Journey School News

Spring is certainly in full bloom at Journey School as we've experienced so many wonderful events in recent days! We hope this month's newsletter is a cheerful way to launch your Spring Break! Also, please know how grateful we are for Journey School's hard-working staff and devoted parents. Together, we are providing the students with a rich educational experience that inspires them in every way -- while developing responsible people ready to make the world a better place. We wish you all the best in the coming days.

Onwards and Upwards!

Shaheer Faltas
School Administrator

News Flash!

Journey School was proud to host of the 2010 Medieval Games. The event was a huge success thanks to Mr. J, the 6th grade room parents, office staff and a whole lot of unsung heroes! 8 schools and nearly 200 kids competed in tournament-style challenges including archery, spear throwing, jousting, dueling, and much more! In doing so, they brought learning alive through creativity, imagination, and pure fun! The all-day extravaganza represented Waldorf education at its best!

A Note from Mr. J: For a second year in a row, Journey School served as host to the 12th annual Southern California Waldorf Medieval Games. Great Thanks to our Sixth Grade parents for such a phenomenal job of making the event run smoothly, especially: Jill Wood, Karen Lichty, Sylvia and Craig Sandufer, Jinelle Smith, Elisabeth And Bas Mulder, Debbie and David Clavadetscher, Linda McGee (with Mom!), Tarita Peebles, Mark Harry, Parent Cabinet, and many others. Extra thanks to parents from other grades that helped as well. We couldn't have done it without you! ~Mr.J

In The Spotlight: Diabetes Walk on 4/21

Each year, more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with diabetes in the United States; that's 40 children each day. These resilient young people often assume extra responsibility early in life, and learn to care for themselves through healthy nutrition, shots, and much more. In honor of these children, and in partnership with JDRF, Journey School students will walk on April 21st starting at 11:30 am. Parents are welcome to join us! Here are some additional highlights:

Journey school receives 10% of the money raised
Students will earn a sense of pride in knowing they have served others; and, they may get appropriate prizes.
Students come away with basic knowledge about diabetes, healthy eating and exercise.
Students still have time to collect funds.

Greening it up for Earth Day!

Journey Earth Day Celebration
Thursday, April 22nd from 2-3:30 PM

Please join us in the Garden on Thursday, April 22nd from 2-3:30 p.m. to help celebrate Earth Day. We will showcase our vision for the garden and share details about our recycling program. Additionally, students, parents and faculty are invited to share their eco-friendly ideas to help the Earth.

0rganic fruits and veggies will be served.

Jodi Levine with her rendering for our new garden.

Kindy News

Greetings from the Early Childhood Department!

Our students are reflecting the full forces of the spring as they outgrow clothes with elongating bodies and missing teeth. They demonstrate new skills including jumping rope, tying shoes, and memorizing more complicated and detailed stories and movement journeys.

The children created and took home spring grass baskets with flying butterflies. Fingerknitting, sewing and creative play are mastered by many children at this time.
We have harvested sweet peas, while tending to and planting edibles, herbs and flowers in the garden. We appreciate all of the support we have received in tending to our developing yard. It is truly a group effort of love, patience and diligence.

As the team evaluates each individual student, we take care to honor this special time with reverence, individuality, imagination, protection, living pictures, humor and beauty.

We are grateful to be able to serve the children and your families at Journey School.

With blessings of the Spring ~
Miss Gina, Miss Jennifer, Miss Hellene

Parent Cabinet
SAVE THE DATE!!!

The evening of May 8th is the Journey School Spring Dinner and Auction. This is the signature fundraising event to support our Waldorf-inspired charter school. The event has grown to include a silent and live auction of one-of-a-kind arts and crafts created by faculty, parents, and students-along with premium items contributed by companies and other organizations in Orange County.

Other charity auctions exist in Orange County. None, however, provides the combination of unique hand-crafted items and experiences found at this event. None are 100% dedicated to supporting our Waldorf-inspired school and our budding artists, writers, journalists, designers, economists, scientists and scholars.

In years past, our auction has been graced by an array of whimsical and beautifully designed items, such as handmade farm blankets, original paintings, felted dolls and vibrant chalk drawings. There have also been unique opportunities to bid on things such as dinner at a firehouse, complete with real firemen, ocean view rooms at the Ritz Carlton, vintage bottles of wine and one of a kind hand crafted jewelry.

This year's 2010 Auction and Dinner will be the best ever, as we celebrate ten years of Waldorf-inspired education in Orange County! Invitations will be sent to each Journey School family shortly and tickets available for purchase in April.

What is the Journey School Auction?
The Auction is a fun-filled adult evening with no obligation or pressure to bid or buy, just an evening of fun. The venue will be fabulous, the food delicious and you will be surrounded by friends. The Auction process is entertaining and dinner is included in the price of your ticket. The idea that an Auction is an event just for people with a lot of "extra" money is a misnomer. Many Silent Auction items can be purchased for less than $50 and raffles tickets cost even less.

Babysitters:
Some parents miss out on this exciting event because they do not have a babysitter. If you need help obtaining a sitter, please contact the committee for potential sitter names. Many of us have older experienced high school kids who can babysit. Families can join together to share a sitter. Get your sitter now!

Where do all those beautiful and unique items come from?
Each item is donated by an individual (like you!), organization or company who wishes to support the school.

Who is invited to the Auction?
Anyone of adult age! Invite friends, family, co-workers, and even people you don't know!!! Can you attend as a single? Most definitely, don't be shy. The more non-school people who attend the Auction, the more the funds raised are from other sources instead of our own pockets.

How can parents help?
1. Volunteer your time or talents prior to the Auction as a phone solicitor, follow-up caller, envelope stuffer, data input helper or a basket wrapper. On Auction day we will need helpers to transport Auction items to the auction venue. The committee is looking for help with check in during the first hour of the auction. Last, during the Auction and checkout we will need table closers and runners.

2. Ask your favorite restaurant, doctor's office, vacation location, specialty store, garden nursery, grocery store, pet shop, coffeehouse, hair salon, golf course, craft shop, oil change location, to consider a donation. Journey School in a non-profit and donations are tax deductible. Donation forms are available in the Administration Bungalow or by e-mailing Bettina Spretke at matashis@cox.net.

3. Attend the Auction on May 8, 2010. Invitations will go out in April 2010. Ask for extra invites to send to family, friends and co-workers or give us the names/addresses and we will mail the invites for you.

Council Corner

The Journey School Council held its most recent regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, March 25. A main item on the agenda was Journey School's charter petition renewal. As the date for final submission of the school's charter is quickly approaching, Mr. Shaheer updated the Council on the current status of this foundational document. At the time of the meeting, the charter had already been thoroughly reviewed and commented upon by representatives from the school's three constituency groups -- Faculty, Parent Cabinet and Council. The next step, enrolling even broader community input, was implemented throughout the past week, with open sessions in the conference room where any community member could read and/or comment on the document. The Council will vote to approve the final draft at its next meeting.

Additionally, Council members voted to approve teacher contracts for 2010-11, received an enrollment update and projections, and discussed next year's lease agreement (yes, we are back at this same campus!). The agenda for the next council meeting includes school configuration, the budget, and approval of the 2010-11 school calendar.

Please remember that council meetings are open to all members of the community, and a special time is allocated at the beginning of each meeting for community members to address the council regarding items of concern. Detailed minutes from all Journey School council meetings will be posted on the school's website soon.

Lastly, a Council Search Committee will be appointed at the April "special session" meeting to assist in recruiting additional committed and capable council members whose term will commence in July 2010. Ideal candidates will have a background in education, waldorf education, law, finance, business, accounting, marketing, human resources, or architecture; while possessing high levels of competence and integrity, enough time and energy to make a positive difference, a can-do attitude coupled with a bridge-building approach to relationships, and 100% commitment to Waldorf-inspired education in the public sector. Please forward nominations to Mr. Shaheer.

Charter Petition

We are grateful to the Journey School staff, parents and council members who have worked diligently to prepare the petition for our upcoming "re-authorization" scheduled to take place at CUSD's May 11th board meeting. The revised charter strongly reiterates Journey School's commitment to implementing a vibrant Waldorf-inspired educational program that is supported by a strong organizational infrastructure.

Budget 2010-11

During the coming weeks, Journey School will continue to designe its budget for the 2010-11 school year. Although the official deadline for adopting next year's budget is June 30th, it's important to stay ahead of the curve. An inclusive process is also desired since decisions related to resource allocation impact the whole community; and, it really does take a whole village.

Following Spring Break, the school will host a Community Gathering and multiple budget roundtable discussions. The idea is to come together as a team -- just as we did with the charter petition -- to make important commitments and decisions. If we do it right, our community can build a great budget together, and emerge even more inspired as we head into the summer months!

Classroom Connections

Thank you to Mr. Martin, the 8th grade students, and devoted parents for an impressive week-long showing at the 8th Grade Presentations. Many community members also turned out in support of students as they eloquently presented big ideas. Topics included solar energy, the building of a guitar, upcycling, diabetes awareness, eco-friendly fashion, and much more! These projects truly integrated the heart, hands, and mind. It was wonderful to experience first hand just how ready our 8th graders are for the world of high school.

Rebecca on Animal Shelters

Zoe shares her Surfboard Project

Garrett and his Antique Bike

Thomas on Animation

Simon's talk on Comets

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Have a Wonderful Spring Break!