Journey School News

Calendar of Events

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Oct. 31 - Nov. 4
click for details

Harvest Faire
Saturday, Nov. 5
All Day

Make-up Picture Day
Tuesday, Nov 8

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

Human Rights for All: One Movement, One World

Join hundreds of fellow Amnesty International members, supporters and human rights activists from across the thirteen Western states for Amnesty International's 2011 Western Regional Conference!

This year's conference will feature prominent human rights defenders and leading experts who will discuss the most pressing human rights concerns of today: the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa; the growing movement to abolish the death penalty; protecting migrant rights; ending poverty; the torture debate; and much more.

Don't miss an inspiring weekend full of dynamic speakers, ground-breaking workshops, networking, and grassroots activism!

November 4 - 6
Four Points
by Sheraton LAX
9750 Airport Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90045

Click here for more information.

**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 journeyschoolnews@gmail.com

About Us

Good Things Are Happening!

October 28, 2011

Dear Friends and Family,

We hope you enjoyed this week's Gallery Walk! Thanks for making special efforts to attend as the students and staff were excited to host you! Our 8th grade ambassadors are currently writing articles and gathering pictures about the evening to be published soon! We are especially thankful to our committed teachers for working so hard to provide each Journey student with an education second to none! You are the best!

The teachers have also been preparing to meet with families next week during goal-setting conferences. We look forward to seeing you to collaborate as educational partners! You may read more about conference week below--including how you can RSVP for childcare if you need help from the school.

We are also thrilled about the upcoming Harvest Faire--a very special community festival which celebrates the beauty and bounty of the earth in such fun ways! We especially thank Parent Cabinet for their relentless efforts.

Additionally, it is not too late to give to our Close-the-Gap donation campaign. So far, 54% of families have contributed $141,000. THANK YOU for your generosity. Our goal, however, is 90% family participation in order to meet the budgetary demands of running a Waldorf school in the public sector. While Journey School is entirely tuition- free we are also largely donation-dependent. Tough budgetary decisions cannot be avoided in the coming weeks without more immediate help. Please contact Cindy at cindy@journeyschool.net or come by the office today.

Also, in case you didn't get a chance to read the The New York Times article on how Waldorf Schools in the Bay Area continue to draw parents from high-tech companies like Google, you may click here for easy access to the article.

Finally, please be sure to read the lunch announcement below. Thanks to all.

Onwards and Upwards,

Shaheer

Important Lunch Program Info

No Pizza Lunches Today!
I am writing to inform you that Pizza lunches have been canceled indefinitely. This is to take effect immediately.
No lunch will be provided on Friday, October 28th. Please plan accordingly.

Full refunds and/or credit will be provided (your choice) as soon as possible to everyone that has paid. We apologize for the last minute notice, but need to comply with Health Department codes which were just clarified today. We are currently researching how to best move forward with food offerings in the future.

Please look for another announcement via newsletter regarding lunch plans for next week.

Thank You,
Shaheer Faltas
School Administrator

Parent Conferences & Minimum Days

Parent Conferences/Minimum Days will take place from October 31-November 4.
For details, please see our newsletter archives for our October 14th email.
Please click here to request childcare help and we will be in touch about the details.
"Little Acorns" will continue as usual as well as the Wednesday after-care classes.
We look forward to a successful and smooth Conference Week.

Picture Day

School picture make-up day is Tuesday, November 8th. Please email Joy Halverson at circusjoy@mac.com for re-takes.

Halloween Costumes

This is a reminder that all students are invited to dress in a costume related to their curriculum with no blood, guts, Disney caricatures, etc.
Please check with your teachers for costume suggestions.

News from Parent Cabinet

Harvest Faire 2011 is November 5th from 12 noon to 4pm. Please share information about the Harvest Faire with family and friends. Click here for the Harvest Faire website.

Please log your volunteer hours on our PC Website (scroll to bottom of page). By logging our hours throughout the year (instead of waiting) we look more attractive to grant givers. So please try to log your hours, weekly or monthly!

South Coast Farms Community Agriculture is available. Please visit our Parent Cabinet website to sign up.

Emergency Procedures Letters

We would like for each parent to write a letter of reassurance for your child and include a photo of your family that will be given to your child to comfort them in the event of a disaster. Please place the letter and the picture in an envelope with your child's name on it. Then, give it to your child's teacher. Please turn in these letters by November 4th.

Close the Gap

Close the Gap: 54% of Journey families have committed $142, 000. Our goal is 90% family participation in order to provide Waldorf education in public schools. Please donate today by e-mailing Cindy at cindy@journeyschool.net.

High School Open House Schedule

TIME TO START PLANNING!

J Serra High School
Open House: 11/3/2011 & 1/19/2012 @ 6:30pm in the J Serra Pavillion
"Lion for a Day" student visitation days began October 3rd.
jserra.org

St Margaret's Episcopal School
All School Open House: 11/12/2011 Grades 9-12 9:45am - 1:00pm
Class Visitations begin 12/5/2011
smes.org

Waldorf School of Orange County
Open House: 11/5/2011 @ 10:00am
Must RSVP
waldorfschool.com/highschool/

Sage Hill High School School
Tours & Shadow Days Begin 11/7/2011
Must RSVP
sagehillschool.org

Tarbut V' Torah Community Day School
Open House & Tours are scheduled weekly
Must RSVP
tarbut.com

Saddleback Valley Christian School
Private Orientation & Tour Only
949.443.3941

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, please have them contact

Julie Giffin at Journey School at 949.448.7232 x 2

or email at info@journeyschool.net.

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.

Tours are designed for parents as classrooms will be visited while in session.

Please RSVP with Julie Giffin at 949.448.7232 x 2 or

email her at info@journeyschool.net.

Applications for the 2012/2013 lottery are now available.

Please visit our website or receive an application at your scheduled tour.

RECOMMENDED READING

Waldorf Education - A Family Guide

Pamela Johnson Fenner and Karen L. Rivers

When children relate what they learn to their own experience,

they are interested and alive, and what they learn becomes their own.

Waldorf schools are designed to foster this kind of learning.

Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA)

(available at steinercollege.edu Bookstore Item #1436)

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 lisamariefry@yahoo.com with the date.

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

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.

New After-School Program