Northern Lights over WWS last week. Thanks to CG parent, Rafael Ribeiro, for the photo.

What A Show!

Congratulations to the cast of each and every high school student, and to the directorial team of Jane Christenson, Melissa Chavez, and Wayne Chadwick on their wonderful presentation of Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition. Talent and skill alone are not enough, and the cast's hard work, collaboration, and ownership brought each of the three performances to life - to the delight of the audience! Genuine laughter is one of the most beautiful sounds, and there was plenty of it. Thank you for this delightful gift to the school community.

Parent-Child Classes Fall 2024

Parent-Child Classes are held on Saturdays.

Dates: Oct 26 - Nov 16

Ages & Times:

• 9am - 10:30am (Ages: 18 mo - 3 yrs)
• 11am - 12:30pm (Ages: Crawling - 18 mo)

Teacher: Mx. Kiley

Cost: $200

Learn More & Register

Craft & Conversation 

Special Friday Afternoon Session Added Friday, Oct 18 at dismissal! - TOMORROW!

Since not everyone can participate on Monday mornings, we are adding a special Craft & Conversation afternoon session on Friday, Oct 18 after dismissal in the entrance hall.

Some light refreshments will be available and children are welcome to join (but if they do, please note that parents/guardians are responsible for their children). 

Additional Craft & Conversations will be held on Monday mornings on the following dates:

• Oct. 21
• Nov. 11
• Nov. 18

Craft & Conversations is a wonderful gathering of parents who create projects that can be sold at the Fall Bazaar. Anyone can join any week - no experience is required and we'll have all the supplies you need.

Cheer on the WWS 5th & 6th Grade Soccer Teams

Come out and support our WWS athletes! Our 5th and 6th grade boys and girls soccer teams are taking on The Lab School in a special co-ed home game TOMORROW Friday, Oct 18 at 3:15. Bring a friend and your best WWS spirit gear and cheer them on to victory!

WWS Sitters Group

Did you know.... The PFO has a WWS Sitters Group for families seeking child sitters and those looking to child sit. Sitters should be members of the Washington Waldorf School community who are interested in child sitting for other WWS families. WWS students may participate as sitters with their parents' permission. Alums and other family members may also participate as sitters.

If you are seeking to be a sitter... Join the WWS Sitters groups.io by sending an email to WWSsitters+subscribe@groups.io. Once subscribed, you will receive job requests sent to the group. You are welcome to respond directly to any posting you are interested in.

Families seeking sitters... Send an email with a description of the job for which you're seeking a sitter to WWSsitters@groups.io. This will then be sent to all sitters subscribed to the list and sitters can respond directly to you if interested.

October

17/ Thursday

• Trustees Council Meeting, 6:30pm (see below)
• Eurythmy Performance, 7pm (see below)

18/ Friday

• Eurythmy Workshop for Parents/Guardians, 9:15am (see below)
• Craft & Conversation, 3pm (see above)

19/ Saturday

• WiW Parent/Guardian Meeting, 9am
• Grades 1-12 Open House, 10am - Tell your friends!

21/ Monday

• Craft & Conversation, 8:30am (see above)

23/ Wednesday

• Preschool - Grade 5 Tour for Prospective Families, 9am

24/ Thursday

• Dr. Dan Einstein Parent Talk, 8:30am (see below)

26/ Saturday

• Parent-Child Classes Start (see above)
• Cherry Blossom Nursery Craft Morning, 9:30am

Trustees Council Meeting

Thursday, Oct 17 at 6:30pm

(open to the community 6:30 - approx. 7:15pm)

WWS Trustees Council (TC) meetings are held monthly in the WWS library. This year, the meetings are typically scheduled for the third Thursday of every month. The first 45 minutes (approximately) are open to the community, and all are welcome to attend. 

At the beginning of each TC meeting, there is a brief study of Waldorf Education / Anthroposophy. Following the study is a comprehensive report from our Head of School/Faculty Chair that includes updates from the various administrative departments of the school as well as other pertinent information. The PFO Executive Team also shares updates from their work with the school community during this portion of the meeting. 

Eurythmy and the Seven Arts - Open to the Public

Thursday, Oct 17 at 7pm at WWS

This presentation and live performance places the movement art of Eurythmy within the context of the Classical Arts, and explores how the artistic principles of Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, Music and Drama are to be found in the structural principles of Eurythmy itself.

French eurythmist Gabrielle Armenier trained in ballet and modern dance before undertaking the four-year, full-time eurythmy training in Spring Valley, NY. She holds a Bachelor in Eurythmy Pedagogy from the Den Norske Eurythmihoyskole, Oslo (2013) and a Masters in Eurythmy Pedagogy from the Freie Hochschule Stuttgart (2014). Gabrielle will be accompanied by her mother Brigitte Armenier (concert pianist).

Workshop for Parents/Guardians

Friday, October 18 from 9:15 - 10:30 am, Gabrielle will offer a workshop for parents / guardians in the eurythmy room ($20 suggested donation). Please reach out to Catherine Padley if you are interested or have questions. You can usually find her in the eurythmy room (the class schedule is posted outside the door) or you can reach out via email cpadley@washingtonwaldorf.org.

Parent Talk on “Home Remedies for Common Maladies” by Dr. Dan Einstein

Please join us Thursday, Oct 24 from 8:30am to 9:30am at WWS

Dr. Daniel Einstein MD, an anthroposophic doctor, will give a demonstration to parents at WWS on using herbal compresses for common maladies.

Dr. Einstein brings a comprehensive, integrated approach to medicine which involves observation of and insight into the whole human being. 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. More information can be found at his website: holistic-einstein.com

Last Friday, 21 Grade 8 students from the Colegio Waldorf Guatemala visited our school. WWS Grade 8 students presented their Boston Tea Party play and spoke about some of their favorite things in the DC area. The CWG students brought paintings of some of their most well-known legends and told our students those legends. They enjoyed our school lunch, loved AOE with Grades 7 and 8, and had fun playing volleyball in the gym. All of the students enjoyed playing and interacting together.

From Tammy Gompper, Librarian

Tell your friends to come get a taste of what WWS has to offer.

Grades 1-12 Saturday Open House

Oct 19 from 10 - 11:30am

Join us to learn about the benefits of a small school and our arts integrated education that prioritizes hands-on experiential learning and limits digital technology in the classroom. There will be class demonstrations and a Q&A with faculty. The whole family is welcome at this event.

Walk-ins welcome!

Learn More & Register:

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

Parents Council of Washington

Tuesday, Oct 29 from 7-8:30pm

PCW is pleased to present AI in Education 101 with Amanda Bickerstaff, Co-Founder & CEO of AI for Education.

As the world navigates the fast changing landscape of AI, Ms. Bickerstaff will join us to discuss:



• the terminology and language of AI
• her experience of how generative AI can be used in education
• what questions parents should consider asking their schools and teachers about the use of AI in the classroom

The event’s discussion format will feature ample opportunity for Q&A. We welcome questions in advance for our speaker which may be submitted to administration@parentscouncil.org.

All PCW member school parents and caregivers, administrators, faculty, and staff are invited.

Register

PCW brings together representatives from DC area independent schools and provides a speaker series for member school families.

If you are a current family - first, check ParentSquare for posts from your teachers, 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 or our Operations Manager:

• Children's Garden Coordinator - Cecilia Berg-Benson
• Lower School Coordinator - Margaret Mansker
• High School Administrator - Bonnie McClelland
• Operations Manager - Laur Garner

Starlight Rays in Darkened Times

Seminars on Contemporary Topics 2024-2025

This online series offers a rare opportunity for Waldorf high school teachers, administrators, staff members, and parents to come together and explore a fresh round of new “hot topics” with one another as well as share the latest current observations with seasoned colleagues from CfA’s Waldorf High School Teacher Education Program (WHiSTEP).

Join us as we delve into critical issues facing Waldorf education today, such as:

• The developmental tasks facing young people in the modern world
• Diversity, sexuality, and humanity in the classroom
• The role of math education in the age of AI
• The inner work and biography of the teacher
• Fostering pedagogical creativity and innovation
• Teaching towards deep understanding
• Navigating the past and future of Waldorf education

Learn More

Vacation Rental in Calvert County, MD

Get 90 minutes away from the DMV for a fun Fall weekend in Calvert County, MD. Take the kids hiking, sharks teeth hunting on the beach, to maritime museums, and farmers market adventures. WWS community members who let 2023 alum parent Marilyn Noguera (co-host) know the connection will get morning muffins and coffee or another treat during your stay!

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1231441418698821726

Free Swing Set

A nearby neighbor is offering the swing set pictured for free to someone who can haul it away. The owner is willing to help with disassembly. Outside dimensions 12' X 16'. On Newport Avenue in Bethesda close to the Westmoreland Circle (Massachusetts and Western Avenues).

Contact Dean at etechworx@gmail.com

Published by the Washington Waldorf School

Copyright © 2024 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.