Weekly Update from the MN Waldorf School

Your Weekly Update

News from the Minnesota Waldorf School

April 20, 2010

Thank you Minnesota Waldorf School!!

A joyous, festive time was had Saturday evening at the 5^th annual MWS Frolic! We hope everyone was able to get the winning bid on the item they most wanted. If not, let us know and we'll get that item back next year so you have another shot! Thank you to our many parent volunteers who stepped up this year to procure the amazing items we had and then enter them into our auction program, organize and donate the incredible array of Great Gatherings, gather photos and create a wonderful video presentation, sell tickets, stuff envelopes and work at the Frolic getting everyone checked in and checked out! A special thanks to the following people who led our many teams of volunteers: Amanda Jakowich, Dawn Paulson, Jo Ann Warren, Norma Peterson, Sue Campbell, Mark Hines, Frank Jakowich, Amy Stephens, Brock Christianson, Sarah Bowman, Beth Amos, Kathleen Kirlin, Michelle Motto, Juliet Johnson, Craig and Tammy Wenberg, Christy Lillibridge and Carole Anderson and to our multi-tasking Frolic team, Pamela Isham, Ben Richards, Vicki Dunlop, Liz Lacey-Gotz, Phyllis Schmit and Becky Debertin.

We were thrilled to see nearly the entire MWS staff in attendance this year and also to have Kurt Curtin and David Maier speak about our Fund-a-Need project. Carving Out Space for Woodworking and Science is an important need for the school this year as we look forward to having dedicated space for both subjects. If you did not get a chance to donate to the Fund-a-Need Saturday evening, donations can still be made by seeing Beth Amos in the administration office. Please see the lobby display for more information.

Tick Season is Here

It is tick season again in Minnesota! Please check your child for ticks each day. As you may know, ticks can transmit various illnesses. If you are concerned about finding a tick on your child, please contact your child's doctor.

Summer Program Survey

A survey went out this week to help us determine interest in a summer program. We look forward to hearing what you think. A link to the survey is here.

2010-11 First Grade Teacher Selected

The Minnesota Waldorf School College of Teachers is pleased to announce that we have selected Jennifer Holt to be the First Grade Teacher for the 2010-2011 school year.

Adult Eurythmy with Claudia Fontana
Meet at MWS Festival Hall

Tuesdays, April 20-May 18, 7-8pm
$75 for the five-session course

If interested, register in Amy Stephens' office. Walk-in registrants are also welcomed. Questions? Contact Ting Ting Cheng at 651/492-9107 or tinglcheng@gmail.com

Media Awareness and Digital Detox Week

This week is Digital Detox Week (formerly known as National TV Turnoff Week.) Media enters our lives in many ways: television, computers, cell phones, iPod's etc. Many of us have most or all of these things in our lives and our children either share in the use of them or see us using them daily. We need to consider some questions about this use. In what ways do they really enhance our lives and/or our children's? In what ways do they enhance our relationship with our children? How is the presence of them affecting our children and the children around them when they come to school? What else could we be doing with our time? Please join the Parent Council for an important discussion about media this Thursday, April 22^nd at 7:00. David Maier (7^th grade teacher) will give a short presentation to get our conversation started and help answer your questions.

This week is National TV Turnoff Week. To quote an article by Bill Ward, "with one of the most blissful springs of a lifetime in full bloom, Minnesotans have no reason not to pull the plug on their TVs...Outside of the glow of the tube, the options are limitless." Go for a long walk, get to know your neighbors a little better, read a book, visit someone who's truly shut in, play catch, go on a picnic, start working in your garden.

March Parent Council Minutes Online

April Parent Council Meeting Thursday, 4/22

The next Parent Council meeting is Thursday, April 22nd at 7 pm in Festival Hall. Please join us for a vital Media Awareness discussion, led by David Maier, 7th grade teacher. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend!

The March Parent Council meeting was informative and spirited! Many thanks to the attendees for sharing varied discussion topics. Complete minutes of the meeting may be found in the Weekly Update notebook in the Parent Lounge and on the MWS website.

May Day Festivals: Join Us to Welcome Spring

The 1st through 8th grades will celebrate May Day on Friday, April 30th at 1:45 pm with dances 'round the Maypole and other festivities on the front lawn. In the case of inclement weather, the festival will be rescheduled.

The three Kindergartens will dance the Maypole and celebrate Spring with a small festival to be held Tuesday, May 4th at 8:30 am.

Thank You

The Sibley family would like to warmly thank the anonymous donor who sent the beautiful wooden castle home for Orion from this year's frolic auction. He will be thrilled!

Student Medication Information for

Pentathlon, Camping, 8th Grade Trip

Several grades will have overnight field trips or camping trips this spring. If your child will require medication to be given on a field trip, please pick up a medication authorization form from Amy Stephens and return the completed form to her at least two weeks before the scheduled field trip so the school nurse can compile the information and instruct the appropriate teacher. On the field trip, the medications will be kept with the teacher who will dispense them at the appropriate times. (The exception is asthma inhalers that may be carried by the student with prior approval.) If you have any questions, please contact Ann DePaolis-Jones, the school nurse, at the school on Thursdays from 10 am to 3:30 pm, 651-487-6700.

A New Delicious 7th Grade Fundraiser!

Samples available Wednesday at the Coffee Cart

Wondering what to make your favorite mom for Mother's Day? Looking for an easy Mothers' Day dinner? The 7th Grade class has an answer for you! They are now taking orders for delicious Sweet or Savory Strudels!

These wonderful locally made strudels are made in small batches at the time of your order. Each strudel is carefully crafted using the freshest and finest ingredients available! Order forms and more information are available in the front Lobby. Frozen strudel will be delivered to MWS on May 6th.

Orders accepted until 3:30 pm on Wednesday April 21st. Feel free to contact any 7th grader, Phyllis Schmit, or Becky Debertin with questions. All proceeds go to help fund the Class of 2011 8th grade trip.

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.