Education for the 21st Century
A healthy social life is found only when, in the mirror of each soul, the whole community finds its reflection, and when, in the whole community, the virtue of each one is living. - Rudolf Steiner


Dear families,

As we head into November, the theme of gratitude takes center stage. We at WSOC are so grateful to you, our community, for being a vital part of what makes us unique and united. Each volunteer effort, each donation, each kind word to a teacher or staff member, each baked good, each gesture of love does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Together, we make up a vibrant community that truly can be found nowhere else. From the depths of our hearts, we thank you!

Please enjoy this issue- we had many experiential learning adventures to share this last month across the school, and we are now looking forward to our High School Walk Through the Grades and Open House, as well as Grandparents and Special Friends' Day. Please join us! Sign up links are below.

Have a wonderful weekend!


Warmly,

Alyssa Hamilton
WSOC Communications Coordinator
November 2019 Calendar
Fri 11/1 • NO SCHOOL: In Service Day

Fri 11/1 • WSOC Track & Field Orange Empire Conference Championships
Sun 11/3 - Sun 11/3 • Fall Back: Daylight Savings Time Ends
Mon 11/4, 6:00p - 8:00p • Grade 5 parent meeting
Tue 11/5, 8:45a - 10:00a • Room Representatives Meeting
Tue 11/5, 6:30p - 8:00p • Grade 9 parent meeting
Wed 11/6, 6:30p - 8:00p • Grade 1 parent meeting
Thu 11/7 • Autumn Festival Pre K and Kindergarten: students only
Thu 11/7, 8:00a - 2:50p • High School Visit Day for WSOC Grade 8
Fri 11/8, 9:00a - 10:30a • Walk Through the High School: parents only
Fri 11/8, 3:45p • HS Soccer vs. Ermerson HOME GAME
Fri 11/8, 5:00p - 9:00p • Foundation Studies
Sat 11/9, 8:00a - 4:30p • Foundation Studies
Sat 11/9, 10:00a - 12:00p • High School Open House: for students and parents
Mon 11/11 • Grade 9 early registration begins for WSOC students
Mon 11/11, 5:30p - 7:00p • Grade 2 Martinmas/Lantern Walk
Tue 11/12, 6:30p - 9:00p • Foundation Studies
Wed 11/13, 6:30p - 8:00p • Grade 8 parent meeting
Fri 11/15 • Kindergarten Lantern Walk
Sat 11/16 • Pre-Kindergarten Lantern Walk
Tue 11/19, 6:30p - 8:00p • Grade 11 parent evening
Wed 11/20, HS Soccer vs. Legacy College Prep HOME GAME
Wed 11/20, 9:00a - 10:00a • Walk Through the Grades
Wed 11/20, 6:30p - 8:00p • Grade 7 parent meeting
Fri 11/22, 9:00a - 10:30a • Grandparents and Special Friends' Day
Fri 11/22, 11:00a - 12:30p • Grandparents and Special Friends' Day

Mon 11/25 - Fri 11/29 • Thanksgiving Break
Annual Giving: Myths Vs. Facts

MYTH: My donation is not that important or needed because WSOC has sufficient income from tuition and fees to cover the school’s annual operating expenses. 

FACT: T uition and fees cover only a portion of the annual operating expenses of the school. The Annual Giving fund is the primary source of unrestricted funds that supplements tuition income to cover the school’s annual operating expenses. Like fellow independent schools, WSOC relies solely upon tuition revenues and philanthropic gifts to meet our operating and capital expenses. 

MYTH: My participation does not make a difference because I don’t have the means to make a large donation. 

FACT: Gifts of every size help the school achieve its $100,000 goal. You can make your tax-deductible gift as a one-time donation or can distribute it into multiple payments over the remainder of the school year. 
Your participation is also a key indicator to foundations and corporate donors that we have consistent support from those we serve, both past and present. When 100% of the people who benefit from our organization also care enough to donate, this sends a strong message which helps obtain outside grants and gifts.

MYTH: Donations to Annual Giving are put in the school’s reserve fund and are meant to cover a “rainy day.”

FACT: The funds raised through Annual Giving go into the school’s operating account and are invested right back into our school to pay for things such as:

  • ·      Recruitment, training and retention of outstanding teachers;
  • ·      Classroom supplies, transportation and trips;
  • ·      Facilities improvements; and
  • ·      Tuition Assistance.

WSOC’s Annual Giving Campaign runs from October 24th through January 31, 2020. Make your tax-deductible donation by November 26, 2019 to be entered into a raffle to win a Festival Parking Spot good for Winter Festival or May Faire! Click here for Raffle Rules. 

To make your gift or pledge, click here .
Grade 11 Practicum
Each year, our 11th graders spend a week with a professional in a chosen field of interest, and then create a paper about the experience. This enables them to get a bird's eye view of what a certain career path might look like, and helps them imagine future possibilities as young adults out in the world. Below, WSOC student Isabel Dumaine shares her experience:

"This career shadowing experience definitely made me want to be a lawyer, much more so than beforehand. I got to see both sides of this career: the paperwork and preparation, as well as the court side. I interviewed many different district attorneys at the courthouse, and I asked them where they see themselves in 10 years. Each one of them said they loved their jobs and they hoped to be working in the same job they are now. I received so much advice by asking many questions, which helped confirm this career as one I would like to pursue."

For more on Isabel's experience, click here .
Don't miss our Walk Through the High School on Friday, Nov. 8 and our High School Open House
on Saturday, Nov. 9
High school at WSOC is the flowering of the Waldorf educational journey. Our students enjoy a challenging academic curriculum, a high teacher-to-student ratio, lots of hands-on experiential learning opportunities and a continual nurturing of their development as an adolescent. Come see what sets us apart! Attending the two events listed below will give you a beautiful picture of what it means to be a Waldorf School of Orange County high school student.

Click here to RSVP for the Walk Through the High School
Click here to RSVP for the High School Open House
Save By Registering Early for Grade 9!
Dear 8th Grade Parents,

Early Registration for 9th grade begins on Monday, November 11 and ends on Thursday, December 19.

Registering early for WSOC high school provides you the opportunity to save $500!

The Early Registration Fee is $500 as a non-refundable deposit toward your first tuition payment.
In other words, your first tuition payment will be $500 less than those who do not register early.

All other students will be charged a Registration Fee for 2020-2021 re-registration.
Don’t miss this opportunity to save and to hold a place in the 9th Grade class.

Deadline to Order Holiday Greens and Trees for Troops is Nov. 5!
Order your HOLIDAY GREENS online  https://sffsalestrack.com/wsocgrade8greens/  or in person at our Holiday Greens booth at drop off or pick up.

Donate to TREES FOR TROOPS to give a military family a holiday tree: Forms on ParentSquare, at our booth, and in the front office. Check or Venmo payment option available.

Deadline for ordering is next Tuesday, Nov. 5! Please order today.

Our ORGANIC PRODUCE CO-OP with  Tanaka Farms is ongoing- thank you to all who have already signed up!

All profits help Grade 8 raise funds for their end of year class trip. We are deeply grateful to our community for the support!
WSOC Board of Trustees Member David Kruse Visits Original Waldorf School in Germany
"Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of visiting Waldorf Uhlandshohe, in Stuttgart, Germany, which is the original Waldorf school, established in 1919. In preparation for my visit, our campus' Waldorf 100 celebration team was kind enough to put together a gift for me to present to the Uhlandshohe faculty and staff.
I was able to spend an afternoon touring the school and learning more about its rich history, as well as its current pedagogy and anthroposophical approach.

At the end of the tour, I presented our gift: a handwritten note of thanks and exchange, as well as a veil painting completed by a former WSOC 10th grader (Nalani Knauss), which was a master copy of Rembrandt's self portrait (pictured above). Beate Kotter-Hahn Waldorfschule Uhlandshohe Public Relations Director received the gift on behalf of the school. Her grandfather was a founding member of Waldorfschule Uhlandshohe and her father was a teacher there.

It was a very special experience to serve as an ambassador of WSOC during my visit to the original Waldorf school during this year of our Waldorf 100 celebration!"

-David Kruse, WSOC Board of Trustees member and WSOC parent
Parent Events: RSVP here for Grandparents and Special Friends' Day!
Friday, Nov. 22
9am and 11am performances
Eurythmy Hall

RSVP here for 9am
RSVP here for 11am
Scrip
A Gift for You – A Gift for the School

Every time you make a purchase for your family using WSOC Scrip, you are enjoying a simple way to give back to your school. There is no request to buy something you don’t need or want; no request to sell wrapping paper,
candy or cookie dough; only a different form of currency to pay for your normal, everyday purchases.

As you enter the school community, the Scrip Program begins by accruing a $275.00 balance from each family through their use of Scrip. Once accrued, that balance is carried over to the next year, and each year following, as long as $275.00 is raised through your Scrip use each year.

If for any reason your family was unable to meet the $275.00 family obligation last year, you will receive a bill, through TADS, for the difference. This amount is due on November 15, 2019. You will receive a notification from TADS prior to the withdrawal of funds from your account. 

It is our goal that if your family uses Scrip to help pay for your everyday expenses, (gas, groceries, etc.), you can avoid ever receiving a bill.

Thank you for your contribution last year! We have already issued distributions to the class funds based on your earnings. 
WSOC On and Off Campus
Halloween Fun!



Grade 9 Goes Full Immersion on 5-Day Geology Field Trip to Mammoth Lakes
On Oct. 21-25, Grade 9 (as part of their Geology block with Kim Eijpen, high school science teacher) actively studied the geological features of the Mammoth Lakes area. Their adventures included exploring Red Rock Canyon, Yosemite National Park, Panum Crater (an extinct volcano), and taking a trip to Mono Lake to view chemical limestone tufa and examine explosive Inyo craters.
Grade 6 Visits Oceanview Mine
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Yvette Fabian's Grade 6 visited the Oceanview Mines in Pala, CA in support of the 6th grade mineralogy/geology block. Their visit provided a unique view of the only actively working underground mine in the world, the famous Pala Gem mining district. 
Grade 5 Celebrates Diwali
"Millions of people in India celebrate Diwali, also called the Festival of Lights, for 10 days in the Fall. The 5th grade class has learned about the ancient Indian culture and the origin of Diwali, which is connected to the ancient Indian epic story of Rama.

This Festival of Lights (this year celebrated on Oct. 27) celebrates Rama and Sita returning triumphantly from their 14 year exile. The class ate a delicious Indian meal provided by the restaurant Nourish to complement the day. We ended our celebration by creating simple and colorful Rangoli forms at the entrance to our school. The Rangoli forms are meant to bring good luck and were created out of colored cornstarch."

-Julia Emahiser, Grade 5 teacher
Grade 12 Early American Literature Adventure
"Our trip to the woods in Lake Arrowhead (Oct. 23-25), in the tradition of the Transcendentalists, was an opportunity to reflect on our existence and relationship with nature, and to appreciate the effect that nature has on our lives. We wrote poetry, took dreamlike walks through the trees, cooked hearty meals for each other, played game after game of Uno, and sang around the hearth until our voices went hoarse. In terms of profundity, we truly transcended. I believe we came back ten times surer of ourselves and ten times closer as a family." - Lily Lieberman, Grade 12
Grade 4 Visits Rawhide Ranch


On Oct. 2-4, Ms. Peterson's Grade 4 class visited Rawhide Ranch and participated in fun and educational activities that included animal care, archery, animal science, anatomy and grooming, riding, vaulting, and team building games.
"My favorite part was learning to use a curry comb on a horse," said one student. "He loved being brushed, and kept bumping up against my hand!"
Grade 3 Shares Gifts of Food, Notes with Less Fortunate



On Monday, Oct. 28, Sara Rodelo's Grade 3 made 85 sandwiches - each of which included a cheerful and kind handwritten note - for a local soup kitchen.

Some of the notes read: 
We are here for you. 
I hope you find joy in this sandwich.
Made with love.
We are here to help you find a house.

"It was very inspiring and heartwarming day," said Ms. Rodelo. "I delivered the sandwiches to a friend who runs an after school program. Together with our offerings, he delivered over 1,100 sandwiches to a soup kitchen in Santa Ana."
Community News & Announcements
WSOC On and Off Campus

Waldorf Education News from AWSNA: Waldorf 100 Initiatives in Action
It’s already been six weeks since the worldwide centennial celebration. If you didn’t make it to Berlin, you can  view the photos here. While viewing, you may be drawn to the banner that reads, “The Future Starts Now.” Yes, indeed! The next 100 years lie before us awaiting new sparks of inspiration, guided by the foundational principles of Waldorf education. To that end, we are very pleased to share  The Wellspring of Waldorf,  produced by the Anthroposophical Society of America.   
 
AWSNA is committed to continuing the important work of Waldorf100 by supporting initiatives that revitalize society and our relationship with our earth. Please continue to look for updates on community projects and initiatives taking place at Waldorf schools across North America. Do take note of the upcoming youth conference,  Bound to Earth: Freedom, Responsibility and Destiny in Times of Climate Crisis , and Waldorf high school students taking a stand on climate change.
Seeking Festival Singers for Winter Festival
Winter Festival chair Josh Boyle is seeking Festival Singers for this year's Winter Festival. All skill levels welcomed! Please contact him for details.
A Special Thank You
Thank you to Orange County company Ernie Ureno Tree Service, Inc. for donating several pieces of wood to our Woodworking progam. Your donations have been put to great use!
 Click here for WSOC College of Teachers, Board Members and Administrative Rotation
Waldorf School of Orange County
2350 Canyon Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92627-3948
(949) 574-7775
wwww.waldorfschool.com