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Table of Contents
ALL-SCHOOL NEWS
Letter From Heads of School Budget, Mission, Values Expenses, Income Accreditation Report House Parties Alumni Gathering Fiddler On The Roof Yearbook Gallery GrandparentsDay Open Houses Recommitment & Financial Aid Parent Association Focus On Faculty HIGH SCHOOL NEWSCoffee House Movement Class Reports From Grades GRADE SCHOOL NEWSScarves Reports From Grades EARLY CHILDHOOD NEWSStory from Marigold COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTSProvided as a free service to the SWS community. December 19, 2010Dear , Enjoy this current issue of the Connection. Here you will find all the latest SWS news and information. The Connection will be delivered to your email inbox every two weeks. Please forward the newsletter to interested community members using the Forward email link at the bottom of this newsletter, below our logo. They will then be able to subscribe to the newsletter from within the Connection you have forwarded. (This does not work if you forward from within Outlook or Gmail etc.)
Please excuse the delayed publication of this edition of the newsletter at this busy time of year.   2010-11 - How are we doing? This holiday season is a time of looking ahead for us, as we are immersed in intense preparation for the school year to come.
Because we know that you want to hear about our vision and our projects, we are featuring in this final 2010 issue of Connection some highlights of our budget as well as our recent accreditation report. We hope that this perspective will be as inspiring to you as it is to us.
We are very pleased with the school's progress in recent years, and are filled with excitement as we prepare for the future.
The staff and faculty join us in wishing you a wonderful two weeks of peace, contentment, and enthusiasm, and look forward to welcoming you back on January 3rd for an exciting 2011 year! |
Geraldine Kline and Nettie Fabrie
Co-Heads of School
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Mission
We educate our students to be free human beings who impart purpose and meaning to their lives, who meet life with courage, and respond with initiative and creativity to the needs of the world and their fellow human beings.
Our school is the fruit of the immense efforts sustained by a few visionaries who started the first Waldorf Kindergarten in Seattle, and expanded their project to include the grade school.
The school is here for our children today thanks to their vision, their commitment, and their investment in Waldorf education in Seattle. They are true models of our mission to 'respond with initiative and creativity to the needs of the world and their fellow human beings.'
The expansion of SWS into a complete Waldorf school by adding a high school was made possible by a bold and courageous vision, the high level of dedication of our faculty and staff, and the moral and financial support of the school community. We are grateful for the generous spirit and dedication of the people who made the high school a reality for our grade 8 graduates and Waldorf students in the greater Seattle area.
Our Budget And How We Create ItEach school year, the Seattle Waldorf School budget planning process focuses on how to best fulfill our mission and to reflect our core values with the resources we can anticipate. We budget for our whole school - Parent & Tot through Grade 12 - with tuition income allocated towards the education of all of our students rather than specific programs. As our school grows, we add new programs, which require a commitment to invest in their development. We routinely monitor the budget for these new programs independently for a few years so that we may make needed adjustments until we reach a thorough understanding of the new program's specific needs.
In this context, when you view the complete 2010-11 budget via this link, you may note that our high school program, added in 2007, is still being monitored independently. Our investment in the high school program will continue into the 2013-14 school year, at which time the high school numbers will be integrated into our budget in the same way as all other programs.
Our Core Values Live In Our Budget
StudentsWe strive to welcome students of diverse backgrounds to our school. We believe that our students can best discover who they are and how they want to be in the world when they experience themselves within a group that encompasses a wide variety of perspectives. Read more about diversity and tuition levels here.
We continue to progress along our chosen path towards providing a complete Waldorf curriculum for our students - one which is developmentally appropriate, and with a balance of challenging academic, artistic, and practical experiences. Our recently added high school program now allows for the full flowering of Rudolf Steiner's vision of Waldorf education as a twelve-year curriculum.
The needs of our students are considered first and foremost during our budget process.
Faculty - teachers and staff members
We strive to attract and retain the most qualified staff to achieve our stated mission. In its faculty SWS seeks well-rounded individuals who are
- passionate about their work as educators, embrace all of the values of the school, and who collaborate with others to create an intentional culture
- especially trained (or currently in-training) and qualified to teach the Waldorf curriculum
- highly educated in their specialty subjects and who represent expertise in their field.
Organization
We strive to achieve sustainability, long-term success and stability, through
- ongoing improvements in administrative practices
- a commitment to program growth and development
- site development to meet the needs of our students and programs.
Where Does The Money Go? A Peek Into Our Expenses
- Auditing and third-party monitoring of school finances, including annual CPA Audit and 990 Tax return $12,000
- Accreditation process $9,490
- Association dues and subscriptions $27,500
- Group medical, group dental, and disability insurance for 37 employees $295,000
- Mortgage interest payment on our two current loans $60,346
- Utilities - electric, water, telephone and Natural gas $60,530
- Postage $5,200
- Production of school directories $840
- Filtered drinking water for all grades $970
- Preschool snack supplies $3,000
- Lesson books, crayons, and supplies for grade 2 $3,600
- Handwork supplies - wool, thread, fabric and all other handwork treasures for grades 1-8 $4,000
- Woodwork supplies grades 5-12 $2,570
- Sending 30 grade 6 students to Mt. Saint Helens for their geology block $2,200
- Sending 17 grade 9 students to Jubilee Farm for their work experience week $450
Continue reading this article at the end of this issue - see Budget Summary, Income And Expenses
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The Accreditation Report Is In!
Last week we received the full written report of the Accreditation Team that visited our school in late October. We are very pleased and proud to share with you the findings of the Accreditation team members. The full report can be viewed on the Publication page of the community section of our website, or by clicking this link. This report includes Commendations and Recommendations, on which we are already enthusiastically working. For now, let us take a moment to celebrate and delight in our achievements. You will see below the introduction to the report by the Accreditation Team Chair, and the Major Commendations.
Geraldine Kline, Head of Administration
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Introduction
From the moment the Visiting Committee set foot on the Seattle Waldorf School campus, it was greeted with generous warmth and enthusiasm by members of the Board of Trustees, administrators, staff, faculty and, especially, students. There is a contagious energy about the school that is personified in all three divisions and the passion and commitment on the part of the faculty is exemplary. The self-study document demonstrated a deep and thorough reflection on the school's strengths and weaknesses and provided evidence of substantial process and self-assessment. The frankness on the part of all constituents in the areas of school improvement reflects a profound passion for students and learning. In the committee's interviews and observations it was clear that SWS viewed this accreditation process as an opportunity, rather than a burden. As a result, the team leaves the Seattle Waldorf School with feelings of respect and admiration for what the school shared with us and would like to sincerely thank all who contributed to this important process.
Major Commendations
The visiting team commends the Seattle Waldorf School for:
1. Fostering a palpable sense of community, valued by students, parents, and staff and underlying an harmonious mood throughout the three campuses.
2. Its vibrant, joyous, engaged, and healthy student body.
3. The dedication, expertise, and creativity of its faculty, who all display true care for the students and love for their profession.
4. The courage and dedication of the Board of Trustees, along with the Co-Heads of the school, who have led the school in the relatively uncharted waters of policy governance in a Waldorf School and confidently "tweaked" the model to accommodate the needs of the school and community they serve.
5. The enthusiasm and intrepid spirit with which it has taken over and built up the high school.
To read the rest of the report, click here.
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House Parties & Annual Fund
Parents have asked if they can still RSVP even though the deadline has come and gone. Yes, you can! A deadline and early replies are very helpful for planning purposes, as you will surely understand, but please feel free to continue to RSVP here, where you will see the list of dates and locations that are available, including a new east-side option.
Did you choose March 19? If yes, please email Gabi - we received one entry for that date on which some of the information - name and email address - were distorted. A mystery!
Questions? Email Gabi.
All members of our community are invited to join us at a house party as one way of participating in our annual fund. As is true for most independent schools, our tuition and fees do not cover all of our program expenses. Our annual fund goal is $60,000 for our operating budget which will help cover items such as an early grade school assistant, a middle school block relief teacher, high school educational support, and professional development. All contributions will be received with joy and gratitude no matter the size, and we understand that a contribution of $25 for one family may be just as significant as a donation of $1000 for another family. We look forward to this opportunity to joyfully build stronger connections that will sustain and support our school as we move forward. If you have already made a gift, please feel welcome to join us at a house party and simply enjoy the company of people who care about our school. If you prefer to simply send in a year-end gift now, click here for the pledge form. Thank you!
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Alumni Gathering
Tuesday, December 28, 4 - 6 pm
Grade school campus, Huckleberry Hall
We are again offering the opportunity to gather and reconnect with Seattle Waldorf School friends - former students, parents and teachers - during the holiday season. Please join us on Tuesday, December 28 from 4 to 6 pm at the grade school campus in Huckleberry Hall.
All are welcome!
Please click here to let us know if you can come and if you can help with set-up or by bringing refreshments.
Save The Date - Fiddler On The Roof
Friday, January 21, 7 pm · Saturday, January 22, 2 pm & 7 pm · Sunday, January 23, 2 pm
Erickson Theatre Off Broadway, Seattle Central Community College
The sounds of "Tradition" are filling the air in the high school as the 10th and 11th grade rehearse for Fiddler on the Roof. All 40 sophomores and juniors are involved - on stage, in the orchestra, or backstage. High school drama teacher Julie Beckman is directing, aided by special guest director Corey McDaniel, with SWS favorite Laurie Andres accompanying and leading the orchestra. It promises to be a wonderful experience for the whole community!
Advance ticket purchase highly recommended.
Purchase from the high school or grade school office, or click here to purchase online.
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Please Submit Your Photos For The Yearbook!
The all-school yearbook is a collection of photos submitted by parents and students. We need your photos! Pl ease submit your full size high-resolution photos on a CD or DVD to the grade school or high school office by Wednesday, February 16. So far this year the submissions are very low, and we still need a lot of photos from every grade, preschool through grade 12. Please contact Jane Higgins at 206-890-2031 if you have any questions or need help. Thank you!
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Yearbook Orders The deadline for yearbook orders has passed, but we can still take a few more orders. Orders will be accepted only while supplies last; yearbooks will be delivered the first week of June. Please submit your yearbook order form to the high school or grade school office.
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Gallery
Stone carving, paintings, slanted line drawings & other offerings from grades 1 - 12
The Five Faces of Jibudai
Working with an abnormally lopsided stone, I made the choice to incorporate a series of faces, thus I could experiment with different styles and techniques. As you can see, each face is relatively unique in its appearance. As I progressed into the making of each new face, my style and method changed. Starting from the face with the relatively simple facial features, I worked counter clockwise until time and surface space withheld me from completion. As rough, obscure and incomplete as the faces are, I can say that it was a privilege and a pleasure to have been given the opportunity to work with stone. There is a famous Japanese s tatue of an emperor which has the name of Azai Jibudai. This statue caught my eye and gave me the motivation to approach my stone in a manner that portrays the human face with remarkably different facial characteristics. Thus, I used Jibudai as a reference to the Japanese statue, and for the five faces I carved into my stone, I subsequently named it The Five Faces of Jibudai. Johannes, grade 12
Smooth Shell
I was playing with the idea that we all put on a smooth outer shell as our face to the outside world, but on the inside we are all human, imperfect. David, grade 12
For more artwork, see below - Gallery, Continued
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Save The Date - Grandparents & Special Friends Day, April 15
Many of you will see family over the holiday break - a great opportunity to let them know about the date for this special event. We are pleased that this year we are able to extend the invitation to grandparents and special friends of high school students as well. Printed invitations will be available in January.
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Open Houses - Thank You
Our high school open house drew over 100 guests, including about 16 SWS families and about 30 families from other schools. We are very grateful for everyone's help in making this and our other open house events successful and welcoming to our prospective new community members. A big thank you also to all who share their positive perspectives of SWS and invite friends and family to our open houses.
January Open House & Tour Dates
Tuesday, January 4, 8:30 to 10 am - Grade School Tour
Wednesday, January 5, 6:30 to 8:30 pm - Preschool - Grade 8 Open House
Saturday, January 8, 10 am to 1 pm - High School Open House
Tuesday, January 11, 8:30 to 9:30 am - High School Tour
See our website for later dates.
Recommitment Days And Financial Aid Applications: Important Dates To Remember
In our next issue of Connection, we will publish information about recommitment and tuition for next year. For now, please put these important dates on your calendars:
Thursday, February 3
Submit Financial Aid Information to SSS online or by mail; request a mail-in copy from Admissions Office, if desired. Plan to prepare your tax returns early so that you have all necessary information at hand.
Wednesday & Thursday, February 9 and 10
Recommitment Days at the grade school campus, 8 am - 6 pm (for all SWS families)
Friday, February 11
Recommitment Day at high school campus, 8 am to 12, noon (for high school families only)
We'll look forward to seeing everyone in February.
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Save the date - Parent Talent Night - February 5
Planning will start in January, please start thinking about what talent you might be willing to share. This will be an adults only event!
Next meeting: January 11, 7pm - All are invited!
Please read the minutes from the last meeting on December 14 in the Parent Association section of our website.
Winter Faire -Thank You
A great big thank you to everyone who lent a helping hand (or two or three) to make Winter Faire an enjoyable event for our community. High school and grade school students provided musical entertainment and assisted with many other tasks, which was much appreciated and made the event even more fun.
Your feedback about Winter Faire will help us improve our process - please contact Maria at (206) 542-2079 or via e-mail with any comments you might have. Thank you!
Here you see Brad (grade 6 and 4 parent) and Uma (grade 8 student) staffing the SCRIP and SWS artwork table.
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Focus On Faculty
Britt Urquiza, grade 8 class teacher, first learned about the Seattle Waldorf School as a teenager growing up in Eastern Washington through friends who attended SWS. She had occasion to visit the school regularly and each time really didn't want to leave. After high school, Britt studied vocal performance, theatre, and sociology, with the goal of teaching some day. After she finished her sociology degree at UW, Britt learned about Sound Circle Center from Lee Benner, a friend who was a parent and staff member at SWS, and promptly visited a Winter Open House for the Waldorf teacher training program. Each guest was allowed to participate in two teaching activities and again Britt did not want to leave, hoping to be snowed in so she would have a chance to take part in all of the offerings.
Britt quickly applied to the Sound Circle teacher training program, was accepted and started two weeks later. Her first practicum was in Wim Gottenbos' class, teaching the physics block. Soon Britt also started teaching Spanish at SWS, and finally took over as class teacher of grade 3 in 2006. Her SWS students have been an important part of her life, with many from her class attending her wedding, and some of her Spanish students playing music for this celebration. Britt loves to dance, sing, cook and knit when she gets a chance. Britt and Miguel's daughter Lucia is bilingual and enjoys attending the Lupine preschool.
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Coffee House
Students presented their many different talents for each other at the recent high school Coffee House. Here is a picture of ninth grader Miles, balancing on his bike without moving an inch.
Movement Class - Balance, Strength And Trust
  
Grade 10 Santa Lucia Parade
Some grade 10 students organized a Santa Lucia procession this past Monday during the first part of Morning Lesson, with Karoline, who is Danish and also the oldest girl in the class, as Santa Lucia. The students pulled this together quite on their own (with advice from Mary Ellingson, and borrowed items from Yumiko Hirata).
Grade 9 Theater Arts Block
The parents of SWS's ninth grade were treated to a night of dining and theatre last week. It was an evening rich in good company, good food and fine acting.
The evening began with a parent's candlelight potluck at the high school, with time for us folks to do a little getting to know with each other around a deliciously laden table. We were then whisked away to the Center House, where we were lead up flights of stairs, down long utility corridors, and finally into a tiny theatre, high in some upper corner of this Seattle Center landmark.
Here, Mr. Morgan Sobel's students had just finished their own feast and were busy preparing for their presentation. Following a summary of the class work by Mr. Sobel, we were treated to a demonstration of that work, which included improvisational exercises. It was amazing to watch the young people work out creative stories from a just few situational seeds or statements, and bring them to life through some very expressive acting, that at times was amusing and/or tragic.
This was followed by two different programs that the students had prepared during class in the weeks leading up to this night: half the students had developed some improvisational work and the other half acted out a scene from A Midsummer's Night Dream. These were woven around each other, creating an immensely enjoyable performance. What a gift to see the talent of these young people and watch them work off of and with each other. It was a very memorable night indeed, not one this parent will forget for a long time to come. Brent Charnley (grade 9 parent)
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Labors Of Love
Scarves knitted by many of our students, parents and community members were delivered to Tent City 3 on Friday, the last day before the break.
  
From left to right: Students busy at work, visitors admiring finished scarves, gifts ready to deliver.
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Grade 8 - Bake Sale Success And Thank You
I am happy to report that over $510 were raised through the grade 8 bake sales for Heifer International. The class has decided to buy a llama, a goat, two honey bee hives, a flock each of chicks, geese and ducks, a trio of rabbits, and a bunch of tree saplings. Each of these gifts will go to a different community. Thank you all for your support!
Britt Urquiza (grade 8 class teacher)
Grade 7 - Physiology
Dr. Raman (grade 6 and 7 parent) visited our class and talked about blood pressure and digestion. He allowed us to listen to the blood moving through the veins as he checked the blood pressure on myself and several students. On another day, Shannon Shepard (Sunflower parent) visited with her ten week old baby, Cyress. Shannon talked to the class about the joys, love, and responsibility that comes with bringing a new life into the world, as well as the needs of a new baby. Baby Cyress was passed tenderly and very carefully from one student to the next. Many thanks to Dr. Raman, Shannon and Cyress Shepard for helping our physiology block come to life. Mark Perry, grade 7 class teacher.
Grade 4 - Secret Santas
Grade 4 students had fun as secret santas. (So did many other classes, for that matter.) Each child picked a name out of a hat AND TRIED TO KEEP IT A SECRET (not so easy). They gave small treats and gifts that they secretly left in the desk of their recipient. The final gift was a special lunch that they prepared for their recipient for Friday, the last day before the Winter break. Over the month of December, food tastes and particular interests that could be expressed with the lunch were closely and surreptitiously monitored. Much fun was had by all...
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Grade 2 - Santa Lucia
Squirrely second graders proudly rose to the challenge of holding themselves with grace as they traveled through the grade school, distributing Santa Lucia buns to all. Their songs and light are with us still.
   Many thanks to Tricia Enfield (grade 2 parent) for taking the lovely pictures.
Click here to read about the story of Santa Lucia.
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Grade 1 - Making Gingerbread Decorations
The first grade classroom was filled with the delightful smell of cinnamon this week. The kids did a wonderful job of mixing and cutting out beautiful gingerbread decorations. Though it all looked and smelled like cookie making, Ms. Ellingson was quick to remind the kids that they were just decorations and that one of the key ingredients was glue. After one student reminded their classmates of the natural consequence of eating glue and then not being able to sing and talk and shout, not a single finger was licked in the process.
Many first time parent helpers got to help with the class project and enjoyed witnessing the magic of Ms. Ellingson during main lesson time and the joy of first grade Spanish class with Senora Urquiza who led many fun Spanish games with her very eager young Spanish speakers. Heather Casselman (grade 1 parent)
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Marigold
An anecdote, told by Miss Martha (Please remember to not share these stories with your little ones.)
At snack, Hank calls to me, "Teacher Martha, are you a Mama?"
"Oh yes, Hank. My daughter's name is Maddy. You met her at the campfire. She's FIFTEEN!"
"Fifteen." "Fifteen." "That is so old." sing a chorus of voices around the table.
In the next pause, Teddy reflects, "Fifteen. That is old. My mommy isn't even 15."
Another chorus, "Neither is mine!"
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This section provided as a free service to the SWS community.
Waldorf High School - Education For The Future
Tuesday, January 4, 7 -9 pm, SWS grade school campus, Huckleberry Hall
Gain insight into the Waldorf high school curriculum and how it meets the maturing adolescent. Presented by leading high school educator and teacher trainer, Betty Staley, MA. Adults only. Free and open to the public.
Click here for the flyer.
Good-Bye Peter Pan - The Middle School Years & Puberty
Thursday, January 13, 7 pm, SWS grade school campus, Huckleberry Hall
Loneliness, quiet longing, and changing consciousness are new experiences for children in the middle years of childhood. Sometimes misinterpreted or misunderstood by adults, children can feel anxiety and doubt about their place in life. In this lecture we will deepen our understanding of and do justice to these important years. Presented by Johanna Steegmans. Adults only. Free and open to the public.
Click here for the flyer.
Evolution Of Human Consciousness
January 8 - 29, Seattle Waldorf Grade School, Huckleberry Hall
With Jenny Foster, Nettie Fabrie, and Betsy Weill
"From as far as the stars, to here where we stand..." begins a Waldorf classroom verse.
Through eurythmy movements and a presentation of Steiner's ideas, you will be introduced to the grand gestures that describe the path of development of the human being from ancient times to the present.
Jan. 8: Cosmic Beginnings
Jan. 15: Entering the Earthly Realm
Jan. 22: The Gifts of Ancient Civilizations
Jan. 29: From Plato to the Post-Modern Present
Open to the public, $10 per session
Ripples, Sound Circle's new quarterly newsletter, is now available online.
International Postgraduate Medical Training And Anthroposophical Nursing Certification Course
May 13-20, 2011 Petaluma, California
This training course offers medical doctors a comprehensive introduction to anthroposophic medicine. Participants will explore practical anthroposophic assessment and therapy, strengthen diagnostic faculties and do contemplative exercises. The certification course in anthroposophic nursing teaches an approach to nursing that is full of life, through lectures, contemplation and hands-on practical treatments. For more information see paam.net
What Are Our Community Members Up To?
Maya (grade 9) and her father are performing in The Black Nativity at the Moore Theatre through December 26. Read about it in this article from the Seattle Times.
Molly Knight Forde (grade 6 parent) is a fabulous pianist. Her most recent CD, The Art of Dance, is a compilation of dance suites for classical piano, spanning three centuries. You can listen in and buy the CD here.
Sophia, daughter of Irene Mitri (grade school and high school strings teacher) is featured in three roles as toy, rabbit and elf in Book-it Reperatory Theatre's delightful musical production of Red Ranger Came Calling, running now through December 23. Read about it here.
Read here in Seattle's Child about Claira Smith (grade 7) who has been cast as one of the Claras in Pacific Northwest Ballet's beloved Nutcracker. The show runs now until December 27, and a discount ticket site has been set up to be used by family and friends for any of the many performances. The discount will apply to any ticket/s that you purchase through the site, and will vary depending on the seats you choose.
If you would like to see her perform, at this point we know that she will dance as Clara on Sunday, December 12, at 1:00 pm.
I only find out about additional performance dates for Claira 10 days before a show, and I will post them on the ticket order page ASAP.
Click here to order your discounted tickets and feel free to send the link to friends and family so they can also see the Nutcracker at a discount. Please let me know if you have any questions: 206-399-7090 Cheryl Smith
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Looking For A Used Clarinet To Buy Or Rent
Does not need to be top quality. Please contact Heather Casselman at heatherc@pobox.com or 206-414-8052.
Want To Live Close To SWS?
Our lovely home is located literally just around the corner from SWS at 10060 Ravenna Ave NE. Enjoy the convenience of walking to/from school and school events. Total of 4 bedrooms, 2 ¾ bath, large living spaces and large yard with a swing set. There is a separate one bedroom, one bath, full kitchen cottage in the back that can be used as a rental, home office or guest house. We would love for this house to stay in the SWS community. See more details and lots of pictures here.
Marie's Cleaning Services
Marie, mother of Teo in the Lupines preschool, offers house-cleaning services - weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and special occasions - Thorough and detail-oriented, eco-products (or your own favorites), home laundry services - Excellent references. Call 206-734-7912 or e-mail mariegizard@gmail.com.
Trade Offered
I am the parent of a former SWS student and a professional musician, currently Co-Principal Flute with Seattle Festival Orchestra. What I have to offer: music instruction in Flute (all ages, all levels). I also teach lessons for beginning Piano and Harp. What I need: help with gardening/yard maintenance and simple painting and cleaning projects. Please contact Roberta Montana @ 206-783-8705 or 206-595-9134.
Give The Gift Of Food This Holiday Season: Maria's Desserts ... and more!
Maria is accepting orders for Christmas Desserts. Maria is selling Panettone, Bolo Rei, Placek Switateczny, and Fruit Cake at the Farm Boat on December 23, 11-3.
This Holiday Season give a gift that lasts longer. Give a gift certificate so your friends and family can think of you later in the New Year. Maria can provide weekly or monthly meals, cater a small event, or simply make a scrumptious dessert. Maria's Desserts ... and more! can make your special day a memorable one.
Contact Maria at 206-334-4014 or mouthwateringmasterpieces@gmail.com.
In case you missed it in the last issue. . .
Tent City 3 And Maple Leaf Lutheran Church are inviting the community to the following events, in the basement of the church:
Game Night with the Neighborhood, TC3, and MLLC
Tuesday, January 4, 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Valentine's Day Card Making Night with Neighborhood, TC3, and MLLC
Tuesday, February 8, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Parenting with Awareness- Cultivating emotional balance on the spiritual path of parenting
Tuesdays, January 4, 11, 18, and 25, and February 1 and 8, 11 am - 1 pm
We will explore how meditation deepens our capacity for wisdom and compassion in our relationships xxwhile xxbuilding a supportive community. Parents with no prior meditation experience are welcomed as well as those with an established practice. Cost $240 (or $210 if you sign up with a friend). Registration online at campselfdiscovery.com or email luci@campselfdiscovery.com. Course co-facilitated by Lucianne Hackbert, PhD (SWS mom to Levi and Milo) and Jenny Hayo (Yoga and meditation teacher).
The Waldorf Elementary School Years: Developing Essential Capacities for Learning And Living In Our Challenging Times
Wednesday, January 5, 2011, 6:30 pm, Bright Water School
Current educational trends are promoting rigorous academic programs at earlier ages. With this and other influences, children are being pressured to grow up too quickly, resulting in the loss of childhood and the early onset of adolescent issues. Concerns about early academic pressure and teaching to the test are raising questions for many parents. Betty Staley, an internationally recognized Waldorf educator, will share how Waldorf education supports each developmental stage in the child; enlivens their capacities for original thinking; and prepares children to become healthy, happy adolescents. Free and open to the public.
Nanny Available
My Name is Katherine Doorly aka 'Kadie'. I have been a 'Friend of the Seattle Waldorf School' since 1988 and very close friends with the Houston Family.
I am a LMP and looking for a part-time nanny position. I have nearly 30 years experience in the 'Waldorf Community' (Seattle and elsewhere before), have been a Waldorf Kindergarden Assistant and Teacher and have many more years experience with childcare. Fostering the growth and development of 'each individual child' from my heart and my head, and my experiences within Waldorf have always been my passion. Local references available upon request. I may be reached at katy_doorly@juno.com or 206-330-1324.
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Gallery, Continued
High School
Ty - charcoal, Aura - stencil painting
Carla - stencil painting, Ezra - stencil painting
Alexa - landscape painting, Raizel - landscape painting
The high school creative writing club selected this poem by Raizel for publication.
A MOMENT OF PEACE
In my eye-catching vest I am invisible
Erased by stillness and what we expect to see.
I have found--by accident? By destiny? By luck?--
The line between communication and speech.
Speech depends on the movement of mouths
On sentences, syntax, words.
Communication is the speech no dictionary explains.
A hug, a smile, a falling leaf.
Remove the smile, subtract humanity,
And still the leaf falls.
Grade School
The trip to Sunfield Farms inspired many paintings in grade 3.
Grade 5 students created mandalas during their Ancient Cultures block using pastels and colored sand.
Slanted line drawings are practiced to create shapes without outlining them first. Below see examples from grade 4 and 6.
Drawings from the grade 7 Age of Exploration Block, and the grade 8 Revolutions Block. The drawing on the left was photographed while in progress.
The recent Winter Spiral inspired much artwork; here are samples from grades 2, 1 and 5.
Click here to return to the beginning of this article.
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Diversity
The Seattle Waldorf School is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse community of students, including diversity of learning styles, temperaments, family structure, and cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. We are proud that approximately 48% of our students benefit from our tuition assistance programs - including our Financial Aid program for families who submit financial applications and qualify for a tuition discount, and our automatic sibling discount.
We have also supported tuition remission for full-time and salaried part-time teachers and staff who enroll their children at our school. Our employees have chosen to work in a field where market rates of pay do not adequately reflect the depth of their commitment and the social value they create. Without strong tuition support, these parents may not have been able to send their children to the school in which they work.
Yet, we recognize and appreciate the principle of brotherhood in the economic life - brought forth by Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf Education - based on the needs of community members rather than their status. From the 2014-15 school year onward, employees who need adjustments to the full tuition amount will apply to our Financial Aid program. We are committed to granting our faculty and staff members 100% of their assessed needs for tuition reductions.Back to Values
Budget Summary, Income And Expenses...continued from the first page. Below you will find the budget summary. Click here for the complete budget. 
 | | Please contact Bev Yonge, our business manager, with any questions. |
Additional Financial FactsOver 97.5% of our income is derived from tuition revenue. In its report, the accreditation team commends the school for its 2009-10 budget "covering operating expenses with 97% hard tuition income [which] significantly reduces risk without needing to rely on fund raising to cover operational expenses."
Our school carries two mortgages - one for the grade school campus, 15 year loan maturing in June of 2019, and one for the acquisition of the Garden House in 2007, 20 year loan maturing in July of 2026. Payments for principal and interest total just over $129,000 per year.
The school rents the high school facilities from the Sacred Heart Church. The lease is renewed on a yearly basis, pending completion of the church's strategic plan. The 2010-11 rental fee for the high school facility is $112,744.
The school owns the house which is occupied by Briar Rose kindergarten, Lupines and Marigold preschools and the Kinderhaus campus on Woodlawn Ave. No mortgage is carried on either of these properties.
The Garden House is currently rented; its downstairs is used for storage. Pending approval from the City of Seattle on our request for a lot boundary adjustment to add the use of the Garden House to the grade school campus, we plan to: - move our administrative offices to the upstairs
- create adequate wood workshop and handwork classrooms
- relocate the Daffodils and Sunflower preschools to a quieter location
- create a Tobias class (class for a small number of students with special learning needs)
- provide sufficient space for an adequate faculty room and adjacent faculty offices
The Rudolf Steiner Foundation (RSF), which holds our grade school campus mortgage, expressed appreciation of the school's growth over these past few years, and the intention for future support. Click here to return to the first section of this article.
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Margaret and Luci, treasuring the light that Santa Lucia brought to the grade school.
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Mission
We educate our students to be free human beings who impart purpose and meaning to their lives, who meet life with courage, and respond with initiative and creativity to the needs of the world and their fellow human beings. |
Links
For information on Waldorf teacher training and other course offerings, visit www.soundcircle.org
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Connection is published bi-weekly when school is in session.
Please email all submissions directly to: newsletter@seattlewaldorf.org.
All articles or ads for the next issue are due by noon on Wed, January 5.
Submissions Guidelines © 2010 Seattle Waldorf School.
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