Weekly Update from the MN Waldorf School

Your Weekly Update

News from the Minnesota Waldorf School

March 9, 2010

Friday's Student Concert to Benefit Haiti

The Solo and Ensemble Concert, scheduled for Friday, March 12 at 7 pm in the Festival Hall, will be a fundraiser for Haitian earthquake victims. Upper grades students suggested and unanimously agreed to the idea of a benefit concert. Admission will be by donation. A bake sale of delicious treats will follow the concert. Proceeds from the sale of baked goods will also benefit Haiti.

For those new to the school, participation in the Solo and Ensemble Concert is entirely voluntary. Students in the 4th through 8th grades may perform a solo or in a small ensemble (duet, trio, quartet, etc.) Students may play their stringed instrument, flute, recorder or, once they reach 5th grade, perform vocally.

Welcome New Family!

We are delighted to welcome Irene Hayes and her parents Paul and Elizabeth to our school. Irene has joined Ms. Kane's 5th grade class. Please contact Amy Stephens to update your directory with the Hayes' address and telephone number.

Parent Council Meeting: March 11th, 7 pm

All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend the Parent Council meeting Thursday, March 11th at 7 pm in Handwork room. Please join us for engaging discussions, hands-on education, important school news & refreshments!

Re-Enrollment Intentions Due Now

2010-2011 re-enrollment letters were sent to all current families over break and were due back February 22nd. If you have not already done so, please return your Pre-K/Kindergarten or grades re-enrollment intention form asap to reserve your child's place and to help the school plan for next year.

We have begun accepting new students. If you would like to email your re-enrollment intentions, cut and paste the appropriate form, from the above links, and email the completed form to Beth Amos at bamos@mnwaldorf.org.

Also, if you are hoping to enroll a younger sibling into Pre-K or Kindergarten, please drop-off an application as soon as possible!

Tuition Assistance Due Now

Tuition assistance applications are now due. As supporting documentation for your application, you must provide Beth Amos with a copy of your 2009 Federal tax return by April 15th. Tuition assistance packets and information were mailed to those families who currently receive tuition assistance. If your financial situation has changed and you would like to apply for tuition assistance for the 2010-2011 school year, please see Beth Amos for a packet. We encourage all families who need assistance to apply.

AWSNA March Inform Newsletter Available

'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. You may read the latest newsletter on our website www.mnwaldorf.org.

MWS Summertime Family Camping Trip

Mark your calendars now for the annual Waldorf Family Camping Trip. The dates are Father's Day weekend Fri., June 18th to Sun., June 20th. This is a wonderful MWS tradition- a family camp outing for MWS families and friends at beautiful Whitewater State Park. There is (ice-cold) swimming and hiking at a mosquito-free park (honest, it is!). Whitewater State Park is +2 1/2 hours from the Twin Cities just west of Wabasha. We reserve a primitive group campsite and camp all together in a circle of tents. It is a lot of fun and often our site is filled to capacity so make your plans soon. Hobo pies, s'mores, a hand-pump for water, campfire singing, star-gazing, tadpole-catching are some of our favorite parts of the trip. Carole Anderson coordinates this trip. Reserve your spot with or ask your questions of her at 651-430-1825.

Experience Waldorf: Saturday, March 20, 9:45 am - Noon

Participants in the March 20th program will attend one class and then meet in the Festival Hall for an extended question and answer session about Waldorf education. As of now, the schedule, classes and teachers are as follows:

9:45 Registration/Coffee

10:00 Take a class:

Ms. Johanna Garcia - Math

Mr. Gideon Weick - Movement as a Foundation for Learning

Mr. David Maier - History

10:45 Plenum Discussion

Do you have a Waldorf or a specific school question that you would like answered? If so, we want to hear from you! Just click here to send a question or write your question on a slip of paper and put it in the box in the front lobby. We look forward to hearing from you.

Claudia Fontana Returns to Teach Eurythmy in April

We are delighted to announce that Claudia Fontana will return to MWS to teach a 7-week Eurythmy block for Kindergarten through 8th grade students beginning April 12th.

We are looking for a family to host Ms. Fontana during her stay. Please call the office, or speak with Noreen Fisher or Mary Lou Bala, if you are able to offer housing.

Adult Eurythmy Class Begins in April

Eurythmist Claudia Fontana has offered to teach a six-week adult eurythmy class if there are enough interested adults. Last fall, she offered a class on Tuesday evenings and the cost was $90 for the 6-weeks. Dates and fees for the spring session are yet to be determined. However, if this interests you, please let us know as soon as possible. Sign up sheets are in Amy Stephens' office and in the Kindergarten Cottage near the water fountain or you may contact Ting Ting Cheng at 651-492-9107. You may help us get the word out about this class by posting flyers around town. You may pick up ia flyer in the lobby.

Frolic News: Buy This Year's Tix at Last Year's Prices!

Got tickets? Visit www.TheFrolic.org to reserve your seat. Register by March 26th and pay last year's price!

There is still time to advertise your business in our full-color catalog for the live and silent auctions!! Complete your form by the April 1st deadline to be included. Contact Liz at llaceygotz@mnwaldorf.org for more info. Donation, advertising and registration forms as well as general information are available in the school lobby.

Several wonderful items and fabulous Great Gatherings have already come in for the on-line and silent auctions but we still need for your donation! If you can't decide what to give to the Frolic this year, read this inspiring letter from one of our parents:

Hi, I am Frank Jakowich. My wife Amanda and I have three beautiful and amazing children here at the Minnesota Waldorf School. I am writing today in hopes of inspiring you to find creative ways of donating your time or asking someone you know to donate their time. Two years ago, I (donated an item to the) silent auction. I am an Arborist by trade and donated my time and tree expertise to the event. Amanda and I were not able to attend that year. After a month or two, I received a letter of gratitude in the mail stating what my donation had brought financially to MWS. I remember the moment I opened the envelope. The pride that I felt. A simple donation of time offered more money to the school than our family could give.

So this year I am stepping it up, offering tree service as well as Frank's Organic Don't Panic Blue Plate Special of the Month! I encourage you to ask yourself what you could offer or host, and then please "step out" and offer that service or event. Do you know someone who has something they could offer? Is so, "Step out" and ask that person or organization to donate. Anything helps. See you at the Frolic.

Be sure to fill out a donation form before March 17th so it can be included in our preview auction catalog!

The 2009-10 School Yearbook is in Production

Send Us Your Photos

The 8th Grade is beginning to put together the 2009-10 yearbook and welcomes your photo contributions. If you have photos, especially photos from field trips, class plays, or school events, that you could share, please email them to Vicki Dunlop or use

info@mnwaldorf.org. If you prefer to copy your photos onto cd to share, you may drop them off with Amy Stephens.

School Store News: New Book Ordering Process

If you would like to order a book from the school store, please use the new Book Orders notebook located next to the cash register. Orders will be placed monthly provided there are at least 20 books on the list. You will be contacted when your book arrives. If you have questions about a specific book order or about the process, contact Andi Guy.

New Hours Added: The School Store will now be open every Wednesday from 12:00 to 12:45.

Calling All Travelers

Each summer, our faculty attend Teacher Training at various colleges and institutes around the country. This training helps them plan their blocks for the next school year, deepen their education in Waldorf methods and philosophy and connect with colleagues from other schools for sharing, mentoring and building relationships. It is a significant part of a Waldorf teacher's preparation and the Teacher Development Committee strives to support these endeavors however possible.

To this end, we request that any parents who have frequent flier miles or points they are able to donate, contact either their class teacher directly or the school. These points/miles help offset teacher travel costs.

Alumni News

Do you have news to share about a Minnesota Waldorf School alum? We always love to hear about our graduates.

Contact: Liz Lacey-Gotz

Community News

Intro to Biography: Highly Recommended

Please join beloved local teacher Linda Bergh for a single morning introduction to Biography, inspired by our children. Participants who have done this work have described it as transformational, with one student recently stating, "I gained many insights by consciously journeying into my past, and from there was able to freely and playfully create a vision for my life."

You may find all of our current classes and registration information on our home page at http://novalisinstitute.org/. Questions? Call 651.489.2060 or email info@novalisinstitute.org.

CHILDHOOD REFLECTIONS TO ENLIVEN YOUR PARENTING

WITH LINDA BERGH

Come and see how awareness of your life and journey can awaken you to your children. This class provides a chance to experience how opening to your biography can further your understanding of your children and awaken more capacities as a parent. This will be a single 3 hour class offered during school hours.

Linda Bergh, a core teacher at Novalis Institute, has been teaching Biography in our community for over a decade. This class is a new opportunity to have a one time experience of the biography work, focused through our children.

Session 1

Date: Tuesday, March 23rd

Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Location: City of Lakes Wadorf School

Session 2

Date: Wednesday, March 24th

Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Location: Minnesota Waldorf School

Cost: $45

Waldorf Parent Blog

Ilian Willwerth, a trained Waldorf teacher with 30 years of experience in the classroom, has created an online forum for Waldorf parents. This will be a place where parents can learn and discuss ways to support each other, their children, their child's class and teachers, and their Waldorf school. Content will be moderated by Ilian Willwerth. The forum also welcomes the participation of teachers and administrators, many of whom are Waldorf parents themselves, in this project. You'll find the forum at:

http://waldorfparents.blogspot.com/.

AWSNA Position Available

The Association of Waldorf Schools of North America is seeking an individual to join its association staff as Coordinator of Accreditation. The Accreditation Coordinator position is half time and is responsible for managing the accreditation activities of the Association to strengthen and nurture the impulse of Waldorf education on this continent. We are seeking an individual who has experience teaching or working in a Waldorf school, who is familiar with and has participated in AWSNA activities, who has experience working with accreditation and who is committed to working out of a connection to anthroposophy.

The Accreditation Coordinator may work in our Seattle office or from his or her own location and will work closely with the Leader of Programs and Activities, located in Seattle. The position includes program management, travel to participate in regular meetings of the association and partners, and travel to schools to do orientations. This role does not require relocation, but does require considerable travel. A more complete description of the position is below.

If you feel drawn to playing an important leading role in serving the impulse of Waldorf Education, please send your resume and a letter of interest to the AWSNA Search Committee, c/o Michael Soulé, 3055 NE 98th St. Seattle WA 98115 or

msoule@awsna.org For more information, please call 206-527-2424.

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