The above quote is from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" (April, 1963) which was a precursor to the Children's Crusade for Civil Rights that swelled in Birmingham, AL in May of 1963. This year, we are celebrating achievements of the Civil Rights Movement as we honor Dr. King.

The students in Grades 5-12 are viewing the documentary Mighty Times: The Children's March (2005 Documentary Short Subject Academy Award winner). In an assembly this afternoon, the students in Grades 11 & 12 served as discussion leaders for groups of students in Grades 7-10. Grades 5 & 6 are discussing the film in their classrooms.  

Grades 1-4 are reading stories about the Civil Rights Movement and engaging in related art projects.

Thanks to the Antiracist & Belonging Curriculum Committee (ABCC) for shepherding the film viewing and discussions and to our Librarian, Tammy Gompper, for providing reading materials.

All are welcome to join as we gather for a time of collective service from 9-11am on MLK Day, Monday, Jan 20. See details below.

Just before graduation last year a few of our seniors shared their thoughts on their time at WWS as they prepared for the next steps in their journeys.

View the videos on our website.

What has WWS given you that you will carry forward into your next adventure?

Describe WWS in 1-2 Sentences...

You might be a Waldorf kid if...

Do you have an alum update to share or new contact information?

We'd love to hear from you.

Thanks to Lynn Wenning-Adelmann (G7 Class Teacher) for this group photo from the recent Middle School Dance!

January

16/ Thursday

• TC Meeting, 5:30pm (see below)

17/ Friday

• 2025-2026 Applications Due (Prospective Families)

18/ Saturday

• CG Open House, 10am (Rescheduled from last week due to snow)

20/ Monday

• No School
• MLK Day of Service, 9-11am (see below)

24/ Friday

• Winter Festival (G1-12), 4-5:30pm (see below)

29/ Wednesday

• G5 Play, 4pm
• Rising G1 Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7pm

31/ Friday

• G7&8 Green Meadow Friendship Games (Jan 31 - Feb 1)

🏀🏀🏀View the Athletics Calendar on our website.

Trustees Council Meeting

Thursday, Jan 16 at 5:30pm

WWS Trustees Council (TC) meetings are held monthly. The first 45 minutes (approximately) are open to the community, and all are welcome to attend. 

At the beginning of each TC meeting, there is a brief study of Waldorf Education / Anthroposophy. Following the study is a comprehensive report from our Head of School/Faculty Chair that includes updates from the various administrative departments of the school as well as other pertinent information. The PFO Executive Team also shares updates from their work with the school community during this portion of the meeting. 

MLK Day of Service

Monday, Jan 20 from 9 - 11am

Let’s come together to make a positive impact in our community!

On-Campus Activities

• All Ages:
• "Thoughtful Treasures" Gift Bags: Help assemble cheerful gift bags for children receiving care at the National Institutes of Health.
• High School Students & Adults:
• Free Minds Workshop: Participate in a writing workshop to provide feedback to incarcerated poets.

Please RSVP in advance. Thank you!

Partnering Organizations

• Free Minds Writing Workshop: Uplifting incarcerated voices through poetry and creative feedback.
• Children’s Inn at NIH: Creating moments of joy for children undergoing treatment at the National Institutes of Health.
• N Street Village: Empowering homeless and low-income women in the DC area. Please drop off donations for N Street Village in the Foyer by Friday, Jan 24. You can also purchase from their Amazon Wishlist. 

For more information, contact Erika Bryant-Northcutt.

Thank you for your generosity and commitment to service!

Winter Festival

Friday, Jan 24 from 4-5:30pm

We are excited to offer parents/guardians a window into student life at WWS. This will be a time of sharing based on class activities and learning in grades 1-12. It is an opportunity to see what your child has been up to as well as what is in store for them in the years to come.

Students will stay with their class and staff from dismissal until their performance time. Once a class has finished their performance, they will return to their classrooms until the festival is done. We ask that all families please stay until the festival is complete before picking up students from their respective classrooms.

Save the Date: Our Annual Gala Needs You!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 26 and join us for a magical evening of dinner, dancing, and purpose-driven giving at our annual Gala. This event supports our school’s financial aid program, helping more families benefit from an exceptional education.

We are seeking sponsors to make this year’s Gala the best yet. Do you have connections to local businesses or individuals who might share our mission? Thank you for submitting sponsorship recommendations.

Let’s work together to create an unforgettable night while making a meaningful impact!

Final Call to Join Simplicity Parenting Course at WWS

4 Saturdays starting Jan 18 from 9:30-11am

Time to register for the Simplicity Parenting Family Life group course! This class is the perfect opportunity to pick up useful frameworks and tools that will make meaningful improvements to family life, solidify the things that are already working well, and deepen your ties to a community of like-minded parents who will support you along the way. Our focus is on building connections and having fun with it! 

Register by 10pm on Friday night to join 4 Saturday morning sessions starting this weekend! 

Cost: $299 - Use code WWSFAM for 50% off, subsidized for current families by the school.

https://www.thefatherhoodcircle.com/simplicityparenting-wws 

We are thrilled to welcome Luna Oliveira as our new Early Childhood Educational Support Teacher.

Luna joins the CG program to provide students with educational support that is individually tailored to their needs in the classroom. She is a board-certified occupational therapist with experience working with children, adolescents and adults with neurodevelopmental differences. Luna began her career working in schools as a gardening and crafts teacher at a school for individuals with neurological differences before she became an occupational therapist. Originally from Brazil, Luna enjoys painting, print-making, gardening, and metalsmithing. 

• Fellowship in Maternal & Child Health Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities from the University of Hawai’i
• Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Washington University School of Medicine
• Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from University of Saint Thomas

You will see more of Tarina Szemzo's smile when you visit campus as she has expanded her role from Enrollment Associate to include Children's Garden Coordinator and Front Desk coverage in the mornings.

Tarina’s passion for Waldorf Education began with her own journey attending Parent-Child classes with her first daughter. Committed to fostering a holistic approach to both parenting and education, she is excited to expand her role beyond welcoming new families to our community.



Her background in music has allowed Tarina to witness the profound impact of the arts on both children and adults. Additionally, her work with families in the lactation and postpartum field has given her firsthand insight into the importance of nurturing appropriate attachment in infants and children. Tarina believes that her experiences in these areas have naturally led and supported her on her journey into Waldorf pedagogy.

From the Pasadena Waldorf School

The Pasadena Waldorf School in Altadena, California, lost its beautiful Paquita Lick Machris Campus in the Eaton Fire on January 7th. The community of PWS teachers, students, families, alumni, and friends are devastated by this loss. Every building has burned to the ground across what was a beautiful and peaceful 5-acre campus for our Kindergarten through Grade 8 programs.

We are grateful that so far, our nearby Mendocino Street Campus, where the preschool and high school are still standing, but it is going to take time, love, resources, and money to return to our special Waldorf program at the Mariposa Street Campus.

From the Westside Waldorf School

The Westside Waldorf School in Pacific Palisades, California, suffered a profound loss when its McComb Campus was destroyed in the Palisades Fire on January 8, 2025. This historic building, along with its beautiful courtyard and spiral of classrooms, has been a cornerstone of Waldorf education, nurturing countless children and families in the Westside of Los Angeles since January 2007. The entire campus for grades one through eight, including the woodshop where the heights of every student have been lovingly marked on the wall, has been lost.

In addition to losing their school, many of our students and faculty are facing displacement, ongoing evacuations, and the loss of their homes and belongings. Our greatest wish is to rebuild as a way to heal and demonstrate our commitment to our beloved and resilient community.

Please visit the schools' websites to learn more and see the Community Notices section below to learn more about WWS faculty who are coordinating support.

21st Annual MCSR Black History Month Film Festival

Sunday, Feb 2 from 10am-4pm

AFI Silver Theatre And Cultural Center, Silver Spring MD

8633 Colesville Road Silver Spring, MD 20910

WWS families received this invitation from MCSR, with whom the high school is partnering this year.

MCSR (formally Men Can Stop Rape) is thrilled to invite you to our 21st Annual Black History Month Film Festival, an event dedicated to celebrating the rich and powerful stories of Black history and culture through the lens of film. 

This year’s festival will feature a curated selection of thought-provoking films, followed by engaging discussions that explore themes of resilience, empowerment, and social change. It promises to be an enriching experience for all attendees.

We’d love for you to join us as part of this special occasion.

Passes are limited, reserve your spots today!

Should you have any questions or require additional information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at admin@mcsr.org. We look forward to celebrating this important month with you.

The Parents Council of Washington is pleased to present a screening of:

Screenagers Under The Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs, and Alcohol in the Digital Age. 

Wednesday, Feb 5 from 10am - Noon

The Avalon Theatre

5612 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20015

This is the third feature documentary in the Screenagers trilogy, delving into how the tech revolution has reshaped adolescence and its effects on substance use. The film debunks myths and depicts strategies that parents and schools can use to encourage healthy decision-making, support teen mental health, set limits, and create a healthy home environment. Screenagers Under The Influence fills a pressing need for a film that explores common scenarios grounded in teens’ exposure to social media and other content about vaping, drugs, alcohol, and gaming.

After we view the documentary, the film's co-director, and co-producer, Lisa Tabb, will join us for a moderated discussion about the topics raised in the film. Lisa Tabb is a distinguished producer with a background in digital media and parenting. In addition to Screenagers, she co-produces the Screenagers Podcast and edits the weekly blog “Screenagers’ Tech Talk Tuesday."

All PCW member school parents and caregivers, administrators, faculty, and staff are invited to this in-person event.

Register for the Screening

We are excited to share our Summer Camp offerings for 2025.  

Preschool and Kindergarten-aged children are invited to the Children's Garden Summer Camp, where they will spend their days following the gentle rhythm of our CG classes. They will help prepare their daily snacks, listen to stories, and spend their day in open-ended play. These sessions will be led by our beloved Children’s Garden teachers. Please note that children must be potty trained.

Rising Grades 1-4 have two camp options that run for all six weeks. Waldorf Adventure Camp will take the children off campus to explore local parks and swimming holes in the morning. Waldorf Discovery Camp will take place on campus, with the children sharing stories, doing art and handwork projects, cooking and gardening, and they’ll have plenty of unstructured time to play. Combined afternoon activities for both camps will include more free play, games, and crafts.

Rising Grades 5-8 can spend a week clowning around in Circus Camp, honing their basketball skills with Coach Taisto, sharpening their cooking skills with Chef Eron, creating a comic strip, making their own yarn - dyeing it - and crocheting a little creature, or having other adventures!   

High School students can join Chef Eron for an advanced cooking class. We are also looking to hire high school students (over 16 years old) as CITs for our other camps - please email camps@washingtonwaldorf.org for more information.  

Learn More & Register

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 - Tarina Szemzo
• Lower School Coordinator - Margaret Mansker
• High School Administrator - Bonnie McClelland
• Operations Manager - Laur Garner

Support for Those Impacted by the CA Wildfires

If you are interested in joining others from WWS who are offering direct support to those impacted by the CA wildfires:

• Laur Garner (WWS Operations Manager), who is from Pasadena, is coordinating grocery gift card donations to support immediate needs.
• Stephanie Dorius (WWS G8 Class Teacher) is in direct contact with a Pasadena Waldorf School teacher about how to best support their faculty and students as they move forward.

Lisa Makes Pie: Savory Pie School

From Lisa Catalone Castro (Alum Parent)

Learn More & Register

Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® Series In Person

From Alison Babil, WWS Alum Parent

In Person Classes at the Carderock Springs Clubhouse

This Feldenkrais® series will focus on early developmental movements.

Feldenkrais gently transforms pain, tension, and movement challenges. Classes take students through a series of movements which create new pathways in the brain and body. The aim is more freedom in one's body and life.

"I had hip pain before class, and now it is gone! I also feel much more balanced." -- W.L., Feldenkrais class participant

Tuesdays, Jan 28 - Mar 18, 1:30-2:30pm

Carderock Springs Clubhouse

For more information and Registration:  

Email Alison with questions and to register: alison@truenorthhealing.com and send

• Payment via PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle for $160.  
• First class free for newcomers.
• Discounted rate for Carderock Springs members, email Alison to inquire.)
• A limited number of discounted slots available for those who truly need it. 
• No refunds or transfers after Jan 29, 1:30pm EST regardless of illness or pandemic

Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® Series: Online

Feldenkrais Classes for Melting Freeze with Maintain Alignment

Freeze shows up in many ways in the body, mind, and heart. These classes will gently meet and transform patterns of freeze and tension. 

Wednesdays, 5:30-6:30 pm EST. Next series begins Jan 22.

"Since the Feldenkrais class with Alison I have more energy, strength, mobility, and presence. This is such powerful work. THANK YOU Alison!" -- Feldenkrais for Melting Freeze Participant

Seasonal Feldenkrais Series in 2025. Topics include:  Tending Anxiety, Tending Breath, Tending Joy and Tending Sleep. Topics will interconnect.  

For more information and registration:  Registration

A limited number of discounted slots available for those who truly need it. Email Alison to inquire:  alison@truenorthhealing.com

Disclaimer: Classes are not a substitute for medical care. Alison makes no claims to healing specific health challenges.

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 Insight Acupressure, and has been a licensed massage therapist for over 20 years. She works with clients in person and virtually, helping them transform pain, movement, and sleep challenges. For more information Email Alison

Published by the Washington Waldorf School

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