Bouquet of flowers brought by the 1st grade to the Lower School Opening Assembly.

Yesterday and today have filled our halls and our hearts with joy! Having the students back on campus is enlivening and exciting. We are using our spaces in new ways, returning to some practices that were on hold for the past couple of years, navigating construction, orienting new faculty and students and reveling in each other's smiles.

At the Lower School Opening Assembly yesterday, we welcomed our new first grade class into the grades, enjoyed a song offering from the faculty, heard words of inspiration and encouragement for the year ahead, learned a fun song - in a round - about a frog in a bog (maybe your child can teach it to you!), and recited our morning verses.

We were thrilled to welcome parents into the building for the Welcome Tea today and can't wait to gather with you all on Saturday!

I look into the world

In which the sun is shining

In which the stars are sparkling

Where stones in stillness lie

Where living plants are growing

Where animals live in feeling

And humankind to spirit gives

A dwelling in the soul.

I look into the soul that lives within my being.

The world creator weaves in sunlight and in soul-light.

To Thee, Creator Spirit, I turn my heart to ask

That blessing and pure strength

For learning and for work

May ever grow within me.

- Morning Verse Grades 5-8 (teachers use different translations)

Nursery students help to clean up from snack.

Waldorf in the Woods outdoor classroom.

Songbirds snack time.

Sunflowers enjoy their new playhouse.

Seedlings families gather for their first day.

Nursery students at play.

1st graders explore the sandbox.

Spanish class with Señor André.

Grade 6 students receive their compasses.

Grade 11 Main Lesson.

Lunch line.

Grade 3 handwork.

Grade 8 students meet our new middle school Art Teacher.

1st graders at play.

High school gathering in the library.

Our new Creative Speech Teacher prepares to greet the 1st grade.

Pickup on the first day. Keep an eye out for our green shuttle van that goes from/to Silver Spring.

Welcome Tea in the front lobby.

• 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.
• Last week's Bulletin newsletter.

Looking for information about the current school year?

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

September

9/ Friday

• Rose Ceremony (G1 & G12 Parents/Guardians Only)

10/ Saturday

• New Family Orientation, 4-5pm
• Welcome Back Picnic & Gym Ground Breaking Celebration, 4:30-7pm

13/ Tuesday

• G2 Parent Meeting, 7:30pm

15/ Thursday

• School Community Life Conversation, Noon - on Zoom
• G4 Parent Meeting, 7-8:30pm

16/ Friday

• School Community Life Conversation, 8:45am - at school

17/ Saturday

• BIPOC Families Picnic, 11:30am - 1pm

View the Calendar of School Days for the 2021-2022 School Year

New Family Orientation

Saturday, September 10 from 4-5pm

We look forward to welcoming all new families with an orientation hosted by the Administrative Faculty and the Parent Leadership Group (PLG). Following the orientation, we will join the Welcome Picnic.

Welcome Back Picnic & Gym Ground Breaking Celebration *UPDATED*

Saturday, September 10 from 4:30-7pm

The whole community is invited to join us for our Welcome Back Picnic and (rescheduled from May) Gym Ground Breaking Celebration. Join us for food trucks, entertainment, and a time to celebrate the new school year and the gym construction!

If you would like a hard hat tour of the construction site, a member of the Whiting-Turner construction team will be providing those during the event. Please sign up in advance. The site takes about 10 minutes to walk through.

Parking will be available in the neighborhood streets and in The Shops at Sumner Place parking lot. Thank you to Avison Young and W.C. and A.N. Miller Development Company for providing additional parking. A shuttle from WWS will run from The Shops at Sumner Place to WWS between 4:30pm - 5:15pm and 6:30pm - 7:00pm. If you need support for mobility, please let us know in advance.

School Community Life Conversation *NEW*

Thursday, September 15 at noon on Zoom

A link will be shared through ParentSquare.

Friday, September 16 at 8:45am in person.

We will gather in the front lobby of the school.

Join Lelia True (Head of School/Faculty Chair) and Jesse Travis (Parent Leadership Group) for a conversation about the upcoming year and our school's community life. We are planning the return of traditions and events that were put on hold during the past couple of years. We look forward to sharing our plans and hearing from you about how you hope to connect with the community this year. We will host both in person and Zoom conversations.

BIPOC Families Picnic *UPDATED*

Saturday, September 17 from 11:30am-1pm

As part of our efforts to build community and support BIPOC students and families, we'd like to welcome families of color for a picnic on the Children's Garden playground on Saturday Sept 17th at 11:30am-1pm. Families with children of color or parents/adults of color are welcome to come and bring the whole family. The school will provide drinks and a treat; feel free to bring a picnic lunch and blanket. Hosted by the WWS BIPOC Affinity Group. 

RSVPs requested but not required.

Craft & Conversation *NEW*

Thursday, September 22 from 8:30-10am at WWS

All are invited to join for Craft & Conversation, 8:30-10am. Gather to socialize and create handwork for fun and to (optionally) sell at the Fall Bazaar. Regardless of skill level, all are welcome! First session is Thursday, Sept. 22, 8:30-10am at school.

Subscribe to the C&C list at https://wwspo.groups.io/g/CandC.

We are so excited to let you know that we are planning our first in person Fall Bazaar since 2019! It is held the weekend before Thanksgiving - Saturday, November 19th 10am-3pm, with a ticketed preview night for early access Friday, November 18 7-9 pm. 

Many hands make light work for this annual fundraising and community building event. We expect every faculty member, every high school student, and at least one caregiver from each WWS family to work a shift. Please do save the date and plan to lend a hand. Volunteer sign up information coming soon.

We are currently accepting vendor and artist applications; deadline to apply is Friday September 30th. Please contact Miriam Zarin with any questions.

Community Building Opportunities: We welcome you to participate in the following opportunities to gather with old friends and make new ones!

• Craft & Conversation (see above): Subscribe to the list at https://wwspo.groups.io/g/CandC.
• Broom Brigade: Help keep the school grounds looking beautiful with periodic grounds keeping and gardening work! Subscribe to the list at https://wwspo.groups.io/g/broombrigade.
• Morning Meetup: Join if you are interested in meeting up occasionally for coffee and/or a walk after morning drop off. Subscribe to the list at https://wwspo.groups.io/g/morningmeetup.
• Hiking Group: For those interested in getting together for hiking adventures! Please share favorite trails, organize group hikes, find another family to hike with--whatever you like! Subscribe to the list at https://wwspo.groups.io/g/hiking.

We've started a periodic e-newsletter specifically for our alums with opportunities to connect, class notes, and school highlights.

See the recent issue including class notes.

Sign up to receive the Alum Newsletter.

We'd love to hear from Alums with news or contact changes. We need your updates by October 1st to be included in this Fall's WWS Messenger.

To help defray costs of outdoor gear for families, reduce our environmental impact, and contribute to the ONEFUND, the Parent/Leadership Group runs the Gear Shop. All proceeds are donated to the ONEFUND.

• View the Gear Shop inventory.
• Send an email to wwsgearshop@gmail.com that includes the line number of the item(s) you're interested in and/or to see a photo of any items.

Now accepting donations of lightly used outerwear gear! There is a bin in the front foyer for collecting items:

• Outerwear (i.e., outer layer rain/snow jackets and pants, including hats and snow/ski/rain mittens/gloves)
• Boots (rain/snow/hiking)
• Sizes CG through Grade 8

Kairos Institute at the Center for Anthroposophy - Online Introduction

Debbie Spitulnik (Former WWS Faculty, Alum Parent)

Welcome ALL to a free online introduction to:

Kairos Institute

Training in Artistic Therapies

Speech and Drama

Emergency Pedagogy

September 17, 2022 at 7:30 pm EST

Zoom Link

Overview of:

• Online Fall session
• Spring and Summer residencies
• Studio classes and asynchronous work
• iARTe Diploma (international standards diploma)
• As well as a Q&A time

With Karine Munk Finser (Director of Kairos Institute, Art Therapist), Debbie Spitulnik (Speech and Drama), Lisl Hofer (Kairos Manager), Milan Daler (Administrator), Sage Lewis (Tech Assistance)

Questions? - Contact Karine Munk Finser, Director of Kairos Institute

Looking for a WWS family living in Arlington to carpool

From Iryna Carlson (Current WWS Parent)

A WWS family living in Rosslyn is looking for a fellow WWS family to carpool. Our son is in G2. We hope we can partner with another family from Arlington to help each other with getting to and from school!

If interested, please contact Iryna Carlson at (703) 9460878 or irynamatveeva@gmail.com

Private Online Violin Lessons with Julie Stoessel

From Julie Stoessel (Former WWS Faculty)

Julie Stoessel is a graduate of the James Madison University School of Music, and former strings teacher at WWS. Along with her ten years of experience as an orchestra director, she has also taught private strings lessons for over thirteen years, and has had students go on to study violin at the university level. Julie is motivating and excited about music, and her (remotely held) lessons are detail-oriented, informative, and fun.

Julie has been teaching virtually for the past three years, and has found techniques that have proven to be as effective as in-person lessons. She brings her love of music and excitement to her classes, and understands that every student has their own individual learning styles and needs, and therefore approaches each class in a unique way.

Learn More.

Please contact her for scheduling, lesson policy, and pricing:

stoesselje@gmail.com

434-806-8768

Eurythmy Spring Valley - Frontier Eurythmy Part-time Training

From Susan Walsh (WWS Faculty)

First two-week training block begins on October 16, 2022

A strong new Frontier class is forming to begin in October 2022. If you are interested in studying eurythmy as a profession, this part-time program was developed to pursue studies toward a career in eurythmy, while honoring other existing commitments. The Frontier training can also be taken as a stand-alone program, with its unique approach to foundation studies through an immersion into eurythmy, for the deepening of one's life and inner development.

Learn More

In Search of Bikes

From Chiedza Mazonde (WWS Faculty & Current Parent)

I am looking for a front loading electric cargo bike and some lightweight kids bicycles if anyone is selling - similar to those pictured here.

Email Chiedza

Published by the Washington Waldorf School

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