Journey School News

Calendar of Events

Fundraiser Night
at Veggie Grill
click for flier
Wednesday, Nov. 30
3-10 PM

RSC Practicum Weekend
December 2, 3, 4
Parents Invited 12/3 for Eurythmy

Fairy Market
Monday/Tuesday, December 5 & 6

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

Winter Strings
Celebration
Grades 4 & 5
Friday, Dec 9
3:15 PM

Middle School
Winter Concert
Grades 6 - 8
Thursday, Dec 15
7:00 PM

RSC Practicum Weekend
March 23, 24, 25

Jamba Juice
Wednesdays

Recycle Thursdays
weekly

Click here for our Calendar of Events!

Community Outreach

The Ecology Center Presents: Alternative Holiday Gift-Wrapping

Center For Living Peace in Irvine (near UCI)
Saturday, Dec. 10th

1:00pm - 3:00pm

Thoughtfulness doesn't have to end with the purchase of a gift. Join us for this holiday-wrapping session unlike any other, where students will learn to create beautifully wrapped gifts with unexpected, easy-on-the-earth materials. Did you know? If every family in the U.S. chose to wrap just three gifts with reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields! So bring your cheer and three gifts to wrap!

Click here for details about the event or visit The Ecology Center website.

**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

After-Care

Journey School is committed to providing professional and enriching after-care options for students. Several of our high-quality aftercare programs still have openings.

Mondays

Little Acorns
Homework Help, Puzzles & Games w/Mr. K. (Grades 4 & up)

Tuesdays

Little Acorns
Guitar w/Billy Alexander
Handwork

Wednesdays

Drama (Grades 5-8)
Homework Help, Puzzles & Games w/Mr. K. (Grades 4 & up)
Academic Chess (Grades 4 & up)

Thursdays

Little Acorns
Guitar w/Billy Alexander
Strings
Handwork

Fridays

Little Acorns
Drama (Grades 1-4)

Please visit our website for more information about our providers and how to sign-up for their wonderful enrichment classes.

About Us

Good Things Are Happening!

November 30, 2011

Dear Journey School Friends and Family,

It was great welcoming the children back from the long Thanksgiving holiday. We are excited about December's upcoming festivals and look forward to seeing you at these special community-building events, including:

Friday's Eurythmy opportunity
Spiral Walk
Fairy Market
Winter Concerts

As we mentioned in the last newsletter, we are quite proud of the many distinguishing features which set Journey School apart from other educational options, including:

Whole Child Education
Arts-rich learning
Leadership & Ethics (Social Literacy, Digital Literacy, Eco-Literacy--The 3 L's)
Developmentally appropriate curriculum that brilliantly unfolds over time
Outstanding teachers who build enduring relationships
Renaissance learners

We believe such best practices position Journey School very well for the coming years; and, we remain committed to achieving amazing results and influencing the broader educational landscape in BIG ways!

Consider yet another article just published at Harvard detailing the exact approach to Digital Literacy being pioneered at Journey School. In fact, the renown Common Sense Media group is actively promoting Journey School for its innovative approach to digital citizenship.

Make no mistake about it--we are on the cutting-edge of educational reform in other ways too. For example, on a weekly basis educators interested in the enviornment and anti-bullying issues--from both inside and outside the Waldorf movement--have expressed strong interest in our Eco-Literacy and Social-Literacy (Compassionate Campus) Programs as well.

These are indeed exciting times at Journey School and we are so grateful for your participation. Please get involved and enjoy the ride!

Onwards and Upwards,

Shaheer Faltas

News from 8th Grade

Sixth Grade Main Lesson

By Rachel L. and Mya

This week we visited the 6th grade classroom to find out what they're learning. The teacher is Mrs. Townley-Smith. The 6th grade is learning about Ancient China, dynasties of China, how silk was discovered and the geography of China.

One of the stories they learned about was how silk is made and was discovered. The story was...A long time ago in ancient China, there was a lady who was having tea one day in her garden. While she was just sitting there in her chair she heard a little splash so she looked in her tea and found a silk worm. She picked it up and she started taking the silk out of it and that is how she discovered the silk worm.

The 6th grade is having a lot of fun in their new block and they say it is very interesting to learn about.

Garden Compost Workshop Tomorrow

All Journey Parents
are invited to attend
5th Grade Compost Workshop

Thursday, December 1st

9 to 10:30 a.m.
Journey's Green Heart Garden

Class will be taught by Master Gardener, Joanne Byrd.

Joanne will cover:

What is Compost?
Why Compost?
Composting Basics, UC Rapid Method
What goes in/stay out?
How to harvest your Compost.

The 5th grade class and Journey Garden parents have been stock piling their GREENS and BROWNS, 50/50 of each:

Greens are: grass clippings (no bermuda grass), green leaves, fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags.

Browns are: dried leaves. woody plant material, chopped up branches and twigs, straw, hay, shredded newspaper or cardboard.

NO: dairy, meat, bones, oils, dog or cat manure, treated wood products, weeds with seeds.

Please bring any greens and browns you have to help the students create the compost.

Photo from last year's compost workshop:

7th Grade Apple Pie Fundraiser Ends Friday

Journey School and the 7th Grade offer Dutch Apple Pies for your Holiday Season! Delicious, all-natural Dutch Apple Pies, ready to enjoy when YOU want them! Sale ends Friday. Download the order form here or click below to buy now.

Fairy Market - Dec. 5th & 6th

Fairy Market is next week! Click here for our FAIRY MARKET sign-up sheet and help make this event happen.

Journey School T-shirts Last Day to Order

Final t-shirt orders are due. If you would like to order a Journey School T-shirt or Sweatshirt please contact Meggan Bunce at beachbunce@cox.net by Wednesday, November 30th. This will be the final order for the year. In stock shirts can be selected on the parent cabinet website at www.journeyschoolpc.net.

School Photo Orders Due Today

The photo offer has been extended through today, November 30th. There is no charge on class group photos with paid order of $10 or more. If you are not ordering prints, please turn in the form as soon as possible indicating your choice for the yearbook -- otherwise the yearbook committee will choose for you! Finally, please make payments directly to Joy Halverson or oh joy!

Eurythmy this Friday

Parents are invited to join us this Friday evening for a special eurythmy class that is part of our teacher practicum weekend. All parents welcome!

Drop-off Reminder

Dear parents: As a reminder, for the safety of your children, please do not drop students off at school prior to 8:15 am.

Book Faire

It is not too late to join the Barnes and Noble Book Faire fundraiser!
You, your friends, and your family can buy ONLINE at BN.com using the online code 10613271. The code is good through the weekend. At the bottom of the payment page-- below the credit card info box -- there is a box that says check if this is a bookfair and when you check that box a space appears for the number.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the WAHOOS and BARNES and NOBLE fundraisers. (extra bonus if you sign up for goodsearch.com and indicate Journey School as your preferred charity).

Annual Auction

Did you hear? The Auction will be early this year. Mark your calendars for February. The Auction Committee is forming now, so please come to our planning meetings on Wednesday, Nov. 30th and Dec. 14th at 9am in the Parent cottage. We are working on venue, theme and other event details. Please contact Meggan Bunce at beachbunce@cox.net for more information.

Journey Parent Group

A Journey School Tennis Group for parents is forming. If you are interested in playing in the mornings during school please contact Lisa Skibsted at oscarski@yahoo.com.

A Note from Mr. K

Journey School Games and PE Instructor It has been such a pleasure getting to know you and your delightful students! I couldn't be happier with the start of the year. So far, we have built on the good work from prior years and are now implementing further improvements for our games classes. As you may know, your students are engaged in high level activities--ranging from cooperative games that foster teamwork to street hockey, stilt-walking, volleyball, and much more.

We want to keep the momentum moving in a positive direction and could use some help from anyone who is willing or able. Specifically, I made a wish list with Dicks Sporting goods today. Anyone who wants to access my wish list may visit the Dick's Sporting Goods website and under "My Account" enter my email: rkalbhenn6@att.net and password Journey. My wish list will present itself there. I am asking you to donate anything you can to increase the dynamic movement of our wonderful school and Physical Education department. Maybe you don't mind donating a few volleyballs or perhaps your son or daughter is involved in an organized sport after school and the coaches have some used equipment to donate!

The opportunities are endless and I hope you can support us in re-building our games program during these lean economic times. Please don't hesitate to e-mail me at rkalbhenn6@att.net. Again, thank you so much for sending us such wonderful students.

Warm wishes,

Mr. K

Lost & Found

Please remember to check for your children's lost items in our Lost & Found located in front of the office.

Volunteer Opportunity
The Lost & Found needs someone to organize and donate unclaimed items. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Shoon at shoon@journeyschool.net.

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.

Support Journey

Free and Easy Ways to Support Journey School This Holiday Season
We've just made it easier for you to support Journey School!

1. We registered Journey School with GoodSearch.com, a company that helps non-profits like ours raise funds through the everyday actions of our supporters.

Here is how you can help:

Use GoodSearch when you search the internet--they will donate a penny to us every time you do.
Use GoodShop.com when you shop online - they work with more than 2,500 major retailers, have over 100,000 coupons, and donate a percentage of every purchase you make to us.
Enroll in the GoodDining.com they will donate up to 6% of every dollar you spend when you eat at one of 10,000 participating restaurants
Get started by clicking the "Become a Supporter" button on our profile page here!

2. If you're looking for new reusable bottles and lunch containers, shop at www.reuseit.com and enter code L11. Journey at the checkout (in the coupon code section, or in the comments section if you are using already using a coupon code for a discount).

3. On the morning of Friday, Dec. 16th, Parent Cabinet will be selling Journey logo merchandise and the beautiful scarfs and baskets that were for sale at the Harvest Faire -- perfect last minute gifts to have on hand!

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