WSOC Nov. 29 Newsletter: The Giving Edition

Education for the 21st Century

"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed." — Maya Angelou

Dear families,

Tomorrow, Nov. 30, is #GivingTuesday. On that day, we will embark upon a 30-day Annual Giving Campaign. We ask that you give not to reach some lofty goal, or out of obligation, but because WSOC aligns with your values. Because supporting Waldorf education not only for our children, but for generations to come, resonates with you. Because you know that every gesture, no matter the size or scope, matters.

In this issue, as we return from a gratitude-filled Thanksgiving break, we celebrate the spirit of giving. We are grateful for each and every one of you, each a vital part of the woven tapestry of our community.

PS: Have a look at our new Interactive Gallery page on our website! In addition to our all-school videos, we have added a high school section with our teachers introducing their subjects. Please view and share with any friends who would like to learn more about our high school.

Warmly,

Alyssa Hamilton

Communications Coordinator

MAKE A DONATION - GIVE TODAY

Leadership Circle Updates

Dear families,

I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity this Thanksgiving to spend time with my full family after missing last year due to the pandemic. While together, I reflected on the healthy adults that my children have come to be, in no small part due to the Waldorf education that they both received. I also reflected on how as a community we all give of ourselves in so many ways to support the education of not only our own children, but also all of those children in our community who benefit from an education that engages them fully and helps to form such compassionate and conscientious adults.

My wife and I have always been grateful to have the means to support our children’s schools through volunteering, through paying tuition and also through the annual giving campaigns that allowed us to enhance the school’s ability to meet the needs of all students. I find the concept of giving to be such a valuable, and sometimes difficult, means of expression of my ideals. I find the words of poet and author David Whyte to be important reminders for me of the value of giving:

“Giving is a difficult and almost contemplative art form that can only be done well through practice; to learn to give is almost always the simple, sometimes heartbreaking act of just giving again. To stop giving in any situation is to call an end to relationship. Giving is an essence of existence, and a test of our character; it asks deep questions about our relationship to others, to our selves and strangely, to time itself: all gifts change with the maturation of their recipients. To give well, appropriately and often is to establish a beautiful seasonal symmetry between the urgency within us that wishes to be generous, and the part of the world that is suddenly surprised and happy to receive. To give generously but appropriately and then, most difficult of all, and as the full apotheosis of the art, with feeling, in the moment and spontaneously, has always been recognized as one of the greatest of human qualities.”

Giving Tuesday has become an important opportunity for my wife and I to consciously express our gratitude and support of worthwhile organizations and individuals. I am happy to have an opportunity this year to give in support of the Waldorf School of Orange County and especially in support of the children who attend now or will attend in the future.

Warmly,

Kevin McDuff

School Administrator

Annual Giving Campaign Begins Tomorrow!

Giving Tuesday, Nov. 30:

An International Day of Giving

Questions? See our ANNUAL GIVING FAQ

Alone we can do so little; together, we can do so much.

-Helen Keller

MAKE A DONATION - GIVE TODAY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES SPOTLIGHT

Margaret O'Brien: Why I Give

What are your ties to WSOC? What brought you to our campus initially?

My son, Alex Lowe, after 9 years at WSOC, graduated in 2005 (before there was a high school).

In 1991, when Alex was a few months old I read in the LA Times about WSOC, then located in Fountain Valley. I knew that was what I was looking for and tucked the article away. Fast forward four years later, I dug out the article and called their new location in Newport Beach. I was over the moon for my son to get a spot in their kindergarten.

How long have you been a Board member and what is your role/area of expertise?

When Alex was in 6th grade I was invited to be on the Board of Trustees, and I continued for the next four years. I stayed connected to WSOC, attending festivals and galas and contributing to fundraisers. A few years ago, I got a call from the school administrator asking if I would be interested in joining the Board again. I said absolutely. I also serve on the Human Resources Mandate Group.

Annual Giving is coming up. What do you feel are three primary reasons that you believe giving is important?

I believe that all families can show their support of WSOC by contributing to the Annual Giving campaign. No gift is too small. It’s important that we can show 100% participation. That’s an essential message to convey when seeking patronage from outside the school. I continue to support the school through my work on the Board and through annual giving to show my deep gratitude for the transformational gifts WSOC has given my son and me that continue to live on. I recall an adage from early in my WSOC experience that really resonated: "On the wings of beauty, goodness, and truth soars wonder, gratitude and reverence."

By supporting WSOC now, we contribute to future generations of children who can also become the change we wish to see in the world.

WSOC PARENT SPOTLIGHT

Lisa Kalmin: Why I Give

Dear families,

It’s the season of giving and as a parent of two Waldorf 6th graders who have been attending the school since Playgroup, I am aware that it is also Waldorf’s season of Annual Giving and contribution.

In this season of giving, I often hear people say ”I want to give back," or “I am going to give back to my community this year." As a transformational trainer and coach, I have experienced that our language often reveals how we see things.

So, the words “give back” imply that we give because someone gave to us. That there was some sort of giving that we received and because of that previous contribution we are now going to give. Which makes giving in that context “conditional.” I give because I was given to.

Please hear me, I am not saying that when you feel like you are giving back, that you aren’t truly operating out of a place of contribution and generosity! I believe you are.

I would like all of us to consider the possibility of “choosing to give, because we choose to give.”

In other words, I choose to give because I choose to give. I’ll use another example: I will often ask one of my students..”Why do you love your boyfriend/girlfriend/partner?” And they will say something like ”I love them because they are kind, loving, funny, loyal.” Well, in that scenario there is the chance that when that boyfriend/girlfriend/partner is not being kind, loyal, loving, funny; then that person may withdraw their love. IF the love was based on something other than, “I love you because I love you.”

When we operate from “I choose to give because I choose to give," then we need NOTHING from the other person or organization in order to give. We can freely give money, time, energy or resources without any expectation of something in return.

One of my favorite quotes is “Expectation is premeditated resentment.”

This year, after such a tumultuous year and a half, I invite all of us to CHOOSE TO GIVE BECAUSE WE CHOOSE TO GIVE, whether it be $5 or some big contribution. As a parent, perhaps like some of you, I don’t always “like” everything happening at WSOC. I am also clear that we chose WSOC as the absolute best choice for our two boys.

So when, annual giving time comes around at Waldorf, I have a little conversation with myself that

“I choose to give because I choose to give.”

Best wishes for a loving, graceful Holiday Season for all of us!

Lisa Kalmin

WSOC Parent

WinterFest is this Saturday

Festival goers will miss the joy of our annual Twinkle Star Cafe this year, but we have a special temporary replacement for you. The Goat Cafe will feature unique food a drink offerings in a one-of-a-kind setting with our favorite Dwarf Nigerian goats, Moose and Squirrel. Unlike Twinkle Star Cafe, this is not a drop-off cafe. Parents are asked to join your children while they enjoy the food and entertainment. Little ones are welcomed - Adults are required. See you there!

High School Happenings

There's nothing quite like hearing from alumni when it comes time to make a decision about your child's high school. Why choose the Waldorf high school? Please join us for this virtual event on December 9 to find out. No matter the age of your student, this event will inspire. All are welcome.

It's Holiday Time at The Company of Angels

WSOC Campus Snapshots

Harvest dinner with Teacher Jenell's Grade 2 class.

High school Homecoming Dance was a blast!

Grade 5 was introduced to the art of the javelin. The javelin as a sport originated from the spear's everyday use in hunting and fighting. It was popular in Ancient Greece and was included in the Olympic Games as part of the pentathlon in 708 BC.

Our high school fuel cell team building hydrogen fuel cell cars as part of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Program. The program teaches students the build and strategy to run a race with renewable energy. 80 schools on the West Coast are participating, including WSOC. Students are currently building two cars for their first competition on Dec. 19.

A Hanukkah celebration in Grade 5 included fun with a dreidel, as well as learning the history of the game.

Please follow us on Instagram and Facebook to enjoy photos and excerpts of what your students are learning and participating in here at WSOC. Click here for easy Social Media links. Like our posts, comment and share! By doing so, you help to introduce our beautiful school to new friends.