Thank you for a delightful Fall Bazaar! This beautiful paper tree hung over the Enchantment Shop where children have the opportunity to shop on their own. The care and beauty that our volunteers bring to create magical experiences at the Bazaar is truly inspiring.

Many thanks to WWS parent, Charlie Fox for catching some of the wonder and joy of our Fall Bazaar with his camera!

Dear WWS Community,

During this time of year, as we near the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year, we at WWS find lots of opportunities to celebrate the light we each carry in us and how we can illuminate and warm those around us - and be buoyed in return. The "Bringing the Light" G1-12 assembly this past Monday morning gave us time to reflect as we start our journey through this month. This photo is of the assembly centerpiece.

To share that sensibility with the wider WWS family, we will gather next Friday (Dec 13) to enjoy the light and warmth of a fire, and of the community, as afternoon turns to evening and we turn up our collars to the chill. That morning there will also be an opportunity for community members to walk the evergreen spiral - see below.

We will have a few solstice-related readings, guitar music, a song from a group of Grade 12 students. A snack of popcorn and warm cider will be offered. Readers are welcome! Please let us know if you would like to read part or all of a poem or verse (view possible readings). Thank you to Robert and to the group of Grade 12 students for the music and to Eron for the snack.

There are some logistical details below.

I hope to see you there!

Warmly,

Margery Bank

Head of School/Faculty Chair

You are invited to a simple, come-as-you-are

Community Solstice Gathering

Friday, Dec 13 from 4:30-5:30pm

• WWS outdoor amphitheater space (behind the library)
• All ages
• Handheld camping lanterns and event or camp chairs are welcome. 
• Please plan to go without phone use and without taking photos while gathered, in order to be fully present. 
• We expect that children in Grade 6 and younger will be here with parents or other adults who will supervise them. Children in Grades 1-6 who do not usually attend aftercare may join without cost until they are picked up by a parent before 4:30 to attend the event. Signup is required for this special aftercare session - look for signup coming in ParentSquare.

Friday, Dec 13 at 8:30am

Parents/guardians, grandparents, alum families, and community friends are invited to walk the Evergreen Spiral.

Each participant is given a candle to light and add to the path of the spiral. This contemplative activity is a time of peaceful reflection giving us an opportunity to connect to our inner light as we approach the winter solstice and the darkest days of the year.

**Adults Only

**Given the nature of the event, there will be no late seating.

All are welcome! Grab some coffee or tea, and join Head of School/Faculty Chair Margery Bank to ask any questions you have, or just come to listen. Torie Gorges, Chair of the DEIB Committee, will also be available to answer questions about the committee's work this year. 

This event will be held in the Dan Wacker Entrance Hall at the front of the school.

Feel free to join late or leave early as needed.

RSVP recommended but not required. 

Thank You for an Amazing and Successful Fall Bazaar! 

Thank you so much for your contributions of time and talents to the Fall Bazaar. It's only possible to run the event because all of us participate by taking shifts, making handwork for the Waldorf Store and the Enchantment Shop, and sharing our baking talents for the Patisserie, Snack Shop, and Bistro. It is inspiring that we come together to create this amazing event for our community to enjoy and to represent our school to the public!

Don’t miss the post-Bazaar Waldorf Store!

The shopping fun continues! Please support WWS and shop for the holidays in the Store!

• This week! The Waldorf Store is open in the Entrance Hall during dropoff (8:15-9:15am) and pickup (2:30-3:30).
• Special extended hours on Tuesday and Friday!
• Tuesday evening before and after the Parent's Council of Washington Event (6:30-7 & 8:30-9pm)
• Friday afternoon for Spirit Night during basketball games in the Gym (3:30-6pm)
• The Gear Shop will also be available to shop in the Entrance Hall this week. 

After in person shopping closes, you can continue to shop the Waldorf Store online through midnight on Friday, Dec 13. Online purchases will be available for pickup at school through Friday, Dec 20.

WWS Spirit Night - Friday, Dec 6

Join us for Spirit Night! Come show your school spirit this Friday as our boys and girls basketball teams take on McLean School! It is sure to be a fun and exciting afternoon for the whole family.

• 5th/6th Grade Boys: 3:15 PM
• High School Girls: 4:15 PM
• High School Boys: 5:45 PM

Feel free to drop by for one game or stay for all three—whatever works for your schedule! Bring a friend, cheer loud, and help support our athletes! 

• Snacks and drinks will be available for sale thanks to the HS Student Council. (But please don't eat in the gym!)
• The post-Bazaar Waldorf Store will be open from 3:30-6pm in the school Entrance Hall.
• The school spirit shop (in the gym foyer) will be open during the first couple of games if you are in need of some Hawks gear.

We can't wait to see you there! 

Gear Shop Reminder

As we head into the colder months, we wanted to remind families about the WWS Gear Shop. See below for instructions on how to shop and donate!

To Purchase Items:

• Shop virtually anytime: View the Gear Shop inventory. Email wwsgearshop@gmail.com to purchase, ask questions, and to see photos of items (include the line number of the item(s)). Purchases can be picked up at the front desk.
• Shop In Person: The Gear Shop will be available for in-person shopping the week after Thanksgiving (along with the Waldorf Store)!

To Donate:

There's a bin in the vestibule where you can drop items off. Please follow these guidelines:

• OUTERwear and boots/hats/mittens ONLY
• Sizes CG through G5. NO older youth or adult items please

Thank You for a Successful Fall Bazaar!

We are thrilled to share some of the outcomes from our recent Fall Bazaar and express our heartfelt gratitude for your support.

Thanks to your incredible generosity and participation, we estimate that we raised just over $48,000 net to support the One Fund, not including ongoing Waldorf Store post-Bazaar sales. This showcases the remarkable dedication of our community.

Highlights of the day included:

• Increased ticket sales from last year by 1,236 to 15,827!
• Contributions from over 44 local vendors, who helped make this event a success.
• The tireless efforts of our volunteers, who gave their time and energy to ensure everything ran smoothly.

Your contributions will have a lasting impact, directly benefiting our students and enhancing their learning experience. Our sincerest gratitude to everyone who made this year’s Bazaar a success! A special thank you to Jesse Travis for her outstanding leadership, tireless efforts, and generous spirit of giving. We also extend heartfelt thanks to Taylor Raifsnider, for her dedication and seamless management of the vendors and countless other details. We are so grateful for your hard work!

Thank you all, once again, for making the Fall Bazaar such a memorable and successful event!

Thursday, Dec 12 at 5:30pm

(open to the community 5:30 - approx. 6:15pm)

WWS Trustees Council (TC) meetings are held monthly in the WWS library (with an occasional virtual meeting). 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. 

December

5/ Thursday

• Grade 6 Circus Performance, 4pm
• Preschool - Grade 5 Tour for Prospective Families, 8:45pm
• G10 Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7pm

7/ Saturday

• G3 Parent/Guardian Meeting, 9am
• WiW Parent/Guardian Meeting, 9am
• Children's Garden Open House for Prospective Families, 10am

10/ Tuesday

• MS/HS Tour for Prospective Families, 8:45am
• Apple Blossom Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7pm

11/ Wednesday

• Seedlings Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7pm

12/ Thursday

• TC Meeting, 5:30pm
• Cherry Blossom Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7pm

13/ Friday

• Community Evergreen Spiral Walk, 8:30am
• Coffee With Margery Bank, 8:30am
• Community Solstice Gathering, 4:30pm
• HS Movie Night, 7:30pm

🏀🏀🏀View the Athletics Calendar on our website.

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

Time for Three Concert - Home for the Holidays

Thursday, Dec 12 at 7:30pm

WWS alum Nick Kendall ('97) and his Grammy winning trio Time for Three, are playing a "Home for the Holidays" concert at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, on the University of MD, College Park campus.

Learn more and buy tickets.

Wooden Waldorf Items for Sale

Wooden/Waldorf items for sale, including wooden doll treehouse, fully furnished wooden dollhouse, and castle door. To see pictures and purchase information, see: https://forms.gle/zft1HvuhaYMk2kT36

Contact: Nancy Doyle nwdoyle@gmail.com

WWS Parent Restaurant Opening

Thanks to Bonnie (HS Administrator) for letting us know that current WWS parent, Alexis Starkey (G1) opened a new restaurant in Petworth! Check out this article from Petworth News to learn more about Fedwell which is intentionally kid-friendly and where "she’s designed both the menu and the space to minimize stress on families who’d like to eat out."

Visit the restaurant website.

Congratulations!

ISO of Carpool from Northern Virginia

We live in Falls Church & drive across Chain Bridge to/from school. We are looking for families interested in carpooling one or both directions, daily or occasionally.

Contact us if you are interested in exploring possibilities. Marlene Sandhu, 703-598-6969, marlene@beingwithbeing.com

Published by the Washington Waldorf School

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