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| News from the Minnesota Waldorf School |
November 30, 2009 | |
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The First Week of Advent
The word "advent" means arriving and this season is celebrated in many traditions as the time of waiting which precedes the arrival of light in the midst of dark winter. It is a time of hope and anticipation within a time of mystery and quiet contemplation. In the Christian tradition, Advent is celebrated during the four weeks preceeding Christmas. Outside of Christianity, many religious traditions connect the season with a time of miracles, a time of finding strength.
At school, we mark the four weeks of Advent on each Monday in December with the lighting of a candle on our Advent wreath. Each week, we honor a kingdom of nature-- mineral, plant, animal and human-- until, at last, we have completed the circle. During the first week of Advent, we celebrate the mineral kingdom and we light the first candle to honor the earth beneath our feet, the rocks and stones around us, the bones within us and the stars above us.
You might choose to celebrate at home by lighting a candle and saying a verse, by filling a small bowl with rocks or crystals as a centerpiece on your table or by adding beautiful stones to your winter nature table.
A verse for the first week of Advent:
The first light of Advent
Is the light of the stones
That shines in the seashells,
Rocks, crystals and bones. | |
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Advent Spiral Thanks
Thank you to all who participated in our beautiful Advent Spiral ceremony for the grades' students. |
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5th - 8th Grade Field Trip: Wednesday, Dec 2nd
On Wednesday, December 2nd, the 5th through 8th grades will attend a Minnesota Orchestra Young People's Concert at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. Students will leave school at 10:30 a.m. and return by 1:00 p.m. The students will get to see a semi-staged production of selections from Humperdink's opera, Hansel and Gretel. Parents from those classes who are interested in driving students and attending the concert are asked to please contact Ms. Pierce. |
Shop Wonderment and Support our School!
Wonderment invites children, parents, grandparents, teachers and friends to participate in their Gift Your School: A Day of Shopping to Benefit Your School. The idea is simple--shop at one of the stores on Thursday, December 10th and Wonderment will donate 15% of your total purchase to MWS. You may either tell them that you are a MWS parent or show them the MWS Wonderment brochure in order for us to earn the credit, and a donation check will be sent to the school after the event. What a great way to get your holiday shopping done and help our school! Store Locations:
949 Grand Ave St Paul 651-291-5099 (10 am to 8 pm)
4306 Upton Ave South Minneapolis 612-929-2707 (10 am to 8 pm)
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| Parent Council: November News
The November Parent Council meeting was uplifting and informative! Many thanks to Tom Halverson for engaging the Parent Council in a lively and substantive Enrollment Retention Committee discussion. Complete minutes of the meeting may be found in the Weekly Update notebook in the Parent Lounge and on the MWS Website.
All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend the Parent Council meeting Tuesday, December 15th at 7 pm in the Handwork room. Please join us for engaging discussions, hands-on education, important school news and refreshments! |
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November AWSNA Inform Now Available Online
Inform is a publication sent by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) to all the affiliated Waldorf schools in its membership to keep parents, teachers, board members, alumni, and all those interested in Waldorf Education informed of the current events affecting Waldorf schools nationally and internationally. The latest issue is published on our website. Please take a moment to read it. |
Grades' Eurythmy Performance: December 10th
Students in grades 1 - 8 will give a performance on Thursday, December 10th to conclude their Eurythmy block with our visiting Eurythmist, Claudia Fontana. The performance will take place in the Festival Hall at 2 pm and parents are invited to attend. |
School Store Holiday Book Sale: 10% Off Retail
Nov 24th - Dec 18th
Save 10% off retail when you buy your books from the School Store during the annual Holiday Book Sale. In addition, you'll save shipping charges and time since the books will be delivered right to school. We can order the same books you can get from any major book store, including books for children and grown-ups. We have recommended book lists from the class teachers and will post the lists on the bulletin board by the store for you to share your favorite titles, too. All the profits from this sale will go to the school so pick-up an order form and start making your list!
Contact : Andi Guy |
Visit the School Store for Fabulous Gifts
The school store has 2010 Waldorf calendars and planners available right now. Also, consider giving MWS School Store gift certificates to your favorite folks this holiday season. (Special thanks to John Hibscher for creating them!) Check out the wonderful selection of ornaments now in. There are quite a few beautiful, hand-painted ones made by the San Miguel Waldorf School in Mexico where Gideon Weick taught. Holiday tapers and 1" beeswax votives are in stock. The 1" votives burn longer than regular votives and smell great too-- use them for your holiday decorating. Dreidels and menorah candles are in for your Hanukkah celebrations (and dreidels make a great stocking stuffer for 3rd graders). Brand New: Reusable sandwich and snack bags are a brand new item at the school store-- grab some for eco-friendly lunches in the New Year! |
 Keep Kids Cuddly Soft & Warm and Raise Money for MWS!
Now through Jan. 1st, any purchases made online at Flowering Child www.floweringchild.com will benefit MWS. Flowering Child sells soft, European, wool and silk undergarments for babies and children. Just enter "MN Waldorf" in the comments field when you check out, and they'll send the school a check for 10% of the sale. (They were a vendor at the Fair last year, but cannot attend this year.) Their clothing makes a treasured gift worthy of handing down to younger siblings! Click here for more info. |
Fancy Coffee Drinks at the Coffee Cart on Mondays
On Mondays, the coffee cart will be serving the following drinks:
Lattes $3
Cappucinos $1.50
Depth Charges $1.50
Stop by and start your week with a treat! |
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Alumni News
Do you have news to share about a Minnesota Waldorf School alum? We always love to hear about our graduates.
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| Community News
Services of The Christian Community, also known as the Movement for Religious Renewal, a church inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner, will be held on Sunday Dec 6 at the Minnesota Waldorf School. The Act of Consecration of Man for Adults will be at 10:30, preceded by a Children's Service for grades 1-8 and followed by a presentation on the Advent Season by Rev. Gisela Wielki and a potluck lunch. Contact Louise Ludford 952-238-0603 for details. | |
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Upcoming Events
12/2 Tues 7 pm
Eurythmy for Parents
12/2 Wed 10:30 am
5th - 8th Field Trip
12/2 Wed 6:30 pm
1st Grade Parent Meeting
12/3 Thu 6:45 pm
5th Grade Parent Meeting
12/4 Fri
NO BUSES
12/5 Sat 9:30 am
2nd Grade Parent meeting
12/5 Sat 9:30 am
Kindergarten Parent Meeting
Visit our Google calendar for more dates and event details. |
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Friday Gatherings
Friday afternoons
2:30 pm
Grades 1-8
Gathering
in the
Festival Hall
Students share songs, poems, and snippets of Main Lesson work.
Parents, friends and extended family are welcome to attend. |
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Parent Council Meeting Dates
All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend. Refreshments served.
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Tuesday, Dec 15 Thursday, Jan 14 Thursday, Feb 11 Thursday, Mar 11 Thursday, Apr 15 Tuesday, May 18
Contact: Ben Richards |
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Minnesota Waldorf School
Office: 651-487-6700
Fax: 651-487-6800
Aftercare:
612-309-1663 |
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School Store Hours
8:30 to 9 am
and
Wednesdays
12 to 12:30 pm |
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Coffee & Tea Cart Hours
Monday - Friday
8:15 to 8:45 am
Baked Goodies Available on Fridays (sometimes other days too)! |
Every little bit helps! Take a look at the list below and help us raise money for the school. You may drop-off Box Tops, Milk Caps, Soup Labels & Ink Cartridges in the Parent Lounge anytime.
** The soup label must include a UPC code **
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Lost & Found
The Lost and Found basket is located in the Parent Lounge (top of the lobby steps and to your right).
Your child's teacher also may maintain a classroom Lost & Found. Items which are labeled with your child's name will be returned to your child or placed in his/her classroom Lost & Found.
PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING! |
In the Parent Lounge,
you will find:
A binder of Weekly Updates
A Parent Lending Library of Waldorf and parenting books
Publications of interest to our families
Brochures and Business Cards for childcare, music lessons, real estate, etc.
A bulletin board for community announcements and classfieds.
Children's books & toys for entertaining younger siblings. |
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Pizza Days
Pizza Days for this session are:
If you pay by the week, please have your order in by Monday at 8:30 am. |
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Parent Council Class Reps
K- Brenda
Sara Bowman
Amy O'Brien
Kelly Ponto Watrin
K-Eileen
Amy Martel
Vaara Ostin
K-Mary Lou
Kris Van Amber
Sasha Graybill-Pauling
1-Weick
Joann Warren
Kristina Herbst
2-Maier
Ellen Fiorito
Kristin Aitchison
3-Lloyd
Amanda & Frank Jakowich
4-Garcia
Amy Stephens
Molly Fernholtz
5-Kane
Mark Bensing
6-Riehle
Angela Skinner
7-Maier
Becky Debertin
8-Sibley
Vicki Dunlop | |
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