Upcoming Events
Monday
May
31
Memorial Day
No school

Wednesday
June
2
Virtual Open House
6:00–7:00 p.m.
Photo, above: A scene from the grade school play
Tuesday
June
8
Pentathlon
9:30 a.m.

Wednesday
June
9
Penobscot Culture Day
8:30–3:15 p.m.
Date change

EC Bridge Crossing
12:30–1:00 p.m
Thursday
June
10
Grade School Field Trip
8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m

Last Day of EC

Friday
June
11
Last Day of Grade School
Announcements
June 2 Virtual Open House: Why Waldorf?
Join us on Wednesday, June 2 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. for a virtual open house on what makes Waldorf education unique. Waldorf schools offer a developmentally appropriate, experiential, and academically rigorous approach to education. They integrate the arts in all academic disciplines for children from preschool through the grades to enhance and enrich learning. Waldorf education aims to inspire life-long learning in all students and to enable them to fully develop their unique capacities. There will be a brief presentation by the faculty followed by a Q&A. All are welcome! Pre-registration is required for anyone who is not a current Ashwood family. To receive a Zoom link for the June virtual open house, preregister at info@ashwoodwaldorf.org or call 207-236-8021. Ashwood parents will automatically receive a Zoom link. For current families there is no requirement to pre-register; however, if you can let us know you're coming it helps with our planning.
Pentathlon, June 8
On Tuesday, June 8, at 9:30 a.m. in the upper field the students in the fifth and sixth grades will demonstrate their skills in several athletic events. Upper grades families, please save the date!
Penobscot Culture Day: New Date Is June 9
On Wednesday, June 9 (note change of date), we will be holding a Penobscot Culture Day for all students. Barry Dana, guide, teacher, artist, and former Chief of the Penobscot Nation, will spend the school day with us. Mr. Dana will offer a variety of presentations, stories, crafts, and hands-on activities to the students. After school, Mr. Dana will attend our faculty meeting for a professional development seminar. We hope this day will deepen and extend students' and teachers' understanding of the people and cultures of the region and lands where we live. There is no change to the drop off and pick up routine.
Early Childhood Bridge Crossing, June 9
On Wednesday, June 9 from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m., students in the early childhood will participate in the Bridge Crossing. This event celebrates our time together this year with songs, circle and crossing of the flower bedecked bridge. The event takes place in the rear of the EC building. If weather threatens it will take place in the Cloud Castle.

All EC students and their parents or caregivers are invited; however, due to school COVID restrictions, we can allow only two adults per child to participate.

We ask that parents refrain from taking photographs or videotaping so your children can see your face in the audience during this important moment in their lives. School administration will photograph the event and post photos on the school website within a week or two after the event. 

The following day, Thursday, June 10, will be a regular school day as well as the last day of EC for the 2020–2021 school year.
Grade School Puffin & Seal Watch Cruise, June 10
On Thursday, June 10, grade school children will participate in a puffin and seal watching boat trip with Hardy Boat Cruises for the duration of the school day (8:30-1:00). Drop off and pick up will be off site. Drop off at Hardy Boat Cruises in New Harbor takes place from 8:30–9:00. Pick up will be at 1:00 p.m. at Pemaquid Beach. For details click here.
EC Drop off and Pick up Accommodations for June 10
On Thursday, June 10, the day of the grade school field trip (see accompanying article), families with children in both the grade school and early childhood may wish to take advantage of the following drop off and pick up accommodations: early drop off beginning at 8:00 a.m.; early pick up at noon; late pick up at 2:00 p.m. Please let Ms. Marianne know if you will be taking advantage of any of these options.
Well-fed and Grateful
Thank you, Eve Hadley for the delicious Monday morning treat of German apple pancakes and to Allison Engle for yummy ginger scones!
Classroom Snapshots
Above: Sora (grade 2) and Dolina (grade 1) waltzing during curtain call in "The Pied Piper of Hamelin". Photo 2021 by Sarah Ewing
The Year 1376. HAMELIN (Germany): Country Mouse & City Mouse Part Ways; Piper Vanquishes Rats (Mostly)
On a warm breezy day last week, Class 1-3 presented a rare treat as the Children of Hamelin in our school’s spring performance of "The Pied Piper". The children's voices (and animal masks) reflected the joy and wonder of the early grades and brought a balancing element to the slapstick, physical humor of the upper grades. Laughter and applause all around! Many hours of work and play went into this all-school production, and the children did it all with joy and dedication.

Ms. Doshi would like to thank Willy Ulbrich, Meredith Butler and Tabatha Tucker for supporting class 1-3 and their teacher during the production.

Ms. Purdom would like to thank to all who supported the endeavor, with special mention to the following:

  • Yards and yards of thanks Tabatha Tucker, handwork teacher and parent, for her creativity, ingenuity and good humor as the costume designer for 30 children.
  • A sustained note of gratitude to Sarah Ewing, administrative assistant, who heard the students learning "La Musette" on the ukulele this winter and asked if she might have a copy of the music for the fun of learning it on her concertina. A few weeks later we gave her a rat masked and invited her to do a cameo in the play. She never saw it coming!
  • A round of applause to moms Willy Ulbrich, Margo Burnham, Courtney Oldrin, Katie Turesson who helped Tabatha cut, dye and sew costumes… and more costumes.
  • A big huzzah for dads Par Turesson, Kenneth Kornfield and Donnie Mullen who constructed the backdrop and curtain rod for the stage; Barney Hildreth who made a matching window panel, so our rats could make their surprise entrance; John Anderson for the plywood boxes which became steps and seats; and Tim Beynart for willingness, wood and tools.
  • A deep bow of gratitude for curtain troubleshooting (wind!) to Mike Gaudet, Ashwood's wonderful handyman.
  • And to Joergen Ostensen '13, who played Julius Caesar (a rat) in Ashwood's first production of "The Pied Piper" in 2012: Thank you for coming back to take pictures.

Above: Tucker (grade 6) as the Pied Piper and Faye (grade 6) as Julius Caesar in "The Pied Piper of Hamelin". Photo 2021 by Sarah Ewing
Alumni
Alumni Update: Scarlet Labbe-Watson '20
Scarlet is currently a freshman at Watershed School, and writes that despite COVID restrictions she was able to become part of a very fun, silly, and supportive cohort this year.

—Valerie Shepard '98

"Outside of school I am continuing to pursue violin, which I learned at Ashwood, by taking private lessons and doing chamber music.

This year I have been able to become a part of the wonderful, friendly, close-knit community at Bay Chamber. I want to give a shout-out to my two amazing violin teachers, Sophie and Josie Davis, who I've learned so much from in the past year. Recently, I choreographed a dance to a piece I played for a school project, which was very fun, especially because the pandemic has limited the possibility of dancing in groups.

I am also taking a course on herbs, studying local plants through the lens of western herbalism, Ayurveda, and Chinese medicine. I am also taking a sexual assault awareness and prevention course with Amy Carpenter.

This coming summer, I am excited to say, I am working at three different farms where I hope to learn how to grow herbs, flowers, and produce." 
Alumni Update: Ina Wolovitz '20
"This past September, I started at Camden Hills Regional High School. It has been a wonderful year. Both semesters, I kept busy, taking nine classes in the first semester and eight this semester. I am enjoying most of my classes, especially Algebra II and English. This spring, I joined the Ultimate Frisbee team at the high school, which has been so much fun! We practice twice a week and have played a few games against schools in the Portland area.

Outside of school, I continue to play music, attend my weekly piano lesson, and
rehearse chamber music with a friend. Earlier this May, I received first place in the junior division of the Pine Tree Piano Competition. I got my driver’s permit in October, so I am working on completing 70 hours of driving. I hope to finish them this summer, so that I can get my license before the fall.

Three times a week, I walk to Ashwood after school to meet my sister. Although the walk is short, it’s nice to spend some time outside and decompress after a day at school. I love seeing the teachers and the young students while I wait on the rock doing homework or reading."
Parent Resources
Community Classifieds
Seeking summer childcare. We are seeking childcare help in July and August for our 4- and 2-year-olds in Lincolnville. We're looking for care Monday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. It's important to us to find someone with low potential COVID-19 exposure and who is fully vaccinated. We are also both fully vaccinated. To learn more, contact: Noah T. Winer and Sarah Zlotnik.

Seeking summer childcare. Childcare help needed July 18-August 20 from around 9 a.m.–1:00 p.m. weekdays (but can be flexible, and with possibility of more hours). Children are a 3-year-old girl and a 5-month-old boy. Call or email Rachel at 914-924-1750 or rachel.tulchin@gmail.com.

Spinet piano free to a good home. Measures H: 39" x W: 60" x Depth: 23". This sweet little piano was built by Knabe about 80 years ago and is in great shape. Located in Bangor. Family may help with moving costs. FMI: Sarah Ewing.

Waldorf math summer camps; live via Zoom. Jamie York, and experienced math instructor Sean Aronson, are offering a series of online math courses this summer for rising 6th-9th graders. The courses are designed for students who need some “catching up” in order to enter the upcoming school year with confidence. Click here for a brochure. Click here for registration. FMI: 720-432-6367 o karen@JamieYorkPress.com.
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