Grades Michaelmas Festival this Friday, September 28, 11:45 a.m. in the Grove
Parents are encouraged to wear traditional Michaelmas colors red, orange and yellow.
Come see our new Michaelmas Play! All grades 1-8 have a part in the play. This play is developmentally-appropriate for children in the grades, not for younger siblings from the Kindergarten and Preschool who might be frightened by the dragon (these classes hold separate, age-appropriate Michaelmas events).
The play begins at noon in the Grove, please arrive by 11:45 a.m. Plan to park at the church and walk to campus. After the play we will celebrate by picnicking with the class and eating Sun Cakes made by each class. Students will return to class to be released to parents after the final handshake at 1:00 p.m.
History of Michaelmas Festival
Long ago, in a faraway place, a kingdom lived in dread and fear of a loathsome beast that was eager to devour any human or animal that dared to cross its path. Bright shining meteors flashed through the night sky, offering strong iron to forge a sword to tame the evil dragon and defend the right. What knight would courageously wield this sword to tame such a beast?
Michaelmas is most commonly celebrated in Europe, but the message of courage in the face of evil is universal and timeless. St. Michael overcoming the dragon with his sword of light is an image that calls us all to be courageous, to take command of the dragon and transform it. The students learn that everyone has their own "dragon" - fear, greed, thoughtlessness, or apathy. St. Michael's qualities of courage, compassion, and steadfastness can be an inspiration to greatness in all of us.
Parking Lot Reminders
When dropping off for school in the morning, please remember that the back parking circle is drop-off only. Cars cannot be parked and left empty. When picking up, please do not leave your car unattended if you are not at the curb or in a parking spot. We are having cars left unattended in the main traffic areas, making it very difficult for others to navigate. Additional parking is always available at the church. Please review our Parking Information
here.
School Directory - will go home with students on October 15th.
Field Trip Paperwork Reminder
Classes are already heading off on field trips and chaperones must have an up-to-date Auto Form, DMV driving record, and a Volunteer form (if you have not been livescanned) on file. Please stop by the office to pick up the forms and get them in early!
Middle School Morning Study Hall
If Middle School students (grades 6-8) arrive at school between 7:45-8:15 a.m., they must go to Morning Study Hall. Students should meet in Mr. Gomes' 7th Grade classroom until Thanksgiving Break and are required to sign-in upon arrival. They may not leave campus. At 8:15, after study hall, students will go to their respective classrooms.
Sunflower Aftercare and After-School
If you need to sign up for "drop in" care please call Debbie Hicks in the office at 530-753-1651 or email
office@daviswaldorf.org. Several of the days are close to or at full capacity and there may not be room for your child. If your child is on contract, but is not going to attend that day, please call Debbie so she can open the spot to others.
Please also remember that children should not be on campus without supervision of a teacher or parent after school. Please be prompt and remind your child if they get to/from school on their own to head home after dismissal. A student may check out their sibling from Aftercare if prearranged by the parent and the office, but may not stay on campus unsupervised.
Holiday Care Contracts for Junebug and Sunflower
Visit our website
using this link or come by the office to fill out a contract.
DWS Handwork Circle -
Friday mornings from 8:30-10:00am
Our DWS Handwork Group led by Dahlia Haberman will be meeting every Friday in the Handwork/Tutoring Room located up the far left steps of the Preschool Building (look for the gold sun!). We will be working on projects to donate to our soon to open School Store "The Acorn Basket", as well as projects for other events and fundraisers. You are also encouraged to bring your own project to work on. All are welcome to come and enjoy the conversation and handwork! No rsvp needed.
Lecture Series with Anthroposophist Brian Gray and Eurythmy with Alice Stamm
Exploring Anthroposophy - Eight Mondays from September 24 to December 10, 2018 at Rudolf Steiner College, 7-9pm. For more information
click here.
Schoolwide Clothing Exchange - Saturday, October 6th, 9am-1pm
Now that the seasons are changing, it's a perfect time to go through your closets! Parent Council will be hosting our first community clothing exchange on Saturday, October 6th from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room. This is a free exchange of all gender/all age clothing, raingear, and Waldorf inspired toys. Items should be brought to school on Friday afternoon (10/5) and laid out/hung up on tables/racks in the MPR. We ask that items be clean, natural fibers, in good shape and free of non-Waldorf logos. We could also use some hangers. All leftover items will be donated to a local charity. For more information, please contact Jenn Short,
development@daviswaldorf.org.
The Nova Institute's Indigenous People's Weekend Gathering - October 5-7th
The Davis Waldorf School community is invited to this gathering taking place at the White Feather Ranch Retreat Center in the Sierra foothills. For more information and fees, please visit
www.novainstitute.org or call 240-418-6569.
Progressive Dinner - Saturday, October 13th - Tickets Still Available!
If anyone missed the opportunity to purchase tickets to the Progressive Dinner at the auction, there are still some tickets remaining. The dinner is hosted by DWS families in support of our school and will be held on Saturday, October 13th from 5-10pm. For those who didn't experience this event last year, the Progressive Dinner includes a three-course meal, with each course served at a different DWS family home (all in Davis). The price includes delicious appetizers, gourmet dinner, wine pairings and a festive social atmosphere. Last year we ended the evening with desserts, music and an outdoor fire. It's a wonderful way to get to know other members of our DWS community and we encourage our new families to sign up! Cost is $75/person and all proceeds go back to the school.
Calling All Musicians for Community Project! - Saturday, October 13th
We still need musicians to fill slots between 1-3:30 p.m. Muralist Danielle Fodor is working with the North Davis Community on a community mural project and Davis Waldorf School will be participating in this neighborhood project by coordinating live musicians for the painting day on October 13th. The project runs along the North Davis bike path where many of our families ride to/from school. If you are interested in providing or participating in the music offerings, please email Jenn Short at
development@daviswaldorf.org. Families are also encouraged to come out and help with the painting. For more information about the project, visit
http://www.daniellefodor.com/paint-the-street-senda-nueva-blog.
Halloween Festival - Saturday, October 27th, 5-9pm
Tickets go on sale October 8th. Davis Waldorf School will host its annual Halloween Festival on Saturday, October 27th with tours through our Protected Path (all ages) and Perilous Path (grades 5-8). The evening will also include live music, a bonfire and a soup fundraising dinner by the 7th grade class. We are in need of parent volunteers. The sign-up genius will be sent out by your class parent on October 1st.
Parent Council Meetings
We had a great first meeting for Parent Council. Meetings will continue on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 5:45-8:00 p.m. at the home of Ceri and Ezra Beeman,
334 I St. in Davis. Please bring food or drink to share if you would like. Meeting minutes are available
here. Contact our Parent Council Chair, Gina Murphey, for more information:
Gina.Murphey@gmail.com
Parent Child Classes for 2018-2019
We still have a few spaces in our Parent Child classes. Please visit
www.daviswaldorf.org/parentchild for more information. To register, call our office at 530-753-1651.
Bring your friends to join our DWS family
We have openings in some of our grades classes for next year. We are offering a $500 referral credit to next year's tuition to any family who refers a friend that completes the enrollment process. Questions? Contact Jody Roach, Director of Finance and Operations at
business@daviswaldorf.org.
Easy ways to help Davis Waldorf School Fundraise - SCRIP
Nugget Scrip Program- gives up to 4% depending on monthly purchases. Cards are available in the school office and we can even help you through the simple online sign up process. Multiple cards may be signed up under the same account to combine purchase totals. You Nugget card can also be used at the Woodland Food For Less. Click here to register,
Amazon Smile- gives .5% of purchases to our school. To register, visit
smile.amazon.com
and search Association for Waldorf Education in Davis. Click select and continue through the online process. They will remind you to always use your amazon smile account in order for funds to go to our school.
and a portion of purchases made at participating business will automatically go to Davis Waldorf School. Percentage given depends on the business.
*We are continuing to look into additional merchant contribution programs-if you have one you'd like us to know about please email Jenn Short at
development@daviswaldorf.org.
DWS is now on Instagram!
Be sure to follow us: @DavisWaldorfSchool. To access you must download the Instagram app on your phone. Create an account and once you are logged in to your account, search DavisWaldorfSchool and select the "follow" button.
Friends of Davis Waldorf School Facebook Page
Follow us on the Friends of Davis Waldorf School Facebook page. To access, click the following link
https://www.facebook.com/groups/daviswaldorf/, click "Join Group". You may need to wait 24 hours until your request to join has been approved.
Parent Handbook and Communications Policy - available on our website and can be
found here.
Submissions for our Updates/Bulletins
If you have an item to include in an upcoming bulletin, please email Jenn Short at
development@daviswaldorf.org one week before the next publication for approval.
DWS Job Opportunities
Early Childhood Teachers/Aides Extended Care Program
$12 - $16 an hour dependent on qualifications - Part-time
Private Waldorf school in Davis currently accepting applications for teachers and aides in our Junebug extended care program (ages 2yrs - 6 yrs.).
Applicants should meet the following requirements:
- At least 18 years of age;
- Have a minimum of 6 core ECE units- 12 preferred (transcripts required);
- Possess a keen sense of awareness of their environment (multi-tasker, alert to surroundings);
- Friendly and approachable (with students and parents);
- Positive, energetic personality enjoys working with children;
- Patient, understanding, able to follow instructions and adhere to specific schedules;
- Can meet the physical demands of working with preschool aged children (bending, stooping, floor work, lifting children);
- Able to manage students in a classroom and playground setting;
- Strict adherence to school policies and ability to interpret and enforce rules;
CPR / first aid certification preferred, or willing to obtain training.
Waldorf experience is a plus, however, it is not a requirement.
This position will be responsible for children in our after school program, assisting with classroom responsibilities, cleaning, making snack and putting children down for nap time. This position is an important part of our daily operation. We are looking for someone who is reliable, punctual, and committed to the position and our students.
Part time - Afternoons - will discuss schedule at time of interview.
Qualified applicants should submit a letter of interest, a resume, 3 references to
office@daviswaldorf.org
Early Childhood Extended Care Director
Seeking a creative, nurturing and experienced early childhood teacher who enjoys working with children and has enthusiasm for experiencing nature and an interest in creating/sharing the outdoor curriculum. This position is a year round position. Our ideal candidate possesses a Site Supervisor Permit and Waldorf teaching experience and has completed their Director ECE units or is in process of completing them. The program is licensed under Title 22 regulations. The candidate will work with the preschool and kindergarten aged child, have strong classroom management skills, bring inspired Waldorf practices in a dynamic way, work well with parents and colleagues, and have a deep passion and interest in early childhood development.
Our full-time colleagues enjoy competitive wages and an employee benefit program, including tuition remission and health insurance. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer Qualified applicants should submit a letter of interest, a resume, 3 references to
office@daviswaldorf.org.
Morning Care Provider - Yard Duty for 4th/5th grade
We have immediate need for a yard duty person from 7:45-8:15 a.m. daily, Monday - Friday. Duties include supervising children on playground before school, ensuring that playground rules are followed.
If interested,
office@daviswaldorf.org
.
Piano Accompanist for Eurythmy Classes
The Davis Waldorf School is seeking a piano accompanist for our classes in Eurythmy, a particular form of movement/dance/language expression. We need someone who is skilled at playing, enjoys working with children, and can also sight-read. The music is not particularly difficult, and shouldn't require any practice on the part of the pianist.
Classes are on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:55-2:50 (with a 45-minute lunch break). $20 per hour.
Please send a letter of interest, a resume and a list of at least three professional references to:
office@daviswaldorf.org .
