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News from AWSNA          March 2014
The official e-news of the Association of independent Waldorf schools
Greetings!


Happy spring! After a long, cold winter for much of the USA and Canada, we're finally seeing some signs of warmth. 

 

We want to remind you that we are active on Facebook, and that is a good place to find news and articles about Waldorf Education and our school communities. If you haven't already done so, please "like" and follow us there. 

 

Employment listings continue to flourish on the jobs page on Why Waldorf Works. Check out the opportunities!

 

Keep in mind: from May 5 - 11, children around the world will celebrate Screen-Free Week (formerly TV-Turnoff) by turning off entertainment screen media (TVs, computers, video games) and turning on the world around them. AWSNA is a proud endorser of Screen-Free Week.

Beverly Damico
 
Warm regards,
Beverly Amico
for the AWSNA Executive Team 
 
Ten Reasons Why Handheld Devices Should Be Banned 

for Children Under the Age of 12

 

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Society of Pediatrics has stated infants aged 0-2 years should not have ANY exposure to technology, children ages 3-5 years be restricted to one hour per day, and older children (6-18 years old) be restricted to 2 hours per day. On average, children and teenagers use 4-5 times the recommended amount of technology, with serious consequences.

 

Read more on Why Waldorf Works. 


 
The Disturbing Transformation
of Kindergarten
  

An article by educator and researcher Wendy Lecker discusses a distressing characteristic of many education reformers: they are hyper-focused on how students perform, but they ignore how students learn. 

 

She writes: "Nowhere is this misplaced emphasis more apparent, and more damaging, than in kindergarten. A new University of Virginia study found that kindergarten changed in disturbing ways from 1999-2006. There was a marked decline in exposure to social studies, science, music, art, and physical education and an increased emphasis on reading instruction. Teachers reported spending as much time on reading as all other subjects combined."

 

Read more on Why Waldorf Works. 


After several months of paperwork, visits from King County Green School representatives, adding lots of new signs about recycling and composting to classrooms and faculty areas, and placing bright yellow buckets in classrooms and faculty areas for increasing compost,Three Cedars Waldorf School has achieved Level One Green School recognition! The green schools program consists of three levels, and the first level focuses on waste reduction and recycling practices.

 

 The Future Conference: An exploratory conference for Waldorf juniors and seniors

 
The Future Conference, an event for Waldorf high school juniors and seniors, is organized by a team of Waldorf high school faculty, North American Youth Section members, and participant's from last year's conference. Over the course of three days, students, teachers, contributors, and organizers will embark on a journey together to better understand themes around money, power, and authority. 
This conference is an opportunity for students to learn, question, and grow outside of the classroom setting, as well as a chance to meet students from other Waldorf schools. Some aims of The Future Conference are to build up the students' abilities to connect their interests and skills to the wider needs of the world; inspire the students' thinking and enthusiastic exploration of substantial themes; create a healthy balance of concentrated work and social time; provide opportunities for student initiative and leadership in the conference; and much more. After such a successful inaugural year of The Future Conference in 2013, this promises to be an exciting the 2nd annual event!

You can find out more about this event on their Facebook page.

 

WALDORF EDUCATION EVENTS

 

Event details, including contact information, can be found on the Events page of the Why Waldorf Works website. Please send us your events so we can include them in our calendar. 

 

March 21-23, 2014: Freeport, ME

Northeast / Québec Regional Conference.

Imagination, Courage and Responsibility: Finding the Strength to Teach.

Keynote Speaker: Florian Osswald, Co-leader of the Pedagogical Section at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland.

Hosted by Merriconeag Waldorf School. 

 

April 25- 27, 2014: Chestnut Ridge, NY

Handwork Research Conference 2014: The Art of Clothing - Creative Gestures to Serve the Human Being, the Earth, and the Divine. 

Lectures by Dr. Gerda Kramer and presentations by Renate Hiller and Mikae Toma.

 

April 26, 2014: Hudson, NY

Freedom, Funding & Accountability in Education.

Navigating Independent Waldorf Education Through the Turbulent Currents of Financial Uncertainty and Government Regulations

A Workshop led by Patrice Maynard and Gary Lamb, including presentations with small group and plenum conversations.
Hosted by Solaris Center for the Social Arts.

 

June 6 -7, 2014: Chestnut Ridge, NY

Issues and Trends That Will Shape Waldorf Education in the Next Decade.

Themes include:  Fiscal Sustainability - Crisis Management - Recruitment and Training of faculty and administrative staff - Campus Security

Hosted by the Green Meadow Waldorf School Board of Trustees.

 

June 23-26, 2014: Hadley, MA

The AWSNA Summer Conference will be held June 23-June 26, 2014 at Hartsbrook School. The theme for this year is "Cultivating Humanness within a Technological World," featuring keynote speaker, Craig Holdrege, Ph.D., Director and Senior Researcher, Nature Institute.

  

June 23-July 18, 2014: San Rafael, CA

One-week Summer Intensives include:

  • A Breath of Fresh Air; Study and Art for Re-Creation
  • Shaping Transformation; a Weekend of Sculpture
  • Teaching Grades 3, 4 and 5 with Change in Mind; Anticipating Puberty
  • Puppet Play with Children
  • Sing with Your Young Child
  • Who Is Here? Educational Support for Adolescents

Presented by Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training at Marin Waldorf School.

 

Please inform your communities and mark your calendars!

 

You are welcome to send Waldorf-related events for posting on our web site.

 
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AWSNA provides leadership to schools by facilitating resources, networks and research as they strive towards excellence and build healthy school communities. The Association performs functions that its member schools and institutes could not do alone, including:
·    Outreach and advocacy
·    Accreditation and school support services
·    Professional development activities
·    Research and publications
Please contact us if you have any questions about AWSNA or this or any other newsletter. 

PLEASE "like" us on Facebook too!

 

Questions please contact Kirin at webeditor@awsna.org or an AWSNA executive team member:  

Leader of Administration: David Owen-Cruise

dowencruise@awsna.org
2142A Washtenaw Avenue, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Office 612-870-8310 x104   Fax 877-835-0299

    

Leader of Outreach and Development: Beverly Amico

bamico@awsna.org    

515 Kimbark, Suite 103, Longmont, CO 80501

612-870-8310 x106    Fax 720-633-9543

 

Leader of Programs and Activities: Melanie Reiser

mreiser@awsna.org    

515 Kimbark, Suite 103, Longmont, CO 80501

612-870-8310 x105     Fax 720-633-9531