Kathleen Young, master Waldorf teacher and administrator, spent last week in Ashwood's classrooms and in discussions with administrators, teachers, and parents. Kathleen has worked with Waldorf schools both nationally and overseas. This is her fourth visit to Ashwood, and she has developed a strong relationship with our faculty. 

  

Kathleen spent time in the first/second grade, the third/fourth grade, the sixth grade, and in handwork, French, and chorus classes. She also was able to catch two fabulous plays. She attended both the Thursday faculty meeting and the leadership council meeting, and led a parent meeting aimed at helping parents understand and learn simple ways to talk about Waldorf education.

   

Kathleen left us with many inspirations to work with. She is an astute and wise observer who has won the trust of our entire staff. This year Kathleen will spend 20 weeks visiting schools and evaluating and mentoring teachers. Even though her schedule is extremely busy, she loves to come to Ashwood. This time she even brought her husband, Tim, along, just because she is so fond of our school and wanted him to see it. Tim spent two days helping out in the kindergarten and worked with Mr. Clough in a movement class.

 

If you didn't get the opportunity to attend the parent meeting with Kathleen, you can read the notes from the meeting here. With any luck, Kathleen will return next year and you will be able to catch her then.

 

--Jody Spanglet

Earlier that day, the first and second graders and I placed lights along the path to illuminate our way. The children worked diligently to gather wood for the fire pit, piling twigs, branches, and logs into wheelbarrows and wagons, metal tubs and baskets. They showed great industry and willingness. Thank you, children, for your help!

Mr. Clough lit a bonfire as the moon rose in the mild November night sky. The grades children performed songs, depicting in lovely gestures the story of St. Martin. Mr. Clough captivated all with his telling of St. Martin stories. More.

Greetings from the Buildings & Grounds Committee! The committee continues to meet regularly and focus on its two directives: buildings (short- and long-term use and maintenance) and master planning (creating the long-term plan for the entire campus while considering current and near-term uses, desires, needs).

 

John Luft continues to fly solo on the buildings subcommittee and welcomes others to join him to help assess our buildings and optimize their use.

 

Chris Osgood and Jesse Labbe-Watson are a dynamic duo using their experience, knowledge, and passion to lead this visioning process. Ursula Leonore and Jacob Eichenlaub are other valuable players on this team.

 

At the heart of any master plan are driveways and parking areas: necessary, if not evils, at least burdens. All agree that our current configuration is far less than ideal and that a vision of this campus 20 years from now would not be so vehicle-centric. Therefore, although financial resources are unlikely to be available for years, it is still important to determine the best (from pedagogical, safety, aesthetic, and practical standpoints) traffic and parking option NOW so that any near-term projects take the future traffic/parking layout into consideration.

 

The master planning subcommittee has been focused on this and other (play, garden, sacred, etc.) elements for the past 16 months, as was outlined at Planapalooza II. On Thursday, January 16, 2014 from 6-8 p.m., the committee would like to invite all interested community members to come hear about some of the traffic/parking options and provide feedback. In the meantime, please contact me at betsyducktrap@gmail.com if you would like to provide input in advance, ask questions, and/or would like to join the committee. Our next B&G committee meeting is Thursday, November 21, 5-6:30 p.m.

 

To learn more about some of the folks on the committee, please see the bios on the right.

Additionally, Jesse Labbe-Watson, our very own permaculture expert, will help teach us all about permaculture in a series of Leaflet articles, starting today with "What Is Permaculture," and in Facebook posts.

 

-Betsy Morrell, B&G Committee Chair

The easiest way to frame permaculture is in terms of landscape design, planning, and management. I think of it as master planning using edible landscaping plants with the health and well being of the great-grandchildren in mind. At its core, permaculture is a system of ecological design for sustainable human habitats and perennial agricultural systems. If designed right, these systems produce more energy than they consume. We attempt to mimic relationships and patterns observed in nature. The word permaculture was originally a contraction of "permanent agriculture," but has broadened to the concept of "permanent culture" with its expanded insight into land stewardship, architecture, tools and technology, community structures, and economics. Permaculture is a way to recreate "Paradise Gardens" rich with abundance in and around our built spaces. I think of it as the conscious design of ecosystems - both ecological and economic ecosystems. 

Permaculture defines sustainability. In its most concrete sense permaculture is a movement of landscape design. In its most abstract and poetic sense it is a movement in the symphony of life to more elegantly integrate spirit and matter.

Working with the buildings & grounds committee, we are using permaculture design in the master planning process for the entire 32-acre Ashwood campus. We are encouraging holistic design and long-term thinking. We are considering future generations when we think of how the campus can be used and how that relates to Waldorf education and the long-term vitality of Ashwood in particular. Permaculture design provides an ethical and principled framework for considering complex interactions among elements and systems such as:

• school & community
• vehicles & children
• earth & water
• ecology & economy
• wildlife & vegetation
• people & fairy folk 

It can be complex (and fun!) work to envision all of this in the physical space of the campus and through time as these things evolve. We can always use more help, and we value your feedback and participation! Please join us and get involved in our upcoming participatory design sessions!

- Jesse Labbe-Watson. Permaculture Designer/Teacher and Parent Volunteer for Ashwood Buildings & Grounds Committee

75 families (faculty and parents): 

$260 x75=$19,500!!!

It's all about habit. Come into the office today to get your cards! Shop, eat, and save the world!

 

In This Issue

Friday, December 13

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 Judith Soleil.