From Stephanie Dorius, Class Teacher

Grade 8 has been diving into the world of early colonial America, with all of its contradictions and changes. As a culmination of our work, we headed south to Jamestown, Williamsburg, and First Landing, Virginia. Jamestown Settlement is located near the site of the original colony, which was the first permanent English settlement in North America. There we learned about the Indigenous Nations who occupied the land for centuries, the arrival of English colonists to Jamestown in 1607, and in 1619 the arrival of West Central Africans who were sold and enslaved in Virginia. 

The students learned about the food preservation and canoe making skills of the Powhatan people. A highlight of the tour was the full scale replicas of the Discovery and the Godspeed, two of the three ships that John Smith's company traveled on for months. 

After the tour, we went to Colonial Williamsburg to experience the contrast of a later settlement and examine the structure of the government in Virginia at that time.

We were lucky enough to camp at First Landing State Park, where the English Colonists first arrived. We were blessed with a beautiful sunset and sunrise and were thrilled to see a pod of dolphins. As a bonus, we saw the Coast Guard training for water rescues via parachute. 

All in all, it was a beautiful trip that embodied Waldorf education's emphasis on making history come alive.

High School Soccer Teams Celebrate the Class of 2025

From Taisto Saloma, Athletic Director

Last Thursday the high school soccer teams took on the McLean School at Laytonia Recreational Park. Both teams played hard and left everything they had out on the pitch. The girls lost a hard-fought contest and the boy's game ended in a 4-4 tie. 

Our Senior soccer players were recognized after each game and both coaches shared some words about the seniors as individuals and teammates. Senior night games are always full of emotion and they are a great opportunity for our community to celebrate our Seniors. Thank you to everyone who was there and helped to make the night so much fun. Thank you to Coach Katie and Coach Joey for all your work making the season and this night happen.

To our seniors - WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU! We look forward to all that is to come during this memorable senior year here at WWS!

WWS Captures Middle School Girls PVAC Regular Season Championship with First Place Finish! 

From Taisto Saloma, Athletic Director

The Middle School Girls Soccer Team defeated WIS 3-1 on Wednesday. The win was the third win in a row this week and propelled the team to a first place finish in the PVAC!

Congratulations to all the girls and Coach Bump. The team has had important contributions across Grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 during the season and has been a joy to watch. Thank you to Coach Bump for his preseason efforts, ongoing energy, and willingness to share his soccer expertise. Shout-out to the 5th and 6th graders for securing an import win on Monday of this week when Grades 7 & 8 were away on camping trips. Shout-out to Juna for her unselfish play and leadership. Shout-out to the whole team for finishing FIRST! 

The team will host a PVAC Tournament Semifinal game on Thursday 10/31. We will share the time of the game as soon as the start time is determined.

GO HAWKS!

October

26/ Saturday

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

28/ Monday

• G7 & G8 High School Shadow Day

29/ Tuesday

• Class Photo Day

November

1/ Friday

• NO SCHOOL
• Parent/Teacher Conferences

4/ Monday

• NO SCHOOL
• Parent/Teacher Conferences

5/ Tuesday

• NO SCHOOL

6/ Wednesday

• High School Open Morning for Prospective Families, 9am

8/ Friday

• Community Contra Dance & Chili Potluck, 5:30pm (see below)

Friday, November 8, 5:30-8pm

Supper 5:30-7pm, Dancing 6:15-8pm

Bring the family or come on your own as part of the school family! We will have a potluck dinner followed by a contra dance for everyone - beginners are very welcome, and our caller is great at giving instructions to groups.   

Contra Dance

Please wear sneakers or other soft and comfortable, non-scuffing and non-jabbing shoes to protect our gym floor. Otherwise, please come as you are, however you are that afternoon and we will be glad to see you! Our friend and our MS & HS contra dance teacher for several years, Dance Lady Janine will call (and will give instructions) to the lively live music of Vandalia. 

Potluck

Please sign up for the Potluck to let us know whether you will bring chili, fixings, cornbread, or frozen treats for the potluck. Bring chili warm(ish) and ready to serve. We should be able to plug in a few crockpots / instapots too. We will ask you to provide a list of all ingredients for the safety and enjoyment of all. NO PEANUT OR TREE NUT INGREDIENTS. 

Event contact: Bonnie McClelland (HS Admin)

Thank you to WWS alum, JLy! 

From Bonnie McClelland, High School Administrator

It was a treat to welcome JLy back to campus last week to talk with the high school students about their work and their path. A 2006 graduate of WWS, John Mauricio Lyons, or JLy (they/them), explored the intersection of philanthropy and whole-person health in Greater Philadelphia. JLy currently works for Independence Blue Cross Foundation, managing a $2M portfolio of grants to community health centers across Southeastern Pennsylvania. They previously worked at both nonprofit and for-profit financial service organizations, including Vanguard Charitable, First Bank of New Jersey (formerly Malvern Bank, N.A.), Clarifi, and Campaign for Working Families, to better understand financial education and asset building. 

JLy serves on the Board of Directors for FirstBank Charitable Foundation and Beyond Literacy, the Barnes Foundation’s Young Professionals Leadership Board, Children First PA’s Young Professional Board, and InLiquid’s Annual Art Benefit Committee. During the COVID-19 crisis, JLy served on the Save Guilford College leadership team and Guilford College’s Board of Trustee-led Implementation Committee for Fundraising to enact community-driven accountability via fundraising.

Last week, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad celebrated 50 years since the first female medic and first advanced ambulance were on the front lines. During the celebration, WWS Alum Eve Hill ('20) was recognized for her service as a paramedic. Eve was a junior member of the Rescue Squad in high school. At 19 years old she was one of the youngest paramedics in the county.

Read more at WTOP News

Here's an interview with Eve from the spring of 2020 when she was finishing her senior year at WWS remotely and working long hours on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Good Food lunch program has been a great success, with many in our community enjoying hot, wholesome lunches from our kitchen.

Because the program is new, we're offering another chance to join the daily feast for the remaining days of the fall semester!

Sign up by Thursday, October 31 to start lunching on November 6.

See ParentSquare for cost, menu and other program details.

We also welcome your support of the Kitchen Team! 

View volunteer shifts and sign up to help in the kitchen.

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

Creative Speech 5 Day Residency in North Carolina

Designed for Waldorf teachers but open to everyone. Facilitated by former WWS teacher and alum parent, Debbie Spitulnik.

View the daily schedule

Learn More & Register

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

Available: Very Large German Literary Library

From Felice Stadler, Alum Parent

Very large German literary library looking for a good home with someone who will take the full lot. If you, or anyone you know (or institutions like schools or university departments) is interested, please email me at felice.stadler@gmail.com. 

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

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