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Join Our List
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 Recap: A
Day of Service
Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated in a new way this
year with a theme of helping others outside our school. Grade school students
assembled in the morning for a song, story, and a poem recited by the eighth
grade.
Our fifth grade students shared a color experience with
residents from Acorn Glen Assisted Living Community. There, two students and
one resident explored the wet-on-wet painting technique that we use at school.
Each painter added their color to the painting until the paper was full of
color, some blended, some not.
Thanks to the donations of parents, our first and second
graders prepared utensil packages for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, while sixth
and eighth graders made over 150 sandwiches. Lunch bags were decorated and
assembled by the third and fourth graders.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s inspirational messages of
tolerance, peace, culture, and compassion are important for us to remember. On
this day in his honor, the feeling of working together on behalf of someone
else was palpable among our students and teachers alike. Thank you to everyone
who contributed to the effort!
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DON'T MISS THESE EXCITING EVENTS! |
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Come Cheer on Our Basketball Teams
in the Last Games of the Season!
Tuesday, February 2 (away game)
WSP Girls vs. Stuart at 3:45 p.m.
Monday, February 8 (away game)
WSP Boys vs. Princeton Academy at 3:45 p.m.
Tuesday, February 9 (away game)
WSP Boys and Girls vs. Pennington at 3:30 p.m.
Winter
Assembly
Saturday, February 6, 9:30 a.m.
Princeton
High School Auditorium
151 Moore Street
The
midyear assembly is an exciting moment for the students. Each class prepares
one or two pieces for the community. Some classes present pieces from both the
main lesson and subject classes. We hope everyone in the community will join us
in celebrating our students. Please click here for details and directions.
All grade
school children are asked to arrive no later than 9:15 a.m. and to join their
classes at that time. Children who are playing stringed instruments need to
come early, at 9:00, for tuning. Please leave some extra time for parking and
entry into the high school.
We
encourage early childhood families to join in the celebration!
What Is an
Assembly?
Twice each year, the grade school students present the work
they are learning in school in a formal way to our community. This upcoming
assembly is the first time our youngest first graders stand on stage to speak a
poem or sing a song. One such first grader some years ago was so nervous that
she didn't think she had the courage to be on stage. But she was very brave,
and once it was over she said, "I didn't want it to end, I wanted to speak the
poem again and again day after day on the stage!
The progression of work from grades one to eight is a
beautiful picture of the child's growth over the years. Students are asked to
stretch and develop all kinds of capacities, which are made evident as they
sing, move, recite, calculate, play an instrument, and act.
Waldorf School of Princeton Art Show
at Thomas Sweet Cafe
February 15 through March 30
1330 Rt 206, Skillman, NJ 08558
609-430-2828
Located in the Village Shopper Shopping Center, across from the
Shop-Rite and the Montgomery Cinemas.
Thomas Sweet Cafe
will have artwork from the students at the Waldorf School of Princeton on
display. Please support the school by stopping by the cafe for a latte,
sandwich, or ice cream while enjoying the artwork of our students. Also,
if the employees and owner of the cafe know that Waldorf parents are eating and
drinking while looking at the artwork, they will be much more likely to support
our school through sponsorships, donations, auction, etc. When you go to
order, please ask them "where's the Waldorf artwork?" or just express
your "thanks for displaying our school's artwork." It makes a
difference.
And thank you to Doug Jackson (father to Zoe and Ella) for
making this happen!!
The Folk Tale Puppets present "The Lost Spear"
Sunday, February 28, 2 p.m.
Hagens Hall
The performance of this Kenyan folk tale is appropriate for children ages five to twelve.
Admission is $5 and is payable at the door. For reservations and information call 609-466-1365.
Please visit our online calendar for a full listing of events.
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NEWS FROM THE OFFICE
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Coming Soon!
Enrollment packets for the
2010-11 school year are being mailed out the first week in February. If you do
not receive your packet by February 8, please contact the school registrar,
Solveig Pearson, x114.
B6T Forms
The B6T transportation forms for
the 2010-11 school year have also been mailed. If you have a student who will
be five by Oct. 1, 2010, and you are a NJ resident, you should have received
your form. Remember to return this form to the school before February 24 so you
don't miss your opportunity for reimbursement. If you have questions, or did
not receive a B6T form, please contact the school registrar, Solveig Pearson,
x114.
Tuition Assistance
If you are applying for tuition
assistance for the 2010-11 school year, please remember to complete the online application at www.tads.com and
return your contract with the deposit by February 12.
News
from Admissions and Development
Winter Open House
Our January 23 Open House was a resounding success with
close to forty families in attendance! A special thanks to our parent and
alumni "ambassadors" Bill Bauer, Christa Bruneau-Flynn '01, Shep Faison,
Deborah Ginsburg, Suranjoy Hazarika, Mark Hornung, Doug Jackson, Emily
McDonough '00, Tara Romanowich, Bob Rose, Christina Sacalis, Sharon
Vecchiarelli, and Maja Von Doehren for leading tours and engaging visitors in
informative and warm conversations about Waldorf education and our school. Thanks
also to Angela Kneppers for creating the beautiful display of winter greens for
the grade school foyer.
Applications are now arriving from new families, and we have
begun our interview and acceptance process. If you intend to enroll a child in
our 2010-11 early childhood or grade school program, please request an
application form from Jamie Quirk in the admissions and development office,
609-466-1970, x112, jquirk@princetonwaldorf.org.
Introducing
a New Nursery Program
for the 2010-11 School Year!
Beginning in September, we will be offering two nursery
classes, a three-day program and a four/five-day program. As with all of our
early childhood classes (with exception of parent-child), there will be a half-day
and a full-day option. We're also pleased to announce a new age cut-off date
for nursery applicants. The nursery program is now open to children who are three years old by December 31 and bathroom independent.
If you are interested in this program for your child, please
contact Jamie Quirk in the admissions and development office to request an
application form, 609-466-1970, x112, jquirk@princetonwaldorf.org.
Visiting Mornings in the Grade School!
The admissions office is scheduling "visiting" mornings for current WSP parents,
and several grade school classrooms will be open for observation for the first
part of morning lesson until approximately 9:30 a.m. If you are interested in
registering for a morning visit, please contact Diane Barlow at 609-466-1970, x115, dbarlow@princetonwaldorf.org.
Annual
Fund Update
Thanks to the 41 parents, 35 parents of alumni, 19
faculty/staff members, 16 grandparents, 15 alumni, 9 WSP friends, and 1 student
who have made a gift or pledge to our 2009-2010 Annual Fund! We've raised
$60,053 (gifts and pledges) and are now more than halfway to our final goal of
$115,000 by June 30.
Class participation to date:
Grade 8 - 36%
Grade 6 - 41%
Grade 5 - 25%
Grade 4 - 50%
Grade 3 - 42%
Grade 2 - 25%
Grade 1 - 50%
Ms. Kessler's Kindergarten - 40%
Mrs. Atkinson's Kindergarten - 14%
Mrs. Cirianni-Jones's Kindergarten - 33%
Nursery - 8%
Parent Child - 66%
Gifts large and small are needed now to help us reach our
goal. Parents and alumni parents will be making calls early next month
to ask for everyone's support.
To make your gift online, please visit our website.
Please contact Diane Barlow, director of admissions and
development, with any questions: 609-466-1970, x115, dbarlow@princetonwaldorf.org.
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SCHOOL NEWS
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Welcome to
Two New Waldorf School of Princeton
Board Members
Fred Jacobs
Fred Jacobs currently serves as General Counsel to the New
Jersey Hospital Association, a nonprofit trade association with its
headquarters in Princeton. Previously, Fred was a general partner practicing
health law in New York City and also served as chief counsel to the New York
State Assembly. Fred has a nineteen-year-old daughter, Molly, and lives in
Pennington with his wife, Natalie Shivers.
Scott Albert
Scott Albert is the Director of Special Projects with the
Princeton Center for Leadership Training. Trained as a clinical social worker,
Scott worked in independent schools for twenty years before becoming a consultant
and educational trainer. He specializes in helping teachers and administrators
build their capacity to positively impact school culture and make schools safer
and more personable environments.
Scott has also written for Packet Publications in Princeton
and served on the boards for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Mercer County and The
Childcare Center at the Lawrenceville School. He is a familiar face to many, as
he served for three years as the Admissions Director at the Waldorf School of
Princeton. He and his wife, Donna Garcia, are alumni parents as well; his
daughter Victoria graduated in 2006 and is now a senior at the Pennington
School.
Welcome to Three New Families!
The Delgado family recently
joined the WSP early childhood program, and the Kotick and Mahmoud families
have joined the grade school. Please look out for these new students and their
families and help them to feel welcome.
From the Delgado Family
We are pleased to have the opportunity to introduce our
family. Our daughter, Camila, recently joined Mrs. Cirianni-Jones's
kindergarten class. All of us are delighted and enthusiastic about the
experience. Our family recently relocated from Miami, Florida. We currently
live in Somerset, and have been exploring the charms of New Jersey and New
England. Dad Sigfrido is not a stranger to New England, since he went to college
in Boston. Mom Marilyn has been in New England in the past to visit friends.
Our daughters, Camila and Daniela (our 2 year old), are new to the experience and have been inspired by the
opportunities to enjoy nature in New Jersey, including its farms and hiking
trails. Sigfrido works for Johnson & Johnson in Somerville. He manages a
team of engineers responsible for the manufacturing of a diverse portfolio of
medical devices. Prior to this endeavor, he led new product introduction
efforts from Miami in the field of cardiovascular devices. He is now looking
forward to the opportunity to contribute to a New Jersey-based J&J company
with a rich history of innovation in the surgical care field. Marilyn has
dedicated the recent years to starting our family and plans to develop her
interest in photography until Daniela is ready for school. We are enthusiastic
about becoming part of the Waldorf family and look forward to the experience.
From the Kotick Family
We appreciate this opportunity to introduce ourselves. My
name is Tamara Sutton, my husband is Jordan Kotick, and we have three children,
Ava (age 8) and twins Oliver and Lila (age 6). We are pleased that our
daughters Ava and Lila are now attending the Princeton Waldorf School in grades
three and one, respectively. I, Tamara, attended the Toronto Waldorf School
from grade five until the end of high school. I am therefore particularly
excited that my girls will have many of the same great educational experiences
that I had. I was a registered massage therapist until we moved to the United
States from Canada eight years ago when Jordan accepted a job in
Manhattan. We have lived in the Princeton Junction area for the past four
years; we have met some wonderful people and look forward to expanding our
circle of friends through the Waldorf community.
From the Mahmoud Family
Zaid Mahmoud lives in Somerset, New Jersey, along with his three
other siblings: brother Salim and sister Sofia, eight-year-old twins, and
sister Shadden, who is six years old. Also part of the family is a golden retriever
named Max and a cat named Fluffy. Zaid enjoys karate and fencing, drawing,
and collecting Legos. Zaid's mother, Julie Lines, is a web developer at
Princeton University. Zaid's father, Samir Mahmoud, is an NCAA fencing
coach and referee. Our family is looking forward to experiencing the Waldorf
school and getting to know the members of the Waldorf community.
Thank-Yous
We would like to send our
appreciation to two fourth grade parents who have donated items for our
Community Kitchen. Tracy Ashcroft, mother of Nicholas Ashcroft, filled our
cupboards with a set of mugs, plates, and bowls with a beautiful holiday design
(that we will certainly put into use all year long!) Lauren Jones, mother of
Gareth Hornung, was kind enough to donate two sets of utensils-one for daily
use and one complete set we can save for special visitors!
School-Wide Communication Survey
The administration is very interested in developing
effective communication with you. In January you received an e-mailed link to a
survey that will help us understand your needs. The survey results will help us
communicate with you in the best possible way. We hope each parent will take
the time to complete this survey. If you have not already done so, you may click
here to access the survey. Paper versions are also available on the parent
table in the Golden House--but please don't do both!
Visit Our Blog!
Don't forget to check out the Waldorf School of Princeton blog, On Windy Hill. A visit to the blog provides a glimpse into the daily
activities at our school. It is also a nice way to keep friends and family
apprised of the goings-on here!
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THIS AND THAT ...
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Northern Harmony
Friday, February 12, 7:30 p.m.
All Saints Episcopal Church, Princeton
Northern Harmony, the world music singing ensemble from
Vermont led by Larry Gordon and former WSP administrator Patty Cuyler, will
present a concert All Saints Episcopal Church, 16 All Saints Road, in
Princeton. Suggested admission at the door is $15, $10 for students. For
information call: 609-921-2420 or visit www.village.harmony.org.
Hailed for their "sheer agility, vitality and power" by the
Washington Post, Northern Harmony's brilliant young singers are chosen from
among the strongest recent graduates of Village Harmony teen ensembles. They
stretch the normal boundaries of choral music with their command of varied
world ethnic singing styles: sacred and secular harmonies from Corsica and
Georgia; village music from the Balkans; South African folk and church songs
and dances; American shape-note singing and a cappella gospel; and contemporary
compositions.
Soup for Supper: Heat It and Eat it!
The third grade is still offering
delectable soups by the quart every Thursday through March 25. Prepared with
love!
Order forms are available via the school website and on the parent table in the Golden House.
Quantities are limited--avoid
disappointment and ORDER EARLY!
Contact Angel Heller with any questions: (609) 585 0994 (h)
or (909) 531 3789 (c) or angelheller@yahoo.com.
From the
Windy Hill Store
Please visit the Windy Hill Store to check out our new
inventory. We have new Smart Wool
for spring in stock. We also are now carrying beautiful crystals and gemstones
at reasonable prices. Come and see our tiny treasures for Valentine's Day . . .
little gemstone hearts, arrowheads, break-your-own geodes. We just received
more candles from Hinode Farms, and a new shipment of books: board books,
activity books, and books related to education. We have bath salt crystals,
which are wonderful for your child's (or mom or dad's) bath in the evening. Our
new Kleen Kanteen Wide Mouth bottles have arrived in beautiful colors. And, as
always, SCRIP is available for purchase at the store. It is an easy way to
raise money for our school. If you are not using SCRIP and would like to help
our school in a very simple, easy way, talk to Traci and she can fill you in on
all the details.
Time to Solicit for our April 24 Auction
Thank you to the auction committee volunteers who are
already busy planning for what promises to be a not-to-miss event!
While the committee is busy planning the invitations, the
decorations, food, and beverages, they need each of us to obtain sponsorships,
donations, and/or program advertisements. We can each solicit two or more businesses and ask the
owner to participate in our auction in one or all of the following ways: donate a product, promote their
business with an ad in the auction program, or donate money to the running of the auction in the form of a sponsorship. Also, if you or
someone in your family is crafty or handy, you might consider donating a
"basket" or gift certificate of your services or products. Our community is lucky to have so many
talented individuals; the auction
presents a way for us to give back to the school just by sharing our talents or
services.
Hopefully you all have an auction donation and
advertising/sponsorship form, but if you need more, these can be found on the parent table in the Community Kitchen as well as on the school website and the
school's Big Tent site. In order
to keep track of solicitation information, please either check the solicitation
list on the parent table in the Golden
House or visit the one on Big Tent. (Big Tent is an
online organizing service for large groups and is being utilized by our school
to help facilitate communications within our school community. If you have not joined Big Tent, please
consider doing so. You may e-mail
Jamie Quirk at jquirk@princetonwaldorf.org for more information or to request an invitation.)
Any questions or ideas related to the auction can be sent to
Kimberly Trent (Mom to Kalina and Camden) at kat7597@msn.com.
May Fair News
Thank you to Kerri Cox Sullivan for passing on the May Fair Coordinator
position to Sara Young-Singh (mother to Eva and Sophia in the EC program). The May Fair will be held
on Saturday, May 15. For those new to the Waldorf School, the May Fair unites
our community in celebrating the arrival of Spring. Friends, family, and
interested members of the community are all welcome to attend the May
Fair.
Sara looks forward to working with everyone who has volunteered to help with
the Fair and wishes to extend a welcome to all of the new families that have
joined the school community this year. She is looking forward to this wonderful
celebration and to your involvement in a Waldorf School of Princeton tradition. If you wish to
join the May Fair volunteer team, please contact Sara at syoungsingh@yahoo.com.
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DID YOU KNOW?
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National
statistics of Waldorf school graduates show that 94 percent of
Waldorf graduates attend college and 89 percent are highly satisfied in their
choice of occupation.
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STUDENT AND ALUMNI NEWS
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WSP Student News
Current eighth grade student Moses Heberlein's artwork was
selected to appear on the Waldorf School 2010 calendar planner produced by the
Chicago Waldorf School. Moses's submission, "Sailing into the Unknown," was one
of over 200 submitted for consideration. Congratulations to Moses!
WSP Alumni News
Two of WSP's 2009 eighth grade graduates received Trustees
Merit Scholarships from Solebury School, where these students are currently
enrolled in the ninth grade. Congratulations to Chris Ciccodicola and Hana Rose
Mershon.
Priscilla Wiggins, WSP '08 and now a student at George
School, was named to the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association (PSCA)
all-state team. Priscilla, a forward, joins a select group of top female high
school soccer players in Pennsylvania. She was also named one of two Friends
Schools League players of the year in the sport. Her mother, Holly Houston,
is a member of the WSP Board of Trustees.
WSP alum Joie Golomb '01 sent us the following info. She is
the Director of Youth Development for this theater located in NYC. Their
website is www.gallitheaterny.com:
"We have three shows coming up at Galli's Fairytale Theater
that you can share with the families at Waldorf. They have shows every weekend, Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
Wolf and Seven Little Goats: Jan. 23-Feb. 7
Cinderella: Jan. 20-Mar. 7
Sleeping Beauty: Mar. 13-Mar. 28
Snow White: April 10-Apr. 25"
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WALDORF EDUCATION IN THE NEWS
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Research Finds No Advantage
in Learning to Read from Age Five
A University of Otago researcher has uncovered for the first time
quantitative evidence that teaching children to read from age five is not
likely to make that child any more successful at reading than a child who
learns reading later, from age seven. This quote from the researcher seems to
affirm the Waldorf early-childhood curriculum: "Because later starters at reading are still
learning through play, language, and interactions with adults, their long-term
learning is not disadvantaged. Instead, these activities prepare the soil well
for later development of reading," said Dr. Suggate. Visit here for the full article.
Message and Meaning: Reclaiming the Link Between Independence and the Essence of American Education
This article, in the Fall 2009 issue of Independent School, was written by Patrice O'Neill Maynard, the leader for outreach and
development at the Association of Waldolf Schools of
North America. Click here to read.
Read about Waldorf Education Growing in Mexico
This February, the Cuernavaca school will be the first Mexican Waldorf school to complete an accreditation with AWSNA. Click here to read the full text.
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