• Summer Is A-Comin' In
• Interim Staffing/Governance News
• Graduation and Beyond
• Farewell to Colleagues
• Annual Giving - Last Chance to Donate
• Day in the Life at the Farm
• Alumni Database
• 40th Birthday Events Coordinator Position
• Seeking Business Office Assistant
• Seeking Early Childhood Afternoon Assistant
• Summer Drop-In Programs

You can also access the Bulletin, including past editions, on the Waldorf School of Lexington's website in the Community Section.

Historically in this country, elementary school calendars were not settled into the familiar pattern we all know. In fact, when children went to school depended very much on where they lived; those who lived in rural areas had summer and winter terms, leaving them free to help with planting and harvesting on family farms during the spring and fall, while those who lived in the city equally divided their school days across the year with short breaks each quarter. But in the 1840s, educators were worried that neither was ideal--the rural calendar gave insufficient time in the classroom while urban students were overstimulated. A compromise was reached with a longer break in the summer for all, freeing up those who needed it and allowing for more time in the classroom the rest of the year.

Thus began the tradition of an extended summer vacation, which students are still happy to enjoy to this day. We hope you enjoy your summer months, however you plan to spend them, and look forward to seeing everyone again in September.

(from Alex Hartman, A Brief History of: Summer Vacation, in Time Magazine)

We are very pleased to announce that Joe O’Regan will serve as Interim School Director while the search for a permanent hire in this position is ongoing. Please click below for more information.

The Class of 2010 is heading off on a new adventure tomorrow when they graduate; they will begin high school in the fall.  The high schools they will be attending are:

Arlington High School
Beaver Country Day
Bedford High School
Boston College High School
Brookline High School
Concord-Carlisle High School
Lawrence Academy
Milton Academy
The Newman School
Newton North High School
St. John’s Prep
Waldorf High School of Massachusetts Bay
Weston High School

Please join us in wishing them well on the next stage of their educational journey. The school community is invited to attend the graduation ceremony for the class of 2010 tomorrow, Saturday, June 12, at 1 p.m.  Please RSVP by emailing Amelia Mueller.  (Click below to view the full invitation.)

At this time of year as we close out the school year, we would like to say farewell and thank you to some of our colleagues at the school who are moving on:

Alice Griffin is taking next year off to have her baby; she expects to return the following year to work at the school. Alice currently assists Wendy Margo in the Shining Stars Kindergarten class and Elizabeth Stubbs in the Early Childhood Afternoon program (12:00 to 3:00pm) and has been the school’s Early Childhood Afternoon program teacher and Extended Day teacher.

Karen Graham is taking up the position as lead Nursery teacher at the Cape Ann Waldorf School. Karen graduates this summer from the Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Education program at Sunbridge Institute. Karen currently assists Mary Beth Melton in the Fairy Bell Nursery Class and has assisted Wendy Margo in the Evergreen Kindergarten Class.

Lastly, we would like to say a special goodbye and thank you to Dolores Kaufmann, who is retiring this June after teaching eurythmy at the school for more than twenty years.

We thank our teachers for their wonderful work at our school and wish them all the best in their endeavors.

Dear Parents & Friends of the Waldorf School of Lexington,

We have had a wonderful school year of working, playing and learning together. As the school year ends, we pause to give thanks for the wonderful gifts we have received this year.

I want to express my thanks to the many families and community members who have participated in our 2009-2010 annual giving campaign. It is truly heartwarming that over 90 percent of current families have supported our campaign this year---a new record for our school!!

Even in this last week of school, we are still receiving donations.

Community giving currently totals are just now at $120,000, leaving us with a further opportunity of over $30,000 in matching potential. In this year of lean operating budget, every gift truly makes a difference. If you would like to give or give again, and have your gift doubled, now is the time! You can give on line at Online Annual Giving or pledge on line at  Pledge to Annual Giving.

As always, don’t hesitate to contact me  if you any questions or feedback.

Many thanks & best wishes for a wonderful summer season,

JoeO'Regan

Every year, the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Grades each have a chance to spend a week at Hawthorne Valley Farm in New York.  While there, the students partake in activites that vary from feeding animals and doing crafts to exloring caves and orienteering.  Karen Weiland has put together a beautiful description of what a day in the life at the farm is like for a third grade class, complete with photos, which you can read by clicking here.

We are currently working on compiling an up-to-date alumni database for the Waldorf School of Lexington. We are gathering data going back to our first graduating class of 1982 in anticipation of the 40th Anniversary events during the 2010-2011 school year. We would like to invite all alumni, former students, and parents to email Lisa Berland  with their contact information, as well as to encourage friends and classmates to do the same.

The school is looking to hire a part-time Events Coordinator to support with volunteers, staff, and suppliers in planning and executing events/activities related to the school’s 40th Birthday celebrations. Click here for the job description.  Please contact Joe O'Regan  if interested.

Seeking a Business Office assistant for the 2010-2011 school year. This position will support the Business Office with accounts payable processing and general Business office administrative work. This assistant will need to have experience in working with accounting software and databases and the ability to work with attention to detail. The assistant will need to be available for 15 to 16 hours a week. To apply for this position, please send a letter of inquiry and a resume, along with three references to Joe O'Regan  at j.oregan@thewaldorfschool.org.