Weekly Update from the MN Waldorf School

Your Weekly Update

News from the Minnesota Waldorf School

May 25, 2010

Eighth Grade Class Trip: Bon Voyage!

Each Spring, the graduating 8th grade class takes a trip together. It is the culmination of their eight (or more!) years of school together, and offers a special opportunity for them to bond together as a class while they learn valuable skills. The Class of 2010 left on the Amtrak train early Saturday morning to begin their adventure at Hawk Circle in Upstate New York. They are accompanied by Ben Sibley, their class teacher, as well as chaperones Kit Canright, Garth Riegel and Anna Dains. It is the tradition at MWS that 8th grade class parents are not allowed to chaperone on the trip, so that the children may experience their independence and move more freely into their own space of being.

Hawk Circle uses wilderness skills as a foundation for their program, including wilderness survival, nature awareness, knowledge of trees and plants, animal tracking, native skills and crafts. The camp also incorporates leadership and community skills, as well as group communication. To learn more, visit their web site at www.hawkcircle.com.

We wish them well, and look foward to hearing about their wonderful adventures after their return on June 1st!

The Minnesota Waldorf School
invites you

to celebrate the graduation of the

Class of 2010

Thursday, June 10th

at 7 pm

in the Festival Hall

A reception will follow.

Overflow Parking in Lower Field

Pizza Lunch Ends Wednesday!

This Wednesday, May 26th is the last Pizza Day of the 2009-10 school year. Thank you all for participating in this fun and tasty 7th and 8th grade fundraiser.

Important Camping Week Information

Next week, the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th grades will go camping. If your child will require medication during this trip (including vitamins/supplements), you MUST complete a Dispensation of Medication form and turn it in with the medication to Amy Stephens by Thurday, May 27th.

If you will be a driver or chaperone for camping week, please check in with Amy Stephens to be sure your paperwork is up to date.

Student Services Coordinator Position

Amy Stephens has decided not to return as the Student Services Coordinator after the end of this school year. We will all miss "Ms. Amy" and we are excited that she will still be part of the parent community! Thus, we are seeking candidates for the position of Student Services Coordinator. We have decided to divide this job into two part-time positions. This very important position is representative of the first face and the first voice (and the first with a band-aid or a kind word) in the school. The Student Services Coordinator is responsible for the front desk area of the school, telephone coverage, and meeting parent informational needs and questions. These two part-time salaried positions are for the school year (not including breaks) plus the week before school begins and the week after school ends. A full description of the position is attached here. Applications can be downloaded from our web site and should be directed to Melinda Lopes with a copy of your resume and letter of interest. Applications will be accepted through June 1, 2010.

End of the Year Cards in Amy's Office

Stop in and Pen a Little Note

This week, the Parent Council and class reps will fill a basket with end of the year cards for all of the faculty and staff who dedicate their hearts and hands to MWS and our children. The basket is in Amy Stephens' office. At your leisure, please stop in and write some words of appreciation and gratitutde. These notes mean so much and are such a gift at the end of a busy school year.

If you would like to give a gift of money to your class teacher, you may leave it in his/her individual envelope. If you would like to give a monetary gift to subject teachers, coverage teachers or staff, you may place it in his or her envelope or into the collection box (which will be divided). We will safeguard the contents of the envelopes and box nightly. If you have any questions, please contact your class rep or Parent Council Chair, Ben Richards.

Eurythmy Ends--Farewell Ms. Fontana

Our spring Eurythmy block ended Friday and on Thursday afternoon the children and Ms. Fontana gave a beautiful performance of their work together. Claudia also presented the school with a gift-- a photograph of Rudolf Steiner holding a child. The photograph is on display in the lobby.

Claudia will return to teach a Eurythmy block next fall. Until then, we thank her for all of her work with the children and wish her farewell.

Order Your 2009-10 Yearbook by June 2nd!

It's time to order your 2009-10 MWS yearbooks. The MWS yearbook includes artwork and layout by the 8th grade class, with the much appreciated help from Sherri Mann and Vicki Dunlop. It also includes full color photographs of students, faculty, staff and school events such as festivals, class plays, sporting matches, etc.

Look for order forms in the front lobby, the Kindergarten Cottage main entrance and the MWS website on Wednesday, May 26.

Yearbooks will be distributed to students by the class teachers during the last week of school. Look for more announcements in the Update.

Camping Week Supplies at the School Store

Stop by the school store this week and stock up on sunscreen and bug spray for camping week and, while you're there, check out the nested fork, knife and spoon sets and summer toys!

Medication Pick-up

If your child has medication at school please stop by Amy's office to pick it up. Non-emergency medicine may be picked up anytime, while emergency meds should be picked up on the last of school. Any medicine remaining after the last day of school will be discarded.

Thank You School Store Volunteers

We'd like to offer thanks to school store volunteers Freida Bensing, Ting-Ting Cheng, Amy Grove, Andi Guy, Denise Harrison, Deirdre Murnane, Dawn Peterson, Phyllis Schmit, and Teresa Reid. Because of their dedication and time, we are able to maintain our fun and delightful little school store. A very special thanks to Amy Grove, Andi Guy and Teresa Reid, the toy, book and general buyers of the store (respectively).

Thank You Coffee Cart Volunteers

These saintly early-morning risers served us coffee and chai all year. Thanks so much to:

Dan Storey

Bruce Peterson

Ben Richards

Michelle Haglund

Anne Kramer

Kerry Speed

Bravo, baristas!

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.

Register for Camp

Age Extended to 9 Years!

MWS Day Camp

June 12 - September 3, 2009

For Children entering Grades K-4
Ages: 5 to 9 years old (and younger children who are currently enrolled in our Pre-K program)
8:30 am to 3:30 pm

$200 per week/1st child

$150 per week/per each additional

Daily Option: $40/day, $30/per each additional

Drop-In Option: $40/day

Join us for a summer of play and work, story and song, rest and movement as we experience and celebrate the bounty of the season! Please complete your registration forms ASAP!

Extended Daycare Available: $4-5/hour
Before Care: 8:00-8:30 am
After Care: 3:30-5:30 pm
$5/hour Drop-In
$4/hour if pre-registered

In Sympathy

We offer our sympathy to the Harrison family (Sophia K-BH) after the passing of Denise's father last week.

Alumni News

Emily Anderson (Ms. Reagan, MWS Class of '06) will perform her senior violin recital on June 9th at 7 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater. All are welcome.

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

Summer at Novalis Institute: Our core faculty teacher, Linda Bergh is once again offering a week-long June Biography class. This class continues to be the foundation for inner development and a transforming process for all who participate. This week from June 21-25th is a condensed offering to facilitate more participation. Join us! Please note that childcare options may be available for this class. Please use the contact email or phone below if this is a need for you.

Solstice/St. John's Festival: Along with the Twin Cities Branch of the Anthroposophical Society, Novalis is co-sponsoring a free community evening in celebration of the Solstice and St. John's Day on Monday, June 21st. There will be music, games, shortcake, a biodynamic gardening stirring, a finger-food potluck and an evening fire. Bring an appetizer and your families - all are welcome! You will find more details on our website Classes page under "Other Community Opportunities."

Please also look for details in the flyers on your school's bulletin board!

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