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A Peek
into Class Plays
As the fourth-grade curriculum turns to ancient stories of Scandinavia to feed the hearty, vigorous ten-year-old,
the student begins to see the world from new, more grounded perspectives and
the process of greater individualization begins. Aptly, this year's fourth-grade
play, The Forging of the Sampo, was
taken from the Kalevala, an epic poem
of Finnish origins that begins with the creation of the world and goes on for
many verses, or "Runes," to tell of the trials of heroes and their dabblings
with darkness.
Fourth-grade teacher Mrs. Kerr excerpted a portion of the Kalevala, applied some of the poem to
Scandinavian melody, added appropriate humor, and, with her students, brought
the story to life beautifully.
Flexibility is an important aspect of putting on a play, as
the fourth grade discovered. Students practiced the play without being cast
into a particular role--every student learned the whole play and experimented
with different character embellishments. Only about a week before the
production was ready, individual roles were announced. Children eagerly learned
their places, donned costumes, and practiced putting their own particular
nuances into their roles. After a successful parent production, the in-school performance
was delayed due to snow and had to be done without two key (they are all key)
members of the cast. It was hard to tell who enjoyed the play more--the cast,
or the audience!
For those unfamiliar with the story, the play began with
Vainamoinen, old and steadfast, on a quest to find a wife. Because of some
previous mischief, Vainamoinen suddenly found himself in deep trouble. He ended
up making a bargain with Louhi, a sorceress who rules the dark realm, and
promised her a sampo. What is a sampo? A sampo is everything one could desire,
a source of great wealth, mystical and powerful. Vainamoinen knew there was
only one person who could make it, but some magic and trickery would be
necessary to convince the primeval smith, Ilmarinen, to help him out. In the
end, the play seemed to be connected to something much greater than one excerpt
of an epic poem, and what a metaphor it was!
Look for a schedule of upcoming class plays in future issues of the Willow!
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DON'T MISS THESE EXCITING EVENTS! |
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When
to Say Yes--When to Say No: An Interactive Workshop on the Art of Discipline
Workshop
led by Jane Martin, MA (Psychotherapist and WSP Alumni Parent)
Saturday,
March 6, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Hagens
Hall
For
more information, contact Jane at (609) 737-0356 or eolseminars@comcast.net. To learn
more about Jane, click here and scroll down.
March
Parent Council Meeting
Tuesday,
March 9, 7:30 p.m.
Hagens
Hall
After the business portion of
the meeting, there will be a parent enrichment activity led by a faculty
member.
Open House
Saturday, March 13, 10 a.m.-Noon
Come and join us and tell your friends! Parents are always welcome
to attend this event--it is a chance for you to learn more about the school and
to mingle and meet prospective families. If you have any questions or would
like to help, please call Diane Barlow
at x115 or e-mail her at dbarlow@princetonwaldorf.org.
School Assembly
Saturday, March 20, 9:30 a.m.
Mackay Campus Center
Princeton Theological Seminary (click here for directions)
The midyear (this year slightly more than 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.
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 assembly hall.
We encourage early childhood families to join in and make this a school-wide 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.
Spring House Cleaning for your Body:
The Macrobiotic Lifestyle, with Terri Fredericks
Monday, March 22, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Third-Grade Classroom
This lecture, which is free to attend, will provide a broad introduction to the macrobiotic lifestyle, including the general format of a whole foods diet, eating habits, and why they are important, and tips on cultivating energy and health. You will see how some simple but fundamental tools can be added to your daily routine to lead a healthier and more balanced life. For more information, click here.
To register, sign up on the clipboards on the Golden House landing or contact Jessica Alfaro at (609) 466-1970, x110.
Waldorf School of Princeton Art Show
at Thomas Sweet Cafe
February 15 through March 30
1330 Rt 206, Skillman
609-430-2828
Located
in the Village Shopper Shopping Center, across from the Shop-Rite and the
Montgomery Cinemas.
Thomas Sweet Cafe now has 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 express your thanks for displaying our
school's artwork. It makes a difference.
Please visit our online calendar for a full listing of events.
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NEWS FROM THE OFFICE
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Parent-Teacher Conferences
Please remember that parent-teacher
conferences will take place on March 4 and 5. There will be no school on those
two days.
Spring Vacation
Please note that there
will be a half day on Friday, March 26. Spring vacation will begin the week of
Monday, March 29. School resumes on Tuesday, April 6.
Grandparents'
and Special Friends' Day
Our annual Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day is
scheduled to take place the morning of Friday, May 14. Invitations will be
printed this month. If you did not previously send names and addresses of
grandparents and special friends to the school office, or if you have updated
information to provide, or have questions about this, please contact Jamie Quirk, admission and development assistant, 609-466-1970, x112, no
later than March 12.
Save on Next Year's Tuition!
Tuition goes up on April 1, but there's still time to lock in at this year's rates for 2010-11! Completed contracts with full deposits must be postmarked or received by March 31* in order to qualify. (See your enrollment agreement for further detail.)
*Please note this date falls during Spring Vacation, so don't wait until the last minute!
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SCHOOL NEWS
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Welcome to the Strum Family!
Melody was thrilled to join the parent-child class this past
January. It's purely coincidence that her last name is "Strum"; she seems
destined for a future filled with music. Melody is joined in class by her
little brother, Marcus, who has enriched her life for the past year. I am an
Oriental medicine practitioner--acupuncture and herbs--by profession. My
current focus is to treat and eliminate people's allergies. My husband, Donald,
has been an industrial designer with the Michael Graves Design Group in Princeton for the past twenty-five years. In considering
the myriad of products he has designed, the Alessi tea kettle probably remains
the most recognizable. My stepdaughter, Macie, spends equal time with us in Princeton and with her mother in Hillsborough. Melody
considers Macie one of her best friends. We enjoy living in Princeton
with all it offers as a community and its diverse population. Thank you for
welcoming us to the Waldorf
School.
Pamela Strum
New Additions to the Waldorf Community!
Penny Foss Miller, mom to Tyne Miller in Mr. Sciarretta's third grade, gave birth to Bowen Alexander Miller on February 13. Congratulations to the Foss-Miller Family!
Joan Marie Land-Zetterberg, mom to Matthew Land in Karen Atkinson's kindergarten, gave birth to Charlotte Cordelia Zetterberg on Tuesday, February
23. Congratulations to the Land-Zetterberg family!
Auction Update
Spring is just around the corner as is our spring auction!
The auction will be held from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday,
April 24, 2010, at 23 Orchard Road,
Skillman, NJ.
The fun-filled night will feature live music by jazz musician and composer John
Bianculli, scrumptious food, fantastic wine,
and wonderful items to bid on in the silent and live auctions all while
enjoying a night of socializing! Get your babysitter lined up and invite your
friends, coworkers, family members, and neighbors! The more the merrier!
Thank you to everyone who has been working hard soliciting. Some
recent donated items include one night and breakfast at Emerson Resort and Spa;
a dinner party for four; Teen Spa Day at Amber Spa; and a gift certificate to
JANE. Much more to come!
We will need several volunteers to help with set-up on
Friday evening and/or Saturday morning as well as clean-up on Saturday night
and/or Sunday morning and help with various tasks during the event. Many hands
make light work! Please contact me at 609.356.0024 or kat7597@msn.com for more information or to
volunteer.
Thank you!
Kimberly Trent
Auction Committee Chair
May Fair
Plans are underway for the May Fair on Saturday, May 15. The
first grade and Mrs. Kessler's kindergarten will be creating the magical fairy
tea house again, and the eighth grade will run a dessert café. Now is the time
to get your class together and figure out what activity you would like to run
the day of the Fair. If you have questions, or need ideas, please contact Sara
Young Singh at syoungsingh@yahoo.com.
We are hoping to showcase our community's musical talent the
day of the Fair, so please let us know if you would like to participate with a
musical offering. You may contact Marla Hanan at mhanan@princetonwaldorf.org.
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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ENRICHMENT CLASSES
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New! Cooking Classes begin on Tuesdays in March and April. Sign up early as this popular
class will fill up fast! Young chefs can choose among many different delicious
options, or they can come every week.
Keyboarding Class begins on Wednesdays in March for eighth-grade students to learn
proper typing skills.
Chinese will start again in April with the same schedule as before. Look
for a parent presentation for the last session.
More information on all of these classes can be found here!
Interested
in an after-school ping-pong or a weekday morning adult eurythmy class? Let us
know at mrose@princetonwaldorf.org.
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THIS AND THAT ...
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Non-Violent
Communication Meetings
Every Thursday at Orchard Farm (1052 Cherry Hill Road)
8:45 a.m.-10:15
a.m.
Non-Violent (Compassionate) Communication (NVC) is a
consciousness. It helps us remain in the moment, connected to one another, and
aware of one another's feelings and needs. Using NVC aids in understanding one
another and resolving or preventing conflicts. We can use words or be silent,
and we can apply it at work, school, or home, with adults or children. If you
would like to learn about and practice NVC, please join us on any Thursday. For
more information about the Waldorf NVC Practice Group, contact Ondy Wasem: ondria@alum.mit.edu, 609-933-2994. For more
information about NVC in general, go to www.cnvc.org.
Eighth-Grade Spring Fund-Raisers!
Please support the eighth-grade fund-raising efforts
for their end-of-the-year class trip as they create three gardening gifts for
you! At the School Assembly at the Princeton Theological Seminary on March 20,
2010, celebrate the first day of spring by purchasing a flowering bulb of paperwhite narcissus encased in a stylish burlap
container from the eighth-grade
students. You can smell spring! Another gift that the eighth graders hope to
prepare are Easter baskets for your children! A basket of wheat grass ready for
the Easter Bunny's gifts on Easter morning can be ordered by Friday,
March 12, and delivered to you on Friday, March 26, at noon. Order forms are located on the table in the Golden House kitchen. Last, but not least,
eighth graders would like to offer herbs that they have sown, nurtured, and
transplanted into homemade wooden planters they will have made. These will be
available for purchase at the May Fair on May 15. Thank You!
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 on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to check out our new inventory, including seasonal
handmade items for spring and Easter!
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STUDENT AND ALUMNI NEWS
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WSP
Alumnae Aerlyn Pfeil '92 Asks for Your Support
for "Midwives for Haiti"
Message
from Aerlyn:
I will be going to Haiti
in May to volunteer in a midwifery training project, Midwives for Haiti! I am
thrilled to have the opportunity to put my midwifery skills and training to good
use and hope that you will consider supporting this experience! I will be
teaching basic prenatal care skills and attending births alongside local
student midwives. Here is a link to the
organization's website,which provides a wealth of information about this
inspiring and ambitious project.
Please send donations to my home address
(below). I will be leaving in mid-May but in order to have time to purchase
supplies would need to have your check by March 15 (or supplies received by the
same date*).
Thanks so much for your support. I will keep you all updated as preparations continue.
Blessings,
Aerlyn Pfeil, CPM
4636
SE Center St, Apt B
Portland
OR 97206
Phone: 503.539.5733
E-mail: aerlynpfeil@gmail.com
*For a list of supplies needed, please check
in the Golden House kitchen.
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WALDORF EDUCATION IN THE NEWS
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Check out this wonderful website with a great article!
"Playing
to Learn"
An interesting op-ed in the Times, addressing the role of play in education.
"Free Play" For Children, Teens Is Vital to Social
Development, Reports Psychologist in Science Daily
Click here for the article.
Words from a
Waldorf Parent
This parent testimonial was posted to a Philadelphia Speaks discussion thread on Waldorf education.
Princeton Home and Garden:
Sustainable Education in Princeton
Here is a link to a recent posting about WSP on Jennifer
Curtis's blog. Jennifer is the mother of fifth grader Fiona Crawford.
Help
for Haiti
Waldorf Crisis Intervention Team in Haiti
The
international Waldorf organization known as "Friends of Waldorf Education" has
sent a crisis intervention team to Haiti to help traumatized children
come to terms with their terrible experience by "stimulat[ing] the children's
natural self-healing processes and counter possible delayed reactions," the
group said in a statement. Read
more here.
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SAVE THE DATES
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April Parent
Council Meeting
Tuesday,
April 6, 7:30 p.m.
Hagens Hall
Guest Speaker:
Andrea Eberly, MD
At
our Parent Council meeting on Tuesday April 6, Andrea Eberly, M.D., will lead a
discussion about anthroposophical medicine. Together we will explore what
anthroposophical medicine is, and in what areas it is most helpful.
CommonGround
Presents Dr. Beth Grosshans:
"Beyond Time Out: From Chaos to Calm"
Thursday,
April 8, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Lecture
is free and open to the public at Princeton Day School. For more information, please visit www.drbethgrosshans.com.
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