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Weekly Bulletin

Wednesday Edition

Oct 2, 2024

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Beautiful gluten-free dragon bread from our Michaelmas celebration.

Michaelmas Thanks

Thanks to all who came out to celebrate Michaelmas last Friday! It was wonderful to see so many from the community gathered for our annual festival of courage and strength as we enter the darker and colder days of the year.


Grade 2 admirably performed a rousing rendition of the story of St. George and the Dragon for the lower school and Grade 2 parents.


We held the dragon pageant in the John & Mary Brauer Gym due to the rain and our thoughts were very much with those impacted by Hurricane Helene. The gym was packed and the excitement of the crowd was palpable. Thanks to Grade 7, Grade 10, and the Michaels (across the grades) who brought the pageant to life. Thanks also to Mitch Fanning for providing us with stirring musical accompaniment.


Our appreciation goes also to Grade 8, Sarah Heirman, Chef Eron, Laura Chacón, and Serafina Orobello for the scrumptious dragon bread!


We are grateful to the Festivals Committee for their thoughtful and determined planning. Particular thanks to Jane Christenson, Courtney Daley, Christian Gardiner, Judith Graff, Christina Hsieh, Yulia Kriskovets, and Michelle Vichith for providing direction for the singing, dancing, and pageantry.


We also send a special thanks in honor of Mary Brauer (one of the gym namesakes) for years of dedication to WWS, to the festival life of the school, and to a vibrant and courage-filled Michaelmas.

Coffee with the Head of School

Coffee with Margery Bank


This Friday, Oct 4 from 8:30am - 9:30am


Join our Head of School/Faculty Chair, Margery Bank, for coffee in the entrance hall. This meet and greet time will include a question and answer session. Feel free to bring your questions, or just come and listen. Stay for the hour or leave early if you need to! All are welcome.


RSVP requested but not required

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High School Musical

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Calendar

October


3/ Thursday

  • No School

4/ Friday

  • Coffee With Margery Bank, 8:30am (see above)

7/ Monday

  • Craft & Conversation, Gather around 8:30am (see below)

8/ Tuesday

  • Webinar for Prospective Families, 12:30pm

9/ Wednesday

  • School Tour for Prospective Families, 9am
  • High School Musical, 7pm (see above)

10/ Thursday

  • High School Musical, 4pm (see above)

11/ Friday

  • HS Webinar for Prospective Families, 12:30pm

14/ Monday

  • No School

From the Parent/Family Organization

Did you know...


As the Parent Family Organization (PFO) continues to grow and evolve, we have added new leadership roles to better serve our school community. In particular, we have added Representatives for each department:

  • Children's Garden Representative: Maria Alonso 
  • Lower School Representative: Alistair Henry 
  • Middle School Representative: Tamara Minor 
  • High School Representative: Sarah Vakkur

These Representatives will be dedicated to addressing the unique needs and interests of parents within their respective grade levels. Whether you have questions about specific events, want to share ideas, or need support, your representative is here to help.


How to Reach the PFO:

  • Contact your class PFO representative
  • Email the PFO Co-Chairs at pfoexec@washingtonwaldorf.org
  • Reach out directly to the relevant department representative above

We believe that these new leadership roles will strengthen our PFO and provide even more opportunities for parent involvement. Thank you for your continued support!

Craft & Conversation (in the entrance hall after drop-off)


Monday, Oct 7 is the next gathering around 8:30am


Craft & Conversations is up and running, with two wonderful gatherings held so far. We have four remaining opportunities to join. Come out and enjoy a relaxing morning of crafting with other parents while connecting with friends and building community. 

  • Oct. 7
  • Oct. 21
  • Nov. 11
  • Nov. 18  

Craft & Conversation 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.

Eurythmy Performance

Eurythmy and the Seven Arts


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 also offer some eurythmy performances for students during the school days.

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Good Food Lunch Program & Chef at Local Farmers Markets

Today was the return of pizza day! Many thanks to the Grade 8 students who help the Good Food Lunch staff prepare the pizzas on Wednesdays!

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Chef at the Farmers Market


Chef Eron will promote our school with cooking demonstrations at local farmers markets. He will cook up a Fall Market Sauté using ingredients from the market. Stop by and say "hi!" at these upcoming events:

Bethesda Farmer's Market

This Sunday, Oct 6 from 9:30am - 1:30pm

Bethesda Elementary School

7600 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD 20814


Pike & Rose Farmer's Market

Saturday, Nov 9 from 9:30am - 1:30pm

935 Prose Street, North Bethesda, MD 20852

Middle School After School Study Hall

We are happy to announce that WWS is starting an after school study hall for Grade 7 and 8 students who need a quiet space to do homework after school. 


We are currently able to offer this on Mondays and Fridays from 3:15-6pm, but are hopeful that we can expand it quickly to five days a week. This service has already started, under the kind eye of Ms. Jackson. Students should let the dismissing teacher know they are participating and wait for Ms. Jackson in the front lobby until 3:15pm. The service begins in the classroom opposite the WWS kitchen and when homework is complete the students may join the younger students outside.


We will bill this as a drop-in service initially. Reservations can be made through aftercare78@washingtonwaldorf.org


If you have any questions or concerns please email jdunwoody@washingtonwaldorf.org

Help Spread the Word About WWS

Is there a bulletin board in your favorite coffee shop, library, or bookstore?


If so, please pick up a flyer at the front desk about our upcoming tours to help spread the word! If you can't stop by the desk, contact Alia Goodyear.

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Do you have a yard with a good spot for a school sign?


If you would like to promote the school with a beautiful yard sign designed by alum parent Lisa Catalone, please contact Alia Goodyear.

And, please share information about next week's webinars on any relevant listservs to which you belong!


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.


WWS Overview Webinar

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


High School Overview Webinar

Friday, Oct 11 from 12:30 - 1:15pm


Learn More & Register:

https://bit.ly/4emibJW

Questions?

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:


Community Bulletin Board

How to Submit a Listing
  • We welcome submissions of community news, items for sale, want ads, etc. Please keep notices to 500 characters or less. There is no charge for listings.  
  • Please submit listings by COB Tuesdays with the subject "Bulletin Submission."
  • If you are sending images or flyers, a link to an online version is preferred.
  • Bulletin Board notices generally run for 3 weeks - if space allows - unless other arrangements have been made. Listings may not be accepted and will likely be edited.
These notices are from the WWS community, the greater Waldorf community, and occasionally from our school neighbors. The information and views in them belong to the individuals who submit the notices and do not necessarily reflect the views of WWS.

Learn More About Waldorf Education

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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

Events From the Community

Are you interested in practicing antiracism? 


Join our Undoing Racism group that gathers once a month to support each other in antiracism work through study, practice and dialogue! This month we are gathering at: 


Monday, Oct 7 at 7:30pm near WWS


The gathering is open to all and no prior experience is needed. To learn more, and/or to be notified directly of future events, please contact jessetravis@gmail.com.

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Adult Education Evening with Liz Hagerman at Acorn Hill

Political Talk and the Young Child


Wednesday, Oct 9, 7:30 - 9pm


Political talk is everywhere — on the news and social media, in-person between friends and family, and most likely at your kitchen table. While talking politics is natural leading up to Election Day, the chatter can make its way to kids, too.


Join Liz Hagerman for a conversation about how to talk and not to talk to young children about the election.


This event is open to all families with young children.


Learn More & Register


Liz Hagerman, MA BC-DMT LPC, is a therapist at the Center for Family Well Being, a holistic integrative therapy practice for children, teens, adults, and families. Liz was formerly an Acorn Hill teacher, with a focus on the parent-infant and toddler programs. She works with the youngest children up into the early grades. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a board-certified Dance/Movement Therapist, early childhood professional. Since 2007, Liz has studied the Pikler® approach at the Pikler Institute in Budapest, Hungary and is one of the first Certified Pikler® Pedagogues in North America. Liz has worked with young children and their parents in both school settings and therapeutically through play since 2001. She is also on the faculty of the Infant and Young Child Observation Program at WBCP. Liz is an advocate for connecting with nature, and in the summer, she fishes for salmon on her family’s commercial fishing vessel in Alaska. She is also the mother of two amazing sons, now adults, who are alums of Acorn Hill and WWS.

Classifieds & Notices From the Community

Office Sublease Available Down the Street From WWS


Sunny private office available for sublease at Sumner Place above Safeway, only 3 minutes from WWS. The office has a large window, built in desk, and file cabinets. Shared use of conference room, printer, internet and kitchen are included.  Contact WWS Alum Parent Mary Robinson for more information: 240-462-5151. mary@capacitypartners.com

OPENINGS NOW for the Spiritual Foods CSA!

Pick up near WWS or a location near you!

From Sunny Kaplan, WWS Alum Parent


Shares are still available for the CSA for the 2024-25 farm year! Different options are: school year only (Sept-May), full yearwinter/spring season (Dec-May) and summer/fall: (June-Nov). Registration Info (call for the prorated amount + a discount is available if you pay with cash/check). 


What's the CSA? Spiritual Foods CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) provides biodynamic and organic veggies, fruit, eggs, bread and other seasonal staples, with most of it grown on land leased from the Kimberton Waldorf School in PA! Biodynamics, like Waldorf education, was founded by Rudolf Steiner and is a spiritual-ethical-ecological approach to agriculture, food production and nutritionChoices for share options include: main share of veggies, fruit & supplements; main share w/out bread; or veggie/fruit only. Please visit the CSA website for more info, costs, and registration forms. Contact Lakshmi via email or call 301-654-4899 with questions. You can also reach out to Sunny KaplanWWS alum parent and a WWS/CSA coordinator.

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.

Washington Waldorf School
4800 Sangamore Road,
Bethesda, MD 20816
301-229-6107
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