Greetings!
This week in
The
Leaflet, our board chair offers an update on initiatives the school is taking for a smooth transition to next fall. We also share snippets from class about life and learning from home. Be sure to read the important announcement from development director, Julia Dodge, about a wonderful chance to make a huge difference. Finally, check out our resources for creating your own Maypole celebration.
Photo: Greetings from the Ashwood faculty! We continue to meet twice weekly to share and plan all that makes life at Ashwood healthy, beautiful, and rich—each from his or her "socially-distant" space, but together in spirit.
As ever, we welcome your comments, questions, and submissions. The next edition of
The
Leaflet
will be published on Wednesday, May 13. Deadline for submissions is Monday, May 11.
To all, we bid good health, fair skies, and cozy days at home,
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A Letter from the Board Chair
Dear Ashwood Families,
We are truly living in unprecedented times. The impact of COVID-19, and the ongoing financial consequences, will be felt by everyone in our community, in one way or another, for quite some time.
Meanwhile, the board and faculty of Ashwood are working every day toward sustaining our unique program, strengthening our community, and finding ways to support our families.
Our immediate priority is to provide the best programming and support we can through remote learning platforms. Concurrently, we are planning for the fall, when we hope and anticipate that conditions and mandates will allow us to be physically open. This requires that we clearly understand the state of our enrollment so that we can create a corresponding program and budget. To that end, I am providing an update on three measures we have taken: 1) We have further extended the enrollment deadline; 2) Jody Spanglet will be reducing her 2020-2021 administrative hours; and 3) We have applied for and received financial support from the Payroll Protection Program. Please read on for details on each of these updates/initiatives:
Enrollment Deadline Further Extended
Enrolled families have put down a non-refundable $250 deposit and currently have until May 8 (previously extended from April 8) to withdraw with no further liability. This applies to those families who have applied for and received tuition assistance awards for next year. After May 8, and before the first day of school, families are liable for 30% of the tuition should they withdraw during this time.
The board has decided to further extend the deadline to June 1 for those who need more time.
If you would like to take advantage of this extension, please email your request to school director,
Jody Spanglet
.
Jody Spanglet to Divide Time Between Ashwood Finance and AWSNA Accreditation
As we look forward to next year, there are certain knowns and certain unknowns. What we do know is that we have a talented and experienced group of teachers and administrators who are committed to our students and to the future of the school. We are confident that Jeremy Clough will
step into the role of school director with tremendous knowledge, grace, skills, leadership capability and experience. We are also fortunate that Jody Spanglet will remain in Ashwood’s administrative leadership on a part-time basis, bringing her well-honed financial skills and strategic mindset to Ashwood’s successful future. Jody has also accepted a part-time position as the Director of Accreditation for AWSNA (Association of Waldorf Schools of North America). Together, these two positions will provide Jody with full-time employment. Congratulations to Jody and Ashwood for bringing Waldorf continental leadership so close to home in midcoast Maine.
Payroll Protection Program Loan/Grant Received
Ashwood has applied for and received a small business loan from the federal government that will become a grant, as long as the school continues to pay our employees through the end of the school year. We are most fortunate to have received these essential funds that will help us during this challenging time.
The entire board of trustees and I continue to hold you all in our thoughts. We
will
get through this together.
Warm regards,
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Last Day of School: Friday, May 29
The last day of the 2019-2020 school year will be May 29. When school takes place on campus, our final week is devoted to pedagogical activities that require the students’ physical presence, such as cleaning out classrooms and lockers and assembling main lesson books. This year, during the week of the June 1–5, teachers will take care of these activities. They will also begin their end-of-year report writing and commence summer meetings to review the year and begin planning for the 2020–2021 school year.
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Hand-knit Chicks Delivered to EC Children
The EC teachers delivered handmade Easter chicks (photo) to all of the EC children and waved to them in their homes.
EC children have enjoyed seasonal handwork and weekly stories and songs, while we parents have been provided with a weekly article to go with the theme of each week, for example, storytelling or nature corners.
I hear about a lot of creative, loving family time, and I am so impressed by how helpful the children are at home right now! The EC teachers are missing the children and sending them lots of love.
Morgan Wade, EC Teacher
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Class 1-2: Building "Magpie's Nest"
Class 1-2 students are immersed in a Nature Studies block. This week, Ms. Doshi recorded her story for the class about the Magpie's Nest. The children are going to be building nests this week. Photo: This beautiful chick was felted from wool batting with a wet felting method which uses hot soapy water.
Elizabeth Doshi, Class 1-2 Teacher
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Class 3-4: Debris Shelter and Wabanaki Stories
Class 3-4 has been working on their shelter model projects, studying Wabanaki culture and stories, and making maps of the areas around us. Photo: Georgia's debris shelter takes shape.
Michelle Buczacz, Class 3-4 Teacher
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Class 5-6: From Rosettes to Roses
In Class 5-6 geometry, students have used compass and straightedge to construct five-petalled rosettes. In their botany block they’ll be puzzling over just how beautifully nature can form them without tools!
Mr. Kaczor, Class 5-6 Teacher
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Class 7-8: Pourquoi Stories
Our oldest class is busy with speech writing, yearbook, and wrapping up their independent projects. And their teacher, Mr. Clough, is even busier! So, while they're not looking, we'll just sneak in a little update on language arts.
The students have just completed writing an original
pourquoi story, a children's tale that explains why something is the way it is. Thus, we learn from Class 7-8: why the Lily-of the Valley bows her head, why the cactus has prickles, why the rooster crows, why the woodpecker can't sing, why pebbles are so patient, why the moon has a cycle, as well as many other answers to the riddles of the universe. The students will be creating printed or digital books with original illustrations, and the class will give a copy of their stories to the school as a gift from the Class 0f 2020 to future Ashwood young readers.
Photo
: Two of Ina's illustrations for "The Wind Searches"
One of the areas the students have been working on is attention-getting leads. Here are a few first sentences from the
pourquoi stories for your enjoyment:
"Green, sizzling, scared, and sulking, the cactus was about to meet his fate." (Aidan)
"This is the story of the cat and the moon, and how with one action, you can change your life, for the worse, or the better. And it's completely up to you." (Sofia)
“I am afraid you have been denied the protection and alliance of the Institution of Wild Mammals. You have until tomorrow to be out of our territory,” declared the head of that institution.
“What?!” cried Porcupine, “but I am a mammal!” (Scarlet)
"We call her the wind. But before she was the wind, she was a human being just like us. Her name was Winda." (Ina)
Laura Purdom, Language Arts Teacher
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Spring Break "Poetree"
Students across the grades were given optional assignments to do during their vacation week. One Class 5-6 optional assignment was to write "poetree." Having weathered an ice storm, the birch trees were bending and reminding many of us of the lovely Robert Frost poem, "Birches." Taking Frost as her inspiration, sixth-grader Hettie, wrote
"The Ladybug's Birch".
Who else took up one of the many Spring Break offerings? Let us hear from you. We'd love to share your work with the community.
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New Board Member
While teachers, parents, administration, and students have been busy as bees, the board of trustees has be particularly active. We're pleased to welcome the board's newest member, Dick Weeks. Below, Dick introduces himself to the community.
Greetings, Ashwood Community,
When my wife, adult daughter and I moved to Owls Head this last July, I missed working with a school, could not sit idle, and started to explore independent schools near our home. I found Ashwood Waldorf School, met with school director Jody Spanglet, and spent a morning visiting classes. My teaching philosophy and Ashwood’s mission are in alignment: student centeredness (including social values and meaningful relationships), interactive learning, multi-aged groups, rigorous academics, and integrated-discipline programming, including a deep appreciation of the arts and nature.
Dick's letter of introduction, continued
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An Extraordinary Opportunity to Give to the Future
All of us are experiencing unprecedented times, and Ashwood is no exception.
It has
not
been business as usual for anyone or any organization.
Because of our stay-at-home situation, Ashwood is not conducting our usual spring fundraiser: The Serve-A-Thon. This leads to a
budget shortage of $25,000
. This is a very significant amount, considering that this money is used for critical line items such as tuition assistance, faculty salaries, building upkeep, and other essential functions of the school.
That is one reason why were are so excited to let you know that a long-time supporter of Ashwood has made an incredible offer: This donor will gift the school $25,000 if we can raise another $25,000 to match.
Let's step up and meet this loving and generous matching gift offer with our own impulse to to give:
- If you have not given to the Annual Appeal yet this year, please do so now.
- Please consider the unique situation Ashwood is experiencing and try to increase your gift as much as you can.
- Consider asking your friends, family, and neighbors that normally support our Serve-A-Thon if they would instead support our Annual Appeal this year.
The support of our community has never been so important. Take a moment to think how lucky we are to have a Waldorf school in midcoast Maine, and consider what it requires to maintain this wonderful school. Your support will make all the difference.
Thank you,
Julia Dodge, Director of Development
P.S. I will keep you informed on how our $25,000 campaign is going through
The Leaflet
.
All hands on deck,
s’il vous plait,
and don't forget to
give
!
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Help Our Local Nonprofit Partners
With the Serve-A-Thon on hiatus, three of our longtime nonprofit partners have asked the Ashwood community to help support their work by reaching out to their residents. Others may be in touch later this spring for helping hands.
- The residents of Knox County for Long Term Care would love to receive handmade cards. They can be mailed to Knox Center, Activities Dept, 6 White St, Rockland, ME 04841.
- Quarry Hill has requested videos of students reading stories and showing pictures, or videos of students playing instruments. Please click here for instructions and guidelines.
- Midcoast Recovery Coalition has reached out to ask if Ashwood Community members might help with some gardening work at their 63 Washington Street location. Please follow this link to volunteer this Saturday, May 2, or next Saturday, May 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Volunteers should take all recommended precautions to keep themselves and others safe.
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Tuesday
May
5
Class 7-8 Parent Evening
Time TBA p.m.
via teleconference
Wednesday
May
6
EC Parent Evening
Time TBA
via teleconference
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Thursday
May
7
Class 5-6 Parent Evening
6:30–8:00 p.m.
via teleconference
Monday
May
11
Class 1-2 Parent Evening
6:00–7:00 p.m.
via teleconference
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Wednesday
May
13
Class 3-4 Parent Evening
6:30–7:30 p.m.
via teleconference
Wednesday
May
20
Board Meeting
6:00–8:00 p.m.
via teleconference
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Classes will not be held on Monday, May 25, Memorial Day
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No-risk Summer Camp Enrollment
We continue to evaluate our summer camp plans based on recommendations from the state;
Governor Mills’ Plan to restart Maine’s Economy gives us some hope that our summer camps can happen. S
hould we be required to cancel the camp, however, 100% of the fees will be refunded. Here's the
registration form. If you have any questions about any aspect of camp, email
Laura Purdom or give us a call her cell phone: 323-9467. Please note that grade levels listed on the registration from are for 2020-2021 school year.
With regard to cancellation:
As a reminder, you will receive a full refund for any
cancellations taking place up to one month prior to the start of the camp session.
In addition, if the camp session does not run for reasons of insufficient enrollment or continued social distancing policies, you will receive a full refund.
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Locally Roasted Coffee Beans for Sale
Has your home-brewed coffee intake gone up dramatically since staying home? Ashwood is here to help! Support Ashwood student field trips by purchasing locally roasted, artisanal coffee from Coffee On The Porch. We will be placing three more orders for our Coffee Club participants, and we are happy to include yours as well. Order dates are Tuesdays: May 5, May 19, and June 2. There are three varieties to choose from: Amen Again (dark roast), Coasta Maine (medium roast), and COTP Decaf.
Each bag is $14.
Let us know what you’d like, we’ll add it to the order. You can pay for the coffee when you pick it up. Checks made out to Ashwood are best, correct cash is also welcome. Pick-up will be from Julia Dodge's “package hutch” at the head of her driveway (124 Rockville St., Rockport) two days after the ordering deadline, at your leisure. I’m happy to work out other local options as well.
Be sure to let me know your order at least one day before the order date.
You are welcome to call, text (207-
712-5231)
, or
email
your order.
So happy to keep y’all loaded up with yummy, local coffee!
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Post Your Announcements
We are happy to publish your community announcements and events in
Ashwood's Community Classifieds
! We welcome non-political, nonsectarian announcements from Ashwood community members as well as from members of the wider community that may be of interest to Ashwood families. Please try to keep submissions under 80 words if possible. The deadline for submissions is the Monday before publication.
The
Leaflet
comes out
every other Wednesday
during the school year, and carries a link to the Community Classifieds webpage. (Look for it toward the end of the newsletter.) Items will remain posted for one month unless otherwise requested. Please send submissions to
info@ashwoodwaldorf.org
.
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How to Make a Maypole
This is the time of year when Ashwood puts on our traditional May Fair with music, acrobatics, cakes, and—of course—dancing merrily about the Maypole. While the times do not allow for such a gathering at school, you can still create a Maypole, and merriment, at home with these suggestions:
Please send us your photos and videos!
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Free, Interactive Webinar: Foundations of Waldorf Education
As a small offering to our community and a way to serve those looking for a brief introduction to Waldorf Education this summer, Sunbridge Director of Education Linda Ogden-Wolgemuth will be presenting Foundations of Waldorf Education, a free, interactive webinar on Friday evening, June 19, from 7-9 p.m. (EST).
Discussing the background and highlights of Waldorf Education and especially helpful for new Waldorf teachers, staffers, and parents, Foundations of Waldorf Education will be open to anyone. While this webinar is free, advance registration is required.
FMI.
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Ashwood Waldorf School
180 Park Street Rockport, ME 04856
207-236-8021
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