At the end of last school year we had the opportunity to be considered for a "Cool School Spaces" highlight in Bethesda Magazine. There are so many cool places at WWS to choose from! We sent a list and photos and a reporter came and toured the campus. The editors were ultimately captivated by the weaving room. Some alums will remember the room as the "dirt room" back when. Some may even remember a teacher setting up an archeological dig for their class in the dirt. In 2015 it became the bright and cozy space that it is today. Thanks to Barb Bancroft and the Class of 2026 for supporting the effort.

The article is live in the current issue of Bethesda Magazine, which focuses on education.

You can read the article online, pick up a copy at your local newsstand, or there is a copy on display at the front desk.

In a recent message to current families, Margery Bank (Head of School / Faculty Chair) announced that our in-house lunch program led by Chef Eron Picus will return on September 30. Lunch will be offered five days a week on a per-semester basis and will be available for students and faculty.

Many thanks to the parents who orchestrated the pilot lunch program last school year; this lunch program honors your hard work and commitment to WWS.

The kitchen team:

• Eron Picus, Chef/Kitchen Manager
• Serafina Orobello, Sous Chef
• Laura Chacón, Prep Cook
• Jesse Travis, Kitchen Administrator (not pictured)

September

12/ Thursday

• G12 College Night, 7pm

16/ Monday

• Craft & Conversation, 8:30am (see below)
• High School Webinar for Prospective Families, 12:30pm (see below)

17/ Tuesday

• Sunflowers Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7pm

18/ Wednesday

• G4 & G5 Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7pm
• Songbirds Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7pm

19/ Thursday

• Cherry Blossom Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7:45pm

25/ Wednesday

• Seedlings Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7pm
• Apple Blossom Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7:30pm
• G9-12 Parent/Guardian Meeting (Zoom), 7:30pm

26/ Thursday

• Open PFO Meeting, 8:45am (see below)

27/ Friday

• Michaelmas Celebration (more details to come)

Craft & Conversation (in the lobby after drop-off)

Monday, Sept 16 gather around 8:30am

Craft & Conversation is a wonderful weekly 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.

Community Contra Dance with Chili & Cornbread Potluck

Friday, November 8, 5:30-8pm

All ages welcome! Bring the whole family! 

Caller & instruction for all dances, live band, potluck chili & cornbread.

Come as you are to enjoy a good meal, good fun, and good company.

Potluck sign-up coming soon.

Event contact: Bonnie McClelland (HS Admin)

Thank you for all your help with the Welcome Back Picnic! 

The potluck was a wonderful success with warm and delicious food. And many thanks to those who helped set up, clean up, and manage the food.

Open PFO Meeting

We are looking forward to our next PFO event—the PFO Open Meeting. Please save the date for September 26 at 8:45 am in person or in the evening via Zoom. More information to come. 

Participation Survey

The PFO wants to know: How do you want to be involved in your child's school community? Please respond to the Participation Survey.

PFO Opportunities

If you just can't wait to get involved, the PFO has several opportunities available right away! There are opportunities to volunteer for the Seedlings, Cherry Blossom Nursery, Songbirds, Sunflowers, and Woods classes and grades 4 and 6 as PFO reps. We're also looking for individuals to join the Fall Bazaar Planning Team. The Fall Bazaar Planning Team is made up of 5 co-chairs (see role descriptions).  Serving as a PFO Rep and/or Fall Bazaar Co-Chair is a great way to have a big impact on our school community (no previous experience or special skills required!). If you are interested or have any questions about these roles, please send us an email at pfoexec@washingtonwaldorf.org.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the semifinalists in the 2025 competition yesterday. Congratulations to WWS senior Sebastian Chang-Leung for his recognition as a semifinalist!

Semifinalists were selected from among high school juniors who were top scorers on the 2023 PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. More than 16,000 semifinalists across the nation will be considered for advancement to the finalist stage of the competition.

158 students across Montgomery County are semifinalists. 17 students from 10 county independent schools.

Learn More

Monday All Strings Club

Wednesday Cello Club

Friday Traditional Irish Music Club

Music Room: 3:15 - 4:15pm

$20 per class

Beginning Next Week!

Monday All Strings Club

This program is designed to provide teaching, practice, coaching, and support for all string players Grades 4-8 at WWS. In addition to supporting students with their string class assignments, opportunities for collaboration and making music together will be provided. Instructor: Mitch Fanning, former WWS strings faculty member and private violin & fiddle teacher. 

Learn More & Register

Wednesday Strings Club for Cellists 

This program is intended to help cello students who may need extra tutoring outside of the classroom or private lessons. Note that this is not meant to replace private lessons, but to supplement. The program is focused on providing students with individualized attention. We'll create opportunities to make music together and develop listening, general musicianship, and ensemble skills. Instructor: Kathryn Cheng, WWS adjunct cello instructor.

Learn More & Register

Friday Traditional Irish Music Club

This program is designed primarily for young violin players who want to learn and experience the joy of playing the traditional dance music of Ireland - jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas, and more! Irish music will be taught traditionally - i.e. by ear - with audio recordings and transcriptions (in standard musical notation) provided to supplement and enhance the learning experience. Instructor: Mitch Fanning, former WWS strings faculty member and private violin & fiddle teacher. 

Learn More & Register

Thank you for your interest, consideration, and participation in the After School Music Program at WWS!

We have two upcoming overview webinars for prospective families. This is a great way for folks to learn more about our school. Please share the the below information with anyone you think might be interested and/or any appropriate listservs. Thanks for spreading the word!

Washington Waldorf School | Preschool - Grade 12

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.

High School Overview Webinar

Monday, Sept 16 from 12:30 - 1:15pm

Whole School Overview Webinar

Tuesday, Oct 8 from 12:30 - 1:15pm

Learn More & Register:

https://bit.ly/4emibJW

Outdoor School Store Discount Codes - Two Ways to Save!

Sample Sale Discount Code - expires on September 15.

1. Visit: https://outdoorschoolshop.com/links/sample-sale/
2. Save an additional 10% until Sept 15 with the code: WWSALE

Year Round Code for 15% Off All Full Price Items.

Please use code: wawaldorf

This code can be used all year long, anytime you shop at the Outdoor School Shop website. 

Fall Bazaar - Save the Date!

The Parent Family Organization led an amazing Bazaar last year! The new gym provided a fabulous space to wander through the vendor stalls. Thank you for all of the volunteer hours, for the setup, the booths staffed, cakes baked, and (of course) the clean up.

Preparations are already underway for this year. As usual, the Bazaar will take place the Saturday before Thanksgiving - November 23.

Vendor Applications are due September 27.

If you are going to a festival or farmers market, or know of a vendor who you think would like to sell items at our Bazaar, please pick up some vendor application cards from the Development office or front desk! Upcoming events to seek out vendors include:

• Central Farm Markets
• Brookmont Farmers Market
• First Sunday Arts Festival, Annapolis, MD
• Bethesda Row Arts Festival, Bethesda, MD (Sept. 7/8)
• Art in the Park: Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis, MD (Oct. 12/13)
• Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA
• Mosaic Farmers Market, Fairfax, VA
• MD Renaissance Festival, Crownsville, MD

As a reminder - each parent/guardian and every high school student is required to commit at least 2 hours of Bazaar specific volunteer time. More information coming soon on preparatory and day-of opportunities.

Voting is open for the Montgomery Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards!

Voting closes next week on September 22!

Vote for WWS today!

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

Coming Soon (Sep 19) - Small Home for Sale in Kensington!

From Sarah Vakkur, WWS Current & Alum Family

Our house will be listed on the market next Thursday, September 19. Anyone that might be interested in a small but affordable home ($525K asking price) in Kensington where many Waldorf families live (some current, some alums) feel free to contact me. 

The one story sunny home sits right on a big park with a playground, tennis courts, basketball court, baseball field and plenty of green space with pretty trees. You can walk to Old Town Kensington in about 15 minutes where you will find a Farmers Market, a few restaurants and a brewery , antique shops etc. The lot offers a big , flat front yard and back yard. 

Contact WWS HS parent Sarah Vakkur at vakkurstudio@me.com for more information. Please use the subject line “house for sale”.

Former Washington Waldorf Strings Teacher Julie Stoessel is now accepting new online violin/viola students!

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10 years of class room experience, including 4 years as a chamber music coach/director. 15 years of experience teaching private violin/viola lessons, including 5 years of online experience.

I approach each lesson with consideration of the whole child and their learning style. Lessons are both fun and preparatory for playing at a high level.

Please contact me through my website or email:

https://www.violintechniquewithjulie.com/

stoesselje@gmail.com

WWS Family Looking for Arlington VA Carpool Partner

From Iryna Carlson, WWS Family

A WWS family living in Rosslyn is looking for a fellow WWS family to carpool. Our son is in G4. We hope we can partner with another family from Arlington to help each other get to and from school! If interested, please contact Iryna Carlson at 703-946-0878 or irynamatveeva@gmail.com.

Lakota Storytelling Playsilk Benefiting the Lakota Waldorf School

Visit the Sarah's Silks website.

About the Lakota Storytelling Playsilk 

The Lakota Storytelling Playsilk features original illustrations by Lakota artist and teacher Caroline Stadnick, and comes with an activity card that highlights different Lakota stories and prompts young readers to exercise their own voice and imagination through the power of storytelling. The artwork for this Playsilk now hangs centrally at the Lakota Waldorf School, an independent, tuition-free school serving children in southwestern South Dakota.

*For the past two years the WWS Grade 12 students have had the opportunity to spend time with the Lakota Waldorf School on their senior trip.*

Red Wiggler Community Farm 28th Annual Harvest Celebration

Saturday, Sept 14 from 4-7pm

*The WWS high school has done service learning projects with Red Wiggler*

This annual celebration is a chance for our friends, volunteers, staff, and growers to acknowledge the hard work that went into another successful season and raise funds for the next season.

The event is a fun time and takes place in the big historic barn, under a big white tent, and the lawn surrounding it.

Your ticket includes:

• Food Trucks
• Two drink tickets (for attendees 21+ years of age)
• Live music
• Farm tour (weather permitting)
• Farm market
• Presentation ceremony to honor and recognize the work of our Growers, volunteers, and staff

Learn More & Buy Tickets

Private Violin Lessons

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Nathaniel Heyder - a violinist and composer with music degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music and The Juilliard School - has moved back to Washington DC and is starting to give private violin lessons for all levels. His father is a Waldorf School Graduate from Germany and his grandfather was a founding teacher of the Princeton Waldorf School.

Nathaniel Heyder

Composer/Producer/Violinist

The Juilliard School - MM

Cleveland Institute of Music - BM

Interlochen Arts Academy - '17

Email: nate.heyder@gmail.com

Phone: 703-477-4703

Website: https://nathanielheydermusic.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nathanielheydermusic2126

Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® Series - In Person & Online Options

From Alison Babil, WWS Alum Parent

Feldenkrais gently transforms pain, tension, and movement challenges. Classes take students through a series of movements which create new pathways in the brain and body. The aim is more freedom in one's body and life.

"I had hip pain before class, and now it is gone! I also feel much more balanced." -- W.L., Feldenkrais class participant

"Feldenkrais works from the inside out. I've found it to be extremely beneficial mentally, physically, and emotionally" -- B. G., Feldenkrais class participant

In-Person Classes at the Carderock Springs Clubhouse

This Feldenkrais® series will focus on early developmental movements. $185.  

Thursdays, September 19th - December 19th, 10:00-11:15 am.

*No classes October 3, October 17, November 28th

Online - Feldenkrais Classes for Melting Freeze with Maintain Alignment

Freeze shows up in many ways in the body, mind, and heart. These classes will gently meet and transform patterns of freeze and tension. 

Wednesdays, 12:30 - 1:30 EST. Next series begins September 11th.

For more information and Registration:  

• In-Person Class Registration - Email Alison: alison@truenorthhealing.com 
• Online Class Registration

First class free for newcomers. A limited number of discounted slots available for those who truly need it. Email Alison to inquire. No refunds or transfers after September 20th, 10:00 am EST regardless of illness or pandemic

Disclaimer: Classes are not a substitute for medical care. Alison makes no claims to healing specific health challenges.

Alison Babil, GCFP, LMT, is the owner of True North Healing. She is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner®, a certified Sounder Sleep System® instructor, certified in Insight Acupressure, and has been a licensed massage therapist for over 20 years. She works with clients in person and virtually, helping them transform pain, movement, and sleep challenges. For more information Email Alison

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