested families) of a cow from a local farm. The cost is approximately $240 per family for a quarter cow split four ways (25 pounds of meat). Interested families can email Avi Klein at
aviyklein@gmail.com
LEARN
Outdoor Programs with Wild Earth At Wild Earth's weekend and summer programs, children and adults head into the woods and off the trails to meet plants and animals, learn wilderness living skills, create natural crafts, and to build deep connections with friends and inspiring mentors. Learn more about our programs and reserve your space at:
https://wildearth.org
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.
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
EMF Home Inspections Get an EMF Home Inspection and understand and reduce unnecessary field exposure for you and your family. LessEMFsAtHome.Com,
selfkindness@yahoo.com
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