Monday
May
16
Steiner Study Group
1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
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Tuesday
May
17
Board Meeting
6:00 p.m.
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Thursday
May
19
Class 1-2 Parent Evening
5:45-7:00 p.m.
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Friday
May
20
Class 5 Pentathlon
Maine Coast
Waldorf School
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Monday
May
23
Steiner Study Group
1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
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Thursday
May
26
Class 6-7 Parent Evening
5:30- 7:00 p.m.
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Friday
May
27
Class 1-2 Play
3:15 p.m.
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Monday
May
30
Memorial Day
School Closed
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Friday
June
3
Class 3-5 Play
4:00 p.m.
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Top photo: Comfort Birds, carved by students in grades 5-8 |
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Early Childhood Faculty News |
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Dear Ashwood Community,
Kristina Mainella will not be returning to teach in the Kindergarten next year. I am sad that Kristina is leaving. I am grateful for the warmth, care, and kindness she has brought and continues to bring to each of the children. I also appreciate the clarity and professionalism she exhibits as a colleague. We will miss her but we know that she will continue to be part of the Ashwood community.
Below is an excerpt from Kristina’s letter. If you would like to see her full letter, please click here.
“I will not be returning to Ashwood next year. This has been a difficult and deeply personal decision for me. I have cherished this time with the children and have learned so very much, and I very much look forward to what the remainder of this year has to bring, but I will be stepping away from the kindergarten position at the end of this year.”
Please do not share the information with the early childhood children so Kristina can tell them herself at the end of the year.
We are excited to announce that Marianne Bockli will return to the role of lead kindergarten teacher next year. Generations of Ashwood students have flourished under her care. We are very lucky and thankful to have her!
The rest of our early childhood team will include many familiar faces; Rachael Kozielec and Liz Smith will be teacher apprentices, Joy Palmer will be our kindergarten extended day teacher. Lisa Newcomb will continue to be our super sub and parent-child class teacher. Tamara Rosenthal will, of course, be our nursery teacher, and we are currently hiring for a nursery assistant.
Warmly,
Jeremy Clough
School Director
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Four more weeks of School! |
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and just $2,364 to raise....
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YOUR donation could put us at our goal of $70,000. If every family pitches in, we'll be there in no time. Any amount is appreciated.
Be a super-hero and make your donation today. Feel the sweet sensation of being part of our Annual Appeal success!
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Our grade school class plays are being held in the community room (see dates in calendar above).
Family and friends are invited to attend afternoon performances. Masking is optional.
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The faculty was treated to the silkiest, most delicious diary-free rice pudding this past week. Thank you to Pedro Costa and Laura Enseki for making this sweet treat for us! |
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Clothing Swap Thank You!
The Ashwood APC would like to thank YOU, the parents and families who helped make the Spring clothing swap such a success! What a treat to be together, and share our outgrown clothes! It feels so good to be able to keep so many garments in circulation, and also to share a smile and a snack...
Mark your calendar for next autumn!
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Grades 3 and 4 processed a freshly shorn fleece from the flock of Ashwood parent, Willy Ulbrich. The students carefully took selections of the raw fleece and combed out the dry grass bits before soaking the fibers in pans of warm soapy water. They finished the cleaning by gently transferring the sudsy wool to a clean water rinse, and finally laid it out to dry in the glorious May sun. |
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The sheep has given its wool
The plans their colors bright
We have carved hooks out of wood
My hand that crochet by golden light
Can cast a seam and sew a stitch
Can hammer a nail and dig a ditch
So let us go to work right now
To make a horse, a ball, a cow
A gift for you, a toy for me
A work of joy for all to see
~Handwork Verse said by Class 3-5
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Class 6-7 offered two performances of their plays on Friday, adapted from Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales:
- The Hare and the Tree Spirit: A Xhosa Tale
- The Mantis & the Moon: A San Tale
- The Guardian of the Pool: A Story from Central Africa, Retold in a Zululand Setting
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The plays featured marionettes and shadow puppets the students had made. Students in grade five joined the players for two songs: Woyaya (We Are Going) by Osibisa, and Ukuthula (Zulu Prayer for Peace), a traditional South African hymn.
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Vivian Priestly, Class of 2012
Since Ashwood I’ve mainly been in school, studying, traveling but always coming back to Maine. I lived in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in high school, went on an archaeological dig in Peru in college. In 2020 I graduated from the University of Vermont, unfortunately without a formal ceremony like many others in my class.
After college I moved back to Rockport Maine, where I landscaped on Islesboro Island and enjoyed a peaceful summer with some of my oldest and best friends. Come fall, I moved to Portland to work on the Gideon Campaign, navigating the challenges of organizing a canvassing team during the pandemic. Once the elections were over, I started working at a Law Firm located in South Portland and have since been promoted to Case Manager.
Right now, I am starting a new chapter as I begin transitioning away from Law and hopefully into Interior Design. I’ve been lucky to find countless designers in Portland and the greater area who have helped with this process. I can also be found working a few days a week at a cocktail bar in downtown Portland and running around the Back Bay as I train for the Maine Marathon in October. While I spend most of my time in Portland, I am always making visits home to Rockport and look forward to many sails this summer on my father's boat, Cloud Nine!
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World Language Teacher
Ashwood is seeking a part-time French teacher, or other world language teacher, for instruction with multi-age groups from grades one through eight. The position begins in September and consists of teaching eight classes per week. Applicants should be fluent in the language of instruction, have experience teaching, and an interest in Waldorf training. Please send cover letter, resume, and three professional recommendations to: jclough@ashwoodwaldorf.org
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Support Ashwood While You Shop
Do you shop online at Amazon? If so, consider making your purchases through AmazonSmile and choosing Ashwood as your charity. A percentage of what you spend goes to Ashwood, with no extra cost to you!
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Ashwood Waldorf School
180 Park Street Rockport, ME 04856
207-236-8021
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