The Update Newsletter                December 2013


Cedar Springs Waldorf School in the

Placerville Christmas Parade

 

Over 35 students and parents proudly represented Cedar Springs in the Placerville Christmas parade on Sunday, December 1!  Our float was filled will happy children and parents singing holiday songs and hard working elves in a workshop.  We handed the crowd a goodie bag containing a post card about the school, walnuts donated by an Alumni family and honey sticks donated by the Placerville Natural Foods Co-op. 

Thanks to Eric Nicita, Chris Cockburn, Dudley Land, Jill Bakes, Monica Ness, Ray & Melanie Sarlatte, and David & Denise Lyle for their contributions to preparing and driving the float and to all of the students and parents who participated.

 

Class of 2016 Christmas trees are Still Available for Purchase!

 

Still need to purchase the perfect Christmas tree? You are in luck, Mrs. Elder's CSWS Class of 2016 harvested fresh trees available for purchase after school (lower parking lot). The trees are $5-$45, and proceeds will be added to their class fund. The Sixth Graders harvested the red fir trees from Eldorado National Forest with the guidance of Eric Nicita. The students present learned that the service was a conscious plan for forest management.  They removed trees from "dog-hair stands" so that the desirable, healthier trees could grow without being choked out or made susceptible to pests. The forest service tagged the boundaries and marked trees they did not want cut with orange spray paint.

Hands on learning AND you can bring home a tree with love!

A Busy Month at Cedar Springs!

 The Children's Store--a fundraiser and gift to our young students all in one






Second Grade Carries on the Tradition of Santa Lucia



Holiday Market Offers Unique Gifts


Beautiful photos from the Holiday Market courtesy of CSWS Parent Jane Andrew!

For more pictures of our December events, visit our Shutterfly album.
ALL COMMUNITY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Our All Community Meetings held on November 13 and 15 were very well attended by parents, faculty and board members.  Participants learned about how the school is doing financially this year, what's going on in Development and how they can help and about this year's Auction fundraiser which is scheduled for Saturday, March 15.   One of the activities during the meetings were for community members to share what they brag about when they talk to people about our school, any hesitations they have and ways they can overcome spreading the word about CSWS.  This led to a rich discussion and many highlights about what we all love about our school.  Here are a few of the notes/comments:

  • We let the kids get muddy
  • My kids feel loved at their school
  • Just talk to our alumni for a great picture of all that our school offers
  • Deep education, beyond just testing
  • Kids learn practical skills
  • Self-sufficiency
  • Well-integrated curriculum that makes sense
  • Click here to view all the notes from the meeting 

 

Below are some of the visual slides presented at the meeting.  Please contact Scott Krieger, our Business Manager, or any members of the Financial Committee for further information about the finances at our school.

ANNUAL GIVING

Over Thanksgiving you all received an Annual Giving letter in the mail.  We invite you to please give any amount that your family can offer this year to help support our school's basic operating costs for our facilities, teachers and programs.  Your gift is vital to our success and fully tax deductible.   We will be following up with current community members after the holidays to reach 100% participation in the Annual Giving campaign, which is especially important to granting organizations.  

 

Donations can be mailed, turned into the School Office or made online at the following links:

 

Click here to donate via our webpage  

 

Via PayPal, click this link  undefined 

 

Thank you in advance for your support.   Contact Lynn Morgan, Director of Community Development, if you have any questions.

Share why you LOVE Cedar Springs Waldorf School!

 
Prospective Waldorf families want to hear from YOU, please take a moment to write a review about our wonderful school on the below school review sites (click on logo). Parents are doing their research before they contact a prospective school & your reviews will give them a peek into the wonder of CSWS!
 
CLICK ON LINK TO WRITE YOUR CSWS REVIEW
 
 

Winter Concert Recap 

 

The snow was falling and the enthusiasm palpable at the CSWS Winter Concert on December 6 at Faith Episcopal Church. Strings Instructor, Jeremiah Massey, and Recorder Instructor, Amanda Mutrux, led Fifth through Eighth Grades in a glorious performance to the CSWS parents and community.

 

Miss Jenkins' Fifth Grade strings students performed "Merrily We Ride Along," "Aunt Rhodie," "Jolly Old St. Nicholas," and a sing-along of "Jingle Bells." Mrs. Elder's Sixth Grade strings students performed "Scarborough Fair," "Jasmine Flower," "Carnival of Venice," and a compilation of holiday songs. A correction to the concert program: Julian Vasquez performed with his Sixth Grade strings class.

For the second half of the concert, Mrs. Thompson's Seventh Graders and Mr. Taylor's Eighth Graders played a recorder set: "The First Noel," "Autumn Leaves," and "Candlemas Eve," followed by a strings and recorder ensemble of "Break Forth." Grades Seven and Eight Strings Ensemble wrapped up the evening's performances with "Winter," "Holly Jolly Christmas," and "Carol of the Bells."

 

The mood was festive and the audience rewarded both performers and instructors with a much deserved standing ovation. Warm drinks and delicious treats were served by Seventh Grade parents to raise funds for their class fund. The impending snow storm heightened the holiday excitement for all!

Introducing VOLUNTEER of the Month!


Cedar Springs Waldorf School would not be what it is today if it weren't for our wonderful community. We are adding a new feature to our monthly newsletter: Volunteer of the Month. Each month we will feature a dedicated person/family/group who has made our school an even better place. We are continually grateful for all of our volunteers and truly couldn't do it without you! THANK YOU!
Jose, Luli & Maya Velasco
December Volunteer of the Month:

Luli & Jose Velasco, daughter Maya is in Miss Inge's Rose Kindergarten.

  

Although this is their first year at CSWS, the Velasco family have already jumped in to help in multiple areas beginning as early as last summer before school even began. The Velasco's heard about CSWS through their cousins, Kiko (Seventh Grade) and Gigi (First Grade) Velasco, James Marquez and the their Native Community in El Dorado County.

 

Luli and Jose organized a Kindergarten parent work party over multiple weekends to build the new fence in the Kindergarten play yard as well as organizing potlucks for the work parties. The Kindergarten teachers and staff were deeply appreciative of this organized, inclusive effort.  Luli also is helping care for the Kindergarten yard, serves on the Parent Guild, volunteers in the CSWS office, and painted the new fence by our new school sign.

 

When asked why CSWS is a special place for them, Luli said, "Now we have somewhere to send Maya that we love and she loves, with people who want the same things for their kids and more importantly with teachers who love to teach this way." Luli added, "I love putting so much time into the school. It grounds me, I feel the school is an extension of our home for her in so many ways: the friendships we are building and the examples we are ALL setting for the children."

 

Jose and friends helped tremendously with the greenhouse project this summer. CSWS Business Manager, Scott Krieger, said, "The school remains strong through the generosity of its community. Many hands make light work is the saying. There are some that go above and beyond, and take on the management and coordination of a project. Luli and Jose have stepped forward and done just that. They have done a fine job and we truly appreciate their effort and dedication to the school. Thank you!"  

Fundraising
 
Class of 2015 Art Show at Synapse Wines
  
Mrs. ThompSon's talented Class of 2015

Enhance your Placerville Main Street holiday shopping with a visit to Synapse Wines to view the Class of 2015's Art Show for the month of December. The students' free artistic expressions are currently displayed in the tasting room and will be available for purchase by way of silent auction.

 

Mrs. ThompSon's student artists will host a meet and greet at Synapse during Placerville's December 21st Art Walk from 5-9 pm. Synapse will reward all bids with a complimentary tasting for two.   Winning bids will be announced on December 23 just in time for the holiday. All proceeds will benefit the students in their Eighth Grade trip fundraising efforts.

 

Synapse is open Monday through Thursday from 1:00-7:00 pm, Friday and Saturday 1:00-9:00 pm, and Sunday 12:00-7:00 pm. Complimentary live music plays Friday and Saturday evenings (6:30 - 8:30 pm), featuring local musicians in a family friendly environment. Thank you to the Foster family for making this happen for the Seventh Graders! 

donations_box.jpg

Spring Rummage Sale Coming!

 

Please save your used items for our Seventh Grade rummage sale to be held Saturday, May 17.  If you have an item(s) that you'd like to donate but can't possibly store until then, please contact Edna Raridan at 530-558-5444 or e-mail her at [email protected].

 

Shopping online this holiday season? Earn money for Cedar Springs by going to www.escrip.com, click above image to access the online mall and shop away at your favorite retailers while raising funds for our school. Contact Sabina Keller at [email protected] to sign up if you haven't yet.

Help CSWS earn while you Shop and Dine!  

 

Here is a quick, friendly reminder from Cedar Springs that your online holiday shopping can contribute to our school in a big way this season.  If you are still looking to place that last minute order in to Amazon, REI, or any other of the 700 merchants partners, remember that they will donate to CSWS, but only if you tell them to. One click on the Escrip Online Mall 
button before you finish paying is all it takes! This isn't just for holiday shopping; you can do this if you choose to take advantage of the post-holiday sales, or even in the middle of June.  Even the smallest contribution helps our school! 


Another way to contribute to CSWS is through the eScrip Dining Program.  For more information about this, click here. You may even find a place to dine while you're on the road if you're traveling for the holidays.

 

http://escrip.rewardsnetwork.com 

 

And one last thing, if you have an old unused vehicle that you're not sure what to do with, you can turn it into a tax deduction with benefits to CSWS before the end of the year. You can start the process by clicking on this Donation Line Link.

Again, if you have any requests or questions regarding scrip, don't hesitate to contact me.

 

Sabina Keller

Scrip Coordinator

[email protected] 

PARENT EDUCATION

Storytime at the Rudolf Steiner College Bookstore

Saturday, December 21, 10:00am - 11:30 a.m.
Join Reg Down as he delights us with a warmhearted nativity tale of The Cricket and the Shepherd Boy. Showtimes: 10am and 11am. There will be a candle rolling craft project, which is free for each child after the performance. To RSVP, please call the Bookstore at 916-961-8729 or email shopkeeper@steinercollege.edu.

 

Read the latest AWSNA newsletter "Inform" for articles about Waldorf education.

 

Read current news and events from and about Waldorf Education at Why Waldorf Works.

 

Community Education Offerings at Rudolf Steiner College

http://www.steinercollege.edu/community-education 

  

Rudolf Steiner College is offering January enrollment for the residential Foundation Program. This unique opportunity will allow you to join the residential Waldorf Teacher Education program for Early Childhood or Elementary Grades in September 2014, leading to graduation in May 2015. Click here to read more
EVENTS

 

Dates at a Glance

 

 

DECEMBER, 2013

 

Now through December 20 (Mon-Fri) - Advent Singing Around the Campfire, 8:15-8:30 pm. Bundle up and please join us.

 

December 20 - 11:30 AM Assembly; 12:30 Early Dismissal
NO HOT LUNCH!  Extended Care as usual.

December 23 through January 3 - WINTER BREAK

 

JANUARY, 2014


January 6 - Classes resume

January 20 - NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day


Click here to view the full school calendar 

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

Are You Considering Adopting a Pet?
Help Animals Find Their Forever Homes This Holiday Season

I am doing my Eighth Grade project on animal rescue. Please spread the word to your family and friends about these awesome pets below. All pets have their vaccinations and are spayed/ neutered. Please let me know if you or anyone you know adopts a rescue animal, so I might include your story in my project.

 

Also see these adorable kittens pictured below and more at the El Dorado County Humane Society where I have been volunteering as part of my project. Many of the kittens/cats at this shelter are very healthy, loving, and ready for a home (777 Pleasant Valley Road, Diamond Springs, 530-642-2738 by appointment, www.eldoradohumanesociety.org).



 

Don't Miss These "Home for the Holidays" Specials at our Local Shelter

El Dorado County Animal Services

511 Placerville Drive 

(next to Flyers gas station/Placerville Natural Foods Co-op)

Prices are good through December 21, 2014.

 

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS SPECIAL:  The dog, cat, rabbit or horse that has been at the shelter the longest is only $12 to adopt!

WEDNESDAYS - Any cats or kittens wearing "Snow Shoes" only $12

THURSDAYS - Any cats or kittens the color of coal are only $12

FRIDAYS-All cats and kittens as colorful as holiday lights only $12

SATURDAYS-All cats and kittens that look like milk and cookies only $12

 

Thank you,

Kendall Curtis, Eighth Grade

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Miou Kids' Clothing

  

Miou Kids' Clothing Boutique offers European-inspired designer baby and kids' clothes for families who want their children to look and feel their best.  Their luxurious knitwear for kids is made with the softest baby alpaca wool so their clothes are as comfortable as they are stylish and durable.  Designed by Christine Dubin, Miou knitwear for kids is fair trade, environmentally friendly and handmade by artisans in rural Peru. 

 

Visit www.mioukids.com to view the collection.

 

 

Get a 10% discount on your order, plus 10% of the sale will be donated to CSWS.  Enter promotional code: cedarsprings2013.

 
PUBLICATION INFORMATION

Publication Information for The Update 

 

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Early December snowfall on campus
Cedar Springs Waldorf School | (530) 642-9903 | [email protected] | http://cedarspringsonline.com
6029 Gold Meadows Road
Placerville, CA 95667

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