Newsletter for our families and friends
October 1, 2015

INTERNATIONAL FORUM



HELP FROM OUR COMMUNITY NEEDED!
 
From November 18 -22 , WSOC will be the host school for the members of the International Forum for Steiner / Waldorf  Education.

The 'Hague Circle' is the international conference of the Waldorf education movement. Twice a year, active Waldorf teachers from all over the world meet for a multi-day conference in one of the participating countries or at the Goetheanum in Dornach. 
The conferences serve the mutual understanding and exchange on key educational issues that have national or global significance. The members of the International Forum - 'Hague Circle' - bring their experiences to the meetings, and discuss - on the basis of differentiated perceptions - the key criteria of Waldorf education and their application in different geographic, cultural, economic and political regions of the world.
 
We are seeking housing for these 35 foreign visitors; an important aspect of their visit is to experience the local Waldorf community. If you would be able to welcome a visitor or perhaps two, please sign up by clicking here.  

PICTURE DAY - OCT 5 & 6

Monday, October 5 - Grades 1, 3, 4, 7, and 8 also Barbara and Catherine's Pre-K

Tuesday, October 6 - Grades 2, 5, 6, and 9-12 also Holly and Terri's kindergarten 


Make-up Picture Day will be October 19.  No forms are needed!  you will be given a link to view your photos and ordering information after Picture Day.
PARENT EDUCATION

A 3-Part Series for Journey School and WSOC Parents:

Supporting Our Children Through Puberty with Patti Connelly
Wednesdays, October 7, 14 and 28
Meadows Hall

Suggested donation $10 per session

Please click here for more information.



Join WSOC Pre-K teacher Miss Barbara for this     six-part series, exploring how to provide a         nurturing, rhythmic home life.

Support for the Parenting Journey
Wednesdays, October 7 - November 11
9:45 - 10:30 am

Please click here for more information.


How to Recognize if Your Child has a Learning Difference 
with Susan Johnson, MD, FAAP
Lecture - Friday, October 16, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Workshop - Saturday, October 17, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Meadows Hall

How do we determine when a child needs extra academic help? How is this provided in a Waldorf setting?

Please click here for more information.


HIGH SCHOOL

High School Flag Football 

The high school boy's flag football team 
played a few pre-season scrimmages last week.  

Their first game of the season is today at 3:00 pm, versus Gateway. The game will be played at Eldorado Emerson High School in Orange, CA. 

For a schedule of upcoming games, please see below.



HS Boy's Flag Football Schedule

Oct. 1 - 3:00 pm vs. Gateway
Oct. 8 - 3:00 pm vs. Family Life
Oct. 15 - 4:00 pm vs. Emerson
Oct. 22 - 4:00 pm vs. Carson
Nov. 5 - 3:00 pm vs. Gateway
Nov. 12 - Playoffs

COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS

Our 2015 Community Survey results are in and once again, they are very positive. Thank you all for taking the time to respond and express your opinions! We can only grow as a school and a community when we understand what is and is not working. You can view the survey results here, and see an overview of significant results and comparisons to last year's results here.

Of special note, responding families continue to show a strong commitment to Waldorf education and note the importance of its philosophy as a contributing factor in their enrollment at WSOC. Respondents noticed and appreciated the additional communication regarding budget and finances last year, and the Board will continue to offer the budget preview meeting as it did last year. This year's survey uncovered a new concern regarding the school's media policy for children. As a result, the College will be revisiting the policy and determining whether changes need to be made in the wording and/or implementation of the policy.

SUMMER IMPROVEMENTS
 
Music  Instrument Storage

A long time dream of class teachers and Ms. Wondercheck has been to provide a space for students to keep their instruments on orchestra days.  Storing the many instruments in the classroom (particularly with the growing interest in cellos!) was always challenging and also brought with it the possibility of tripping over and also falling on and damaging them.

Thanks to the very generous donation of some anonymous donors we were able to solve the problem!  Over the summer we brought in a shipping container and placed it up against the 7th grade classroom. It has three levels of shelves on one side for the violins and violas and the whole length of the other side reserved for cellos. We now can keep the 97 instruments from grades 4 - 6 in a safe and secure place.

We also built a storage space to the left of the main Eurythmy Hall (right next to Joy's art room).  This space has the necessary shelving required to hold the 50 instruments in the 7/8 grade orchestra.  Since they rehearse in the main hall this allows them to have their instruments close at hand.

We are eternally grateful for this gift that helps us meet this need.  Our music program is a strong and wonderful part of our curriculum and now we are able to protect the almost 150 instruments that are necessary to make such beautiful music!

FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN
 
Thank you Festival of Children Volunteers

A special thank you to the families who volunteered this past month in our WSOC booth at the Festival of Children in South Coast Plaza.  The Festival of Children Foundation provides non-profit organizations the opportunity to increase public awareness about their mission and their services for children.

This annual event is a wonderful opportunity for WSOC to spread the word about our school in our community. We introduced many children to the joys of beeswax and handed out hundreds of brochures on our school.

Thank you to the following families for volunteering to be external spokespersons for WSOC: 

Lynette Anderson 
Justine Arian
Cat Bogda 
Kathy Christian
Laura Fortino-Zeni
John Kurth
Isabel Meyer
Leslie Morrison
Cherie Rolapp
Pia Rotman
Laura Roth
Cheryl Sigler
Heather Steiner
Abril Turner
Susan Watkins
Lillian Zien   

BEGINNING OF THE YEAR REMINDERS
  • Our campus is cell phone/electronic device free - this means parents, faculty and students alike are not to use devices while on campus.
  • Our campus is a closed campus for security reasons.   Please only come on campus when it is time to pick up your child. Do not wait on campus during recess or after drop off.
  • Lower grades campus does not open until 8am and yard supervision is provided at that time.
Upcoming Events and
Class Parent Meetings
HS Japanese Club
Wednesdays
3:10 - 4:30 pm
Grade 6 Classroom

HS Flag Football Practice
Grades 9-12
Mondays 3:00 - 5:00
Fridays 1:15-3:15
_____________________

Thursday, October 1
Grade 6 Field Trip
Oceanview Mine, Pala, CA
8:45 am - 2:50 pm

Monday, October 5
Picture Day
Grades Pre-K, 1, 3, 4, 7, 8

Tuesday, October 6
Picture Day
Grades Kindy, 2, 5, 6, 9-12

Wednesday, October 7
Parent Education with Miss Barbara
Session 1 of 6
9:45 - 10:30 am
 
Wednesday, October 7 
Grade 2 Parent Evening
6:30 pm

Wednesday, October 7
3-Part Parent Lecture
Meadows Hall
Cost is $10 per session
7:00 pm

Friday, October 9
Miss Barbara's Parent Evening
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Monday, October 12
No School: In-Service Day
College of Teachers
Catherine Averett
Christiane Bohr
Eden Boric
Jenell Carlson
Brad Holm
Andrea Hubert 
Masami Inoue
Lisa Masterson
Angie Meier
Robin Thiess
Brooke Trudeau
Deb Waring (Chair)
Board of Trustees
Russ Bermejo
David Burnett (Chair)
Chris DeRosa
Joe DeMichele
Brad Holm (College Rep)
Angie Meier
Leslie Morrison
Colin Severn
Olivia Slutzky
David Tabone
Abril Turner
Deb Waring (College Rep)
Wende Zomnir

Administrative Rotation:
Carolyn Gregg 
Gina Illes
Kim Sava
Linda Timmons
Parent Association Leadership Chairs
Rachel Hulan
Jamie Stahl
Lorri Whitney
AFTERCARE

Looking for Used Books!!

Aftercare is asking for gently used books to fill our bookshelf. Chapter books, book series, picture books, and children's stories would be appreciated. There will be a container on the ramp for book deposits, October 5 - November 16. 

COMPANY OF ANGELS
Fall is upon us with a bang...the heat continues to be on...full throttle.  Pam Lusk is in the store selling Scrip and also the store treasures - what a delight this has been.  It has been a pleasure to meet and welcome so many new families to our school - I also have missed many of our not so new families - please come in and check out a few new changes in the store.  Please permit me to go over store guidelines as well as pertinent information for new and returning families:
 
STORE HOURS: 
Monday - Friday 8:00-3:30
 
Please observe the following store GUIDELINES:
1)  All young children must be accompanied and supervised at all times while in the store.
2)  No food is permitted at any time in the store...one word...ANTS!
3)  Carefully observe that small children do not place the many small objects for sale in their mouth.
4)  Please be conscious that any items played with that become soiled/tired/dirty and are not sale-able may be billed to your school account.
 
BIRTHDAY GIFTS & MORE:
Our "Wish List Registry" is ready to be filled in with your wishes and delights.  The registry is a helpful tool for friends and family to purchase just the right gift for your child on any occasion.  Adults can also write their wishes!  Along with the registry you may have observed "Gift Baskets" also filled with wishes and delights for an upcoming Birthday...either way...we have you covered.
 
SLICE OF HEAVEN, our little cafe, is available with tasty treats and snacks at a nominal charge.  These snacks are available for one and all AND for our school-age children after the end of the school day.
 
TWICE UPON A TIME:
This is our gently used clothing store located at the end of our ramp to the store.  This easy fundraiser collects from the community GENTLY USED clothing only.  Sara Rodelo and Claudia Boden will be donating their time with the upkeep and tremendous amount of time it takes to go through these donations so
PLEASE HELP US WITH THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES:
 
1)  ONLY gently used clothing - infant, children and adult.  Please wash prior to donating.
2)  No clothes with stains or tears.  No underwear, socks, dirty shoes, dishes, toys, furniture..take these to Goodwill Please.
3)  Donations are accepted during store hours.
 
Thank you so very much for the support.  From last November until the end of the school year 2014/2015 - the community generated $5,000 from donated clothing...THANK YOU!  
 
FILLING THE SHELVES....
Knitting Forks, Pins created by our own High School Freshman - Lulu Forsum, Rainbow Taper Candles as well as Rainbow Cheerlites - perfect for your Birthday Cake, Fall Books to be read to little ones, Ostheimer Wooden Figures to grace you seasonal table....I could go on and on BUT do come in and see for yourself.
 
WITH LOVE, 
THE ANGELS

Waldorf School of Orange County
http://www.waldorfschool.com
2350 Canyon Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92627

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