Images from last week's "Spirit Day" with 3 back-to-back games on our school field and a great cheering crowd. Many thanks to Micah Bump for the photos!

From Barb Bancroft, High School Art Department Chair, High School Arts Teacher

Rumors aside, no students were seriously injured in Mosaic class last spring.

And, now that I have your attention, I’d like to show you a few of the projects we’ve concocted over the years. But first, a little history…

The Mosaic class is a popular substitution for what was once “Basketry” back in the day at Waldorf. Baskets had fallen out of favor and the teacher had grown tired of tangled reed bundles festooned from every projection in our lovely sculpture room. Mosaics brought a welcome change. It was a relief to contend with something rigid, colorful and implacable after shaping and reshaping soggy basket spokes into humble woven orbs. Now, every spring for the past eight years, grade nine and I layer our work tables with paper patterns, hazardous shards and Band-Aids. This has been a big improvement and a lot more fun!

It's also a nice surprise to turn a corner and find something bright and imaginative imbedded in a wall or some stair-risers at school. We’ve awakened some spare corners of our building, and sometimes students make address plaques to bring home for their own happy households.

Mosaics provide an empowering way to collaborate with one another while learning new skills. Sharing the results with our school community is icing on the cake. Have a look and see if you can find these projects about the building the next time you’re in!

Thank you so much to everyone who has taken a shift already for this year's Bazaar!

Our Fall Bazaar is around the corner - we can almost smell the cinnamon sticks and star anise of the beloved candle craft, almost see the scores of smiling children flocking to the Pocket Wizards. But, we need your help getting there!

This is that special time of year when we ask each and every current parent or guardian to sign up for a shift. Please note, high school students have been assigned to a shift already and are welcome to trade with each other as needed. HS parents and guardians, please sign up for a shift of your choosing. We love it when alum families volunteer as well! Many hands make light work for this annual fundraising and community building event.

Although many activities are assigned to a grade or grades, if one of them particularly appeals to you, you're welcome to sign up for it. And if your grade's signup is filled, please look for another place to volunteer!

Help Us Get Ready

There are three pre-Bazaar preparation activities that could use help from the whole school:

1. The 2nd and 3rd grades have done an amazing job creating treasures for the Enchantment Shop, where the younger children shop on their own. There are some spots left if any other crafty community members would like to contribute!
2. Help the 4th and 5th grades collect nature items to decorate the wooden bases for Candle Craft. There will be a bin at school to collect them (please email Maysoun with questions). Items to collect include: acorns and acorn caps, sweet gum tree balls, pinecones (tiny and small), pine twigs/greenery, pieces of pretty bark, small shells, any other interesting or colorful nature treasures you might find.
3. Bake for the Patisserie/Snack Shop! Your contributions make the annual sale of baked goods at the Bazaar a delicious success. Offerings from students, parents, and alumni are sold in two venues: the Snack Shop and the Patisserie. The Snack Shop opens at 10am and includes homey items like cookies, bars, and muffins; the Patisserie opens at 11am, its tables groaning under the weight of all manner of cakes, pies, cookies, scones, breads, bars, cupcakes—you name it! Deliver the finished products to the Patisserie (located in the WWS auditorium) on Friday afternoon, Nov 18. Sign up to bake!

All Aboard - Sign up for your Bazaar Shift Today!

To sweeten this year’s call to duty the Development Office is once again offering a fun incentive - Sign up for a volunteer shift by midnight on October 28 to be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to the Bazaar’s Waldorf Store.

Friday Aftercare

Complimentary aftercare will be available for those volunteering on Friday until 6pm, open to currently enrolled WWS students Nursery and above. Signup in BigSis > Extended Care. See your department notes for instructions. Please note, any child that remains on campus Friday afternoon and is not enrolled in aftercare or a HS student with an assigned shift must remain with their parent at all times. Please check with the shift coordinator if you are unsure if your shift is appropriate to have a younger helper alongside. 

Newly listed opportunities marked with an *

Pre-Bazaar

• Miscellaneous Pre-Bazaar Tasks *

Friday Volunteer Opportunities

• Set Up FULL!
• Assist at Preview Night

Friday & Saturday Volunteer Opportunities

• Assist with Crystal Cave (Led by CG families) 
• Assist with Castle Catapult  (Led by CG families)  
• Assist with Fishing Cove  (Led by CG families)  
• Assist with Short and Sweet Activity  (Led by CG families)  
• Assist with Silk Painting (Led by Grade 1 families)  
• Assist with Enchantment Shop (Led by Grades 2 & 3 families)  
• Assist with Wood Craft (Led by Grade 7 families) 
• Assist with Hand and Face Painting (Led by Grade 8 families) 
• Patisserie and Snack Shop Service (Led by the High School) 
• Assist with the Waldorf Store 
• Assist with WWS Spirit Wear Store 
• Assist with Gear Shop Sales *

Saturday Volunteer Opportunities

• Assist with Puppet Shows (Led by CG families) 
• Assist with Candle Craft (Led by Grades 4 & 5 families)
• Assist with Copper Lanterns (Led by Grade 6 families)
• Assist with Ticket Sales 
• Assist with Clean Up FULL!

Post-Bazaar

• Post-Bazaar Waldorf Store *

Preview & Activity Tickets Available Now

Activity tickets are available for purchase in advance (save time on Bazaar day), as well as admission tickets for Friday's Preview Night.

Purchase tickets today!

October

20/ Thursday

• Craft & Conversation, 8:30-10am (see below)
• Adult Education: Anxiety in Uncertain Times, 7pm (see below)

23/ Sunday

• Enchantment Shop Crafting Session, 2-5am (see below)

25/ Tuesday

• Whole School Open House, 4-6pm (see below)

27/ Thursday

• G3 Parent Evening, 7:30pm

28/ Friday

• *UPDATE* - The Fall Festival will not be held this year.

Oct 31 - Nov 1/ Monday - Tuesday

• NO CLASSES - Parent/Teacher Conferences

View the Calendar of School Days for the 2022-2023 School Year

Adult Education Evening: Anxiety in Unsteady Times 

With Dr. Dan Einstein, MD - Anthroposophic Doctor

Thursday, October 20 from 7-8:30pm at WWS *TOMORROW*

Light refreshments and social time, 7-7:30pm

As COVID-19 restrictions recede, we find ourselves in a society profoundly changed by the experience. The full scope of those changes will not be known for many years, but an increase in anxiety is a part of it. Educators and researchers have both noted dramatic increases in anxiety in our children as the pandemic hit. In an effort to help parents cope with these changes, this talk will explore what contributes to anxiety, how those factors have changed, and how we might think about helping our young people.   

------

As an anthroposophic doctor, Dr. Einstein brings a comprehensive, integrated approach to medicine which involves observation of and insight into the whole human being. We are excited for Dr. Einstein to share with us the knowledge and expertise which he has developed over the years with Waldorf schools and Waldorf families. 

Dr. Einstein brings a broad experience of medical expertise. After volunteering in free clinics and studying at the Blue Otter School of Herbal Medicine, Dr. Einstein earned his MD from Case Western Reserve Medical School in 2008. His residency focused on family and integrative medicine. At Avena Botanicals in Rockport, ME, Dr. Einstein was introduced to biodynamic agriculture and anthroposophy. His medical practice, called Holistic Einstein, established 2012, is located in Freeport, ME, where he also has a connection to the Maine Coast Waldorf School. He is board certified in family, integrative, and anthroposophic medicine.

Craft and Conversation *TOMORROW*

Thursday, Oct 20 from 8:30-10am

C&C will next meet on Thursday, Oct 20, 8:30-10am at school in the foyer. Gather to socialize and create handwork for fun and to (optionally) sell at the Fall Bazaar. Regardless of skill level, all are welcome!

This week we'll be sewing some stuffed felt animals (and there will be another, simpler project as well).

Enchantment Shop Crafting Session

Sunday, Oct 23 from 2-5pm in the school foyer

Although 2nd and 3rd grade parents lead the Enchantment Shop, we welcome anyone who is interested to join! You're welcome to bring the crafts you signed up for and work on them together. We will also have some other simple things to do if you would like to come and help!

In the interest of making good progress, please make other arrangements for your children, if possible. 

If you plan to attend, please let us know via email to lilli@kuth.ch so we can set up the right amount of tables and chairs, or if you have questions. Thank you!

Gear Shop Update - Find Us at the Fall Bazaar

Donate your outgrown outdoor gear! The Gear Shop will be offered in person at the Fall Bazaar. Please keep the donations coming to the bin in the foyer as you discover what your children have outgrown.

Thank you!

Whole School Open House

Tuesday, Oct 25 from 4-6pm

How You Can Help

Spread the Word! Many parents find schools by hearing about their friends' experiences - or even from chatting with a stranger in a park! If you know someone that might be interested in learning more about WWS, please share our upcoming events with them. 

https://www.washingtonwaldorf.org/admissions/visit-us/

Volunteer! A few of our events offer the opportunity for prospective families to meet with current families. If you are interested in volunteering for one of theses events, please email the enrollment office.

Affinity groups build community amongst people with similar interests, backgrounds, and identities. In an effort to support the experiences and needs of marginalized and underrepresented voices, a few affinity groups have formed at WWS:

• BIPOC affinity group for adults who identify as people of color, or of the global majority. Sign up.
• Families of BIPOC - for adults who are partners or parents of people of color. Sign up.
• LGBTQ+ for adults who identify as, and for people who are partners or parents of, 2SLGBTQIA+. (note: these groups could be split into 2 if there is interest to support them) Sign up.
• Families of kids with special needs including those that are neurodivergent or have disabilities. Sign up. 

We are looking for someone to organize the LGBTQ+ list and Special Needs Families list. This would involve accepting people into the groups.io email list and sending out welcome emails from time to time to foster community. The groups may choose to meet in person or just use the email list to share resources and support. Reach out to Torie Gorges if you are interested in learning more.

• BigSis Portal - keep your contact information up to date!
• Current Health Policy - updated Aug 29, 2022.
• Lunch program info for current families in ParentSquare.
• Map of the pick up and drop off flow.
• Magnus Portal for student forms.
• Bulletin newsletters.

If you cannot find the information you are looking for on ParentSquare, please email your department coordinator/administrator:

• Children's Garden - Cecilia Berg-Benson
• Lower School - Christen Leonard 
• High School - Bonnie McClelland

Undoing Racism Working Group's Monthly Gathering



Monday, November 7 at 7pm

Want to enrich your anti-racist practice? Come join the Undoing Racism Working Group's monthly gathering on Monday, November 7 at 7pm. We formed this group using the tools of the People's Institute of Survival and Beyond (PISAB) Undoing Racism workshop that has been in use for the last 43 years. We gather once a month to help move our antiracist practice forward, to collectively heal racial wounds and become better allies. You don't need to have taken the workshop to attend this gathering and no prior experience is needed. To join us or learn more, contact dinivrao@gmail.com and/or jessetravis@gmail.com.

2 bdrm/1 bth, 1000 sq.ft. Apartment for Rent near WWS

Available Nov 1st, 2022

Contact: Dag Alemayehu at Dag.yourdmvteam@gmail.com or 202-222-5704

Special price! $2,499/month. Parking + utilities included

Beautiful, sunny, 2 bedroom/1 bath, 1000 sq. ft. apartment. Beautifully renovated kitchen and bathroom. Ideal neighborhood for walking, 15 to downtown Bethesda or DC. Located directly across the street from The Shops at Sumner Place: Safeway, Starbucks, CVS Pharmacy, Praline Bakery, F45 gym, and dry cleaning.

Perfect location!

● Walking distance to the Washington Waldorf school

● Steps from the new Bethesda Intelligence Community Campus (ICC-B)

● Walking distance to Sibley Hospital

● Access to the Capital Crescent trail going into Georgetown and Bethesda.

● 10 min from the American University and German School of Bethesda. Very easy access to Van Ness/UDC, Georgetown, Friendship Heights, and Arlington. Close to Friendship Heights Bethesda metro via bus.

Rent includes: 2 car parking, utilities, and pool access. Laundry on premises.

Furnished option available. Storage unit available.

1-month deposit required.

Published by the Washington Waldorf School

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