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Calendar of Events
4th Annual WISC/AWSNA Regional Event
Saturday, Oct. 8
Waldorf School of O.C.
Click here for details
NO SCHOOL
(Columbus Day)
October 10

Native Foods Lunch
Parent Cabinet Fundrasier
October 12

RSC Practicum Weekend
October 14, 15, 16

Gallery Walk 1
(Classrooms transformed into museums displaying student work)
Wednesday, Oct. 26
6:00 PM

Parent-Teacher Conferences
10/31-11/4
(details TBA)

Harvest Faire
Saturday, Nov. 5
All Day
 
Lantern Walk
November 17
Details TBD

RSC Practicum Weekend
December 2, 3, 4

Spiral Walk
Monday/Tuesday, December 5 & 6
Details TBD

Winter Concert
Thursday, Dec 15
7:00 PM

RSC Practicum Weekend
March 23, 24, 25

Jamba Juice
Wednesdays

 Click here for our Calendar of Events!

Community Outreach
The Newport Beach Film Festival and
Sage Hill High School present:


Greening the Revolution
(an 80-minute documentary film)

Tuesday, October 18, 2011
7:00 PM
FREE

Capitalism's profit-centered food system wages a war on the world's poor, especially farmers. While agribusiness reaps record wealth, starving protesters cry for affordable food and peasants choose between land and death. But farmers and workers are organized and passionately fighting back, while implementing their own sustainable alternatives.

Free screening will be followed by Q&A with the director, Katie Curran.

For more info click here.

**PLEASE NOTE** This section of the newsletter is intended to promote awareness within our community of our wider world. JS does not intend this as a solicitation or official endorsement, but rather as a source of information and as a reminder that even the smallest of actions can make a difference. All JS community members are welcome to submit information to this section by emailing [email protected] 

 

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Good Things Are Happening!
October 7, 2011
Dear Journey School Friends and Families:

Journey School is a beautiful place. I'm not sure about you, but this difficult week reminded me just how lucky we all are to be part of such a dedicated and loving community! We are taking such good care of our dear friends and each other. THANK YOU so much for your tenderness and generosity. Let us always cherish these days of togetherness. And, let us carry the warm Journey Spirit forward into the coming winter months.

Today's newsletter is dedicated to Melany's sweet memory. Together, we celebrate the joyful way Melany danced through life in spite of the challenges hurled her way. To conclude, it is most appropriate that Monday is a student-free day. Please spend extra time with the people you love most. Shine on.

You may continue to send gifts and cards to the office. Details about a "life celebration" will be shared when the family is ready.

Onwards and Upwards,  

  

Shaheer  

 

Melany McAdams

In memory of Melany McAdams

(Ashton in 3rd grade's mother) 

 

Please make donations to:   

 

The Nagourney Institute  

750 E. 29th Street  

Long Beach, CA 90806  

Non-Profit 501C3 Tax ID #95-4731388  

(562) 989-6455  


Columbus Day on Monday
There will be no school on Monday, October 10th in observance of Columbus Day.  School will resume on Tuesday, October 11th. Enjoy your weekend! 

Journey is Music!  

It's not too late to sign-up for AFTER SCHOOL GUITAR with Billy Alexander! Learn guitar technique, scales, riffs, song writing, recording, and more.

 

Tues 3-4pm = ONE available opening 

Thurs 3-4pm = FOUR openings 

 

Space is limited to allow more personal instruction at your student's level.  

 

Contact Billy at [email protected] or call 949-295-0513 to sign your student up for this opportunity to further their guitar skills.  


Close-the-Gap  
  • We launched the program on September 16th
  • The goal is 90% family participation and $250,000
  • To date, families representing approximately 126 students have committed roughly $130,170
  • THANK YOU so much
  • It is not too late to give
  • PLEASE donate generously this week--based on current trends we CAN reach our goal
  • Click here to access forms and to better understand why giving is important for your child and the school 
  • All donations are voluntary and confidential

 


Native Day - October 12th 

Our Native Foods fundraiser is coming on the 12th of October! This will be a lunch fundraiser where parents can pick up the flyer at school or download it here. Be sure to bring the flyer to Native Foods on the 12th and they will donate a portion back to Journey School.  


Enrollment for 2012-2013 
 

JOURNEY SCHOOL CURRENTLY HAS OPENINGS IN KINDERGARTEN!

 

Kindergarten spaces are still available on a very limited basis. This is a unique opportunity to apply to the Journey School Kindergarten program without having to participate in the lottery process.

 

If you know anyone who would embrace the waldorf philosophy and its lifelong benefits, then please have them contact Julie Giffin at Journey School at 949.448.7232 x 2 or email at [email protected].

 

Kindy's born between 6/1/2005-12/2/2006 are eligible.

 

We look forward to hearing from you!  

 

www.journeyschool.net

   

WALK THROUGH THE GRADE TOURS  

 

Walk Through The Grade Tours are underway and take place on most Tuesdays from 9:00am - 10:30am. Please RSVP with Julie Giffin at 949.448.7232 x 2 or email her at [email protected].

 

Applications for the 2012/2013 lottery are now available. Please visit our website or receive an application at your scheduled tour.

 

Garden Update

There is a garden meeting on the first Thursday of each month. If you would like to be part of the garden group, please contact Michelle at [email protected].  

 

The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders planted seeds last week. Master gardeners, Erik Katzmaier and Mary Gorelick, helped the 1st and 4th graders and Jodi Levine of Earthroots Field School helped the 2nd and 3rd graders. 

 

Garden Planting Oct 2011 01Garden Planting Oct 2011 02Garden Planting Oct 2011 03 

Garden Planting Oct 2011 04

Garden Planting Oct 2011 05  

Garden Planting Oct 2011 06 

Digital Media Literacy Update   

The 7th and 8th graders are busy at work learning all about digital media security and privacy, while the 6th graders are diving into digital citizenship. In case you missed it last week, here is a link to a newsletter from Common Sense Media featuring Journey School's program in the "Spotlight": click here   

 

Also, here are two parent "Tip Sheets" on Security and Privacy so that you may support this learning at home and to better understand why giving is important for your child and the school:   

Security Tips 

 

Privacy Tips    

 

Compassionate Campus
Project News

The evidence increasingly points to an innate disposition in children to be responsive to the plight of other people. Creating people who are socially responsive does not totally depend on parents and teachers. Such socializing agents have an ally within the child. Howard Gardner (2011)  

 

The students met with their partners just this past week and the older partners had a task to do with the younger ones. We are "taking the temperature" of the school. Each student was given a card and three colored stickers. If the younger partner said "all is going well for me" or something to that effect, the older partner would put the green sticker on the card. If there was a problem, a red sticker is put on the card. Then the older partner also could put the "good as gold" sticker on the card indicating that all was well for the older student. If, by chance, an older student did not feel that all was well, then the gold sticker would be missing. Here are the results: Of all the children polled anonymously using this method, 95% reported that all was well for them.  

 

We have started the listening circles to see if we can help any others who may be sensing some need to be heard. Seventh grade girls are lending an ear to other girls as the work out the difficulties so typical to school life among girls. How to know someone is a friend, how to feel included and how to include others so as not to form a clique. Seventh and eighth grade boys are helping younger boys work on inclusiveness issues also. Students, who experience this kind of trust and belief in their intrinsic wisdom, will rise to the occasion. While they get some guidance, they, themselves are showing maturity and a will to become role models and to help with the social atmosphere of the school. A lot of co-mingling of the grades is taking place and the campus feels more unified.  

 

This week the student council selection process begins.... Look for the news next week. All the eighth grade students will take their turn at the "bench" and learn to govern this year.  

Staff Spotlight:

Mr. Richard Martin, 8th Grade

 Written by Cyreine Adams, 8th Grade  

 

Mr. Richard Martin has been a teacher for over 15 years, and has always been a stellar Waldorf teacher. He started teaching Journey's 5th grade class in 2005 and continued on with them until they graduated in 2009.  

 

Millie Tanner sat down with Mr. Martin to learn more about this dedicated 8th grade teacher.  

 

Millie Tanner: What inspires you to teach?  

Richard Martin: I really like to learn new things. As I get older, I get more intrigued about stuff I haven't learned before. Plus, I find that saying what I have learned out loud and teaching someone else helps me retain information better. Oh, and adults don't sit still.  

 

MT: How do you prepare to teach each morning? Is there a certain rhythm or song you listen to?  

RM: A song is a good idea, but I usually don't use one. I think my family would hate me singing at 4:30 in the morning. However, I do read what I am going to teach each morning so I am prepared.  

 

MT: I heard speculation that each morning you get up at 4:30 and drink a cup of strong tea?  

RM: Well, either 4:30 or 5:00. I would like to see you try and get up at 4:30 each morning without one. [laughs]  

 

MT: What is the most important thing you would like the 8th graders to learn this year, and soak up for when they transition to high school?  

RM: I want them to find out how good they can be. I want them to redefine what their best is.  

 

MT: Why did you choose Journey and how long have you been teaching here?  

RM: I was trained as a Waldorf teacher and at the time, there were only two Waldorf schools in Orange County, so it was really just process of elimination. I have been teaching at Journey six years now.  

 

MT: Okay, so I'm going to throw in a fun question. If you could be any superhero, who would you be?  

RM: I think I would be Moister Man, but my son would know better what to say. [laughs]  

News from 8th Grade  

Ropes Course Adventure 

Written by Emily Lichty and Rachel Sandefur  

 

On September 27, 2011, our 8th grade class went to the Orange County Ropes Course for Mr. Martin's birthday. The day started out with teamwork activities; the first was called Magic Carpet. The whole class, including Mr. Martin, stood on a tarp, which we then had to flip including Mr. Martin, stood on a tarp, which we then had to flip over without stepping off it. It took a couple tries, each student having to listen to one leader and make a plan, but eventually we got the hang of it and were successful.  

 

The next activity was called Zoo Line. We were directed to long thin log lying on the ground and had to stand on it. Before the game started, we all chose a random zoo animal and acted it out. Then the real fun began. All the 8th graders, squished together on the thin log, had to arrange themselves according to their animal from biggest to smallest, without speaking and only able to act it out. We got this one on our first try!  

 

Our final team activity was called Lava Jump. The goal of the game was to get to the other side of the 'lava' using only bricks as stepping stones. But here's the catch: The bricks were in a bucket hanging from a rope over the lava, out of reach. As a team, we tied our shoes together by the shoelaces and tried throwing the chain of shoes to wrap around the bucket. On our third try we got it! We then used the bricks to walk over the lava but there had to be pres- sure on the bricks at all time or they would 'float away'. Because of our lack of communication it took us several tries, but once we started listening to each other we all made it across only letting one brick go in the 'lava flow'.  

 

Then came the ropes course. Shawn, our instructor, taught us how to use the equipment that would keep us safe during our climb. Once we geared up, we followed a numbered order and tackled the course. We started with climbing a net that led to a rock wall. Once we were finished climbing the wall, we were faced with walking across the catwalk about twenty feet in the air. After trying not to look down on the catwalk we made it to a wobbly rope bridge and walked across. Next, came the swings of death (as I like to call it). Imagine a swing where you have a seat to sit on, but instead of sitting you are standing on the seat, and the seat is only a three inch round rod. We walked over about twenty of those, going higher and higher as we went, around thirty feet up in the air. Then we were faced with the Big Island, two large plat- forms that we had walk over, leading us to the final obstacle before the zip line, Snakes. As the name says, this challenge was walking over two large, curvy snakes that elevated as we went. Finally we made it to the zip line platform where we then hooked up, seventy feet in the air, to the zip line. Hanging on for dear life, we flew threw the air going about fifty miles per hour, some laughing and some screaming their heads off! Overall we enjoyed the experience and had a blast! It was a great way to celebrate Mr. Martin's birthday!  

Liam's Memorial Golf Tournament

Mark your calendar for the 5th Annual Liam's Memorial Golf Tournament. It will be held November 16, 2011 at Aliso Creek Golf Course. Click here for the non-profit letter.  

Liam's Golf Tourney #5 

Gallery Walk
  • Students will transform their classrooms into an educational "gallery" on October 26th.  
  • All parents and school friends are invited to eat finger food and walk through the grades starting at 6:00 PM.  
  • We encourage you to bring prospective new parents as well.  
  • Learning displays wil be on exhibition for all to see!  
  • Student main lesson books, writing, art, poetry, math, science experiments, and more more will be set up for viewing.  
  • Teachers will also hold short class meetings.  
  • An all-school 15 minute educational presentation will also occur.  
  • Be on the lookout for more information about this exciting evening!  
  •  Limited child-care activities will be available for Journey students only.  
  • You will need to RSVP ahead of time.
Millions by May
It is time for Journey School to THINK BIG...really BIG. So, on top of the Close-the-Gap pledge drive--which primarily asks Journey school families to contribute funds for yearly operations--we are now asking our community allies to raise Millions by May.
  • These millions will be used to fund a permanent campus solution and to ensure long-term success.  
  • Be on the lookout for more information shortly.  
  • For now, please e-mail Mr. Shaheer Faltas at [email protected] to set a personal appointment.  
  • Additionally, you may click here to make an instant donation!  
Teacher Appreciation
Parent Cabinet will be hosting two teacher appreciation lunches this year in December and May. Please email Lisa Fry if you would like to volunteer.  

 

We are also hoping to provide Wednesday lunch for the teachers several times throughout the year. A simple Pot of Soup or Salad is greatly appreciated by our hardworking teachers. Simply pick a Wednesday and contact [email protected] with the date. 

After-Care 

Several of our high-quality aftercare programs still have openings. Please visit our website for more information about our providers and how to sign-up for their wonderful enrichment classes.   

 

Billy Guitr class 2011-12

 

THURSDAY VIOLIN/VIOLA MASTER CLASS

 

ViolinNotes 

 

             Janet Poth, String Instructor, will teach short private lessons to a class of 4-6 beginning and intermediate students from 3:00-4:30PM Thursdays.

The successful player will:

*bring own instrument and notebook

*practice at least 5 days per week

*share favorite music with the class

* listen and observe the other lessons with courtesy

 

Parents are welcome at all lessons and are asked to provide an appropriate place and time for regular practice.

 

Ms. Poth enjoys seeing the success of her students and will use a variety of games, exercises and music to achieve real growth.

 

Cost: One time $15 fee for registration and music plus $50 per month

Contact her at [email protected] or (949)922-6388

Resume and references available upon request

 

Handwork flier fall 2011