Weekly Bulletin

May 21, 2014
 

The Hartsbrook School

193 Bay Road
Hadley, MA

 

Main Office:
413-586-1908

Admissions:
413-584-3198

 

Quick Links

Upcoming Events 

 

Forest Classroom Information Evening  

Come and learn more about our new program for children ages 2.9 to 6+.

Wed., 5/21 6:45pm
Great Room, Hartsbrook Hall
 
No School ~
Memorial Day
Monday, 5/26
 
Field Day ~
Grades 1 - 12
Wed., 6/4 1:30pm

Last Day
Early Childhood 6/5
Grades Fri., 6/6

High School Assembly
Fri., 6/6 8:30am
Followed by light refreshments

Final Assembly
Fri. 6/6 11:00am

Eighth Grade Promotion
Fri. 6/6 3pm

High School Graduation
Saturday 6/7 10am

Parent Meetings

 

Parent Council

Mon., 6/2 7-9pm 

 

7th Grade

Wed., 5/28 7-9m

Grade News

   

4th Grade Play ~

Thor and the Giants

5/21 10-10:30am

5/22 10-10:30am

5/23 10-10:30am

5/23 4- 4:30pm

 

5th Grade Pentathlon 

@ The Great Barrington  Rudolf Steiner School

Fri., 5/23 

 

6th Grade ~ Montreal

5/20 - 5/23

 

7th Grade ~

White Mountains

5/20 -5/23

 

8th Grade Class Trip

5/23 - 5/30

 

5th + 6th Grade Strings & Band Concert

Tues., *5/27 2:20-3pm
*Note date change

 

Eighth Grade Class Night

Wed., 6/4 6pm

 

Senior Banquet

Thurs., 6/5  6:30pm
Piening Hall

 

Athletics  

 

Ultimate Frisbee-

 

States Div II games will be on Saturday, May 31st!

 

Click for Athletics Calendar 

 

 

Farm Camp

High School Graduation

Saturday, June 7th, 2014

 

Eighth Grade Promotion

Friday, June 6th, 2014

Volunteers Needed!

AWSNA Summer Conference at Hartsbrook  ~ June 23rd-26th

       

All Welcome

Teachers, administrators, board members, and interested parents from Waldorf schools all over the continent have gathered each summer since the late '60s to meet colleagues, listen to insightful lectures, and engage in stimulating workshops around a topic of great interest.

 

This is the first time that Hartsbrook has hosted the AWSNA (The Association of Waldorf Schools of North America) conference. We are delighted to share our wonderful community and campus with the wider Waldorf community, and to take up the critical topic of cultivating humanness in a technological world.

 

More Info:

Conference Program and Registration Details

Community members are welcome to register for the full conference (see registration form for fees) or to attend the lectures (no fee, but donations welcome).

 

Volunteers Needed:

We expect about 225 conference participants and will need help!

 

Food Tent Help:

While the snacks and meals will be catered, we need help to serve and clean up. Helping out in the food tent offers a great chance to meet Waldorf folks from all over the continent - and we'd be very grateful!

 Online Vounteer Sign-up Sheet

 

Host Families Needed:

We are also looking for housing for some colleagues traveling from Mexico and Canada. Please contact  jbaudendistel@hartsbrook.org if you could offer lodging and breakfast. We can provide $25 - $40 per person per night if needed.

 

Thanks!

 

Jan Baudendistel for the Summer Conference Planning Committee

Announcements

Extended Day, News and Openings

  
We are sorry to announce that Spencer Friedman and Alexandra Mahoney will not be returning to the Extended day program next year. Spencer will be moving to the Berkshires in New York state to pursue opportunities in early childhood education, and to develop some musical projects in that area. Alie will be traveling to Mexico next year to continue her studies in sustainable agriculture. We will miss them both and wish them the best in this next stage of exploration and discovery.

If you are interested in working in Extended Day, please look at the position announcement on our website and contact Faculty Chair Louise Spear.

Lost and Found Whereabouts!

  
The Hartsbrook Hall Lost and Found will be given to a charity on Thursday, June 5th. This will include all items left behind up to this date. If items are labeled, we will return them to your child. Lost and Found from the final day of school, after school picnic, promotion and graduation will be given away the following Friday, June 13th as we prepare for Farm Camp and the AWSNA Conference.

Again, we will try to return labeled items. Please check if you are missing items. The Lost and Found is located in a basket outside the adult bathroom on the first floor of the building and in the High School lobby.

Farm Camp - CIT Spots Available

  
Counselor in Training spots are still available for Summer Farm Camp. There are a few Sprouts spots left in Session 1.  Young Farmers are FULL.

"Who's Afraid of the Corn Worm?"

The Senior Class Puppet Drama with Community Performances

 
 
This is a story of how a small farmer, who has been living in harmony with nature, has to change his practices because people are afraid of corn worms. The big business man Barren Mon Santo makes the small farmer buy his GMO seed and his herbicides and eventually the farmer collapses.  But a child sees what is happening and tells her family and they, the family, the farmer and the corn worm all realize that living in harmony with all beings, including the worm will yield far more benefit than can be promised by a big corporation.

  

Listen in to what the seniors have to say about their work on WRSI 93.9 The River, Monte Belemonte's morning show.   LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW 

 

 

 

Hartsbrook Performance:

 

When: Friday, May 30,  11am

Where: Lawn behind Piening Hall

Suitable for grades 2-12

Please join us!

 

Community Performances:
 
~Saturday, 5/24, Noon
March from Whole Foods in Hadley to Kendrick Park in Amherst, followed by a performance and rally at 1:30pm.  The community is invited to join the march.
 
~Wednesday, 5/28, Noon
 Northampton on Main St. on the lawn of the First Churches
 
~ Thursday, 5/29, Noon
Greenfield, at the Solar Park

Annual Appeal

Thank you all for your generous responses, every dollar counts!

 

Imagine 100% Participation

 

Yay - we zoomed up to 50%!  We're half way there!!

(90 families have pledged - Thank you!)

 

There is still time .....Make Your Pledge or Gift Today!

  • Email me your pledge today: kbates@hartsbrook.org and & I'll send you a reminder with giving envelope (all pledges due by August 1st)
  • Donate online
  • Mail in your pledge/donation or give to Vesna at the main office.

Extra pledge/gift envelopes available in every building. Thank you!

 

Wow! Please notice how much higher the percentages are in each class.

1st, 10th & 12th grades have only two families left to pledge to reach 100%.

 

Remember: for families with children in more than one class - your gift counts toward the percentages in all their classes with one gift!

 

 

Which class will reach 100% first? Let's find out!

 

Homemade cookies to each class as they reach 100% participation

- complements of your Hartsbrook Development Committee

 

  

With heartfelt thanks,

Karen Bates for the Development Committee 

High School Happenings ~

Farm To Table Elective Visits the Food Bank

 

The high school's Farm to Table elective class recently visited the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in Hatfield, MA on Monday. We toured the warehouse where food is distributed to hundreds of food pantries, meal programs and shelters throughout Western Mass. Of particular interest to this class was the fact that our local food bank is a model for a farming program that grows produce directly for the food bank, using their land on Bay Road around the corner from us. Food Bank staff informed us that one in five children in Western Mass. are food-insecure, meaning some meals may be skipped or not nutritionally complete due to a limited family budget.

 

 

 

High School Happenings ~ Intensive Learning Week

 

High School classes, 9-11, are in their final Intensive Learning Week of the year.

 

The 11th Grade, together with the Monadonock High School's 11th Grade, are studying Botany at Stump Sprouts Educational Center in Hawley, MA with Alex Workman, High School Biology and Chemistry Teacher.

 

The 10th grade is surveying as part of their trigonometry block With Steve Haendiges, High School Math and Science. The first task was to map Hartsbrook's Nibble Hill, using clinometers the students constructed. The data will be used to make a topographical map of the terrain. Later in the week they will hike the Holyoke Range and gain a new set of perspectives on Hartsbrook and other Valley landmarks while taking measurements along the way.

 

 

 

The 9th Grade is studying Organic Chemistry with the Monadonock High School's 9th Grade here at The Hartsbrook School with Virginia McWilliam, High School Chemistry and Faculty Chair. They are applying what they learn to the creation of a Permaculture garden behind Piening Hall. 

 

The 12th Grade continue to work on their puppets and are preparing for their graduations events!

 

High School Prom

                
.
 
 

What Keeps Us At Hartsbrook?

  

World Café Joint Meeting
On March 12th we held the World Cafe Joint Meeting of The Board, Faculty Conference and Parents.  During the meeting we captured the thoughts and feelings of the participants around two questions:
 
What keeps you here at Hartsbrook?
How do we take that message out into the broader community as an enrollment question?
 
Comments from Parents, Faculty Conference and The Board
We thoroughly enjoyed reading comments from the perspective of parents, faculty and the Board, to discover what surfaced as important, to see similarities and differences.  We thought you would enjoy reading them as well!  
 
Highlights of Parent, Faculty, Board comments: What Keeps us at Hartsbrook? 
Full set of quotes go to this link: Full Set of Quotes 
 
What a lovely message from the heart of the Hartsbrook community!

Next Steps
There were many great comments on the question of moving our message out into the broader community and we are continuing to capture and work with those.  Our committee plans to continue the momentum around this question and that of enrollment and what we as a community can do, by hosting another World Cafe event at the start of the next school year. 
 
Thank you,
Virginia McWilliam, Annie Woodhull, Lane Hall-Will, Leslie Ritchie-Dunham 

Hawks Eye View ~ Ultimate Frisbee

 

We're looking forward:  States Div II games will be on Saturday, May 31st!
 
RVAL Ultimate Tournament 
Our Ultimate Varsity Team took second place at the River Valley Athletic League Tournament (RVAL) last Wednesday.  Congratulations to coach Lex Rudel and the Team!
 
Intramural Tournament
The Intramural Ultimate program, for Grades 5, 6, 7, 8, wrapped up last Friday with a tournament and ice cream party. 
8th Grade Ultimate Players
 
 
Megan Owens, Athletics Director 

Celebrating Our Community

Alumni News ~

Jacob Garfinkel, Competing in Ultimate National College Championships


Jacob, HS Class 2013, is a Freshman at Bryan University in Rhode Island. He has quickly risen in prominence in Ultimate Frisbee. 
 
The following, from "Ultiworld", an on-line publication, May 13th, 2014, is a "who's who" of collegiate players leading up to last week's national college championships.   Jacob's team took 9th place in the nation in their division.
 
"Who would think we would be mentioning a freshman here? But [Jacob Garfinkel] is for real. He is undoubtedly a huge reason for the success of the team this season as he has come in and proved he can compete with the top D-III teams as a freshman. Jacob is a great handler on offense who has all the throws to make any mark lose their mind. He also is likely to play every point along with Scully since they both take pride in always being on the line together."
 
Here's the link:
 
Congratulations Jacob!

All Hartsbrook Family Camping- Save the Date!

Wednesday 8/6 ~ Sunday 8/10, 2014

Each year Hartsbrook families chip in to rent the entire Indian Hollow campground in Chesterfield, MA for our own use.  Some families come just for the day, others stay up to all four nights.

 

Children bike through the woods and build chutes in the river.  Lounge in a chair, or sing along with guitars and fiddles while you roast a s'more. Enjoy hikes, swimming holes, ultimate and capture the flag in the open fields.  On our last night, following a communal bonfire, the High School students often sleep out under the stars in the field. 

 

For information, directions (Google and state Web sites are totally inaccurate), or to find out why this is my favorite event of the summer, contact Tim McNerney at 341-1379.  Mark your calendar and save the date.  

 

Organized by Hartsbrook families; not a school event. 

Alumnae News

  

Aiyana Masla, alumna of Elyce Perico's 8th Grade class of 2002, teaches theater improv at the Paulo Friere Social Justice Charter High School in Holyoke, MA. Her students are presenting "Windows" an autobiographical presentation.

 

Congratulations Aiyana.

 

 

Please come and support these students!

Saturday, June 7th, 7:30pm

Gateway City Arts Center, Holyoke, MA

For more info, contact Aiyana  413-388-3393

 

 

Flooding in Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia

My home country has been in the news lately as over one million people in Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia have been affected by torrential rains and floods. Whole towns have been evacuated. This has been the worst flood in over a century and many people are without water, electricity, shelter and food. People are coming together to help one another despite their differences, forgetting about the past, forgetting about the war. These countries have seen much strife over many years and this is a difficult obstacle to surmount.

 

Bosnia is my birth country, full of woods and mountains. Serbia is where I spent my youth, met my husband and where my immediate family still resides. Fortunately our families are safe. It is so very difficult to see the hard work of many being destroyed yet again for people who were once refugees, now evacuees. I ask that you hold the people of my country in your hearts and thoughts. I am grateful to be here safe within this wonderful community and wanted to share this important news with you and invite you to learn more about what is going on and how you could help.

 

For more News: Ways To Help 

 

Many thanks,

Vesna Vasovic, Main Office Administration

 

Community Bulletin Board 


HOUSE /PET SITTING OPPORTUNITY:  Beautiful, spacious home in South Amherst in need of an animal savvy person to care for 2 adult dogs, possibly one 5 month old puppy and 11 chickens from 6/22-7-2.
Art studio, library/music/bicycles and other creative/health amenities offered during your stay. Contact Kathy 413 687-7591 


SUMMER HANDWORK AND CRAFTS: Handwork and Crafts at my home.  Walks to the farm to see the animals or play games with my son in the front yard to take a break. We have frog ponds and gardens. Grades 1-4 including the present 4th Grade. 1 hour is $25, 2 hours is $38, 3 hours is $48. Please call Gail Voisin at 413-256-0177

SUMMER MATH TUTORING by HARTSBROOK FACULTY Robin Pfoutz, Hartsbrook math teacher and tutor, is tutoring math this summer and fall. Summer is a great time to build confidence and prepare for the next year. References available from the school and parents (and students!). Please contact Robin at   413-687-5454 rpfoutz@hartsbrook.org. 

LANDSCAPE DESIGN & ORGANIC GARDENING SERVICES offered by Jeannine Haendiges, dba foliate. foliatedesign.com. Landscape architect and NOFA-accredited organic land care professional. Services include consulting, master planning, rain gardens & green roofs, landscape restoration, hardscape and garden structure design, maintenance plans and organic gardening services. Phone: 413.687.9142.

 NOFA: 40th annual Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Summer Conference August 8-10th , Amherst, MA. This is a family-friendly event. While parents attend great educational workshops on gardening, farming, nutrition, and ecological sustainability, children get to experience age-appropriate and fun workshops about these same topics with other youth from all across the Northeast.

CASE STUDY VOLUNTEERS: Spacial Dynamics: Looking for case studies. Are you bent out of shape? Use movement and gentle hands on technique as an invitation to address conditions involving acute and chronic pain, sleeplessness, chronic fatigue, anxiety and imbalance. Space is alive Free initial consultation. text Hunter at (413) 522-0526 

COHOUSING INFO MEETING: Informational meeting Wednesday, May 21st at the Unitarian Society in Northampton from 7:00-8:30 about a potential new cohousing project at Village Hill in Northampton and would like to reach out to all the families in the area. Kraus Fitch Architects

SCRAP METAL PLEASE! I am gathering scrap metal to build a jungle gym. If old monkey bars, trampolines, swing supports, metal fences, or other metal structures and pieces sit unused in your back yard, I would be happy to pick them up and put them to use! I can offer small compensation. Thank you thank you thank you.
Contact Alie Mahoney: le.chat.rouge13@gmail.com

CHILDREN's PROGRAM: Are you looking for a gentle childcare program for you very young child? The Cottage Garden offer lots of singing, simple puppetry, felting, home cooked, hot, organic food and lots of love.  We are a licensed, Waldorf Home Day Care Program in Amherst. We have available spaces for next year, for children ages one year to two and a half years old. Please contact Celia Riahi for information; celia@thecottagegarden.org, 413-348-6035, www.thecottagegarden.org

RAW MILK COOP: Hadley-based raw milk coop seeking a few more members. We take turns driving once a week to Robinson Farm in Hardwick, which offers certified organic raw milk from 100% grass-fed cows. Mmmm good! Start now or in the fall. Contact Jonathan Evans at jevans@crocker.com if interested.

 

LOST!  A pair of Vortex binoculars, last seen on Thursday, May 1, outside the fourth grade classroom.  Found?  Please contact Jennifer Hall-Witt: jhallwit@smith.edu, 587-0751.

 

PIANO AND DRUM LESSONS:   Dan Kennedy Piano and Percussion B.Mus. Oberlin, M.M. New England Conservatory. Please call (413)548-6385 or email dankennedypiano@yahoo.com.

  

NEED A BABYSITTER? Want to go out for an evening or away for a weekend? Call me, Alana Reynolds 413-626-6361. I... am a Hartsbrook Alum... have extensive experience with infants and children... am finishing graduate school for Occupational Therapy ...am available anytime until June 1st and most evenings and weekends throughout the summer.  I  ...can supply references upon request   ...look forward to meeting you and your children!   I am also available for pet care and house sitting!

 

SUMMER RENTAL In PROVINCETOWN, Cape Cod MA. We have a lovely first floor condo on the Harbor side with private access to the ocean. 2BR (sleeps 6), a full bath,  fully stocked kitchen. The front deck is a wonderful place to sit and eat meals. There is plenty of parking and it's on the bus route into Provincetown and only 2 miles from the National Seashore Beaches. We have only one week left, Saturday, June 21 to Saturday, June 28, 2014. The cost is $800. Please contact Sheila MacNab Millar at 413.549.2624 or email smacnab@comcast.net. Sorry no pets. Thank you, Sheila

 

BADMINTON SUMMER CAMP: Prepare your school-age child for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics at our own 'training' camp. Programs will also include hiking, swimming and having a joyful time! Combining 35 years in Waldorf education. Located 7 min from Hartsbrook at the Burkey/Rollinson house near Mt. Warner. 5 day week/ 9a to 2p /$250. Call for details. Week One: June 9 - 13; Week Two: July 7 - 12. Miss Burkey 513-375-8860

 

HOUSING AVAILABLE:  Studio Apartment in a house with a quiet family (Hadley, Mass) Utilities Included. Looking for quiet, tidy, warm-hearted individual. Ideal for Graduate student. No smoking at all. May through August. Potential to extend. Beautiful space in really nice condition. Hardwood floor, quiet neighborhood, private entrance, deck, kitchenette. Room for gardening. Bathroom shared with one other very nice person. 2.4 mi from Umass or Amherst.  $580 / month.  Please call John or Amy, 413-210-5400 

 

A TELE CIRCLE OF SUPPORT: "Flower Essences for Raising Happy, Healthy Kids and Thriving Moms" A Tele-Circle of Support for moms looking for holistic ways to deal with the common challenges of raising children (hyperactivity, social problems, sleeplessness, sibling rivalry) taught by Carla Savetsky, RPA, MS. 6-week teleconference class starting Friday May 16th at Noon - 1:15pm EST.  MORE INFO or Carla.

  

BIXBY BROTHERS YARD WORK AND LANDSCAPING: Need help around the house or yard? Evan, Reed and Tucker are ready to help with the grunt work, heavy lifting, moving, mowing, raking or whatever you need. Call Evan at (413) 658-5583.

 

HARTSBROOK ALUMNI FOR HIRE: Two Guys and a Blue Goose:  We are Hartsbrook alums now Sophomores in college. Colten McCormick, K-9, now attends UC Davis, Evan Mariani, K-8, attends Bryant University. We are 21 years old and hard workers (ask our past employers!). We have three years of experience in landscaping and are up to tacklling any challenge. We are versatile and will do any type of yard work, lawn care, spring clean-up, moving, and painting... We hope you are as excited for summer as we are!  If you are interested or want to learn more- Evan (413) 427-9895, Colten (413)-668-6841, Or on the web: www.twoguysandabluegoose.com  

 

ACUPUNCTURE: Offered with prayer and care. happiness-wave acupuncture eskersource@gmail.com or  www.acupuncturewomencare.net *a social service, not a business*

  

TreeCycle ARBORISTS/ ARTISTS: An Exceptional, Local, Sustainable and Affordable Tree Service. To us every tree is a work of art. For free estimates and more info please visit TheTreeCycle.com

  

Another week added! PUPPETS IN THE WOODS Summer Arts Camp with Beth Fairservis & Stephen Katz. Ages 6-10, 9-3pm. June 23-27 / July 21-25 / July 28-Aug 1 / Aug 4-8. A week-long immersion into Nature and Theatre Making, we gather materials and stories from the woods, then practice theatre games, make puppets and dances, dye silks, sing songs, and create a magical tale to be shared with friends and family on Friday. $300 per week. MORE INFO or Contact Beth at bethbirth@crocker.com or 413-268-3588. 

The Community Bulletin Board is for small classified-type advertisements. Each submission costs $5.00, is limited to 3 paid repeats and should be no more than 4 lines of text, about 45 words. Payment for Community Bulletin Board submissions should be made by Friday of the publication week. Please drop off or mail payment, to The Hartsbrook School, 193 Bay Road, Hadley, MA 01035.  No charge for advertisements for free events or nonprofit organizations. Submit ads to: bulletin@hartsbrook.org.

 

General Policy for the Bulletin  No political or religious advertisements.  No competitive program advertisements.  No fundraisers.  The editors will decide placement of advertisements and may edit for content and length.  The Hartsbrook School retains the right to choose not to print any advertisement.

Hartsbrook: Clarity of Thought ~ Warmth of Heart - Strength of Purpose