Greetings!

This week in the Leaflet we welcome alumni board member Valerie Shepherd of Ashwood's first graduating class. Also, don't miss our article about Ashwood's 99-pound wonder, as well as the latest updates from the Annual Appeal and Serve-A-Thon Marketplace.

The next Leaflet will be published on Wednesday, March 13 . We welcome your comments, questions, and submissions!

Welcome, New Board Members!
Recently, Ashwood had the pleasure of welcoming three new members to our Board of Trustees. In the coming weeks, we'll be profiling each of the new members. This week, we'll meet Valerie Shepard, who has a unique connection to Ashwood.

Valerie Shepard was a member of Ashwood's first graduating class in 1998. She attended the local public high school (Medomak Valley) and Mount Holyoke College, where she majored in French and Studio Art. Her favorite college memories include junior year studying abroad in Montpellier, France, and competing on the college's track and equestrian sports teams. Following college, Val returned to her life long passion for horses and has worked as a rider, barn manager, and instructor in both recreational and therapeutic riding programs. Currently, she is a trainer at Horses with Hope, a local program which provides training and rehabilitation to rescued horses. Val recently married her longtime sweetheart Abe Stimson '98, whom she originally met back in 5th grade at Ashwood. Together, Val and Abe love to hike, camp, and travel—most recently they renovated an old Winnebago camper and took a seven-month cross-country trip, with work exchanges on farms along the way. Both Val and Abe share a deep appreciation for the Waldorf education they received, and can vividly see the many ways in which it shaped their lives for the better. As an incoming board member, Val is excited to help out with alumni relations and looks forward to taking part in school events.

Coming soon! Jessica Wheeler and Lisa Newcomb
Wrestling for Ashwood
Kristina Mainella, mother of sixth grader Vincent Mainella, wrote in to update us on Vincent's recent sporting adventures. Kristina writes, "[Vincent] has been wrestling with the Camden Rockport Middle School for the last three years now, and this is the first year he has gone 'independent', representing Ashwood at the wrestling meets. The meets take place on Saturdays and some Wednesdays. Last Saturday was the teams first meet, competing against six other schools. Vincent won three of the four matches he wrestled in the 99 pound weight bracket. The meets are usually an all-day event, with weigh-ins early in the morning, and then waiting until matches come up. And it’s quite a boisterous affair, with parents and teammates cheering in the stands all day!"

Thanks, Kristina, and way to go, Vincent! Go, Team Ashwood!
Grade 1-8 Skill Goals for English and Math
Ashwood's teaching faculty has been formalizing the skills aspect of our curriculum. This year, we completed our "Grade 1–8 Skill Goals for English and Mathematics," a document that lays out a set of benchmarks in language arts and mathematics for grades one through eight and are offering the document for download now. We welcome your questions and feedback on any aspect of the curriculum.

Ashwood Faculty to Attend AWSNA Regional Conference
In mid March, several Ashwood faculty members will travel to High Mowing in Wilton, NH, to attend the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) Regional Northeast/Quebec Conference. The theme of the conference this year is "Finding Common Ground: Working with Compassionate Communication and Restorative Practices to Generate Conflict Resilience in Our School Community." The keynote speaker. Michael Frosch of Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School will share some thoughts from his experiences at HVS about how compassionate communication and restorative practices have helped the school meet challenges.

Our own Jody Spanglet will be one of the breakout session leaders with her session on "Creating a Social Emotional Curriculum."

Attending faculty members look forward to bringing back fresh perspectives and new learning to apply to our work in the classroom, in the office, and in the community.
Announcements
This is a reminder that your tuition assistance applications are due by  Friday, March 1, 2019 . Please fill out your TADS online application, attach all required documentation, and bring Ashwood's paper TA application to the office. 

In order to receive an award, all paperwork and required documents must be submitted by the March 1 deadline.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me. Additional TA application packets are still available in the office. 

Thank you! 
Business and Operations Manager
207-236-8021 ext #109
Class 4-5 Fedco Seed Sale
Class 4-5 is selling vegetable and flower seeds from Fedco Seed to raise money for upcoming field trips and class activities. Look for the Seed Sale table at dismissal starting this week to place orders. Students will have printed order forms available and will take orders with check payments through March 7. Seeds will be distributed March 21.

You may view descriptions of the available seeds and print order forms for  conventional seeds  and  organic seeds . Please make checks payable to Ashwood Waldorf School.

Happy garden planning!

Questions? Contact  Tabatha Tucker
Serve-A-Thon News
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)
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.

Tuesday
April
9

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.
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.
Saturday
May
4
The Right Track
Dance Party!
Midcoast’s 10-piece R&B/funk/soul band
Beaver Lodge, Hope
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Adults only

Development News
Dear Parents ,
I know you are committed to the school—your child is here; your children are here! Please consider showing the authenticity of your commitment and ensuring the sustainability of Ashwood with a small, medium, or large gift to the Annual Appeal. Your child’s school would be so grateful. 

Thank you! 
Alumni Parent Challenge
Remember! If current Ashwood families donate $10,000 or more all together, an alumni parent will donate $10,000 more to match! The current family total is $7,590 ! Only $2,400 to go to gain $10,000 additional dollars for Ashwood! We CAN do this. If you haven’t given yet, please consider doing so by clicking the gold button below.
100% Participation Challenge
For the first two classes to reach 100% participation in this year’s Annual Appeal, two of Ashwood's bakers Annie Mahle and Megan Murphy will create a sweet treat or a savory treat.

Yay, faculty! Congratulations!

Be the first or second class to 100% participation!  Grades 2/3 and 6/7 are now in the lead. Which class will get there first? 

54% of current families have donated—46% to go!
From the archives
This week's windy weather reminded us of this picture of Tessa Mott '15 and Zaela Newcomb '15 on a class field trip to Acadia National Park. Photo: Buck O'Herin.
Upcoming Events
Thursday
February
28
Class 1 Parent Evening
This is a special meeting intended to bring next year's first grade parents together with next year's second grade families.
6:30–8:00 p.m.
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For a printable Friday Assembly schedule , click on Assembly Schedule , below.
Friday
March
1
All School Games
No Assembly

Tuition Assistance Applications Due

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To access our interactive calendar of events, click
on Website Calendar, below.
Monday
March
4
Special APC Meeting: Budget Presentation
8:30–10:30 a.m.
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For a printable version of our annual school calendar, click on Printable Calendar , below
Ashwood Parent Community News
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, 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! All parents are welcome. Following the budget meeting, the APC will conduct its usual monthly business until 10:30 a.m.
Parenting Discussion Group
Join other Ashwood parents every second and fourth Thursday morning from 8:45-9:45 a.m. 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.

The next meeting is tomorrow, Thursday, February 28!

RSVP to  Amy Thompson, Ashwood parent  or 207-891-2010.
Ski Thursdays
Every Thursday until the Snow Bowl closes 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.

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!


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, March 8 at 8:15 a.m. before Friday Assembly.
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?

Student Writing
More descriptive writing from Class 6-7—wherein Ina summits Mount Katahdin.
Blown Away
by Ina (Grade 7)
I craned my neck and looked up in awe at the top of the tallest mountain in Maine, Mount Katahdin. It was massive. The beginning wasn’t too hard. I was surprised because it was the hardest trail. Glancing down, the ground looked like a thick carpet with hints of gold, red, and orange. Casting my eyes out farther, other mountains turned purple, then blue, then slowly faded into the sky. In front of me was a tower of rocks. Was it the top? I was getting excited and then my heart sank. We had rounded the rocky spire and to my disappointment there was another rocky climb waiting up ahead.

We at lunch behind the rocks to shelter us from the bitter wind that tore through my hair and then we set off again. Clambering up the rough side of the mountain was exhausting. I was cold and wind-bitten and just wanted to stop, maybe have a helicopter come retrieve me, but I slogged on because I had no other choice. Grasping at rocks and heaving myself up, I slowly worked my way towards the top. After what seemed an eternity, small orange pebbles appeared on the ground. This signaled that the last leg of our journey would be scrambling across rock crumbles that slid and shifted under our feet. Following the remains of big rocks were lichens and mosses that covered the ground, adding effect to the thickly misty air. Finally, the long awaited moment came and the summit was reached. The clouds swirled about and occasionally parted, granting us a glimpse of the embroidered tapestry below, with sapphire lakes and flame-colored trees.
Waldorf News
This new video from AWSNA provides a glimpse into the principles of Waldorf education.
In the Media
Community Classifieds
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 . March 5 & 19, April 2, 23 & 30, May 7 & 21. FMI: 301-320 1145 or Margo .  Optional potluck a fter singing.
Two More Sundays: 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. Including therapeutic water color exercise in each class led by Sarah Williams Smith.
Sundays, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. March 3 - Anthroposophic Medicine with Dan Einstein, MD; March 10, Water with Jennifer Greene.
$30/class. Registration.  
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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