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 | | Sunday, May 1, 2011 | Volume MMX-XI, Issue 28 | |
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Enrollment Contracts Due |
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Please note that signed enrollment contracts for 2011-2012 were due to the Business office this past Friday, April 29. If you have not yet completed yours, please contact the Business Office. |
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Grandparents' Tea |
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The Grandparents' Tea will be on Friday, May 6, 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. The gathering will include morning tea and conversation with Joe O'Regan, Holly Kania, and Robert Schiappacasse, visits to grandchildren's classes, and light refreshments. All grandparents whose names we have in our database have been mailed an invitation. If you would like your child's grandparent to receive an invitation, please contact Holly Kania. Include the grandparent's full mailing address in your email, and we will happily send out an invitation. |
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Student-Faculty Basketball Game |
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Please join us at this year's Student-Faculty Basketball Game next Saturday, May 7, at the Waldorf High School of Mass Bay. Come at 6:30 p.m. for a warm up and stay to watch the basketball teams pit their skills against the faculty. The girls play at 7 p.m., followed by the boys at 8 p.m. Refreshments and admission help support the athletic program. The whole community is invited to attend this fun event. |
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Are You Spring Cleaning at Home? |
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Please consider donating your gently used children's clothing and Waldorf or wooden toys to our school for the 2011 Children's Boutique to be held at the Holiday Fair. Please drop off your donations in the boxes in the Café or Nursery Building. It is also possible to contact Taryn Pinstein by email or phone at 617-527-4547 to request a pick-up. |
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Storytelling and Dreamweaving with Children  |
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Please join us for an evening talk about the power of storytelling with Nancy Mellon on Friday, May 27, 7-9 p.m. in the Blue Sky Kindergarten. Nancy Mellon is a published author and has a background as a Waldorf teacher and therapist and has been connected to Waldorf education since 1976. For more information, please contact Nancy Mellon by email, or call 603-654-2982. Click "read more" above for details about the evening. |
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Upcoming Events at Waldorf |
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Monday, May 2
PCA Meeting, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 3
8th Grade class evening, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 4
Waldorf Park in Arlington, 9:30 a.m.
5th Grade class evening, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 5
Leah's Kindergarten class evening, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 6
Grandparents' Tea, 8:45 a.m.
6th Grade at Medieval Games
Waldorf Park, noon
Saturday, May 7
May Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Student-Faculty Basketball Game, Waldorf High School, 6:30-9 p.m.
Monday, May 9
Morning Glories class evening, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 10
Board Officer Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m.
Finance Committee meeting, 6:30 p.m.
4th Grade class evening, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 11
Waldorf Park in Arlington, 9:30 a.m.
Foundation Studies, 5 p.m.
Friday, May 13
5th Grade Olympics
Waldorf Park, noon
Monday, May 16
1st Grade class evening, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 18
Waldorf Park in Arlington, 9:30 a.m.
Julia's Nursery class evening, 7 p.m.
Mary Beth's Nursery class evening, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 20
Waldorf Park, noon
Eighth Grade Musical, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 21
Eighth Grade Musical, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, May 23
Sweet Peas class evening, 7 p.m.
Buttercups class evening, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 24
Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
7th Grade class evening, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 25
Waldorf Park in Arlington, 9:30 a.m.
3rd Grade class evening, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 27
Waldorf Park, noon
Monday, May 30
No School
Memorial Day
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Events in the Larger Waldorf Community |
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There are many anthroposophical events in and around the Boston area, and beyond, that support and enliven what we do here at school. Please click "read more" above for frequently updated information and resources from the Anthroposophical Society of Greater Boston, AWSNA, The Pfeiffer Center, and others. |
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Hawthorne Valley Farm Camps |
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Do your children enjoy their class trips to the farm? There is still space in the summer camps available for ages 8 to13, where they can live, play, and work on an active bio-dynamic farm. For more information, please click "read more" above.
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Community Classifieds |
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Remember to check the Community Classifieds page on the school website every week for information about any items of more general interest, such as music lessons, professional services, real estate, items for sale, workshops or events in locations other than the school. Advertisers are advised that the Community Classifieds are published via the school’s website for the benefit of members and friends of the school community and can be accessed on the worldwide web.
You can easily access the Classifieds on the school's website in the Community section, where you will also find the submission form and guidelines. Please contact Luana Preston with any questions. |
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In this week's edition: |
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 May Day!- May Day Marionette Show
- Our New Director Begins Tomorrow
- Dress Code Awareness
- DRIVE SAFELY DURING DROP-OFF AND DISMISSAL
- East Lexington Library Renovations
- Mendenhall Concert Success
- Last Coffee House of the Year
- Seventh Grade Job Bank
- Early Morning Arrival
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I like to rise when the sun she rises
Early in the morning
I like to hear the small birds singing
Merrily up on their way-oh
And hurrah for the life of a country boy
For to ramble in the new-mown hay
Today is the first day of May, which is when the May Day holiday is officially observed, although we won't be celebrating as a community until next Saturday, May 7. One of our most cherished May Day traditions is the dancing of the maypole; this is a tradition that goes back many years in cultures throughout the world. It is theorized that the maypole symbolizes the great yew tree Yggdrasil from the Norse myths. Yggdrasil stretched its roots from the lowest world of Hel to the highest world of the gods, Asgard, encompassing all nine worlds within its reach. Dancing the maypole is a way to connect ourselves to the many aspects of our world. The fourth grade, appropriately, always dances the maypole, making an unconscious connection to their Norse Myths Main Lesson block from earlier in the year.
 We would like to warmly welcome our entire community to our annual May Day celebration next Saturday, May 7, 10 a.m to 1 p.m. Help us welcome in the warm weather as Lady Spring finally defeats King Winter, followed by performances in front of the school by the elementary grades, including maypole dancing by the Fourth Grade and morris dancing by the Sixth Grade. Wear your spring garlands and festive garb, and bring a picnic to finish with a lunch on the green. We will conclude with strawberry shortcake for all. Grandparents are especially welcome.
Please bring spring boughs and flowering branches to school this Friday, May 6, to help our decorating effort. There will be buckets of water in the front hallway in which to put your offerings.
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May Day Marionette Show |
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 The Early Childhood Puppetry Troupe would like to extend a special invitation to the community for their marionette show The Hungry Coat, which they will present at the school's May Day celebration in the auditorium at 11:30 a.m. This delightful and humorous Turkish tale is appropriate for the older as well as the younger in our community. We hope to see you there! |
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Our New Director Begins Tomorrow |
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Please join us in welcoming our new School Director, Robert Schiappacasse, whose official first day is tomorrow: Monday, May 2. Robert will drop by Café 8 on Thursday morning for casual conversation if you’d like to come and meet him. Beginning May 19, Robert will hold weekly office hours Thursdays from 10 a.m.-noon. If you would like to make an appointment to see him on a school related matter, call the Main Office at extension 511. To avoid spelling mistakes (how many “p’s” are in Schiappacasse?), Robert’s school email address will be director@thewaldorfschool.org. Joe O’Regan will phase out his work as Interim School Director over the next two months, returning next year to focus his talents exclusively on his role as Director of Finance and Administration. Next time you see Joe, please let him know how grateful you are for his leadership this past year. |
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Dress Code Awareness |
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Dear Parents,
Spring has sprung, so we would like to give you some essential dress code reminders. We need all children to dress appropriately while attending school. All students must wear:
- Supportive and secure footwear
- Solid or overall print clothing (stripes are fine)
- Shirts with shoulder straps that are at least 2 inches wide. (No tank tops or spaghetti straps)
- Clothing that covers the back and belly
- Shorts and skirts must be long enough for the wearer's extended fingers to touch the bottom hem.
Clothing should not reveal cleavage or pectoral area.
Please do not have children come to school wearing excessive jewelry, make up, extreme hairstyles, or nail polish on fingers or toes.
It is important to help the children remain focused on schoolwork as the weather warms. Thank you for supporting a productive learning environment.
Warmly,
Your Waldorf Teachers |
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DRIVE SAFELY DURING DROP-OFF AND DISMISSAL |
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 Please remember to drive carefully and courteously in the school driveway and parking lots. There have been a couple of instances during drop-off and pick-up recently with drivers going too fast, passing unexpectedly in the horseshoe, or distracted while on a cell phone. Please remember that vehicles stopped in the line are discharging or picking up small children, and driving during these high traffic times at the school requires your patience and full attention. Thank you for helping us to keep our drop-off and pick-up traffic safe for all! |
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East Lexington Library Renovations |
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The Town of Lexington will commence exterior renovations on the Ellen Stone Building (the former East Lexington Library) on May 9th. Renovations will continue for approximately 4 months. During this time, a perimeter fence placed about 30' from the building will enclose the construction site. We are awaiting further communication from the Town outlining the renovation process and hope to share specific details with the school community next week. |
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Mendenhall Concert Success! |
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Yet again we experienced another wonderful Mendenhall Concert on April 8, followed by a delicious dessert reception afterwards. This was an elegant, eclectic program, featuring performances by our music faculty, parents, friends, selected students and alumni. The Waldorf School of Lexington thanks all the musicians who worked so hard to produce this extraordinary concert. This concert takes many months of planning and practice. Special thanks go to Leah Bartell, Lynn Nowels, and Jane Sheena for their hard work in putting this program together. We also thank the many parent volunteers who prepared and organized the dessert reception. In particular we thank Carolyn Dittes for coordinating this reception.
Joe O’Regan, on behalf of the Waldorf School of Lexington
Learn more about Robert Mendenhall and the Mendenhall Fund |
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Last Coffee House of the Year |
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 The last Open Mic Coffee House of the year is almost here! Please join us on Friday, May 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the Café. Bring your guitar, your voice, or just your ears--it's a cozy place to share music with a friendly and relaxed group. There will be snacks and songs to keep you happy! Please contact Megan Curtis with any questions. |
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Seventh Grade Job Bank |
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The seventh graders are ready and willing to help out any and all of our community members with household chores, outside tasks, and childcare. For a complete list of which students are available and their contact information, please visit the Parent Pages on our website. |
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Early Morning Arrival |
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 Now that the weather is warm, early morning arrival is outside again. Supervised early morning arrival for students in grades 1-8 begins at 7:50 a.m. in the side yard of the Adams building near the ark; please do not drop your child off any earlier, as there will be no teacher present before that time. Please do not send unsupervised children into the school building before 8 a.m. If it rains, we will gather in the main hallway of the Adams building. Children in the early childhood classes must be escorted by an adult or older sibling for arrival and should wait in the hallway until the classroom door opens. |
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