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Why We Came to WSP: Perspectives from a New Fifth-Grade Family
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Previously my daughter attended the public school where we live in Highland Park, NJ. A myriad of factors, along with a good look at her path intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally, contributed to our decision to enroll Sophie at the Waldorf School of Princeton.
Sophie is a happy, go-with-the-flow kind of child. She is very social and loves to sing, collect rocks, examine plants, ride horses, cuddle with her dog and work on perfecting her chocolate cake recipe. When we reflect on our decision to change her educational setting, we recall many late-night conversations that were rich with philosophical meanderings and psychological wanderings.
Our daughter Sophie joined the fifth-grade class at WSP in September.
When we moved to Highland Park ten years ago, we learned that in devising state standards, New Jersey is considered a leader in the nation. With its small class sizes and a vibrant and progressive community neighboring the Rutgers campus, Highland Park and its school system seemed like a gem initially.
For us, however, our local school was not the right fit. We came to understand that even in a town of smart and progressive parents, what is taught in the classroom is shaped by people in Trenton, and so did not reflect our local community. Ultimately, we became uncomfortable with many aspects of the curriculum, and Sophie was coming home bored each day. It was time for a change.
Fifth grade at WSP has been full of joy and adventure for Sophie. She has made new friends that almost feel like old friends already. Every day brings hard work for the body, mind, and spirit that is scaffolded by and commingled with poetry, music, art, and storytelling. We are grateful to the Waldorf School of Princeton for providing a rich and nourishing environment for our daughter. We feel blessed to be part of a community of parents that recognize and support the beauty and mystery of development as it unfolds authentically and with grace.
~Judith Wides and Joe Chambers
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A Peek into the Classroom: From Stefan Amrine, Fifth-Grade Class Teacher
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Earlier this winter, the fifth grade transitioned from their studies of ancient cultures to an English grammar block. After studying and etching the symbols or hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt, the class strived to deepen their understanding of the English language. The fifth graders used movement to represent the verb tenses and parts of speech. "We have written speeches, solved puzzles, and completed word games. Through a number of reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities, we have made grammar fun! Since ancient Greece is a part of our curriculum, we have also examined how Greek has influenced our own language."
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SAVE THE DATE
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Four Seasons Auction
APRIL 9
Spring Break
APRIL 18-22
May Fair
MAY 14
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Nancy Blanning and Healthy Movement
 | | Our first graders presenting a movement exercise during our winter assembly |
On the evening of March 1, Nancy Blanning, a remedial and therapeutic consultant at
the Denver Waldorf School, spoke to an audience of WSP parents, faculty, staff, and guests about the importance of healthy movement for our children. Ms. Blanning stressed the importance of children developing their "foundational" senses, and explained how challenging this is for children in today's society. In our hurried culture, and faced with a barrage of media, it is simply the reality that most children do not have the opportunity to strengthen the senses that will form the basis of a healthy body and mind. Children are struggling to "make their bodies their homes." She ended with an inspiring message for all of us who are involved with Waldorf education. Nancy said that the "new cathedral of our time is the social fabric we build with one another, and learning how to humanize ourselves so that we can live respectfully and harmoniously with each other." How do we build this cathedral? Through strengthening a child's foundational senses through healthy movement. Thank you, Nancy, for your work on behalf of all of our children!
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SCHOOL EVENTS
 Help Us Make Auction Decorations!
Friday, March 4, 9 a.m.-Noon
Facilitated by Yifat Leibner
Upstairs Nursery in the Golden House
(the old school store)
Please bring what you can: scissors, X-Acto knife, stapler, newspapers, your own snack. No experience necessary, only a willingness to be creative and have fun! Accompanying children are welcome!
Questions? Contact Decorations Committee Head Cari Ellen Hermann.
Open House
Saturday, March 19, 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.
Dads' Night: Bowling
Saturday, March 19, 7:30-10 p.m.
Contact Doug Jackson for more details.
Nomad Pizza Night
Tuesday, March 22, 4-9 p.m.
Once again, we invite you to come out and enjoy wonderful pizza at Nomad Pizza in Hopewell.Twenty percent of the proceeds from sales that night will go to WSP! Don't forget that you may take out or eat in. Enjoy!
Third Grade Play: "Noah's Ark"
Thursday, March 24, 7 p.m.
Hagens Hall
Early Childhood Sample Class for New Students
Friday, March 25, 9-10:30 a.m.
Parents and children (ages 2-5) new to our school are invited to participate in a sample early childhood class with teacher Sarah Kessler. For information or to register, please contact Diane Barlow at dbarlow@princetonwaldorf.org or 609-466-1970, x115.
Fifth Grade Play: "Ariadne's Thread"
Thursday, March 31, 7:30 p.m.
Hagens Hall
To view our complete events calendar, please click here.
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FROM THE OFFICE
Parent-Teacher Conferences Are March 10-11!
There is no school for our students during these days.
Tuition Discount for 2011-12
All early childhood and grade school enrollment agreements received by 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, will receive a 1% discount. If you haven't returned your agreement for next year, do so now to receive the discount.
Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day
Our annual Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day is scheduled to take place the morning of Friday, May 13. 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, admissions and development assistant, 609-466-1970, x112, no later than March 14.
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SCHOOL NEWS
Welcome, Richig family!
Jeffrey Richig joined the third grade class in February. He and his parents and big sister recently moved to Princeton. Please look out for Jeffrey and his parents Michelle and Jeff and help them to feel welcome.
Seventh Grade Coffee & Car Cleaning Fund-Raiser
March 10 & 11, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
(During Parent-Teacher Conferences)
$10 per car
Get your car's interior cleaned, and enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea, too!
Stuart Brown Workshop: A Recap
by Marla Hanan
On the morning of February 15, our school hosted a workshop by Stuart Brown, on behalf of CommonGround. Dr. Brown, a pioneer in the field of play research, gave an engaging talk about the importance of play in all of our lives. Drawing from his research, he confirmed the importance of so much of the Waldorf curriculum--play, storytelling, movement, and hand work were all elements he cited as being important to the development of a healthy human being. The audience of approximately 60 people included WSP parents, staff, and faculty as well as parents and teachers from other schools. Thanks to all of those who attended and helped with the event--in particular, thank you to Karleen Aghevli, Siobhan Darrow, Cynthia Darvin Vega, Angela Kneppers, Mary Langeron, and Judith Wides.
 Look out for a beautiful WSP billboard at Market Fair during the month of March. It should be near the movie theater!
Scrip
Welcome Spring!
Thank you to the 41 families and staff members that are participating in Scrip; your mindful shopping has earned our school over $3,000 thus far! With our Grab and Go inventory, it's never too late to make your first Scrip purchase; there's a Scrip card for almost everything.
Are you in need of ordering rain boots, pants, or jackets? If so, consider buying Land's End and LL Bean Scrip; they offer great spring sales, and a 15-17% rebate to our school. In need of gifts this spring? Among many items, JaZams toy store offers natural child-sized brooms, perfect to help youngsters enjoy a spring cleanup. Showing signs of winter wear? Rejuvenate yourself using Scrip cards at Princeton Day Spa. Seeking a quick bite to eat? Enjoy a Scrip dinner at Nomad Pizza and help our school earn Scrip rebates!
Finally, if you are seeking a fulfilling role helping our school, consider joining the Scrip Volunteer Team! The Scrip program is an easy way to become active in our community; please e-mail Jean Alexander at jalexander@princetonwaldorf.org with Scrip inquiries, volunteer interest, and to place orders. Order forms may be found here.
Summer Camp
Like the weather, Summer Camp plans are really heating up! Summer Camp 2011 will run June 27-August 5. The General Camp Registration Brochures for campers ages 4-11 are now available online; register today! Our anticipated Specialty Camps, offered for older campers, will include Acting, Art, Naturalists, Sports, Sculptural Art, and Woodworking. The Specialty Camp Brochure will be available on the school's website later this month. And, new this year, Employment Applications are now available online. For inquiries, please e-mail summercamp@princetonwaldorf.org.
Auction
The donation deadline is TODAY! So far, less than 25% of families have participated. If you are one of the 75% who have been procrastinating, please take a few minutes to solicit two businesses in your area and bring the donations in by Monday, March 7. We need your help to make this auction a success!
Thank you to everyone who has brought in donations and ads so far. A very special thank you goes to Siobhan Darrow, Angela Kneppers, Mary Langeron, and Arleen Rasmussen for their solicitation efforts. They have brought in more than 80% of the donations we currently have!
We also need advertisements for our auction program. The advertising deadline is Wednesday, March 9. Business card ads need to be submitted with a hard copy of the business card. All other ad sizes need to have an ad copy submitted to Jamie Quirk.
Auction invitations went out in the mail two weeks ago. If you have not received an invitation, please contact Jamie Quirk.
The online auction will begin on March 20. Watch for more information and announcements over the next couple of weeks.
Please plan to attend the Auction decorations workshop with Yifat Leibner on Friday, March 4, in the Golden House Nursery!
May Fair 2011
Plans are underway for May Fair 2011, and we need your help! Thank you to Maja Von Doehren and Hyesook Somers, who are the first members of the May Fair 2011 Leadership Team. We still need a few others to join the team. Please let Marla Hanan know if you are available to take on a leadership role for this festive event. Marla can be reached at mhanan@princetonwaldorf.org or 609-466-1970, x121.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Home for sale in Hopewell,
3% of Proceeds to Be Donated to WSP
This offer extends until the end of March.
Marty and Mary Capoferri (parents of WSP alumni Leo and Ian and fifth grader Regis) are selling their 4-bedroom Cape-style home located at 63 Hart Avenue, Hopewell. Asking price is $425,000. Please spread the word and contact Marty at 609-466-2377 or 609-577-7591 (cell) for more information, or to see the house.
A Talk on Rudolf Steiner's Life
(in Celebration of His 150th Birthday)
by Sherrie Wildfeuer
Sunday, March 27, 4 p.m.
Hagens Hall
Sponsored by The Princeton Group
of the Anthroposophical Society
Donations accepted at the door. All are welcome.
The Power of Imagination: A Storytelling Conference
Friday, March 4-Sunday, March 6
Sponsored by Adelphi University
and The Winkler Center at the Waldorf School of Garden City
Our very own Caroline Phinney has been asked to lead two workshops during this conference. Please visit this website for more information.
Stone Soup Circus Camp
Zoe Brookes, mother of Fergus Binnie in sixth grade, runs a two-week circus camp in Princeton from June 20 to July 1. In this program children ages 7 and up learn circus skills and put together a show. Skills include juggling, diabolo, trapeze, aerial silk, plate spinning, acrobatics, wire balancing, stilt walking, clowning, unicycling, and puppet making. Alongside these skills, campers will learn to work together, help each other become successful, and appreciate each person's unique abilities. The show is the focus of attention as excitement mounts, but the process of working together remains of paramount importance. For more information visit www.stonesoupcircus.org.
Race to Nowhere Film Screening
A special screening is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hopewell Valley Central High School Performing Arts Center. Due to generous support from Capital Health, admission is free, but registration is requested. Please go to www.rtnhopewellvalleychs.eventbrite.com to register. Secondary students may attend with a parent. For more information about the film, visit www.racetonowhere.com.
Arts Council of Princeton's
Spring Break Camp: Passport to Discovery!
(During Our Spring Break)
Monday, April 18-Friday, April 22, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Campers will be treated to art projects and activities related to different regions (African Safari, European Escapades, Asian Adventures, Middle Eastern Mysteries, and the Americas) and will come away with wonderfully creative art projects, an appreciation of the world's diversity, and "passports" celebrating their journey of discovery! For ages 5-12. Register today!
Rudolf Steiner-Waldorf Education Study Group
Forming in Ocean County, NJ
There will be an organizational meeting on Wednesday, March 23, in the Green Room at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library at 7 p.m. Please contact Kurt Stofko at KDStofko@aol.com or 609-709-7676 if interested.
This month's Inform newsletter from AWSNA.
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