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News from AWSNA             August 2015
The official e-news of the Association of independent Waldorf schools
Greetings!

For many of you, August is the month of back-to-school meetings and organizing your classrooms in readiness for the upcoming year. So we'd like to welcome you back to your respective communities and hope that your beginnings are enthusiastic and joyful.
 
In our monthly ENEWS, we love sharing your school news with our larger community which includes anyone interested in Waldorf Education. Please do remember to send us news items so we can post them on our website. 

One piece of news we were delightened to hear of recently is that Shining Mountain Waldorf School is the first area school to be awarded Green Star status by Eco-Cycle. Congratulations, Shining Mountain!
  
Also, please let us know your fall events so we can include them in our calendar of events
 
Beverly AmicoWarm regards,
Beverly Amico
for the AWSNA Executive Team 
Into the Sandbox 
 
An article in the New York Times describes how as American classrooms have focused on raising test scores in math and reading, an outgrowth of the federal No Child Left Behind law and interpretations of the new Common Core standards, even preschool students have been affected, with more formal lessons and less time in sandboxes. But these days, states from Vermont to Minnesota to Washington are again embracing play as a bedrock of kindergarten.

Read more on Why Waldorf Works. 

Changing Times, Changing Gardens

'Changing Times, Changing Gardens," the theme chosen by Tuolumne County Master Gardeners for their 20th annual Garden Tour, in May, reflects California's drought, warming temperatures, and difficulty in maintaining a traditional landscape with its over-dependence on water and non-native plants. This year's tour featured six sites, two of which allowed the public access to school gardens. In general, school gardens are used as hands-on learning "labs" where students can experience botany, biology, ecology, counting and math, literature and art. School gardens are for the use and education of students with a focus on skill building. In addition, gardens provide nutrition lessons with many students being willing to taste something that they've grown. School gardens also provide a direct link to the food we eat, allowing students to learn where and how our food is produced. One of the school gardens on the tour was located on the campus of Sierra Waldorf School. Started in 2009, the garden is used as an important teaching tool for all classes, starting in the second grade. Students learn many skills and concepts from observing in the garden and working with the produce. 

Photo: SWS

 
Award-Winning Sculpture Team
Preps for Sand in the City
 
Architect Tom Rieger has long represented Olympia Waldorf School at Sand in the the City's annual sand sculpting contest. His teams have won Gold and Silver Shovels for sculptures like a dragon and his fearless knight (Sir More) roasting marshmallows, a silhouette of a growing young man, stacking gnomes, and the four temperaments with an interactive picture frame. 

Read more on Why Waldorf Works.
Local Teenagers Bust Stereotypes

It's not every day that you see teenagers bouncing up and down with excitement as the next lesson at school is announced; who volunteer to babysit for free on a Friday night to help out another family; or happily invite much younger children to join in their outdoor games. And these same kids easily cast aside their video games and cellphones to have an open, present conversation with an adult. Read more The Conway Daily Sun May 22, 2015
  
Read more on Why Waldorf Works.  
 
Why We Need to Separate Kids from Tech -- Now
 
Sharael Kolberg, the former Silicon Valley web producer and author of "A Year Unplugged: A Family's Life Without Technology," recalls how she used to salivate over the latest laptops at the Apple store when she bought her young daughter an iMac. Several years after her family's tech-free experiment, Kolberg believes that technology isn't the problem. The problem comes when screen time is overused and displaces family, school, and other experiences that are "fundamental to a strong mind and a happy, successful life." 

We'd like to extend a special thank you to 
and
 for supporting AWSNA
as members of our Partners Circle. 
Their supporting funds help our Association
to drive strategic initiatives and services
to our member schools and institutes.
Thank you.


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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. 

Questions please contact Kirin at [email protected] or an AWSNA executive team member:  
Leader of Administration: Stephanie Rynas
[email protected]
515 Kimbark, Suite 103, Longmont, CO 80501
612-870-8310 x104    Fax 720-633-9543
    
Leader of Outreach and Development: Beverly Amico
515 Kimbark, Suite 103, Longmont, CO 80501
612-870-8310 x106    Fax 720-633-9543

Leader of Programs and Activities: Melanie Reiser
515 Kimbark, Suite 103, Longmont, CO 80501
612-870-8310 x105     Fax 720-633-9531