Senior Play rehearsal. Read more below and join us on Thursday or Friday this week!

Photo credit: Eli Turner

From Lauryn Morley, Class Teacher

“It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it” 

Nelson Mandela (2012). “Notes to the Future: Words of Wisdom”, p.118, Simon and Schuster

Along the edge of winter and the beginning of spring lies an invitation to action. To nurture new life and marvel at the wonders of growth. As the third grade watched the springtime changes of the outside world echo some of their own inner changes and struggles, the class welcomed all kinds of projects, putting meaning to the term hands-on learning. 

Their hands were in cabbage juice and vinegar to dye eggs and in soil for growing wheatgrass to eat and juice. The class milled wheat berries and felt the soft flour between their fingertips. They dug their fingers into the dirt of the garden beds, floated their hands in the stream to catch frogs, and squished clay to make traditional indigenous house models. They molded dough to make tortillas in Spanish class after learning the names of the ingredients as well as the delicious toppings. They held their arms out for balance as they crossed streams on logs and lifted their hands gently to release the painted lady butterflies they raised from the caterpillar stage. They cut fruit and vegetables to feed Toothless, our bearded dragon. 

All this is in addition to more traditional academic work: writing letters in cursive, putting advanced math to paper, and drawing pictures of their own creation. 

Next week, the class will venture to Hawthorne Valley Farm for a week of meaningful work, putting to use all they have learned this spring.

From Taisto Saloma, Athletic Director

Congrats to the Middle School and High School Baseball Teams on great seasons. 

The Middle School Team competed in the PVAC Championship game at Sandy Spring. The team defeated Spencerville in the quarterfinals, JDS in the semifinals and lost a tough game to St. Anselm's. It was a great season. Thanks for all the fans who came out to each game to cheer on the team. 

The High School Team advanced to the PVAC Quarterfinals, but lost a heartbreaking game to Burke by the score of 3-2. It was a great season and we look forward to next year! 

Go Hawks! 

May

17/ Wednesday

• Simplicity Parenting Class, 6pm

18/ Thursday

• Senior Play, 7pm (see below)

19/ Friday

• Senior Play, 4pm (see below)

22/ Monday

• Craft & Conversation, 8:30-10:30am - Last of the school year! (see below)

23/ Tuesday

• G2 Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7:30pm

24/ Wednesday

• Lunch Music, 12:35pm (see below)
• Lower School Instrumental Music Concert, 3:30pm

25/ Thursday

• G5 Parent/Guardian Meeting on Zoom, 7pm

26/ Friday

• Lower School Field Day, 10:45am-12pm (see below)
• 12:30 Dismissal - No Aftercare
• Picnic Lunch on the Field, 12:30-2pm (see below)

View the Calendar of School Days for the 2022-2023 School Year

Senior Play: The Curious Savage by John Patrick

Thursday, May 18 at 7pm

Friday, May 19 at 4pm

When Ethel Savage's late husband leaves her a small fortune, she decides to make the best of it but her three greedy stepchildren – a socialite, a senator and a judge – commit her to a mental institution, hoping to "bring her to her senses."  With warmth, humor, and dignity, The Curious Savage celebrates those who are often overlooked, emphasizing kindness, affection, and empathy in a world that too often rewards greed and ambition.

The Curious Savage is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection.

Recommended for audience members around 6th grade and older (the director classifies the play as such: "somewhere next to PG but not quite PG-13 - takes place in a sanitorium and has some innuendo, but no overt violence, sex or profanity.")

Craft & Conversation - Last Meeting This School Year

Monday, May 22 from 8:30-10:30am

Come to the entrance hall after drop-off as your schedule allows, any time between 8:30-10:30am. Craft & Conversation is a time to socialize and work together on handwork projects. All are welcome, regardless of skill level.

Lunch Music

Wednesday, May 24 at 12:35

Enjoy a program of original music compositions by Grades 7 & 8 general music classes, taught by Dr. Melissa Chavez. These compositions were submitted as a part of the Young Composers Project of Maryland, and showcase our students’ creativity and proficiency in music reading and notation.

Lower School Field Day and All School Family Picnic

Friday, May 26

• Field Day 10:45am-12pm
• Picnic 12:30-2pm

Field Day is a half day with pickup at 12:30 pm and no aftercare. Families are welcome to come and watch Field Day from the hill.

After the school day concludes, our Field Day Picnic will take place from 12:30 to 2pm on the field. 

• We invite you to bring a blanket and picnic lunch for your family. 
• You can also order bagged lunches from our school kitchen. If you are interested in placing an order, please reach out to Brock directly at washingtonwaldorf@brockco.com. Requests should be submitted by the end of the school day on Wednesday, May 24. More details about the menu will follow.
• Please note that this is a family event outside of school hours. All student attendees must be accompanied by an adult.

Field Day is a Lower School event, but Children’s Garden and High School families are welcome to attend the Field Day Picnic. We will provide popsicles to help keep everyone cool. Please come join us for a refreshing treat and a chance to socialize with other WWS families!

In the spirit of celebrating our community, and the great success of building the John and Mary Brauer Gym, we are in the midst of a week-long participation campaign - "Room to Move: Be Counted." 

Whether you have made a previous gift to the Room to Move campaign or not, we invite you to participate. All gifts made this week by new donors will be matched by anonymous donors, with an additional $50 being added on to each gift, up to a total match of $5,000. Your $5 gift becomes $55, your $25 gift becomes $75, and your $50 gift becomes $100.

Below are the ways you can join us by Friday, May 19 at 4pm ET:

• Check to see if your name is on the donor list
• Make an online gift
• Send cash or a check, or deliver to the front desk
• Deliver a signed pledge form to the Development Office
• Buy a Brick
• Transfer stock

Policies:

• Gifts must be receipted by the Development Office, or a signed pledge form must be submitted.
• If you gave to the One Fund, thank you! In order to be counted in the Room to Move campaign, you must make an additional Room to Move gift.
• In order to qualify for any special incentives, your gift must be made by Friday, May 19 at 4pm ET.
• Giving opportunities to the Room to Move campaign will be highlighted throughout this week, and gifts will be accepted until June 30, 2023.

Summer Camps - Register Today!

Some of our camps for older students have low registration numbers. If any camp doesn't meet its minimum by May 26, it will be cancelled. If you've been thinking about signing up, now is the time. Spread the word to friends!

Learn More & Register

• BigSis Portal - keep your contact information up to date!
• Current Health Policy - updated Aug 29, 2022.
• Lunch program info for current families in ParentSquare.
• Map of the pickup and drop-off flow.
• Magnus Portal for student forms.
• Bulletin newsletters.

If you cannot find the information you are looking for on ParentSquare, please email your department coordinator/administrator:

• Children's Garden - Cecilia Berg-Benson
• Lower School - Christen Leonard 
• High School - Bonnie McClelland

Potomac Crescent Waldorf School Community Event with Puppet Shows

PCWS is excited to host their first community-wide event at their new school location:

424 N. Washington Street

Alexandria, VA 22314.

Saturday, May 20 from 10am-2pm

• Beech Tree Puppets will perform two shows (10am & 11:15am) followed by a fundraiser picnic lunch prepared by students as part of their curriculum.
• Jump ropes made by students will also be sold to support PCWS. 
• Please bring a picnic blanket.

Learn more and purchase tickets.

Weekend Elder Care Available

from Natalie Adams (Former WWS Faculty & Alum Parent)

Photchana (Thum) Keadrit seeks weekend hours in elder care. She recently started a new weekday position and before that worked six plus years for a family taking care of a couple in their 90s. She helped my 96 year old mother-in-law who needed support recovering at home from being in the hospital. She provided the best care my mother-in-law has ever had.

Thum has two related licenses: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Certified Medical Technician (CMT). In addition to being an exceedingly patient, thorough, and loving caregiver, Thum is an excellent cook, responsible driver, and first rate organizer; she can help with whatever one needs around the house. She also has more than two decades experience as a nanny for children from birth through the teen years. She helped care for my two children (WWS class of '05 and class of '08) when they were young.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or call Thum directly on her cell phone 301-792-1523. Natalie Adams 301-221-6224.

Looking to Adopt a Dog?

From Gemma Sage (WWS Family)

Hi, I'm Connor! I'm just the perfect combination of joyful puppy energy and love of everything and everyone. I walk nicely on a leash, and I love treats and training. I can't get enough physical contact, so bring it on! I loooove to play with my doggie friends and I have friendly body language so most dogs like to play with me too. I love kids and people of all ages. I live in a foster home with both little kids and big kids, two other dogs and two adult humans... I love them all but I would love even more to find my forever home where I can stay!

Please reach out to Kirsten Strade at vegsister@yahoo.com or Gemma Sage (240) 441-9156 if you’re interested.

Published by the Washington Waldorf School

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Culinary Camp Photo by Andy Chilton on Unsplash

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