Grade 6 Geometry

Our Adult Education program seeks to provide parenting support to our community and to build awareness of Waldorf education in the DC Area. We host speakers and belong to organizations that provide additional opportunities for our families to find helpful information and resources.

In addition to the Parent/Guardian Evenings that our teachers host for each class, there are a number of events available to our community. We hope you will find something to bolster you on your own parenting path.

Speaker Topic: Anxiety in Middle School and High School Students

With Dr. Dan Einstein, MD - Anthroposophic Doctor

Tuesday, Oct 17 from 7-8:30pm

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.

How Waldorf Early Childhood Education Prepares the Child for Successful Executive Functioning

With Laurie Clark - Waldorf Educator and Author

Thursday, Oct 19 from 6:30-8pm

Laurie Clark has had the privilege of being a Waldorf early educator since 1978. She incorporates her therapeutic training into all aspects of the classroom. The deep question of how to meet the children of today and explore their needs in practical applications lies at the heart of her work. Laurie mentors teachers, is a teacher trainer, and is a frequent conference presenter. She has co-authored two books with Nancy Blanning on therapeutic movement for young children.

The Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN)

We are a member of WECAN and our own Seedlings teacher, Lisa Pitillo, is the WECAN representative for the southeast region. In addition to providing resources for our teachers, WECAN is offering virtual events for families. There is a small registration fee.

The next event is a parent evening with Adam Blanning, MD entitled "Nourishing and Encouraging Children to Connect to the World (and what disrupts that process)."

Monday, Oct 25 at 8:30pm

Learn more and register.

Parents Council of Washington

This is our first year as a member of the Parents Council of Washington (PCW). PCW brings together representatives from DC area independent schools and provides a speaker series for member school families.

PCW is pleased to welcome award-winning author Jennifer Wallace to discuss her new book, "Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic -- And What We Can Do About It." All PCW member school parents, administrators, faculty, and staff are invited to attend. Registered attendees are welcome to submit advance questions by Oct 18.

Tuesday, Oct 26 from 7-8:30 pm via Zoom

Register

There is a lot of overlap and synergy between Waldorf education and the Simplicity Parenting (SP) movement developed by renowned family counselor, Kim John Payne. The focus of SP courses is to offer simple, doable, and effective steps for reducing stressors in the home and enjoying a more peaceful and connected home life. 

We are fortunate to have a WWS parent who is an experienced SP facilitator, Drew Sample. The school is supporting families who want to participate in Drew's SP courses by covering a portion of the registration fees. Keep an eye out for the next offering!

Calling all talented handworkers! The Waldorf Store is happy to accept your donations of fine handwork to add to our WWS Handwork section in the Store. Whether you like to knit, crochet, needle-felt or wet felt, sew, work with wood, or create some other type of handwork, we are grateful for your donations!

In addition, the Grades 1 & 3 families are doing an amazing job creating treasures for the Enchantment Shop, where children ages 4-11 shop on their own. We invite other crafty community members to contribute. Sign up today!

We are reopening our Request for Proposal (RFP) for Financial Advisor Services for the school. Qualified providers are invited to submit their proposals by October 20, 2023. For any questions related to the RFP, please email ltrue@washingtonwaldorf.org

View the RFP

September

29/ Friday

• Michaelmas Celebration rescheduled to Monday, Oct 2.

30/ Saturday

• G2 Parent/Guardian Meeting, 9am

October

2/ Monday

• Craft & Conversation, 8:45am
• NEW DATE - Michaelmas Celebration, 12:30pm - Current Parents/Guardians are welcome!

3/ Tuesday

• Nursery Parent/Guardian Evening, 7:45pm

5/ Thursday

• Webinar for Prospective Families, 12pm
• High School Musical, 7pm

6/ Friday

• High School Musical, 4pm

7/ Saturday

• WiW Parent/Guardian Meeting, 9am

9/ Monday

• NO SCHOOL

View the Calendar of School Days for the 2023-2024 School Year

From Micah Bump, MS Soccer Coach

Hard Work Pays Off as High School Boys Open the Soccer Season with a Bang!

After a grueling 3, turned 5-week preseason, the Washington Waldorf Red-Tailed Hawks high school boys soccer team finally laced up their boots and took the pitch in late September. Last Thursday, with not quite ice water in their veins, the lads mostly controlled their emotions in a heated season-opening 1-1 tie against Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC) newcomer, and nascent fútbol powerhouse, Don Bosco Cristo Rey. While the Hawks’ strong performance was no surprise to Head Coach Joey Johnson, it took the PVAC pundits by storm. The Guardian’s soccer beat reporter even wondered out loud, “Waldorf looks cultured this year, but can they do it on a cold, wet Tuesday night in Stoke?" Affirmative, sir, as earlier this week, the Hawks brushed aside Ophelia’s chilling rainy aftereffects and dominated their long-time PVAC nemesis, Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy by a score of 6-1 on a water-sodden sponge of a field. The dominance continued yesterday evening, as the lads lit up the score sheet again with a convincing 7-1 victory over PVAC giants St. Anselm’s Abbey. 14 goals in 3 games!?! A heretofore unseen tally in the WWS sports annals. But will the early success continue? Or will it give way to an overconfident mid-season lapse? Only time will tell, so come out and support the Hawks, who play 4 games against PVAC competition over this next week. Go Red-Tailed Hawks!

Middle School Girls Enjoy the Sweet Taste of Victory!

Not to be outdone by their high school brethren, yesterday afternoon, on a muddy, puddle-infested field of dreams, the Middle School Girls put on an offensive showcase against a spirited Spencerville squad, winning 6-2. This was particularly impressive because many of the players rolled off the return bus from a night at Echo Hill Camp right onto the soccer pitch. No signs of post-trip lethargy here! Only gleeful smiles as ball-after-ball crossed the goal line. And parents, coaches, and student spectators could only applaud as the Hawks’ stalwart back line repeatedly stopped Spencerville advances. After several weeks of practice, Coach Bump observes that the girls are progressing in their positions and coming together as a team. With a full-slate of games on tap, check out the WWS calendar and come out and support your Hawks!

From the Festivals Committee

*NEW DATE*

Monday, Oct 2 at 12:30pm

On the hardtop and field

Parents/Guardians Welcome!

As the days grow shorter and we prepare to go into the darkness of another winter, the festival of Michaelmas is a bright signpost reminding us to practice courage in the face of difficulty. Coming back into the rhythms of school can feel like a rude awakening from the dream of summertime relaxation. It can be hard to muster that extra bit of willpower to stop watching a favorite show every night, go to bed earlier, wake up earlier, do homework, practice the cello, drive the carpool - in short - to tuck into the work of another busy fall season. 

This seasonal shift is nothing new - harvest time has always required a redoubling of effort after the long slow days of midsummer ripening. In ancient times people from many corners of the earth told stories of dragons or serpents and the heroes who overcame them as a symbol of the courage we must arm ourselves with as we step into this time of heavier work and deepening darkness. As we grow and mature, the story of the dragon and the dauntless hero or heroine who overcomes it shifts to become a more subtle, internal struggle - a struggle between our own higher and lower selves. An argument between the light-filled consciousness of the homework assignment or house chore and the reptilian brain who will wheedle and wail to wriggle out of it. 

It is in this struggle that Michael reminds us to kindle and fan our inner fire of will forces. As Glennon Doyle would put it, "We can do hard things." This is the Michaelic gesture.

And so in Waldorf Schools around the world we hearken back to this Medieval festival of Michaelmas to remind us to take courage not only from our own inner sources of will, but also from our vibrant and diverse community. Please join us!

The WWS LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group welcomes the start of the new school year with our first group event—a potluck picnic! As part of our continued efforts to build community and support for our LGBTQIA+ students, families, and faculty we’d like to welcome families of this identity to a potluck picnic:

Sunday, Oct 22 from 11am-1pm

WWS Upper Gym Playground

Families with LGBTQIA+ children, parents/adults, as well as LGBTQIA+ faculty are welcome. Bring the whole family! The school will provide drinks and dessert for this event. We ask that you bring a dish to share labeled with its ingredients and a serving utensil. We look forward to connecting in community with you.

Please RSVP for this event or to join our group listserv to stay informed of upcoming events for this group.

Save the Date!

October 24 & 25, Open P/FO Gathering, your choice to attend Oct. 24 8:30-9:30am in the entrance hall, or Oct. 25 8-9:00pm on Zoom -- details to follow

Craft and Conversation -- Monday Oct. 2, 8:45-10:45 or so. Come to the entrance hall after drop off to socialize and work together on handwork projects. All are welcome, regardless of skill level. Subscribe to the list for updates.

Current Family Participation Survey: Last chance to respond to the Participation Survey! Everyone who responds will be entered in a drawing to win $50 in tickets for the Fall Bazaar on November 18! The survey will be open through the end of this week.

A hearty thank you to the people who are taking leadership positions in the Parent/Family Organization! Please see this document for the class captain(s) and P/FO representative in your class.

• The class captain supports the class teacher and helps build community in the class.
• The P/FO representative serves as a point person in each class for getting information to and from the Parent Leadership Group (PLG). Much of the future communications related to the P/FO will come from the representative.
• Please feel free to contact the relevant people for your children's classes with questions and ideas.

Parent-Child Classes will be held on Saturdays this fall with WWS teacher Katrina Hampton.

There are 2 spaces left!

https://www.washingtonwaldorf.org/curriculum/parent-child-classes/

Dates: Sept 30, Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4

Time: 9:30-11:30am

Age Range: 18 to 36 months

Please note: One adult may attend each class session per child. It is fine to alternate (for example, caregiver 1 comes on Sept 30, caregiver 2 on Oct 7, and so on).

Please reach out with any questions to 

enrollment@washingtonwaldorf.org.

The After School Strings Program is open to Grades 4-8, and is intended to help students supplement their practice and private lessons with tutoring from Madeline Corrigan in a fun and welcoming environment. The program will be running every Monday and Friday, from 3:15-4:15pm. If your student needs any extra help with their orchestra or solo music, or wants an opportunity to connect more with fellow students over music, register now!  

Details

• Mondays & Fridays from 3:15-4:15pm  
• Cost: $15 per student per session (payments will be made directly to Madeleine)
• Location: Music Room 
• Pickup: 4:15pm at the front entrance (there will be a $5 late fee)

Read a welcome letter from Madeline and more about the program.

Registration Form

Fall Bazaar

Saturday, Nov 18 from 10am-3pm

Preview Night: Friday, Nov 17 from 7-9pm

We are looking forward to our annual Fall Bazaar. Many hands make light work for this annual fundraising and community building event. We expect every faculty member, high school student, and parent/guardian at WWS to work a shift. Please save the date and plan to lend a hand! Volunteer sign up information is coming soon from the Parent/Family Organization.

We are currently accepting vendor and artist applications.

View the Vendor Application.

The deadline to apply is TOMORROW, Sept 29.

Please contact Meg Kneisl with any questions.

If you are a current family - first, check ParentSquare for posts from your teachers, your departments (Children's Garden, Lower School, High School), and the administration.

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

Christen Leonard - LS Coordinator

Laur Garner - Operations Manager 

Cecilia Berg-Benson - CG Coordinator

Bonnie McClelland - HS Administrator

Clothing Donations for Earthquake Survivors in Marrakech - Drop Off at WWS Tomorrow and Monday!

from Elsa Gómez, WWS Family

I'll be traveling to Marrakech next week and I can bring some clothing donations with me. As temperatures will be dropping in the coming weeks, and many earthquake survivors are still in provisional housing, they'll need warm clothing. 

Amal Women’s Training Center, a Marrakech-based nonprofit quite active in the relief efforts, has a particular need of clothing for children aged 11-16, but would also welcome women’s and kids of all ages’ clothing items.

Please consider a quick closet cleanout to donate some seasonally appropriate clothing for earthquake survivors by Monday, October 2. Look for a labeled basket at the school's main entrance.

Contact Elsa Gómez with questions.

Organ - Free

From Sherri Felton, WWS Alum Family

A friend is ready to give away her family’s organ to a musical family, place of worship or school. It’s a Technics organ (41” high = 8” music stand x 43” wide x 24”deep). The current owner has the Technics Organ Course book as well as other organ course books. It comes with a bench. It currently lives in Bethesda. 

If interested, please email feltalizzi@juno.com. We have more pictures as needed.

Michaelmas Talk by Frank Hall

From Nancy Foster, WWS Alum Family & Current Family

The local Anthroposophical Society’s festivals group is hosting a Michaelmas talk by Frank Hall, Parzival scholar and retired WWS high school teacher, entitled “Courage to Keep to the Ideal,” based on episodes from the epic poem Parzival.  For details please see the flyer. All are welcome!

Friday, Sept 29 from 7:30-9pm

At the home of the Fosters, 7717 14th St. NW, Washington, DC

Learn more

Full Moon Sound Bath Ceremony

From Virginia Ibarra, WWS Alum Parent

Fire is in its final stages of transformation and Yang is dispersing as the days become cooler. Now is the time to manage our Qi as we prepare for the descent into the Yin energies of Fall and Winter. Time to cultivate nourishment, awareness, relaxation and grounding. Join us for a powerful fusion of sound healing and QiGong in a sacred space. Virginia Ibarra will lead us to work with the Moon and with QiGong ground us, while Iris McCray will immerse us in delightful vibrations nourishing the Body and Soul as we journey through a Sound Bath.

Space is limited, use Eventbrite for tickets

$30 donation

Saturday, Sept 30 from 6-9pm



Virginia Ibarra’s house

7 Carver Road, Cabin John, MD

703-298-6019

Parenting with Non-Violent Communication Course

From Jeannie Anderson, WWS Community Friend

This course is for parents, educators, and caregivers of children of any age. It offers a holistic approach to understanding children's behavior and the tools to build relationships based on compassion, connection, and trust.  

What participants are saying: "I LOVED this course. It has been my foundation for effective, compassionate communication. Not only has it helped me connect better with my teenage daughter, but the concepts have also supported communication with my partner. Both my relationships are stronger and deeper thanks to Parenting with Non-Violent Communication. Jeannie is a compassionate and wise teacher!" -- class participant

Two groups with 9 sessions starting October 10 & October 13, via Zoom:

(Classes are recorded.)

• Tuesdays, October 10-December 12, 7:00 - 8:45 pm EST
• Fridays, October 13-December 15, 12:00 - 1:45 pm EST

Learn more and register.

Email Jeannie Anderson for more information:  janderson@heart2heartinc.org

Instructor: Jeannie Anderson - a Nonviolent Communication facilitator, Parent Educator, and Life Coach. She is currently studying Interpersonal Neurobiology with child psychiatrist Dr. Dan Siegel through the Mindsight Institute. She is passionate about the connection between neuroscience, trauma, and the healing power of human connection. She is the parent of 2 elementary school-aged children and resides in Baltimore, MD with her family.

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