Our school year has begun, and once more the sounds of busy, happy children echo through the buildings. For many of us, the sadness we feel at the loss of Jayashree Kalmath-- our dear teacher, colleague, and friend--remains constant. We are anticipating meeting Jayashree's family from India soon, but they still are not sure of the exact date of their arrival. I will update the entire Ashwood, and greater Waldorf community once the family has determined plans for a service to honor Jayashree.

 

Cards, e-mails, and phone calls have been pouring in from people all over the country, expressing sympathy and offering help. Innumerable parents and other friends have given the faculty their support--volunteering in so many ways--as we cope with a reduced administrative and teaching staff. On behalf of the entire Faculty and Board I want thank everyone who has reached out and helped.

 

I have initiated a nationwide search for a teacher for the Sixth Grade. In the meantime, the class is fortunate to be under the excellent leadership of Laura Purdom, who also continues to fulfill her administrative duties on a minimal basis.

 

Thank you to everyone for your loving support, kind words, and greatly appreciated useful deeds.

 

Jody Spanglet, School Director

 

All Grade School children must be picked up at the Camden Hills State Park Headquarters off of Route 1 at 3:15 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27.

 

Gear for the Hike

For the Michaelmas hike on September 27, we encourage parents to send their children to school wearing sturdy footwear and, if possible, a backpack (versus a satchel or sack) containing clothing that would accommodate comfort in any weather. Layers, layers, layers! It is often windy and several degrees cooler at the summit. Also include a hearty snack and plenty of water.

 

Decorations Needed 

Help make our festival festive! We need corn stalks, hay bales, pumpkins and gourds for the Michaelmas Pageant. If you are able to donate any of these items please bring them to school by Thursday, Sept. 26. Donated items may be left by the news kiosk near the office. Thanks!

--The Celebrations Committee

Spend 10 beautiful mornings with your child in the company of a dynamic group of parents, led by our veteran early childhood educator Cherry Short-Lee.

 

Ashwood Waldorf School's Parent-Child classes are designed for children from 18 months to 36 months and a parent. Sessions begin September 19 and January 9. Discount applied when you sign up for both sessions in advance. Registration deadline for the first session is Friday, September 13. FMI: info@ashwoodwaldorf.org or 207-236-8021 or www.ashwoodwaldorf.org/parent-child

 

The deadline to register for fall Parent-Child Classes is Friday, September 13. 

The School Directory and Parent Handbook are on their way! Elizabeth Larrow, our wonderful administrative assistant, is busy making sure this year's directory is collated, corrected, and complete so you can have an accurate listing of "Who's Who" at Ashwood! Directories will be winging their way to you via student courier (i.e., sent home with your child) by Friday, September 20. Until then, do give a call to the office if you need contact information for someone in the school community. Meanwhile, the Faculty will be making minor revisions to the Parent Handbook as our new school year gets underway. New families will receive a copy of the Parent Handbook on September 20, while returning families may find an updated version of the handbook on our website. 

The 2013-14 school year has begun, and that means cooking up some ideas for healthy and yummy lunch and snack ideas. What do you put in your child's lunchbox? Have a favorite sandwich that is a hit every time? A quick trick for those busy mornings? Email The Lunchbox with your ideas! We will draw a winner at random from the entries. The winner will receive a copy of the 2002 Ashwood Cookbook: Food for Families & Friends, still full of fresh ideas and sweet illustrations. We'll publish our favorites in coming issues. 

In This Issue

This Friday, September 13, at 7:00 p.m. Douglas Gerwin, PhD, will offer a lecture on "Turning Education on Its Head: What modern brain research says about how children and young adults learn." Dr. Gerwin is the director of the Center for Anthroposophy in Wilton, New Hampshire and has taught history, literature, German, music and life science in college and at Waldorf high school levels for the past 35 years. The lecture takes place at Merriconeag Waldorf School in Freeport. More

Display or text ads appear here, in the right column of the Leaflet, and link to your website. The cost is $5/edition for a square ad (170 x 170 pixels) and $10/edition for a long ad (170 x 340 pixels). Discounts are available for long-term ads. The Leaflet appears every other week except in July. For more information, email Laura Purdom.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on "The Waldorf Way," looking at three key aspects Waldorf education with a cognitive neuroscientist.