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No School Tomorrow |
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Please note that the school is closed tomorrow, Monday, October 10, in observance of Columbus Day. |
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Parking Reminder: Ministers' Spots |
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Please be aware that parking is prohibited in the two marked ministers' spots that belong to the Follen Church. They have two ministers and both spots are needed. Please show consideration for our neighbors. |
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Drop-in Craft Sessions |
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Please join us this week for crafting and laughing as we continue to make knitted animals and balls, as well as create beautiful felt wands and bracelets for the Angel Room. We will meet on Tuesday and Thursday after drop off (around 8:30 a.m.) until 10 a.m., and Wednesday 8:30-11 a.m. If you do not know how to knit or sew we will be happy to teach you. Hope to see you soon!
Warmest Regards,
Debbie and Yoshiko
Holiday Fair "Angel Room" Coordinators |
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Back by Popular Demand: Waldorf Dad's Connection |
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The PCA-organized Waldorf Dad's Connection is meeting again this year! The first event is this Friday, October 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Village Forge Tavern of the Colonial Inn in Concord. Drop in for relaxed conversation with other Waldorf parents and celebrate the start of the new school year. We hope to see you there. Contact Juleby Hirsch for questions or directions. |
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Queen of the Sun Viewing at School |
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The award-winning movie about honey bees Queen of the Sun will be shown on Sunday, October 16 at 3 p.m. here in the Waldorf School of Lexington auditorium. The movie, which is suitable for sixth graders and up, will end by 4:30 p.m. and for those wishing to participate, a there is a discussion that ends at 5 p.m. The film was shown at the Museum of Fine Arts in June. For more information and to watch the trailer, please visit the Queen of the Sun website. |
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Upcoming Events at Waldorf |
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No School
Columbus Day
Tuesday, October 11
7th and 8th Grades to Hulbert Outdoor Center
Board Officer Committee meeting, 6 p.m.
Finance Committee meeting, 7 p.m.
1st Grade class evening, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 12
Foundation Studies, 5 p.m.
Development Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, October 14
7th and 8th Grades return
PCA Dad's Group, 6:30 p.m.
Fireside Chat, 7 p.m.
Monday, October 17
2nd Grade class evening, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 18
Info Session for Current Nursery & Kindergarten Parents, 8:45 a.m.
Fairybell Nursery class evening, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 19
Evergreen Kindergarten class evening, 6:30 p.m.
Transitional Nursery class evening, 7 p.m.
Little Meadow Nursery class evening, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 20
8th Grade class evening, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 21
Fireside Chat, 7:30-9 p.m.
Sunday, October 23
Open House, 1-3 p.m.
Monday, October 24
4th Grade to Hawthorne Valley Farm
Open Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 25
5th Grade class evening, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 26
Foundation Studies 5 p.m.
Friday, October 28
4th Grade returns from Farm
Kim Payne Lecture, 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 29
Kim Payne Workshop, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. |
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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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Community Classifieds |
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Remember to check the Community Classifieds page on the school's 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.
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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You can also "like" us on Facebook!
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In this week's edition: |
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 Michaelmas Imagination- Board of Trustees Update
- Fireside Chats Have Begun!
- Thank You from the Eighth Grade
- Winter Coat Sale
- 'Simplicity Parenting' Lecture and Workshop with Kim John Payne
- Halloween Walk Needs Volunteers
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Michaelmas Imagination |
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 Yellow the bracken,Golden the sheaves,
Rosy the apples,
Crimson the leaves,
Mist on the hillside,
Clouds gray and white,
Autumn, good morning,
Summer, good night!
Imagine a tiny acorn that has been growing from a tiny bud high on a giant oak tree, hanging in the warmth of the sunlight all summer. Now that it's getting cooler, the once-green leaves that grew around it are beginning to turn brown and fall, one by one, to the ground, and soon, the acorn follows. Perhaps a squirrel finds this small, smooth brown nut once it lands in the grass. The squirrel carries this acorn to a secret place--so secret the squirrel may not remember where it is in the spring--and buries it deep in the dark dirt.
As the frosts begin to come, the acorn is safe below the surface, held tightly in the hard earth, waiting. It waits as snow covers the land above, and winds whip across the surface. The acorn is still waiting.
But eventually, the sun's rays begin to overpower the cold air, and warmth spreads first across the surface of the land, and then creeps down below the surface to the waiting acorn. Now, all the power of this warmth meets the spark that has been waiting inside all winter, and the acorn begins to expand. It puts out some tiny roots before it sends a small, tentative shoot to the surface, where it meets the sun again at last. It can spread above and below the surface, strengethning as the years go by, summer to winter to summer, and eventually, tiny acorns appear to begin the cycle once more.
During the Michaelmas season, we can imagine ourselves as this acorn, storing light and warmth from a productive summer to strengthen us through the winter. Michaelmas shared a date with Rosh Hoshana this year, taking place on Thursday, September 29. The students celebrated with the Michaelmas Games this past Thursday. |
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Board of Trustees Update |
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The Board of Trustees held its first monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 27. It was a wonderful meeting structured around the list of priorities for the 2011-12 school year (as composed during the summer Board retreat and dialogue with the College), and where we welcomed three new members: Christine Alaimo, Leah Palumbo, and Juleby Hirsch.
With full attendance by the board and ex-officio participation by Robert and Joe, we opened the meeting by singing an autumn song together, then received a “status of the school” report from Robert, heard a positive enrollment status from Joe, and then reviewed the recent activities of the various committees that have already been meeting this fall: Teacher Compensation, Finance, Audit, Development, Master Campus Planning, Accreditation, Long Range Plan. Last year was a banner year for the school, with many great successes and sound financial outcome. This year is promising to be a great one as well, with very exciting community-wide activities such as fireside chats and campus planning.
Please mark your calendars for the October 24 Open Board Meeting which is an open board meeting to all community members who are interested. We will have our auditors there and review last year’s results as well as review this year’s activities according to our annual priorities and goals. We look forward to seeing you there and to a great year.
Mooly Dinnar
President, Board of Trustees
Pictured: Members of the Board of Trustees. (Numbers indicate students’ graduation year).
Front row, l – r: Jonathan Green, P ’09, ’15; Jeff Ask, P’12,’14; Miguel Canizares, P ’17, ’20; Helene Svahnqvist, P ’15, ’16, 18; Juleby Hirsch, P ’20; Second row, l – r: Wendy Margo, Evergreen Kindergarten Teacher; Leah Palumbo, Blue Sky Kindergarten Teacher; Susan Cody, Administration; Shannon Ames, P’18, ’20; Helena Niiva, Grade 6 Class Teacher; Keith Hartt, P ’18; Christine Alaimo, P’17; Back row, l – r: Mooly Dinnar, P’11, ’13, ’15; Robert Schiappacasse, School Director (Ex-Officio); Ted Braveman, P’13. Not pictured: Joe O’Regan, Finance & Administration Director (Ex-Officio) |
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Fireside Chats Have Begun! |
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Fireside Chats began this past week attended by parents, an alumni parent, and a member of our board of trustees and college of teachers. Discussions were lively and interesting and included school topics such as bathrooms, gardening in the curriculum, parent-tot program moving to the basement, parent education (what has happened to the Waldorf 101 series?), welcoming new families, involving parents more in festival celebrations, fundraising at our school, and more.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to meet parents from other classes and discuss school plans. Fireside chats only come every four of five years. Sign up today!
Remaining dates, all beginning at 7:30 p.m.:
October 21, 2011
November 5, 2011
November 11, 2011
Email Joe O’Regan to sign up. |
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Thank You from the Eighth Grade |
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Thank you for your generous contributions to our pizza lunch fundraiser! Many of you have added voluntary donations to your children’s order forms, and we want to thank you for your gifts. We really appreciate your support of our eighth grade trip. We would make a thank-you card for each of you, but we are so busy learning the curriculum, and so many of you made donations that we hope this note of gratitude will suffice.
Sincerely,
Olivia A., Alexander, Simone, Aaron, Matthew, Megan, Mia, Anna, Jaeda, Gabrielle, Cormac, Anelyse, Olivia P-D, Hannah, Stephen, Sarah, Eva, Noah, David, and Mrs. Smith |
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Winter Coat Sale |
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The seventh grade is having a Winter Coat Sale (including all winter gear), Saturday, October 15, at 900  Mass Ave from 8 a.m.-noon. The seventh grade is holding this event to raise funds for their eighth grade class trip next year. If you would like to contribute gently used winter coats, snow pants, boots, hats, or gloves it would be welcomed and appreciated. The drop-off is at the 900 Mass Ave location, on the porch of the house in the back, or you can bring donations to the Café on Friday, October 14 and Elisa Cleary will joyfully accept the contribution. Come check out the sale on the 15th for fantastic deals on winter items! With gratitude, The Seventh Grade |
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'Simplicity Parenting' Lecture and Workshop with Kim John Payne |
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The PCA is pleased to present the renowned author and speaker, Kim John Payne, for a Friday evening lecture and Saturday morning workshop on October 28 and 29. Kim John Payne, M.Ed is the author of Simplicity Parenting, an  approach that offers a clear and effective pathway to simplifying the four realms of home, which reduces stress on children and their parents and allows room for concentration, creativity, and relaxation. Mr. Payne is a consultant and trainer for over 110 North American independent and public schools. He has been a school counselor, educator, consultant, and researcher for nearly 30 years, and a private family counselor for more than 15 years. Learn more about Kim John Payne and Simplicity Parenting by visiting www.simplicityparenting.org.
You can register for the lecture and workshop in Homespun or on the school's website. The Waldorf School Auditorium seating for both the lecture and workshop is limited; please reserve your seat by October 24 and take advantage of reduced pricing. For a more rewarding experience, we warmly encourage parents who intend to participate in the Saturday morning workshop to also attend the Friday evening lecture. For parents who are able to attend only one event, the Friday evening lecture is recommended. |
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Halloween Walk Needs Volunteers |
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 You can still be a part of this magical event for our nursery and kindergarten children on the morning of Monday, October 31 by volunteering for one of several openings found on the sign-up sheets posted in both the lobby of the Nursery building and near the Kindergarten classrooms in the Adams Building. Volunteer opportunities are open to all. In order to preserve the magic of the day, please remember not to discuss your participation or particulars of this event in the presence of the children. Questions may be directed to this year’s Walk Coordinators, Allison Moody at 617-259-7204 and Lori Wright at 781-863-7252. |
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