Spanish classes (G5 and up) created an Ofrenda in the entrance hall as part of their study of Día de los Muertos and were invited to add their own memorials.

It was such a pleasure to have so many gathered for our Fall Festival last week. The work showcased by classes was a delight to see and highlighted the depth and breadth of the Waldorf curriculum. Grade 2 played flutes and sang with gusto, Grade 3 energized the crowd with a lively Spanish song about telling time, while Grade 4 had us stamping our feet and clapping to Rattlin' Bog. Grade 5 brought geometry to life through a full-body, mobile pyramid. Grade 6 created an earthquake in the auditorium, and the middle and high school classes delighted the audience with music, poetry and eurythmy. The afternoon culminated in a thrilling collaboration of the Middle and High School choirs, orchestra, and guitar ensembles, bringing to life the French Revolution through Coldplay's Viva La Vida.

On Tuesday, the Seedlings class had a special spooky snack, carved a Jack-o'-lantern, sang Halloween songs, and worked on lanterns for their lantern walk.

We are selling beautiful, fresh evergreens from the Pacific Northwest for delivery anywhere in the continental US. We will donate our profits to the Lakota Waldorf School on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

If you send gifts to families and friends over winter holidays, these are lovely! Buy from us instead of from a big retailer. You will get better evergreens, support a family-owned business that uses sustainable harvesting practices, and support the Lakota Waldorf School.

Sales are open through Nov 3.  Items will be shipped individually (no pick up at school) for delivery starting Thanksgiving week, and are guaranteed to arrive within 2 weeks of Thanksgiving. All payments will be made online using PayPal.



Order online and please share the link with family and friends:

https://sherwoodfundraiser.com/wws

From Micah Bump (MSG Head Coach & HSB Assistant Coach)

Waldorf Faithful Show Up in Droves to Support High School Boys Soccer in Their Quest for the Elusive Double PVAC Banner

For aficionados of the beautiful game, not much can eclipse a finals watch party, especially when in person at the pitch. So when the FIFA top brass scheduled the PVAC Division A tournament final on Monday at 2:15 pm EST to avoid a prime time conflict with the MLS playoffs, the Waldorf Faithful knew it was going to be a special kind of fiesta! The two 2023 PVAC titans- Waldorf Red-Tailed Hawks and Don Bosco Cristo Rey Wolfpack- were going head-to-head for all the football marbles.

Kickoff during school hours meant the team bus, fully decked out with pastel balloons, streamers, and elegant chalk graffiti, had to leave WWS grounds around noon. But was this a caravan of one? Certainly not. Rather, in true Hoosier-esque fashion, the entire community of Red-Tailed Hawks ultras (including several student fan buses stuffed to gleeful capacity) tailgated the team bus up I-270 to the hallowed grounds of the Maryland Soccerplex, eager to witness the jogo bonito.

The Monday matchup marked the third 2023 showdown between these two powerhouses. The first was an early season 1-1 tie. The second was a key late season 1-0 Hawk’s victory en-route to an undefeated divisional title. And the third, on Monday, a disappointing, yet-thrilling, 2-1 Wolfpack triumph. In a testament to their parity, the two teams tied 3-3 over three games. Few goals, swarming defense, and tense back-n-forth action marked all three contests. In the latest iteration, WWS left everything on the field and would have equalized late on two occasions were it not for some stellar play by the Wolfpack keeper. Our Hawks gave it their all and should have no regrets or complaints. Congratulations to all the players and to Don Bosco on their victory!

And congratulations to our seniors Dushyanta, Julian, Mateen, Micah and Tyler! They led the team (and the entire WWS community) on a magical run that exemplified how sport can bring a school together. It brought great joy to see the number of new faces grow at each subsequent game.

And muchísimas gracias to head coach Joey Johnson, AD Taisto Saloma and everyone on the WWS faculty who put the pieces together to make this final game and the entire season sensational.

Can’t get enough of WWS athletics? The basketball schedules are posted! Check the WWS calendar and get your tickets and popcorn for the inaugural season on the hardcourt of the John and Mary Brauer Gym. See you there!

November

2/ Thursday

• No School
• Parent Teacher Conferences

3/ Friday

• No School
• Parent Teacher Conferences

6/ Monday

• Craft & Conversation, 8:45am 

8/ Wednesday

• High School Open Morning, 8:45am - RSVP to enrollment@washingtonwaldorf.org if you'd like to attend.

9/ Thursday

• G11 College Night, 7pm

14/ Tuesday

• MS/HS Morning Tour for Prospective Families, 9am

15/ Wednesday

• CG-G5 Morning Tour for Prospective Families, 9am

17/ Friday

• Half Day Dismissal, 12:30pm
• Fall Bazaar Setup, 12:30pm
• Fall Bazaar Preview Night, 7pm

18/ Saturday

• Fall Bazaar, 10am-3pm

22-24/ Wed-Fri

• No School

View the Calendar of School Days for the 2023-2024 School Year

Follow up from Open P/FO Gathering last week

Thanks to those who were able to attend one of the sessions last week! Your P/FO representative has, or will soon distribute minutes of what we covered.

Sign up early to get the Fall Bazaar shift you want! 

Our Fall Bazaar is less than three weeks away, with setup on Friday, Nov 17 and the big event on Saturday November 18! Please review all the opportunities the Bazaar offers for the whole family to enjoy.

We are so grateful for your help as we endeavor to produce this fundamental fundraising and community building event!

• This is that special time of year when we ask each and EVERY parent/guardian, faculty member, and high school student to work at least one shift.
• Full details and FAQ.
• To sweeten this year’s call to duty the Development Office is once again offering a fun incentive: Sign up by midnight on Nov 8 to be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to the Bazaar’s Waldorf Store!

Lunch Survey

The PLG invites current families to complete a quick survey (~2mins) about your experience with Yay Lunch! We would like everyone to fill out the survey, even if your child does not participate in the school lunch program. Your feedback is incredibly important and will help us continue improving the program for everyone. 

Respond to the Survey

The survey will be open until Monday, Nov 6. Thank you for your time. We appreciate your feedback!

Simplicity Parenting Family Life Course

Thursdays from 4-5:30pm at WWS

Nov 16 - Dec 21

Register

From Simplicity Parenting Facilitator and WWS parent, Drew Sample:

WWS provides the kind of calm and nurturing environment that we know enables our kids to thrive but there are also simple and doable means for replicating that experience at home - for both you and your kids! The Simplicity Parenting Family Life course offers the opportunity for parents to reduce stressors in the home and enjoy a more peaceful and connected home life. 

Parents who want to start applying these powerful practices will get the structure and supportive environment needed to adapt these techniques to their household through a series of meetings facilitated by WWS parent and Simplicity Parenting facilitator Drew Sample.

WWS families will be able to take advantage of aftercare for their child/ren (at the usual drop-in rate; please confirm space with the department coordinators), so that they can focus their attention exclusively on the course material and discussion. WWS families also will receive a $95 discount on the course by using the discount code "WWSfam."

• Register for a free 30 minute webinar and Q&A session - Thursday, Nov 9 at 8pm on Zoom. 
• Register for the Simplicity Parenting Family Life Course
• Contact Drew Sample with questions.

Employment Opportunities

We are hiring for a number of positions - both teaching and administrative faculty. If you know of any candidates, please share the list of open positions on our website and encourage them to apply!

Open Positions include: Enrollment Associate, High School Math Substitute Teacher, Class Teacher ('24-'25), Faculty Chair/Head of School ('24-'25)

https://www.washingtonwaldorf.org/about/employment/

Be a face/hand painter at the Bazaar! 

Face painting is a beloved Bazaar tradition, and it takes many wonderful folks to make this happen for the children. Middle schoolers, high schoolers and adults are invited to learn the tricks and techniques and volunteer as a face painter at the Bazaar. 

Virginia Ibarra, a WWS alum parent, will hold practice sessions at her home, 7 Carver Rd, Cabin John, MD on Nov 5 from 3-5pm & Nov 11 from 10:30am-12:30pm.

• RSVP to torie.gorges@gmail.com.
• Online volunteer sign up for adults.
• Students can sign up outside of the Grade 8 classroom.

If you are a current family - first, check ParentSquare for posts from your teachers, departments (Children's Garden, Lower School, High School), and the administration.

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

• Children's Garden Coordinator - Cecilia Berg-Benson
• Lower School Coordinator - Christen Leonard 
• High School Administrator - Bonnie McClelland
• Operations Manager - Laur Garner

Are you interested in practicing antiracism? 

Please join our Undoing Racism group that gathers once a month to support each other in antiracism work through study, practice and dialogue! This month we are meeting separately in a people of color affinity group and a white antiracism learning space, both at 7:30pm on Monday, November 6. We find that periodically meeting in affinity spaces gives people with a shared experience the opportunity to collectively reflect on and examine their realities. This month's gatherings are open to all and no prior experience is needed. 

To learn more about the affinity group for people of color please contact dinivrao@gmail.com; for the white antiracism learning space, please contact jessetravis@gmail.com.

The Friendship Heights Village "Pop Up Artisan Shop"

From Dale Conway, WWS Alum Family

The Friendship Heights Village "Pop Up Artisan Shop" will be held November 3 from 5:30-8pm and November 4, from 10am-4pm. The event is designed to give local artisans an opportunity to offer their works for sale, to gather with other local artists, and interact directly with customers in a fun and festive environment.

Learn More

Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® Series In Person & Online Options

From Alison Babil, WWS Alum Family

Posture affects ease of movement, breathing, emotions, and much more. Feldenkrais® ATM classes are an incredible tool for gently transforming pain, tension, and movement challenges. Each class takes the student through a series of movements which create new pathways in the brain and body. The aim is greater freedom in one's body and life.

Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® Series In Person: Posture & More

In Person Classes at the Carderock Springs Clubhouse

Seven Thursdays, Nov 2 - Dec 21, 10-11:15am - In Person

Cost: $110, First class free (Nov 2)

For more information and Registration, email Alison: alison@truenorthhealing.com 

A limited number of discounted slots available for those who truly need it. Email Alison to inquire. No refunds or transfers after November 9, 10am EST

Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® Series: Online Feldenkrais Classes with Instill Mindfulness

Short Feldenkrais Series, Tuesdays, Nov 7 - 28, 6:30 - 7:30pm

Registration Feldenkrais Series Online

Alison Babil, GCFP, LMT, is the owner of True North Healing. She is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner®, a certified Sounder Sleep System® instructor, certified in Soul Lightening Acupressure, and has been a licensed massage therapist for nearly 20 years. She works with clients in person and via Zoom, helping them transform pain, movement, and sleep challenges. For more information Email Alison

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