September 2015
Cedar Springs Waldorf School
Back to School
Letter from Board President Nancy Loudon-Weiner
Greetings Fine Families of Cedar Springs Waldorf School!
 
Welcome to a brand new year.  I love that first day: shiny faces, new shoes with nary a scuff, little lunches packed in baskets with checkered cloth covers...yes, those teachers look so cute.  You would never guess they've been up until midnight the sixteen previous nights getting ready to fill our children's little heads with fascinating facts!
 
I want to take this opportunity give to you parents some words of encouragement.  First, you can do this.  You CAN put a foot, and then a leg, and eventually your entire body out of the bed each morning.  I am a success story, and here is my secret:  each evening, set the automatic coffee maker to fire up at 5:45 AM, hook it to an IV catheter, and then set up the catheter so that caffeine feeds directly into your veins.  Voila.  Secondly, know that this too, shall pass.  My children, who graduated from Cedar Springs, are now in their twenties.  I do not pack lunches, leave work early to pick up my barfing child from the office, chaperone other people's children on field trips, or leave my car outside of the garage for the entire month of September because there is no room for it around the paper mache and chicken wire that will soon become a Michaelmas dragon.  There is much for you to look forward to.
 
Speaking of dragons, your Board certainly isn't draggin' its wagon.  We've already had a Board meeting in August (unless there are emergencies, the Board of Trustees meets at least once a month), and I'd like to take this opportunity to give you the Trustees' names to memorize for the test at the end of this story:    We have the esteemed Tracy Work, the superior Janette Robinson-Dodge, the mathematical Christine Land, the strong Grayson Williams, the ubiquitous Amy Elder, and the facilitating and properly consenting Matt Taylor.  In ex-officio positions (that means we make them talk a lot at the meetings, but we don't let them vote - hmmm, seems unfair) we have the Queen of Everything Jennifer Bumgarner, the King of all things Financial and Facility Scott Krieger, and the powerfully pedagogical Paula ThompSon.
 
Maybe you're curious about the workings of the Board?  Of course you are welcome to attend the Board meetings!  Just let me know at least a few days in advance so that we can get your background history, finger prints, and credit score checked out.  If you'd prefer not to leave the house on a dark and stormy Thursday night to learn about the Board workings, even though you can be fairly confident that you'll be back home and in bed by 9:32 (we try to end the meetings around 9:15 because the Board President loves to sleep now that she doesn't have children at home - see paragraph two above), let me give you a short synopsis:  we are in charge of the legal realm of our lovely school.  The End.
 
P.S.  And we hear about the financial status of our school, enrollment numbers, marketing work, faculty updates, human resource changes, development items, school events, Livery purchase progress, as well as fitting in a book study, facilitation/consensus training, and two or three joint Board/Faculty meetings each year, etc.  Trust me, it is good work!
 
So, here we go!  If you're new to the school, welcome, and if you're returning, welcome back.  Have your people call my people so we can meet.  THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE!!!
 
Love and hugs,
 
Nancy Weiner
CSWS Board President
530-906-7724 anytime before 9:32 pm

Waldorf Education, "Freedom to teach, freedom to learn".
Video courtesy of AWSNA Why Waldorf Works

CSWS Parent Child Classes Begin this Week 
Our Parent & Child Program is a wonderful way to introduce your child to a classroom experience, and for parents to learn more about the rich, developmental approach of Waldorf Education. 

Parent Child 2 The program offers interactive play, singing and finger games, story time, snack and craft activities for parents and young children. Resource sharing, child development, parenting education and networking with other parents are additional offerings of the program.

This program is for parents or caregivers and their children ages birth to 3 years. Classes are held on Fridays, in 5 or 6-week sessions from September through May.

Click the links below to learn more and to get the enrollment form.  Sign-up early to reserve your space. 

Please read the letter to parents below to learn about new immunization requirements for this program.


Back to School Transition Tips 
Courtesy of The Waldorf School of Philadelphia Loving Learning Blog
Summer is a time for relaxing together as a family, playing outdoors, going to bed late and eating popsicles on the porch. The transition from August to September can be difficult for families. Even kids who love school will experience the stress of change in schedules and expectations.

Positive Planning
Back to school time is arguably as difficult for parents as it is for children.  As much as comic media may portray parents as celebrating in peace and quiet as the bus pulls away, the reality looks a lot more like the return of hectic mornings, exhausted teary little ones and rushed meals.
As parents, if we minimize our own stress, we can mitigate the stress in our children. A key to minimizing stress is taking the guesswork and uncertainty out of the new routines. Click here to read full article
REAL FOOD TIPS: 10 Recipes to freeze for school lunches (which makes packing a breeze!) Courtesy of 100 Days of Real Food
Courtesy of 100 Days of Real Food Blog
If you want to send your child off to school with wholesome, "real food" lunches this year, planning ahead is key! I know it's tempting to just grab and go with those little prepackaged bags of cheese crackers and tubes of flavored yogurt, but giving your child nutritious foods throughout the school day can help them stay alert and do their best.

Now if I had to wake up each morning and make homemade "real food" school lunch recipes from scratch, well...that would just never happen! So instead I make lunch items when it is convenient for me and freeze them. I think it's safe to say freezing foods in advance is my number one school lunch "trick" that makes the lunches I pack even possible. And my number two school lunch trick is to always pack - or at least start packing lunch - the night before! Click here to read full article
NEW Alumni Facebook Page
Spread the word to your Alumni friends and family, we have a new group on Facebook for Cedar Springs Alumni and former community members. 

Come join our page and stay connected to Cedar Springs and fellow graduates, teachers, and families.

This is a closed & private page that will focus on keeping Alumni and former community members informed without all the day to day school information!
Upcoming Important Dates
September 9  - First Day of Grades, Opening Assembly 8:30 AM
September 10 - First Day of Lily & Rose Kindergarten
September 10 - Board of Trustees Meeting, 6:30 PM
September 11 - Parent Child Classes Session 1 Begins
September 14 - First Day of Morning Glory Kindergarten

October 2 - Michaelmas Celebration
October 3 - Eighth Grade Rummage Sale 
October 31 - Pumpkin Path

Thank you to our Sponsors
Placerville Natural Food Co-op