Weekly Bulletin
October 27, 2021
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From Laura Cox, Grade 3 Class Teacher |
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Earlier this year the third grade heard two parallel Creation stories. The first was the story of the seven days of Creation as retold by the Hebrew People. The second was the Haudenosaunee story of SkyWoman Falling. In both stories we stopped as the first inhabitants found themselves trying to live in their new world. Both stories feature two sons who need to learn how to survive on the earth.
We mirror this process in the third grade curriculum when the students experience how to live on the earth: how to feed, clothe and shelter themselves. This meets the nine year old as they develop their own creative individuality and recognize their feelings of separation from many of the groups which sustained them in the past. Adults are now perceived more realistically and they see that we are flawed. This can create an insecurity and sadness in the evolving nine year old. Therefore, the third grade curriculum strives to develop new capacities in the children and to create a feeling of growing competency.
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To meet these goals, we set off into the woods to build shelters using the gifts the earth provides in this region. We also learned lessons from the indigenous people who have historically lived close to the land and in harmony with their environment. Working collaboratively, the five groups experienced starts and stops; many had to change location or begin again multiple times. Leaves, sticks, moss, rocks and branches were their building materials and tools. Each shelter was 'under roof' and could keep out rain and wind by the end of the block. |
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This past Friday, we celebrated the efforts of all and enjoyed our collective success. The children were elated by the end of the process, having learned many lessons about persistence, learning from mistakes, and the actual building techniques of creating a strong foundation and the need for proper supports. The class begs and hopes to continue to enjoy their shelters much more in the future. As solidly as the shelters are built, I share the students' excitement and hope! |
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The 1st and 12th Graders met for pumpkin carving this week, one of the many activities that are woven throughout the year for these special friends. |
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Middle School Boys Soccer |
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from Coach Micah Bump
After running a gauntlet of talented opponents heavily laden with eighth graders to open the season, the MSB Knights faced a soccer mid-season with exactly -0- victories and a choice to make – would they throw in the proverbial towel and hope for better results next year? Or would they dig deep and build on the blood, sweat, and tears shed over several weeks on the Knights fútbol pitch?
Fortunately, these Knights chose the latter, winning 4 and dropping only 1 during the past two weeks, including a dramatic 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the rugged squad from the Spencerville Adventist Academy for the first “W” of the season!
With several more games lined up this week and next, these boys have a chance to close out the soccer season on a winning streak and winning note. Will the MSB Knights continue to show the gutsy teamwork and refusal to lose? Only time will tell.
We hope to see you at a game. Go Knights!
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Staying Up to Date With Our School Calendar
* Current Parents can find Zoom information for meetings in ParentSquare
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October
27/ Wednesday
- Craft and Conversation (online), 8pm
28/ Thursday
- Craft and Conversation, 9:30am-12pm
- Waldorf Education Speakers Series: Sharifa Oppenheimer (online), 8pm (see below)
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November
11-12/ Thursday & Friday
15/ Monday
17/ Wednesday
- G1 Parent Evening, 7:30pm
18/ Thursday
24-26/ Wednesday - Friday
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Waldorf Education Speaker Series
Tomorrow!
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We are pleased to once again join with Acorn Hill and Potomac Crescent Waldorf School to offer a speaker series on Waldorf Education throughout the school year. |
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Washington Area Waldorf Speakers Series Presents: Sharifa Oppenheimer
The Green Earth, Children’s Play and Your Child’s Brain
Thursday, October 28 from 8 to 9:30pm
Join Sharifa Oppenheimer, author of Heaven on Earth and With Stars in Their Eyes: Brain Science and Your Child’s Journey Toward the Self for a Zoom Parent Evening.
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Zoom Meeting ID: 925 0499 6336
Passcode: w3wE4j
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Sharifa will address the child’s foundational need for a deep connection to nature and the freedom to play whole heartedly within nature’s embrace. We will learn about the “Loose Parts” theory of creativity as it relates to brain development, as well as how to prepare a rich play environment for your child. We’ll explore the dance of supervising children’s play: when and how to step toward a tense situation and when to step back and allow children to practice their negotiation skills. We will also cover the child’s need for age-appropriate “risky play” as well as both the child’s and adult’s development of risk assessment. |
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Sharifa's latest work, With Stars in Their Eyes: Brain Science and Your Child's Journey Toward the Self, presents traditional, gentle ways of educating young children through art, poetry, song, movement, stories, creative play and immersion in the natural world. She offers this wisdom with cutting edge research from brain science in support of the finest brain development.
Sharifa was the founding teacher of the Charlottesville Waldorf School, where she taught kindergarten for twenty-one years and served as day care director of the early childhood program. She was the founder and director of the home-based early childhood program The Rose Garden, currently thriving under new ownership. Sharifa is the mother of three grown sons, who were educated in the Waldorf tradition. She lives with her husband in an enchanted forest in Virginia.
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Craft & Conversation
Wednesday, October 27 at 8pm (Zoom)
Thursday, October 28 at 9:30am (in person)
Craft and Conversation will meet twice this week, once online and once in person.
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Wednesday, Oct. 27, 8pm on Zoom. While it's too late to pick up supplies for this evening, please email PLG@washingtonwaldorf.org if you would like to join and work on some handwork of your own during the session.
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Thursday, Oct. 28, from 9:30am-12pm at Anja's house, 7711 Glenmore Spring Way (come and go as works for your schedule). We have lots of fun projects to work on. All skill levels are welcome! We'll be following the school protocols for masking and distancing.
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Preparing a Pathway to Eurythmy Series: Autumn 2021 Online Course
Friday, October 29, 2021, 7-9pm
Saturday, October 30, 2021, 2-9pm
Pre-registration required!
This series, from Eurythmy Spring Valley, will meet in the virtual realm to build approaches to eurythmy through an online course. The weekend will bring classes on foot-writing with Virginia Hermann, an introduction to poetry and language as a starting point for eurythmy with Cliff Venho, and an introduction to eurythmic movement and basic elements of tone eurythmy with Sea-Anna Vasilas.
This course is open to all, with beginners very welcome. Please register by October 25, 2021, so we can confirm that we have the minimum number of attendees for offering this intensive.
Online Course Fee: $95
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Last year many WWS families participated in our Thanksgiving Food Drive and found it to be an activity where all household members could be involved. We are grateful to Maria Monteverde-Jackson for organizing a drive for us again this year benefiting So Others Might Eat (SOME), which provides services to homeless and impoverished DC residents.
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Preparing snack bags is a great family activity! Bags cost approx. $2.30 each. We recommend you sign-up for bags in quantities of 8 based on packages. Our goal is 800 snack bags - that's only 5 bags per family if everyone participates! Bag drop-off is November 18 and 19 at school.
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Will you help "knit" our community together? |
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We are collecting donations in a bin in front of the school for yarn "bombing" trees and such on campus. We will accept:
- Yarn panels to be included in the project.
- Finger knitting.
- Any excess yarn, knitting needles, or crochet hooks to pass on to others who wish to participate.
Please put name and contact info with any donations so we can compile a comprehensive list of participants for acknowledgement.
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Do you think you will participate in the yarn "bomb" project?
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Yes! I plan to contribute at least one panel.
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I want to, but I need supplies.
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I want to, but I don't know where to start.
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I want to, but I don't have time.
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Annual High School Evergreens Fundraiser |
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Order now through Nov 8.
Every year we work with a family owned supplier to offer high quality, sustainably harvested evergreens. We will again offer all direct-ship items with delivery right to the door (yours or that of a gift recipient) within the two weeks following Thanksgiving. All payments will be handled online, using PayPal. As we did last year, we will send all net profits to the wonderful Lakota Waldorf School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. We invite you to join us in decorating your homes for winter, sending gifts to others, and supporting the work of our friends at the Lakota Waldorf School.
Thank you from the High School.
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As you come and go from the school, please take extra care to be aware of any neighborhood children that may be out and about. We received a call from a neighbor who expressed concern about seeing a car with a WWS magnet come in close proximity to a couple of children riding bicycles. Thank you for your attention to the safety of our school and our surrounding community. |
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Waldorf 100 Film #KidsOnTech |
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The 57-minute film was produced by the Waldorf 100 film team and has won many awards, but it has not yet been released in North America. According to Henning Kullak-Ublich, producer, it is intended primarily for parents and school communities. A Waldorf perspective underlies its message as it portrays the current situation of children and tech on many continents without giving pat answers or doomsday scenarios. The film tries to stimulate dialogue around this critical issue of our times.
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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.
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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. Please let us know if listing information is no longer accurate. Listings may not be accepted and will likely be edited.
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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. |
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Classifieds & Events from the Community |
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Small Home for Rent in Kensington
from Sarah Vakkur (WWS Parent)
3 bed, 1 bath available for $2100/month
This one-story small but sunny home has a big back yard and sits on a huge park with playground, forest and sports fields at your footsteps. It is located in a friendly, safe neighborhood near other Waldorf families. Ideal for a couple with 1 child, or single parent with 1-2 children. Few minutes from Kensington Farmer’s Market and Old Town with antiques and few restaurants.
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Meal Preparation & Delivery
Do you need help with family meals? Cristina Bermudez cooks delicious, nutritious traditional/vegan/gluten-free homemade meals in her Cabin John kitchen using organic ingredients and delivers them to your home. My family has eaten many, many Cristina meals and are so happy we found her. This flyer includes a discount for Waldorf families!
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Published by the Washington Waldorf School
Copyright © 2021 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."
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Washington Waldorf School
4800 Sangamore Road,
Bethesda, MD 20816
301-229-6107
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Washington Small Schools Association
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