Grade 5 Botany Drawings

It is a delight to so often hear music drifting through the halls of our school. Our vibrant music program has had a few changes this year. We've hired a new Cello Adjunct and other music faculty have taken on new responsibilities. 

Updates for the music department faculty:

• Christina Hsieh - General Music Grades 1-3
• Courtney Daley - General Music Grades 4-7, Lower School Instrumental Director
• Katheryn Cheng - Cello Adjunct 
• Madeline Corrigan - After School Strings Program Teacher
• Melissa Chavez - High School and Middle School Choir, Grade 8 General Music 

--------

• Marcel Maican continues as our High School Orchestra Teacher.
• Sven Abow and Robert Coleman continue to teach guitar.

Along with new titles and responsibilities there are some new aspects of the music curriculum that we want to share:

• Bringing a more significant emphasis on music theory in grades 4-8 to ensure that students can confidently read and perform music in any setting/ensemble
• Continuing to explore music from diverse voices and parts of the world
• Learning about music history through stories and musical games
• Exploring options for sharing our music program throughout the DC area

Join the Bazaar Team! 

The Bazaar Team is sponsored by the P/FO (Parent/Family Organization) and meets to hear and share ideas for planning and organizing this year's Fall Bazaar. All are welcome! If you would like to be involved, please email plg@washingtonwaldorf.org.

Current Family Participation Survey

Please respond to the Participation Survey to let us know how you would like to contribute to the life of the school!

• Everyone who responds will be entered in a drawing to win $50 in tickets for the Fall Bazaar on November 18!
• The survey lists several open Activity Coordinator positions for the Fall Bazaar. These are great one-time opportunities to be more involved and fulfill your participation commitment; no experience with the Bazaar is necessary. Anyone is welcome to be a coordinator, including families new to the school this year. Every coordinator gets undying gratitude AND a 20% discount at the Waldorf Store aftersale that starts after Thanksgiving!

Parent/Family Organization Email Group

The P/FO has an email group where members can share information, ideas, updates and requests with each other. If you'd like to join, please subscribe to the group by sending an email to wwspo+subscribe@groups.io. Send messages to the group via the group's home page or by sending an email to wwspo@groups.io.

Do you need a childsitter? Are you interested in childsitting opportunities? 

The Parent Leadership Group (PLG) has created a forum to connect WWS community members who are interested in childsitting with WWS families who are in need of sitters.

• If you are SEEKING a sitter, DO NOT join the group. Send an email to the group with your job posting at: WWSsitters@groups.io and sitters will respond directly to you if they are interested.
• If YOU ARE A SITTER and would like to receive job postings, visit https://groups.io/g/WWSsitters and click "Join this Group" at the bottom of the page.

September

21/ Thursday

• G12 College Night, 7pm
• G9, G10, G11 & G12 Parent/Guardian Evening, 7pm

25/ Monday

• NO SCHOOL

27/ Wednesday

• Seedlings Parent/Guardian Evening, 5:30pm

29/ Friday

• Michaelmas, 12:30pm - Current Parents/Guardians are welcome!

30/ Saturday

• G2 Parent/Guardian Meeting, 9am

October

2/ Monday

• Craft & Conversation, 8:45am

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 the Festivals Committee

Friday, September 29 at 12:30pm

On the "blacktop"

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!

Online Simplicity Parenting Course

Sept 27 - Oct 25

Wednesday Evenings from 8-9:15pm

From Drew Sample, course facilitator:

We send our children to a Waldorf school so they can be in the kind of calm and nurturing environment that we know enables them to thrive, but too often it can feel impossible to replicate that kind of harmony at home. Fortunately, Simplicity Parenting offers a group course for parents that provides a convenient and effective way for parents to create the home life they want for themselves and their kids. 

Developed by renowned family counselor, Kim John Payne, the course offers simple, doable, and effective steps for reducing stressors in the home and enjoying a more peaceful and connected home life. 

This course is for parents who are looking to go beyond simply reading the book and who want to start applying these powerful practices. You will get the structure and supportive environment needed to adapt these techniques to your household through a series of meetings facilitated by WWS parent and Simplicity Parenting facilitator Drew Sample.

Discounted Cost: $100 per WWS family (one or two parents/caregivers can attend per family, use discount code "WWSfam" for discounted $100 price)

Additional $30 fee for Simplicity Parenting materials

Contact Drew Sample with questions.

Register for Simplicity Parenting

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.

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. Registration forms are now open— the first session will be this Monday, September 18. 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  
• Starting Date: Monday, Sept 18th 
• 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 Friday, 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

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.

DC Condo For Sale

From Tamara Minor, WWS Parent

This exquisite two-level condo with an incredibly large open floor plan allows for an abundance of sunlight. Fully renovated property with high-end fixtures and appliances. Located near 14th St,16th St and Adams Morgan restaurants and entertainment, as well as downtown DC and Silver Spring. Garage parking. $965,000

Seller will entertain all reasonable offers and incentives such as closing help to buyer and/or byer agent bonuses. Developer has made arrangement with local lender for great financing.

Learn More

Farm Fresh Products Delivered Near WWS

From Torie Gorges, WWS Faculty and Parent

Whiffletree Farm delivers orders monthly (first Tuesday of the month) to the home of a WWS family, just around the corner from the school. They offer meat, eggs, cheese, and a variety of other farm products. Items are local (Warrenton, VA), pasture-raised, non-GMO, raised with sustainable land practices.

Learn more and order on their website.

Private Violin/Viola Lessons

Julie Stoessel, violinist and former strings teacher at WWS is available for private violin/viola lessons. Please contact her through her website if you are interested. 

https://julieemilyviolin.squarespace.com/

Published by the Washington Waldorf School

Copyright © 2023 All rights reserved

We welcome your comments and submissions. Contact Alia Goodyear if you would like to be added to our mailing list, or if you have submissions, questions, or suggestions. Please email submission by COB TUESDAY with the subject line "Bulletin Submission."

Looking for past Bulletins? Visit our Bulletin Archive.