Japanese New Year decoration called "Kadomatsu" (gate pine)“ by Tomoko Matsunaga
See below for the meaning of Kadomatsu
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MLWS NEWS FROM THE PARENT COUNCIL
March 2022
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Hello MLWS Community,
We are glad to send you a new issue of the Parent Council Newsletter. Today is the 8th day of Women’s History Month and we would like to dedicate this newsletter to all women in our community! Most of the time we are the ones planning meals, holding homes together and emotionally charged with multitasking. Fulfilling our individual self when we are also a mom, a professional, a partner, a homemaker is nearly an impossible task if pursued without a strong community. Hopefully our school will grow even stronger and kinder as we enter into this post-COVID lifestyle. We would like to also extend our celebration to all who embrace a feminine energy, which regardless of our gender, is always a part of us.
This past month we had the great opportunity to talk about “Nurturing the Waldorf Home” with Ms. Kahlia Pelligra and Ms. Ruth Lawson. Facilitated by our dear Kate Klein, the participants shared a winter memory to break the ice and the guest speakers made wonderful remarks on how to create a physical and emotional environment at home in tune with Waldorf Education. Lighting a candle before meals, engaging the children in meaningful work in the home and acknowledging we are always learning, to slow down and clear any kind of inner judgment.
In Steiner’s words:
There are two magic words which indicate how the child enters into relation with his environment. They are: Imitation, and Example. The Greek philosopher Aristotle called man the most imitative of creatures. For no age in life is this more true than for the first stage of childhood, before the change of teeth. What goes on in his physical environment, this the child imitates, and in the process of imitation his physical organs are cast into the forms which then become permanent. ‘Physical environment’ must, however, be taken in the widest imaginable sense. It includes not only what goes on around the child in the material sense, but everything that takes place in the child's environment — everything that can be perceived by his senses, that can work from the surrounding physical space upon the inner powers of the child. This includes all the moral or immoral actions, all the wise or foolish actions, that the child sees. ~ "The Education of a Child in the Light of Anthroposophy”, 1927
In this month's newsletter we would like to highlight Ms. Veronica's report on the Wecan conference and Ms. Turner's contribution to our Waldorf Education Demystified! Here is the list of all you will find:
- Calendar of School Events and Meetings
- Warm Welcome to our New Student
- March’s Brown Bag Lunch Series
- WECAN Conference
- A Peek into the Classroom
- Waldorf Education Demystified
- Waldorf Resources
- DEIJ Corner
- PC Social Engagement Committee
- Gratitude Corner
- Classifieds
- Credits
- Rudolf Steiner Quote
We hope to see you during our next Parent Council Meeting on March 11th at 12:30PM via Zoom. If you would like to request a topic be added to the agenda send it to us by Wednesday, March 9 or if you want to be added to our Google Group, please send an email to [email protected]
You can also join the Social Engagement Committee's meetings (see below!), attend the March Brown Bag Lunch and share your ideas and feedback at any time. Your feedback and comments are welcome at [email protected]
Carolina Pinheiro and Ashley Biagini
(Parent Council Newsletter Committee)
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Calendar of School Events and Meetings |
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Thursdays, Pizza Day!: A fundraiser for the 8th grade trip
Wednesday, March 9th: NO SCHOOL/Parent-Teacher Conferences
Friday, March 11th from 4-5:30pm: Community Ice Skating at Mohonk Mountain House (Update Sold Out) RSVP in advance.
Friday, March 11th from 12:30-1:30pm: Parent Council Meeting via Zoom (Link here)
Thursday, March 16th from 12:20-1:20pm: Brown Bag Lunch Series via Zoom (Link here) with Paola Tayvah, Discovery Room Teacher, and Marta Porras, representing the Three Streams committee: Resources and Support for Academics and Challenging Behavior at MLWS
Friday, March 18th and 25th from 1-2pm: PC Social Engagement Committee via Zoom (Link here)
Wednesday, March 23rd: NO SCHOOL/Staff Development Day
Friday, March 25th: HALF DAY of School for Students/Staff Development Day, DEIJ
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To add the MLWS School Calendar to your Google Calendar use the following link here, which includes COVID-19 testing dates.
To add the Parent Council Meetings and Events to your Google Calendar use the following link here, any zoom meeting will have the links in the description for easy accessibility.
Fun reminders: Daylight Savings Time Starts on March 13th, the Worm (full) moon is March 18th and the first day of Spring is March 20th!
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Warm Welcome to New Students |
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We would like to extend a warm welcome to Maya (6th Grade) and her family to our school!
The Parent Council is here for any mentoring you may need! We are happy you joined our community!
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March Brown Bag Lunch Series |
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Paola Tayvah, Discovery Room Teacher, and Marta Porras, representing the Three Streams committee: Resources and Support for Academics and Challenging Behavior at MLWS
Please join us on THURSDAY, March 16th from 12:20-1:20pm
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Waldorf education is very unique in its approach to the whole child with it’s curriculum carefully emphasizing the physical, thinking and spiritual aspects of childhood development. In more mainstream understanding it can often be seen as "fairyland" with its soft aesthetics or else non-academic due to its particular rhythm and unique timing of the curriculum. Some very common questions are: How can I know if my child is suited for a Waldorf school? Is there discipline at a Waldorf school? How is academic success or struggle measured at a Waldorf School? In this talk we hope to demystify some of these questions and offer a sense of what resources are available to families at MLWS with regard to resources for children who are having challenges with their behavior or learning.
We look forward to bringing to the BBL series diverse topics to cover different interests in our parent community!
Upcoming Brown Bag Lunch Series
April 21st from 1-2pm: Preston Neel, 8th grade teacher: The Art of the Blackboard
May 18th from 1-2pm: Movement in a Waldorf Education: Eurythmy
June 9th from 1-2pm: Patricia Dewitte-Kuyl: Celebrating the 2021/22 School Year and the Spring Season
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Do not hesitate to reach out with suggestions for any future BBL. We would love to hear from you. Write to [email protected].
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WECAN Conference:
Toward a Kinder, More Compassionate Society
By Veronica Kent
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This year’s conference was titled “Toward a Kinder, More Compassionate Society: Working Together Toward Change”. It was a continuation of a theme from last year’s conference titled “Toward a Kinder, More Compassionate Society: Black Lives Matter”. It took place online over three days, starting Friday, Feb. 11 and ending in the afternoon on Sunday, Feb. 13.
Last year, WECAN reached out to Black Lives Matter advocate, author and NYC kindergarten teacher Lalena Garcia, to give the keynote address. She offered us a glimpse into her classroom, her book and anti-racist activities. This year, WECAN reached within our own Waldorf community to BIPOC (Biracial, Indigenous, People of Color) and IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) leaders who are also trained and experienced Waldorf teachers. It was hugely informative to hear from this group of three educators who have been living with this work for most of their lives.
Meggan Gill is director of Education and Organizational Culture at Sunbridge Institute. An experience early childhood (EC) teacher, she is self described as biracial and queer. Keelah Helwig is an African-American Waldorf graduate and practicing kindergarten teacher at the Waldorf School of Garden City. Joaquin Munoz has a mixed race background: Pascua Yaqui Indian and Mexican-American; and grew up on the Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation. The perspectives and knowledge that these keynote speakers brought was incredible by many accounts.
The conference started with the Haudenosaunee blessing, also known as the Thanksgiving Address, given by Otsistohkwi:yo, a Waldorf teacher of Mohawk heritage. Thanks were given for people, then to Mother Earth: from the waters to plants growing on the great mother’s back; sustenance provided; the animals, trees and birds. Then up to the sky, acknowledging and giving thanks to the Four Winds, the Grandfathers Thunder, Sun, Grandmother Moon and Stars. Celestial Beings, and finally the Creator were acknowledged and given thanks.
Meggan Gill then opened by offering the four functions of Anti-bias education:
identity, diversity, justice, and action.
She later went into depth of each of these goals and how to nurture each child with these goals in mind.
She asked us to reflect upon two things:
- What am I doing well?
- What can I do better?
Keelah Helwig then appealed to us early childhood teachers to make sense of our experience of race by doing our own racial identity development in order to be better equipped to understand another’s racial identity. We later looked at the stages in children’s development relating to racial/cultural identity and attitudes.
Joaquin Munoz then encouraged us to look at what we are bringing to the children and why we are bringing it. He emphasized the difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation. The former lacks a deeper understanding and maintains hierarchies through a sense of othering, or seperateness. The latter is a generative power “when we face and embrace history by building relationships”. He posed the question,
“How am I practicing love to empower and enact” a sense of belonging and relationship?
He later gave us some tangible ideas to explore for bringing festivals and heritage months to our schools in authentic and appreciative ways, including seeking the perspective of the culture in question and offering reverence and context for everything we bring to the children.
The keynote speakers each emphasized that as Waldorf teachers, we are in a unique position to grow authentically in this work because of our dedication to self development, inquiry, observation and curiosity.
Each of the EC MLWS teachers who attended the conference took her own workshop in addition to attending the above keynote speakers’ addresses. We are sharing the fruits of those workshops in our EC pedagogical meetings to deepen our understanding and wealth of knowledge provided by the conference.
I am truly grateful to Mountain Laurel for supporting our professional development and to WECAN for opening this pathway for early childhood teachers to deepen this important work.
I feel it is truly the work of our time.
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A Peek into the Classroom |
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Ms. Kahlia and the Mountain Rose Kindergarten class |
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The Mountain Rose Kindergarten Class bask in the renewing energy of the most frigid days of Winter before the change in season starts to reveal itself (which will be sooner than we know it!). We have enjoyed lots of fun in the snow this month, having delightful birthday celebrations and tapping the maple trees. |
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Ms. Lawson and the 4th Grade class
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The 4th graders are getting stuck into fractions! We’ve been fractionating apples and cakes and dividing pizzas and serving customers in our imaginary pizza parlor. We worked out that fractions with different denominators can be equivalent to each other, we’ve added and subtracted simple fractions. We’ve had fun working out that the bigger the number the smaller the fraction. New vocabulary has been introduced such as numerator and denominator. As a class we have explored how we can work as fractions of nine or as a whole. The 4th graders have also become champion Four Square players with the help of Mr. Steve Bernstein! |
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Waldorf Education Demystified |
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This month we asked our dear Michele Turner, our 3rd Grade teacher:
What parts of the Bible do the children learn in third grade and in their overall journey at MLWS? Why is it important for their development? Are there any highlights about this experience you would like to share?
"The overall theme of third grade is to represent the beginnings of humanity in its fullest way. So we start with Creation and Human Activity stories from one of the oldest books in existence. These stories come from the Torah of Judaism, the Old Testament of Christianity and with an acknowledgement of the same people by the Quaran of Islam. We call them Hebrew stories, Bible stories, Jewish Bible Stories, or Old Testament stories. Our goal in the Waldorf School is to trace human consciousness back to a common origin. Rudolf Steiner was convinced that this material presents strongly formed pictures that speak to the age-appropriate development of the children going through the nine year change. It is presented in a universal context not a religious one.
The strong images and language represents the forming of thought in a way that the children have not experienced before now. These stories can reach a part of life for the children that fairy tales and legends can not reach.
In third grade, the children become more critical. They begin to ask questions that reflect a sense of individuality. “Who are these people that make decisions for me?” “Do they know all the answers?” There is a bit of an estrangement from their parents and teachers that takes place. The continuous and underlying theme in the Hebrew stories is a similar estrangement, but it appears between a people and their god. The question then becomes, “there must be something more than the adults in my life, there must be something greater.”
These stories offer the children a way to begin their own individual deep rooted quest to know, “Who am I ?” But even so….
Steiner says, “ Children can only develop the faculty of independent judgment in adulthood if they have gone through the experience of looking up to the voice of authority with uncritical veneration. Of course, I am not referring to any kind of enforced authority here: the authority I am speaking of must never be imposed externally. And in some cases, an authoritarian approach is necessary for the sake of general society, the child should not be aware of it. The child must feel secure in looking up with total confidence to the teacher’s authority or that of another adult in charge. Everything has to be supported by the tender relationship to authority from the day the child enters the first grade until the 9th year. This relationship should be preserved even longer, but between the ninth and tenth year it will necessarily change somewhat.” pg. 99; Lecture 5: Dornach, April 19, 1923. The Child’s Changing Consciousness.
Interpreting the Hebrew stories in an artistic imaginative way through story and pictures offers my students an opportunity to make it their own by personifying images, empathizing with the experiences, and considering ideals. They do ask the most remarkable questions during recall. Recall is part of our Main Lesson time each day when the children bring back the story from the day before in their own words and descriptions. This year, I have noticed that these stories present an interest in discourse which often begins with the question “Why?”. My answer most often is, Hmmm, I wonder?” Then the discourse begins amongst them.
“Thank you for the opportunity to express these ideas about our third grade curriculum. If you have any questions please e-mail me at [email protected]"
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Waldorf Today provides great resources in their monthly newsletter, this last month included workshops, classes and the article "Ukraine”.
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The Simplicity Parenting Podcast with Kim John Payne, he provides short weekly insights on children and parenting. His latest episode was entitled “Trust Love” and is about listening and “trust in our children's capacity to struggle and to problem solve for themselves” and creating memories.
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The MLWS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Mandate Group welcomes parents, teachers and board members as participants. Anyone with a commitment of continuous attendance during the school year may join. We meet every Thursday at 7pm. DEIJ is currently reading and discussing The Souls of Black Folk, a seminal work written by W.E.B. Du Bois, an African American rights activist, scholar, sociologist, and founder of the NAACP. Du Bois was the first African American to earn a PhD from Harvard University.
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PC Social Engagement Committee |
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What’s an `Access Point?’ 🤔
There are many ways parents and caregivers can make connections, participate, and contribute to our school community and each is an Access Point. You could come to a potluck in the park, attend a music performance, meet another class parent for tea, a walk or bike ride, help sew costumes for a class play, join the DEIJ, start a book study group, tune into a Brown Bag Lunch, or join the Parent Council or Social Engagement Committee. Whatever Access Point you engage in, it’s vital for building community.
Feel free to reach out with feedback to any of the members of the Social Engagement Committee directly.
Paul Lichtenberg (parent of Sebastian, fourth grade and Teo, sixth grade) [email protected]
The PC Social Engagement Committee would also like to invite you to join us after school every first Friday of the month for a Community Potluck Dinner!
Please save the date for our first event:
Friday, April 1st
3:30pm to 5pm
6 Elting Avenue (Kindergarten Playground)
Bring a picnic blanket and your favorite dish to share! To minimize waste, please bring your own plate or bowl and an eating utensil. We look forward to connecting with you! For questions e-mail: [email protected]
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Thank you to everyone who made cards for the “Art for Elderly” Handmade Valentines Cards for Woodland Pond. They were received with great appreciation and hung with love in the medical facility.
We are into the yo-yo weather before spring, with ice and snow one day and 50 degrees the next. We wanted to extend a thank you to Mr. Robb for keeping the grounds shoveled and safe!
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LEARN
Music lessons with Benji Marx! Music Educator, Music Therapy, Graduate Student
Guitar ~ Piano ~ Ukulele ~ Drums ~ Songwriting ~ Recording Technology
As a graduate student in music therapy I deeply believe that music is a pathway for personal growth, self-expression, and emotional development. Music creation is a process that extends far beyond simple mastery of an instrument or idiom. For the last 10 years I have cultivated my musical passion and honed my skills as a classroom and private instructor. I maintain a holistic approach, considering the unique needs and goals of each student. Now, more than ever, I am hoping to share my musical passion with you. About the teacher: Born in Brooklyn, I began playing guitar at age 11 and immediately experienced a deep connection with the world of sound and music. During my formative years I began seeing music less as a hobby and more as an educational pursuit. I studied jazz guitar at Heschel High School and continued these studies at Bard College, where I also began to learn upright bass. There I earned a BA in Music Composition and Performance. During my studies I was twice awarded the Neshi Ertegun Scholarship for Jazz studies as well as the Larry McLeod award. I am now enrolled at SUNY New Paltz, pursuing a Masters in Music Therapy, with a focus on working with children who have special needs. Contact info: 347-661-3000 ~ [email protected]
Join The Vanaver Caravan for SpringDance classes for all ages! Classes begin March 15. Register now to secure a spot.
**Please note we will also offer Creative Movement and CaravanKids 1 classes at Mountain Laurel Waldorf School on Thursdays if there is enough interest. Please email us right away if you are interested so we can open registration for the classes.
SpringDance
March 15-April 5 in the Kiva @ MaMA, Stone Ridge
April 19-May 25 on the outdoor stage @ Stone Mountain Farm, New Paltz
Creative Movement
Tuesdays | *4:15 - 5:00 PM* | 45 MIN | Ages 4-6 | WITH MOO
CaravanKids - Level 1
Tuesdays | 5:00 - 6:00 PM | 60 MIN | Ages 7 - 9 | WITH MOO
CaravanKids - Level 2
Wednesdays | 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM | 90 MIN | Ages 10-12 | WITH LIVIA VANAVER
Youth Company
Wednesdays | *5:30 PM - 7:00 PM | 90 MIN | Age 13+ | WITH ISABEL COTTINGHAM & SPECIAL GUESTS
Register online
For more information
(845) 256-9300
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Women’s History Month Kingston click here for a list of events.
Kol Hai means “all life” and offers musical, meditative, and embodied Shabbat gatherings every Friday night (online for now). Open to seekers of all stripes! We also do monthly meditation retreats (next one 2/26), Jewish holidays, and affiliation circles (trans/nonbinary, social justice, etc). Check us out anytime: https://www.kolhai.org
SERVICES
Guitar and mandolin lessons with Mr. Steve Bernstein, children, teens, and adults are all welcome. Please call: 845-466-0889 or drop a note in his mailbox (2nd floor) at school.
Residential Design and Architecture - Blejer Architecture With all of us spending more time at home, working, cooking, and being with family, many are looking to improve, expand or build new homes. I am happy to discuss all types of projects. Contact Justin Blejer at [email protected], or call 917.637.0341.
The Moolah Doula has helped many Mountain Laurel families reduce stress in their relationship with money. Learn how money conversations can be safe, honest and productive to help navigate these challenging times. Free half-hour consultation. For more information, email [email protected] or click HERE to read a brief article about her work.
Valentine and Wilder's Pet-Sitting Service Serving the greater New Paltz area. Experience with cats, dogs, guinea pigs, mice, turtles, fish, chickens, and cows. Email, text or call Seana at 917-309-7790 or [email protected].
STUFF (For Rent, For Sale, For Free, ISO….)
Bearsville Bakes Birthday cakes, cupcakes and sweets for all occasions. Traditional or Gluten free or sugar free. Email Navah for inquiries. [email protected]
ISO Rental Teacher seeking housing or purchased opportunity within 35 mins of school. Please call Michele Turner 603-543-7045. Thank you for all leads.
Vacation Rental Kaethe Fine, 5th grade parent offering MLWS families, faculty & administration a 15% discount on her new home in Paraíso, Veintisiete de Abril, Costa Rica: Simply and spaciously designed with wood and concrete, newly renovated, 3 bdrm vacay rental w/ new pool, beautiful outdoor shower, lush gardens & near 5 beaches on Gold Coast of Guanacaste Province. Prices vary seasonally. Kids room has 5 beds. Perfect 2-family share. https://www.airbnb.com/h/campocostarica. Call/text interest/inquiry to [email protected] or request to book through Airbnb and say who you are so I can send you this special rate.
OTHER
To find more happenings follow the Mountain Laurel Waldorf School on Facebook, a forum for Parents, Faculty, Alumni & Friends of MLWS & Waldorf education to share ideas, websites, babysitter recommendations, news, photos and all other waldorf related items (Not an official MLWS communication venue).
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Meaning of "Kadomatsu" (gate pine) |
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The Kadomatsu is often made of bamboo and pine with Japanese plum (Ume) branches and is usually placed in pairs, on either side of the doors or gates of homes and businesses.
Pine trees are the symbols of prosperity, vitality and longevity.
In the olden days, Japanese people believed god came down and dwelt in the trunk of the tree.
It is believed that placing the Kadomatsu decoration will attract Toshigami, the god of the year, to one's home and bring good luck for the new year.
Although Japan now celebrates new year on January first, the Lunar New Year is around the first day of spring in February.
Because of this former date for the new year, the Japanese kanji character often written on the Kadomatsu is Geishun, meaning welcoming Spring.
Tomoko Matsunaga
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