SWS parent Neil McCarthy, who helped facilitate last month's Community Conversation, recently introduced me to the work of Peter Block, an author and consultant who is breaking new ground in looking at how to build truly authentic and enduring communities. I have only scratched the surface in reading some of Block's writing, but find myself excited about the possibilities his thinking might hold for SWS. If we are daring and confident enough to let go of old ways of being and doing that no longer serve us well, who knows where that might take us? Block offers that "the challenge for every community is not so much to have a vision or a plan or program of what it wants to become, it is to discover and create the means for bringing that vision or possibility, into being."  

I was reminded of these words at the Parent Association meeting on Tuesday evening, which was attended by two dozen or so parents representing a cross section of grades and connections to the school. Some were "old timers" while others were brand new to SWS. This was not your typical PA meeting - no committee updates, no business to report on, actually, no real agenda, other than to wrestle with two questions:

   - What do we hope the Parent Association will do for us?

   - How can it/we accomplish this?

So à la Peter Block, our discussion focused not on a vision or plan, but the means to bring the "possibility" - of creating stronger connections and community - into being.

Before highlighting the details of the evening's conversation, I'd like to share two thoughts that really resonated for me and for others that night. The first is the notion that the role of the Parent Association is to "hold the space" around our community. That is, the PA gently and comfortably surrounds us - students, parents, teachers, staff, and Board members - and provides opportunities and tools that connect us to one another, creating a common ground and shared experiences from which community can grow. (I had this flashback to the Silly Putty I used to love when I was a kid, that could stretch and bend, without breaking, yet never stuck too firmly to anything.)

The second idea offered was that as parents and volunteers we should engage in building community from a place of joy - not obligation, not guilt, and not because we don't feel we can say "no." Coming back to Peter Block, he believes that "communities transform their culture into one of connectedness and caring for the whole by starting with accountability and generosity among members." For me, this generous spirit is inherently joyful and optimistic, and leads to a collective sense of confidence in our future as a community.

It was in that context - of holding the space with joy - that our brainstorming and discussion about the Parent Association brought forth the following areas of focus:

Community

• Fostering volunteerism through personal outreach
• Supporting parents to ask for what they need
• Developing a directory of parent skills

Festivals and Culture

• Progression of responsibility for celebrations/festivals across grades
• Extracurricular sports and activities

Concrete Needs

• Gardening and campus projects
• Construction of sidewalks at the grade school

Events

• Community events that generate revenue for SWS
• Parent Education
• Farmers Market

Fundraising

• Waldorf Bucks
• School-wide fundraising event (dinner, dance, auction or?)

In the coming weeks there will be meetings to gather parents interested in volunteering in the above areas - please watch for these notices. If you filled out the Affinity Group form, your name will be added to the appropriate work group list - for example, Campus Beautification falls under Concrete Needs. (You can find the online Affinity Group form here and join in.) Our goal is to provide an array of opportunities for parents to engage in the life of the school in ways that are rewarding, energizing, and support our mission.

A final thought. In June I had the opportunity to attend the last Parent Association meeting of the 2010-11 school year. My observations - which I shared on Tuesday evening - were that a small group of hard working parents were tired, and there didn't appear to be anyone in the ranks ready to take over. This felt like a familiar place, as I have watched many committed parents, (and teachers and staff) burn themselves out for the sake of the schools they love. Initially what seemed to be an absence of leadership was concerning - how would anything ever get done, I wondered? Tuesday night I realized that it was this very emptiness created by not having a president, or a chair or whatever you want to name it, that generated the energy and enthusiasm in the room. We are, as Peter Block urges us to do, changing the conversation. We are shifting the ownership of our experience from a single person or small group of people to the entire community. The experience we have, and our children have, at Seattle Waldorf School is ours to create together.  And that's pretty darn exciting, if you ask me.

Tracy Bennett, Head of Administration     

CLICK ON THE CHALKBOARD FOR A LARGER VERSION OF THE IMAGE 

Every year, the sophomore class journeys to Hyla Woods outside of Portland, OR, to immerse themselves in sustainable forestry practices. The study of forestry is part of the Waldorf curriculum for tenth grade, and Hyla Woods is an ideal venue for this study. Hyla Woods is a family-owned timber forest that practices sustainable harvests and supports research and education in holistic forestry practices.

While at Hyla Woods, the sophomores cleared trails, milled lumber, constructed enclosures to protect young cedar trees from elk (cedar trees are like "candy" for elk), and explored the streams and canyons of the forest.  

High school art teacher Darwin Nordin accompanied us on the trip. He led the students in a series of sketching and drawing exercises and showed them Andy Goldsworthy's documentary film Rivers and Tides. After the film, Mr. Nordin encouraged students to create their own Goldworthy-esque ephemeral sculptures out of the forest's own "art supplies." (Scroll down to the end of the newsletter to see a sketch from this trip by Marika.) 

Highlights of the trip included learning to use the two-person crosscut saw, listening to Peter Hayes - owner of Hyla Woods- read from the works of Aldo Leopold (American author, scientist ecologist, forester and environmentalist), and the warmth of our evening campfires.

This annual outdoor education experience revealed for our students the challenges, hazards and joys of the life of a forester-and set the stage for further explorations in forest and stream ecology. It was such a great pleasure for me to experience it with them. Carl Busse, high school teacher 

Art Classes With Janet Lia At AWE Studio

Come enjoy creating art after you drop off your children at school.  Several courses are offered for November and December.  AWE Studio (Art With Everyone) is just 3 blocks away from SWS and Janet Lia is an experienced Waldorf Art teacher (9 years at SWS and 15+ years at Sound Circle Teacher Training).  All levels experience success!  Click here for the flyer.