Faculty Staffing Updates

Changes in our Strings Program

Just as your children grow and change, so too does your Faculty and Administrative Staff.  As you already know, we have wished two of our fine Class Teachers a fond farewell as they turn their focus toward hearth and home (Rhoda Cortez and Keri Cummings.)  Additionally, we also bid farewell to our Strings teacher, Mrs. Pedersen who has shepherded our Fifth through Eighth Grade strings students through many very enjoyable concerts.  She will continue to work privately with motivated students and families and can be contacted directly should you be interested.  Following on her good work will be our new Strings Teacher, Mr. Jeremiah Massey.  He currently teaches private strings lessons in Cameron Park and has conducted summer strings ensembles for a number of years.  He was able to attend our Spring Concert this year and is excited to work with a school with so many motivated strings players. 

Changes in the Kindergarten

As we all know, we are blessed with a wise and experienced Kindergarten faculty.  This past year, our dear Teacher Lauren Hickman (3-Day and Parent-Child Program) worked two jobs - full time at Cedar Springs and half-time at Rudolf Steiner College (RSC) as their Director of Early Childhood Education.  Moving into this next year, Teacher Lauren is stepping down from superhuman to merely super.  She will return to RSC full time in her Director's position, but will continue on in her very important work with CSWS in the Parent-Child Program.  Teacher Lauren is the wise and loving light that supports parents and very young children and offers an introduction to the wisdom of Steiner's understanding of child development and education for young children.  We are thrilled to have her continue in this very important work for our Age, and our school community.

Ms. Christl Michele, who assisted Ms. Veronica last year and is a fully trained Waldorf teacher, will step into the lead position in 3-Day Kindergarten.  We have been so fortunate to have her join us this last year and we look forward to her sharing her many gifts and talents not only in the Kindergarten, but with the school community in general.  Ms. Susan, Ms. Inge's assistant, will be moving over to support Ms. Christl in the Morning Glory Kindergarten.  Lastly, we are bidding a fond farewell to Kelly Barton (past assistant in Morning Glory Kindergarten), who has accepted a new position outside the school.  She has been a strong and steady presence in the Kindergarten and she will be missed.

Open Positions

Two 5-Day Kindergarten Assistants Needed

Our Kindergarten changes will mean that we are looking for two new 5-Day Assistants for the Rose and Lily Kindergartens.  If you, or someone you know, is interested in the work of the Kindergarten, please contact Ms. Veronica, Kindergarten Chair for conversation. (EC units are required, as we are a fully licensed program.  If units are needed, community college work toward credits would be required.)  These positions are vital to our Kindergarten and a strong interest and talent in working with young children along with a very dependable schedule are desired.

Sixth Grade Teacher

The Hiring Committee continues its search for the appropriate teacher for the rising Sixth Grade.  We anticipate a decision in the next few weeks.

Here's wishing your family a healthy and relaxing summer!

Paula ThompSon

Pedagogical Chair

WANTED: Retired Pentatonic Flutes

It is traditional in most Waldorf Schools for 1st Grade students to receive their first wooden flutes soon after the beginning of the new year.  Here at Cedar Springs we are no exception.  It is an exciting time for the students and begins their eight year journey of playing a musical instrument.  As much as developing fine motor skills and an "ear" for tones and intervals, instrumental music playing has a harmonizing effect on the class overall.  While each child has an instrument, they are listening to the pace and tone of the others and trying to match their contribution to the whole.  Additionally, whether they end up continuing to play as adults, their explorations in music and their musical experiences help develop a love for music and for the beauty of live performances.

Families at Cedar Springs personally invest in our instrumental music program by purchasing a flute in First, Third and Sixth Grades, as well as buying or renting stringed instruments in grades four through eight.

For any families that have purchased that first flute and find it has been retired to a drawer or basket as your child has progressed along, we would love to call those flutes out of retirement and back into active service.  I would gladly take any "fallow flutes" and offer them back to First Grade families, or to new families joining the school along the way.  Thank you for considering this donation.

Warmly,

Paula ThompSon

Pedagogical Chair 

FREE KINDERGARTEN PUPPET SHOWS

MONDAYS AT 1:30 PM THROUGH JULY

All families with young children are welcome.  Puppet Shows are Free and open to the public.  Bring your family and friends.

ALL COMMUNITY WORK PARTIES

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 AND 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25

9AM TO 1 PM

Bring your energy, tools, brooms, gloves, debris containers, hauling trailers etc.  Many Hands make light work.  Help us get our campus ready for students. 

Please send at least one hard-working representative from each family to pitch in at either work party. 

Childcare will be available. 

Can't make it? Gift cards to local nurseries, Home Depot etc. are welcome.  Contact Scott Krieger or Dudley Land for more info.