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Peek into the Classroom
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We talked to the class teachers about what they had planned for their first lessons this year. Here's what they said!
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Grade 1Form Drawing: Starting with the straight and curved line, we will create an awareness for form found in the world and develop our foundation for letter recognition and spatial relationships. Introduction to the world of letters: The letters will be introduced through the telling of fairy tales with rich vocabulary and imagery. The children will move from hearing and retelling the story, to drawing a picture, to discovering the letter within the picture. We will practice hearing and recognizing consonant sounds and will shape them with our bodies in movement. Elizabeth Hamilton Grade 2 The second graders have an exciting first lesson block ahead in learning the lowercase letters. With the full printed alphabet at our disposal the class will expand their work on the road to reading and writing. Christine Benson Grade 3 Exploring the first chapters of Genesis from the Old Testament, the students will hear the stories of the Seven Days of Creation and the Fall of Adam and Eve. They will paint a picture for each day of creation and write brief captions to accompany each as they try to imagine their way back into the primal events portrayed by these stories. Then will come that dramatic moment when Adam and Eve are cast from Paradise for that simple, yet dramatic act of eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This is how we will usher in the year for those children in the school who, like Adam and Eve, will experience their own "fall from Paradise" as they step into a new phase of their development. The Third Graders will gradually shed their childish ways this year and take the small but bold step into the world of middle childhood. They will experience that they too must fall down to grow up. David Heberlein Grade 4 Local Geography and History: Together, we will look down upon our classroom, our campus, and the surrounding landscape from a bird's-eye view. We will learn about the ways the native Lenape people lived off of the land, and hear stories about the old farm that the settlers built in the place where our school now stands. Irene Richardson Grade 5 The fifth grade will begin the year with a botany block. All year long, beginning with the tiny seeds, the plants have silently grown, changed, blossomed and born fruit. In the plant world, we expect to harvest fruit in the late summer, yet day to day we do not experience much, if any, change in a plant's appearance. It is at this very time, the time of harvest, that the fifth graders will begin to observe the subtle world of the plants with fresh eyes and questioning minds. Not long after school begins we will see the leaves of the trees begin to turn, marking the transition into fall and the end of the year's harvest cycle. As the fruits of our garden are gathered in, so too do I look forward to a fruitful year within the walls of the fifth grade classroom. Peter Sciarretta Grade 6 Ancient Rome: The sixth grade is beginning the year with the study of Ancient Rome. We begin with Rome's mythological founding before moving to Rome's rise and subsequent fall. Throughout the block, we examine Rome's influence on the Western World, architecture, language, law, sports, and culture. Stefan Amrine Grade 7 The seventh graders begin their year with perspective drawing - a practical activity which demands disciplined observation and accurate construction. This practical work will be accompanied with the telling of the life of Joan of Arc. Of all the historical biographies taught, hers is unique for it is the only life story recorded entirely under oath. The story of Joan of Arc is particularly fitting during the Michaelmas season. It is the story of a young girl with no education, a girl who had been nowhere and seen nothing, a girl who had never seen a soldier and had never ridden a horse, who finds herself, through the inspiration of Saint Michael alone, at the head of the French army. Her life offers encouragement in our times. Deirdre Sciarretta Grade 8 We'll start the year with writing exercises, the various parts of speech, paragraphing and punctuation, some dictionary exercises, and an introduction to the short story. Signe Motter Eurythmy I am looking forward to welcoming classes into the eurythmy room for joyful work with poems, stories, and music, with the aim of helping the children bring dexterity, balance, intention, and confidence to their movement. Exercises and games will help welcome new students to this unique art, which also plays a role in building the social strength of the class. In late October, the performing troupe from Eurythmy Spring Valley will bring two programs for our students, a folk tale for early childhood and lower grades and a full fairy tale for the older students. Susan Eggers French It is with a sense of great anticipation and wonderment that we begin a new year of learning French. The syllabus for the early grades will focus on vocabulary-building through songs, games, rhymes, tongue twisters, and movement. The upper grades will study French folk tales, history, culture, and modern-day situations using contemporary realia and documents. I look forward to greeting you all in September! À très bientôt! Ron Savoie
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This and That
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Fionas on Horseback
Kudos to our seventh graders Fiona Crawford and Fiona McGahren, who garnered national recognition at the 2011 U.S. Pony Clubs Championship and Festival in Lexington, Kentucky, held July 18-26.
Both girls, who are also members of our cross-country team, placed within the top ten nationally in the Tetrathlon event, in which athletes run 1000 meters, swim 100 meters, shoot an air rifle, and ride a horse over a 2'9" jumping course.
Pony Club is a nonprofit youth educational association that teaches riding and care of horses to children through age 25.
Melina Boutris Takes the Gold in Taekwondo
Congratulations are in order for WSP seventh grader Melina Boutris, who won first place at the National Taekwondo Championships (Junior Olympics) in black belt Team Poomsae (a system of sequential attack and defense movements) in San Jose, California, this past June.
Says Melina, who has practiced Taekwondo for 7 years: "I worked really hard learning to shut out distractions at a competition and completely focus. You are never really perfect and can't rest on your laurels.... I was so lucky that I was able to train with U.S. National Team members who believed in me and also got a lot of encouragement from my class and teachers at Waldorf. Thanks for your support and friendship!"
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After a season of growth, our towering broomcorn is ready for harvest. How much growing went on at your home this summer?
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What a summer! We are excited that the first day of school is just around the bend! Already many of us have returned to campus to help clean up from the hurricane and get the school in order, but the real excitement has yet to begin - welcoming our children into their classrooms for another promising year, some for the very first time, and some for their final fall before high school. As always, "change" is the theme of the season. The children have grown over the past few months, and here at school there are changes as well.
After serious pruning, our woods our now ready for new adventures. This summer we realized there were many dead trees leaning over pathways and special play areas. To keep our children safe, several old trees were either removed or pruned. Existing trees are now leaner and safer. There are also three new locations for the children to explore: "the strand," "the bend," and "the cove." I will leave it to you and your children to uncover these new places! While hundreds of campers frolicked in the creek all July and August (read on to see what a tremendous success this year's camp was!), Kevin Jones and Shyam Singh Maharjan gave our buildings a fresh look by painstakingly scraping, painting, and repairing the wear and tear from the previous school year. As a result, staff and students will be greeted next week by a campus scrubbed and polished and ready for action: teachers have added the finishing touches to their rooms; floors have been sanded and waxed; the grounds have been groomed and await the pounding of feet during recess, nature walks, and movement and games. As you may be aware, we began retrofitting the tractor shed to house the second grade. Shortly after plans were approved by the town's construction office, we ran into a glitch with the zoning department. Construction stopped and we were called back before the zoning board to review a previously approved variance which would allow the new classroom to remain the present distance from the grade school building. Approval was granted last week and we are soon to be back on track! On a final note of thanks, congratulations to Deirdre Sciarretta, Jean Alexander, and their staff for the exceptional planning and tending of the best summer camp in the area! And thank you to our parent council for resurrecting the community potluck; although it was rained out, we look forward to seeing it later in the year! My sincerest wish is that you and your children find warmth and joy in the months ahead. Let there be wonderful memories of the year to come. Nancy Lemmo School Administrator |
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SCHOOL EVENTS
Grade School Opening Day Ceremony/
First Day of Classes
Tuesday, September 6, 9:00 a.m.-12:40 p.m.
WSP Garden; Reception to follow under the Garden Tent
All children should arrive no later than 8:45 a.m.
The opening day ceremony, held in the school garden, is a wonderful way for our community to mark the beginning of the school year together. We welcome parents to attend this special event, during which each of the grade school teachers presents a brief picture of the upcoming year and our new students and first grade class are welcomed. As a reminder, there is no grade school after care program on this day.
Early Childhood Opening Day
For Nursery, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten
Wednesday, September 7, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
No EC after care; first day of GS after care.
Morning Garden Parent-Child Class Begins
Friday, September 9, 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Grade School Photo Day
Tuesday, September 13
Look for order forms to come home with your child on Friday, September 9.
New Parent Welcome Tea
Wednesday, September 14, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Under the Garden Tent
We would like to extend our warmest welcome to new families attending our school this year. Please join us after dropoff for some mingling and light refreshment. Members of our faculty and administration will be on hand to chat informally about the many facets of our vibrant community. Young children are welcome to attend.
Threshold Farm Biodynamic Apples & Beef
Thursday, September 22
Threshold Farm returns to WSP to sell biodynamically grown apples and beef. Proceeds will benefit the third grade farm trip. Look for order forms the first full week of school, and don't miss farmer Hugh Williams's talk at the wine tasting that night!
Biodynamic Wine Tasting and Talk
With CoolVines
Thursday, September 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
$25 per ticket; proceeds go to WSP!
Featuring Mark Censits, owner, CoolVines (Princeton, NJ) and WSP alumni parent; with Hugh Williams, biodynamic farmer, Threshold Farm (Philmont, NY); and Suzanne Ives Cunningham, WSP gardening teacher
Come learn about biodynamics and enjoy a selection of wines from CoolVines, delicious cheeses, and a snack from WSP's own biodynamic garden! Questions? RSVPs? Contact Marla Hanan at x121.
Michaelmas
Wednesday, September 28
Michaelmas is one of the most loved celebrations by children and faculty alike. Alumni frequently remark that they remember this festival best among all. Each year faculty members think of ways to emphasize qualities of courage and initiative in our celebration, for these are the hallmarks of Michaelmas. Students in the whole school will engage in songs, stories, and poems to mark the day.
Early childhood students enjoy crafts, cloth dyeing, or harvest activities. Parents join this festival day with their children from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Grade school students come together in mixed age groups to do practical work on the grounds and face new challenges with wakeful attention and bravery. They may conquer obstacle courses, participate in community service at our neighbor's farm, or let an arrow fly in Michael's archetypical battle with the dragon. Grade school parents are welcome to the lower field for the festivities (time TBD).
Year after year, we adults can be stimulated and enlightened by highlighting these qualities of courage and attention to others for the children. We realize how much we still need to grow in order to model the very things we are attempting to point out to them. Michaelmas is also a time to consider each other, not simply as friends, but as human beings with higher intentions. Each of us, be it a child, a parent, a teacher, a spouse or friend, can be thought of as a spiritual being, here on earth for lofty tasks. As the festival season continues, we hope to support each other in this fashion, bringing courage, strength, and light into our ways of thinking.
May we all, as a community, strive to embody the qualities celebrated at Michaelmas! If we can so strive, our children will certainly benefit.
Alumni and Friends Art Exhibit in the Grade School Foyer
Now Through September
Throughout the month of September, artwork created by WSP alumni, as well as members of our summer camp and Foundation Studies communities, will be on view in the grade school foyer. Please stop by anytime school is open until October 1 to view this exhibit!
To view our complete events calendar, please click here.
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FROM THE OFFICE
Staff and Faculty News A warm welcome to our new teachers and assistants: Elizabeth Hamilton, Kyle Dunlap, Signe Motter, Vera Vester, Daniel Kane, and Young Sook Kim. We also welcome Sangeeta Proddutur and Fumiko Bauer in their new roles as EC afternoon teacher and piano accompanist, respectively. In addition to our new faculty, there have been some staffing changes in the administration. Cynthia Darvin Vega is faculty chair. Marla Hanan is now our development associate. Jamie Quirk is our communications associate. Maureen Gold, our educational support coordinator, has accepted the grade school after care teacher position, as Suzanne Ives Cunningham gives her undivided attention to her new position as gardening teacher. Please Note Peach Blossom Nursery (upstairs in the Golden House) is now the 2nd grade classroom. WSP's Holiday Online Auction Welcome back! As you may have noticed in your back-to-school packet, plans are already under way for an online auction at holiday time; in fact, our first donations are in, including some generous offerings from Uptown Playaround on Route 27! Parent Amy Krause, mother to Jacob Krause in fifth grade,will be leading this project, with the help and support of Marla Hanan in the development office. We need all of you to make this a success! We ask that each family solicit or contribute two donations for the online auction. We have found it easiest to ask for donations from businesses and practitioners with whom we are familiar. Also don't forget that you can offer up a service or donate an item that you already own. Click here to download a donation form. More forms are available on the side table in the community kitchen (the first room on the right in the Golden House). Thanks so much, good luck, and please contact Amy Krause with any questions. Amy can be reached at amykrause@verizon.net. New Parent Handbook This is now available online. Find all of the facts you need here. An early childhood supplement is located here. Don't forget to refer to the packet that you received in early August for the back-to-school schedule! |
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SCHOOL NEWS
Board of Trustees Meetings
Monday, September 12
Monday, September 26
7:00 p.m.
Grade School Building
Parents welcome!
WSP Directory to List Parent Businesses
Attention, WSP parents who also own businesses! We invite you to submit your business's information for a free listing in our upcoming school directory. E-mail your business name and contact info to Jamie Quirk by September 10. Please note our directory is provided as a courtesy to our families, and should be used for community purposes only; no solicitation is permitted.
Summer Camp Recap
Thank you to all of the families that participated in Summer Camp this year! This summer, we welcomed a record number of volunteers (some ages 14-15 and some parent volunteers, too!) in addition to our staff, which is composed of WSP faculty, school alumni, and camp alumni. We were fortunate to be at full capacity this year, hosting approximately 100 campers for each of our 3 sessions. During those 6 weeks, we had a 60/40 split of non-WSP student campers to WSP student campers.
Other Summer Camp fun facts include:
- A mother deer and several spotted fawn often visited the creek and were observed by our wide-eyed campers!
- We enjoyed hosting campers from at least 8 distant lands including, Taiwan, India, Tajikistan, Israel, Sweden, France, Denmark, and Germany.
- Our campers tie-dyed almost 200 shirts, and finger knitted and "twisty-twirlied" miles of yarn.
- For snack, campers enjoyed approximately: 1,080 muffins, 42 watermelons, and squeezed 180 lemons to make lemonade!
Thank you to all those who helped to create summer memories that will last for years to come!
Enrichment and After School Programs
As always, we strive to offer a colorful variety of classes to meet many interests, culling from the rich pool of talent and ability within our community. Included in this season's schedule are Chinese calligraphy classes, special knitting techniques, cooking, and chess with a true master, to name a few.
Information about fall enrichment programs (running until December) is listed on our website and in the Golden House upstairs hallway.
Adult Enrichment
WSP is pleased to offer these adult enrichment opportunities for fall. Adult enrichment workshops provide adults with many of the experiences that children have long enjoyed at our school.
Foundation Studies
A new cycle begins! Click here for more details. Winter Garden Musicians Needed Seeking musicians to accompany our annual
Winter Garden Ceremony on Saturday and Sunday,
December 3 and 4. Offer your music to our Winter
Garden, and receive in return the experience of
watching a single flame in a darkened room light,
one by one, the candles of each child, until the whole
room is aglow.
The ceremony takes place against a background
of gentle, pentatonic music, produced by plucked
strings. If you would enjoy helping to create the
subtle, musical pulse that guides the reverent
gesture of this ceremony, using your lyre, kinder
harp, lap harp, celtic harp, concert harp, guitar,
or other plucked string instrument, please contact
Ondy Wasem by September 30, in order to plan
rehearsals: 609-275-5459 (h) 609-933-2994 (c).
(Both adults and children fifth grade and up are welcome to play.) Scrip We are pleased to welcome Marian Seliquini to lead our scrip team of volunteers this year! Thanks to our participating vendors and dedicated volunteers and families, our school profited nearly $6,000 from the scrip program last year. Several families used scrip consistently for their groceries and gas and were able to earn our school between $300 and $400 each! Building on that successful technique, our goal for this year's program is to have an increased participation in standing monthly orders. This year, we welcome Whole Foods Market as a participating national vendor. Cards are available in $25 or $100 face values and contribute a 3% profit on each sale. For a list of all participating local* and national vendors, and for more information on our scrip program, please view our order form online. Grab and Go scrip cards will be available on Wednesday mornings in the school store from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. To place a scrip order, or to place a standing monthly order, please use our new e-mail address: scrip@princetonwaldorf.org. You will be notified when your order is available for pickup; payments may be made at time of receipt. The scrip program accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Credit cards are accepted for order totals over $500; additional authorization is required. We are looking forward to the continued growth of this successful fundraiser; if you've not yet participated, please consider doing so this coming school year! *Whole Earth Center and jaZams are available in special order denominations. Windy Hill School Store Our school store will open the second week of classes to meet all of your beeswax, crayon, scrip and Smartwool needs! Store hours are Wednesdays, 8:30-10:30 a.m., in the Golden House Community Kitchen. Interested in volunteering in the store? Contact Marla Hanan at 609.466.1970, x121. Annual Fund Many thanks to everyone who supported our Annual Fund with a gift last school year! Together we raised over $103,000 for our school. The 2011-2012 Annual Fund Campaign will get under way in the fall. If you have ideas or would like to be involved, please contact Diane Barlow. |
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SAVE THE DATES
Back to School Night for Parents
Tuesday, October 4
7:00-9:15 p.m.
Annual Dads' Night
November 4
Kim John Payne:
"Raising the Socially Resilient Child"
November 18-19
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