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QUICK LINKS
CSWS Website Full School Calendar Update Newsletter Archives  | | Online Shopping |
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PUBLICATION
INFORMATION
Click here for advertising rates and information
or
contact Monica Ness at
(530) 642-9903
Upcoming Submission Deadlines:
Aug 9 - submissions due (Aug 16 publish)
Sept 13 - submissions due (Sept 20 publish)
Please Send All Submissions to:
updatecsws@comcast.net
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 Specialty Program Remains
Strong Next Year
As the Faculty looks toward next year, many of our talented and hard working Subject Teachers will be returning next year. It is only through their talent and dedication that we are able to offer such a rich course of study for our many students.
We will welcome back the following teachers:
- Spanish Senora Massa
 - Upper Grades Math Christine Land
- Strings Timea Pedersen
- Woodworking Mike Cox
- Gardening Chris Cockburn
We welcome Ms. Mutrux to our music program:
As we look to strengthen our movement curriculum, we are in conversations with the hope of consolidating Fifth through Eighth Grade with a single teacher, if possible. Many hands made good work this past year - thank you to Mr. Jackson, Monica Ness, Mr. Taylor and Ms. Cummings for a rich movement experience.
 We are in conversation with our full-time Faculty to assess interest and availability to support additional subject needs. We give sincere thanks to the fine work done by our Class and Kindergarten teachers, as well as paid and parent volunteers in handwork, gardening and movement.
Paula ThompSon
for the College of Teachers
Pedagogical Chair
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Don't Forget the
Dress Code for Your Back-to-School Shopping
Before heading for the mall, please review the revised school dress code.
The current Parent Handbook is also available for your review.
(Adobe Reader required)
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Welcome Back Lauren Hickman
Morning Glory Preschool and Parent-Child Teacher  Lauren is a passionate advocate for young children and their families. She is delighted to re-join the Cedar Springs Faculty as the Morning Glory Teacher. She is the mother of three K-12 Waldorf Graduates, two of which are Cedar Springs Alumni. She holds a M.A. in Education from Touro University, an Early Childhood Teaching Diploma from Rudolf Steiner College, a B.A. in International Relations from U.C. Davis and an A.A. in Chemistry from American River College. An alumna of the Sacramento Waldorf School, she has been a Waldorf Educator for over twenty one years, as a Parent-Infant, Parent-Child, Nursery and Kindergarten Teacher. She directs the Early Childhood Teacher Training Program at Rudolf Steiner College. Lauren is an early childhood mentor and a Licensed Preschool Director. One of Lauren's particular interests is bringing Waldorf education into everyday life, by teaching parenting classes to homeless mothers, working with at risk families and by bringing festivals, puppetry and storytelling to the greater community.
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CSWS Seeking New Families -- Tell Your Friends to Apply Now!
 Waldorf Education is the best gift you can give your child. Cedar Springs is seeking new friends to join us this Fall. Please spread the word to your friends and family.
Our school provides academic excellence and inspired learning in a wholesome, natural setting for children Preschool through Eighth Grade. Only a handful of remaining spaces in our Kindergarten Program - Apply today! - 3-Day Kindergarten (3 & 4 year olds) - Five spaces
- 5-Day Kindergarten (4 ½, 5 & 6 year olds) - Seven spaces
See the Admissions Page of our School web site for an application and more information.
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Don't Miss the Last Kindergarten Puppet Show for this Summer
Our Kindergarten Faculty will be offering one more Puppet Show on:
Friday, July 29, 11 am
Families and friends are welcome to bring a picnic and play in our play yard following the free show. Information about our school and a tour of the Kindergartens will be available following the Puppet Shows for anyone interested. Mark your calendar and bring your friends and family!
Thoroughly Soaking Thursdays!
Don't forget about Thoroughly Soaking Thursdays! To help stay connected over the summer and enjoy some popular local water venues / swimming holes, please join us at any of the Thoroughly Soaking Thursdays. All CSWS continuing and new families, and friends, are welcome. Playtimes begin at 11 am unless otherwise noted.
Click here to see the
Flyer for Park Days Summer 2011
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Mark Your Calendars for These Upcoming Dates
See our full School Calendar on our web site: www.cedarspringsonline.com
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All Community Back-to-School Campus Work Parties
 Calling all teachers and parents, let's get our campus looking ready for the start of school! Please choose one of these dates for at least one hard-working adult from your family to come help clean up our campus. Bring your own water, snacks, tools and gloves. Weed whackers, wheelbarrows, rakes and shovels a plus.
Childcare will be provided for all CSWS students while their parents pitch in. Older students are welcome to assist in the clean up with supervision. Students need to either be working or checked into childcare; this is not a time to roam the campus unsupervised.
RSVP to Scott Krieger (642-9903) or your Class Teacher. If you can't make it on these dates, your help either before or after OR Home Depot/Front Yard Nursery gift cards are more than welcome!
Please choose one of these Saturday dates to send at least one representative from your family to attend:
Saturday, August 20
Saturday, August 27
8 am - Noon
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New Parent Orientation
This is a required meeting for at least one representative from each new family to attend. Bring a photo of your child(ren) and come learn more about our school's philosophy, policies, procedures and practical information before school starts. RSVP to Director of Community Development, Lynn Morgan at lynn.morgan@cedarspringsonline.com or 642-9903.
Saturday, August 13, 10 am - Noon
On Campus - Classroom to be announced
Click here to see details. (Adobe Reader required)
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When Does School Start? 
First Day of Grades
Wednesday, September 7
First Day of Kindergarten
Thursday, September 8
First Day of Parent-Child
Thursday, September 8
Friday, September 9
First Day of Morning Glory
Monday, September 12
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Fun for the Whole Family!
Michaelmas Festival
Saturday, October 1, 10 am - 1 pm
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Kindergarten Orientation
This meeting is required for all new and returning Kindergarten parents (only, no children please at this event, other than infants). Come hear about what to expect in the Kindergarten this year, what to bring for your child's cubby, what help is needed before school starts and meet this year's Kindergarten families. RSVP to your Kindergarten Teacher and bring a potluck dish to share.
Saturday, August 27, Noon - 1 pm
Potluck following in the Kindergarten Play Yard
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Parent-Child Orientation
All parents in our Parent-Child classes are required to attend this informative and welcoming meeting with teacher, Lauren Hickman. You will learn more about our Parent-Child program at CSWS and what to expect prior to attending the class with your child. This meeting is for parents only (no children please, other than infants.)
Saturday, August 27, 2 pm On Campus in the Morning Glory Classroom
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 Why every kid should have
the chance to attend
Waldorf Summer Camp at Cedar Springs
by Jocelyn Smeltzer,
CSWS Kindergarten Parent
Last summer, we put our then five year old son, Fischer, in all four weeks of summer camp at Cedar Springs. Since my husband and I both work, we needed the childcare but after looking around at various other camp options, this was really the best camp we found for our family's needs. We couldn't have been more impressed. The very first week, Miss Veronica helped the kids to make gnome and fairy gardens over the course of the week. At the end of that week, the children each brought home a wide, circular planted pot, about 12 inches in diameter that had lush moss, green plants, and little flowers growing in it. It had a little shell to fill with water for the gnomes and fairies who might visit. The kids had placed round wooden fairy-sized tree stumps in it, and each had crafted a little clay shelter. It was beautiful and just so indicative of the care that went into each week. The amount of detail in this one craft was amazing and we were able to water it and keep it alive all summer and leave it outside at night for the wee folk to visit. Each week of camp continued to delight us with the lovely crafts that the children brought home.
What impressed us even more was after Cedar Springs camp ended, we put Fischer into one week of camp through a non-Waldorf program. What a difference. Even though this other camp was very similar to Waldorf (ie no media, had arts and crafts and songs and nature etc) it kept the kids far too active and stimulated. The counselors never gave the kids down time but had them busy all day, singing songs, playing games, etc. By the time Fischer came home, he was bouncing off the walls. It was just far too much. Needless to say, we didn't return to that camp. But we did come back to the Cedar Springs camp again this summer. Now Fischer is six and again is attending all four weeks. He loves camp and can't wait to go every day. He is so disappointed that next summer he will be too old to attend this summer camp. The teachers put so much care into each day. Again we have been impressed with the amazing crafts the children bring home. One week they made treasure boxes and discovered lovely hidden treasures throughout the play yard. Another week they found hidden sea shells which they used to stamp shapes into clay which they had formed into a pool to go into a garden. This clay was taken and fired and then painted lovingly by the kids. Some kids even made ladders for the creatures to climb in and out of their garden pools. The atmosphere is more relaxed than during school days and Fischer enjoys it when on hot days they have water play. We've compared the prices of this camp versus the other camps we would consider putting him in and this camp is more inexpensive for the amount of time the kids are there and for the value they receive. Plus it's taught by trained Waldorf instructors with many years of experience. What they can bring to the camp to meet the children's individual needs is exceptional. Many other local camps taught by teenagers with little experience just can't compare. All too frequently summer camps are about structure or skill building for a week leading up to a certain accomplishment but this camp lets the kids still have the pleasure of summer vacation and  the joy of just playing and doing creative stuff at school. Other camps are about learning specific facts but this camp is a good blend of physical and mental activity. The kids are engaged but also at the end of the day they are tired...in a good way! We're looking forward to putting our daughter into camp next summer. She can't wait to be a big enough kid to get to go to CSWS summer camp!
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Help Grow Cedar Springs This Year
 The Development of our school as a vibrant, healthy thriving community requires everyone helping as they can throughout the year. Whether you recommend a friend to attend an Open Classroom Tour, ask businesses to donate to our Auction, volunteer your time on a committee, donate to Annual Giving, use eScrip ... all of these individual acts add up for Cedar Springs.
Cedar Springs is blessed with active parents and staff members in various key Development functions. We would love your help in some of these areas this year, as your schedule allows:
Auction Prize Patrol: We're starting our collection of great prizes early this year and are looking for new members to join our Prize Patrol Team. To sign up, contact Lynnette Long (sydne1@earthlink.net) or Sharyn Mairani (sharyn@apiweb.org).
Grant Writing: We've done the research, and now need additional writers to complete grant applications within deadlines, on their own time. For more info, contact Teresa Crowley (teresa@duneguide.com).
Parent Guild: Our Guild meets monthly to plan upcoming community events, support our Faculty with Festivals and other school-related activities and provide regular communication to parents in each class. Let us know if you are interested in serving on the Parent Guild this year, or come to our first meeting once school starts (date and time TBA) to learn more. For more info, contact Lynn Morgan (lynn.morgan@cedarspringsonline.com).
Advertising & Press Release Writing: Are you a member of a local mom's group or other organization where you can get free or reduced rate ads? Are you good at writing, graphics and/or copy layout? For more info, contact Lynn Morgan (lynn.morgan@cedarspringsonline.com).
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AWSNA Summer Conference Inspires Work with Adolescents
Paula ThompSon, Pedagogical Chair
Each year, as a part of our membership and participation in AWSNA (Association of Waldorf Schools of North America), our school sends two representatives to the national meeting. For the past several years, Matt Taylor and I have represented our school, traveling to a different Waldorf School each year. This year's meeting was at the Garden City Waldorf School on Long Island. This school is K-12 and has been at its site for just over 50 years.
There are two parts to this yearly event, a general educational conference and a delegates' meeting. As is often the case with many Waldorf educational conferences, there is a theme for our work together. Currently, we just finished the second year of a three-year-cycle on the Adolescent. This year's guest lecturer, Dr. Peter Selig, brought a deep picture of all the developmental stages that set the foundation for the important phase of human development - adolescence. Click here to read more (Adobe Reader required)
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Do You Enjoy Weed Whacking or Gardening?
Do you or a family member enjoy gardening or the satisfaction from weed whacking? Help your school by pitching in wherever you can this summer. All tasks can be done on your own time:
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New Picnic Tables Wanted on Campus
 Teachers, students and parents alike enjoy eating lunch outside on nice days at Cedar Springs. We could use two or three more weather-friendly, sturdy plastic picnic tables (the kind they sell at Costco and other stores). If you have a good condition one you would like to give to the school or would be willing to donate one as a tax-deductible "in-kind" donation, we would love to have them on campus before school starts.
Please contact Lynn Morgan (lynn.morgan@cedarspringsonline.com or 642-9903) if you can help.
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Summer String Instrument Classes Offered
Introduction to String Instruments with Music and Crafts Offered for Grades 1-2 Dates: August 12 OR 26 Time: 1-3 pm Cost: $40/child Register by Aug 8 via email to: timeapedersenstrings@hotmail.com Introduction to String Instruments with Music and Crafts Offered for Grades 3-4 Dates: August 12 OR 26 Time: 3:15-5:15 pm Cost: $40/child Register by Aug 8 via email to: timeapedersenstrings@hotmail.com Location: On campus - classroom to be announced. For more information, please contact Timea Pederson. |
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Businesses Donating Profits to CSWS
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These businesses donate a portion of all profits to CSWS! |
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