New Grade 6-7 Teacher
It is with great pleasure that I am writing to let you know that we have hired Elizabeth Doshi as our grade 6-7 class teacher for next year. Elizabeth joins our faculty with experience teaching in Waldorf schools from New England to Singapore. After graduating from high school, Elizabeth spent a year and a half at Bard College studying theater and philosophy. She then moved to Chicago, where she spent ten years acting, playing music, and completing a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Elizabeth returned to New England where, in her own words, she "lived and breathed Waldorf education in the woods of Gilsum, New Hampshire." She earned a master's degree in Waldorf education at Antioch University.
Elizabeth says:
The story of my Waldorf teaching journey covers many states and continents! Each school bestowed upon me the many gifts that only loving parents, children, and colleagues can give. The community of a Waldorf school can be very supportive and protective, and it can also be a wonderful challenge. I have experienced these things and much more. Traveling around the states and living overseas has allowed me to experience an immense diversity of people and work environments. I am grateful for these opportunities and believe they have made me a richer person and teacher.
At the moment I live in Cincinnati and work at a language school. The community in the eco-village where my daughter and I reside is the current focus of my energy. I have volunteered for the last year on behalf of the eco-village to bring positive changes to our CSA and to create an urban homesteading store in my struggling Westside neighborhood.
Elizabeth's daughter, Senbate, will join Mr. Clough's class next year. They will arrive at Ashwood at the end of March for an extended visit.
I would also like to take this moment to acknowledge Ronald Staschak for his courage, commitment, and loving work with grade 5-6 this year. Ron stepped into the class without any former Waldorf training and strove diligently in his work at Ashwood, attending Waldorf conferences and undergoing intense mentorships. Ron has been a wonderful role model for these students and has enriched all of our lives during his time at Ashwood. Please join me in thanking Ron.
We are thrilled that Rob Kaczor, Jeremy Clough, Lesley Finlayson, Beth Lunt, Marianne Bockli, Jen Corning, Donna Wenckus, Sarah Trapani, Forester Valle, Hannah Miller, Rose Swan, Judith Soleil, Tamara Cody, Sarah Ewing, and Jody Spanglet all intend to return to Ashwood next year. Laura Purdom is planning to take a year off from teaching, and we are hopeful she will return to Ashwood in the coming years.
You may have seen and will continue to see additional teacher candidates for next year's first grade on campus. I will let you know when we have hired a teacher for that class.
-Jody Spanglet
School Director
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Wednesday, March 16
 Register now for our school tour on Wednesday, March 16. You may visit the main lesson in grades 1-2, 5-6, and 8. The tour will begin at 8:20 a.m. at the main office. If you'd like to visit the early-childhood classroom (a separate tour), please let us know when you register. That tour begins at 9:00 a.m. These tours are a great way to introduce Ashwood to your friends and family! We look forward to seeing you! - Judith Soleil
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Ashwood Waldorf School Open HouseSave the Date!
Saturday, April 2, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Enjoy fresh pancakes with maple syrup; learn a French song; see a puppet show; test your skills on an obstacle course; learn about the shocking properties of electricity; and create a colorful geometric drawing. Ashwood's teachers will lead these activities, and will be on hand to answer questions about the school. Students' work will be on display.
Everyone is welcome; please come, and bring your friends! This is a great opportunity to socialize, to experience highlights of the Waldorf curriculum, and to introduce our school and all its wonderful resources.
Schedule
10:00-10:30 Obstacle Course
10:30-11:00 Geometric Drawing. Puppet Show.
11:00-11:30 Physics: Electricity: It's Shocking!
11:30-12:00 To Be Announced
12:00-12:30 Learn a French Song
12:30-1:00 Puppet Show
207.236.8021
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Tira Lira Lira in the Spring, Orioles and Robins Sweetly Sing....We are not quite there yet, but there are more and more signs that spring is in the air. On our walks, children jump on the thin ice covering the puddles and shout with joy at the cracking noise and splashing mud! Birds are singing more loudly and audibly; woodpeckers are fiercely tapping holes in the old trees and, when we put our ears on Grand- father Maple's rough bark, some children could hear the sap running! We are enjoying the seasons, no matter what they offer. As soon as snow covered the fields, we went sledding. When there is thick ice on the puddles we skate, when there's no ice, we wade.....Always, we explore and marvel at what nature offers! In late February, I went to a workshop in Belfast: "When Nature Meets Nurture: Fostering Reading Readiness through Place-Based Nature Education." Many early-childhood teachers from the region's schools were present. All try to incorporate into their programs more of what we have been doing for years at Ashwood. It was inspiring to hear the latest studies revealing that children's time spent in nature fosters academic learning and mental health!  This past week, we found many old trees that needed to be felled. It took the strength of every child and adult to push some of them over, working collaboratively. What pleasure to see the rotten tree crash as we safely stand on the side and shout: "TIMBER!" Once the tree is stabilized, some of the children test its strength, then climb and jump from it, delighting in their agility and bravery. Others go play at the stream, floating leaf or bark boats, throwing rocks in the pools, or looking for creatures (there are still frogs about!). As the morning winds down, we gather for a story, then collect our things and walk back to school, singing the lantern songs. -Marianne Böckli
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Poetry in Grade 5-6
Mother Nature is still sleeping soundly under her frozen mantle. Is it possible that soon we will hear the sounds of buzzing bees looking for nectar in flowering bushes, watch delicate butterflies visit their host plants, and see busy ants looking for building material for their nests? Although not much is visibly alive outside yet, the more it is in the 5-6 classroom. The students have been very engaged in artistic work and writing poetry about insects. Their poems are brimming with life and colorful images of these smallest members of the animal kingdom. It has been a true joy to teach entomology to such interested, talented, and fully engaged students.
- Ursula LeonoreBlock teacher for grade 5-6 When a honeybee stung me I began to cry. Not because it hurt, But because the bee would die. -Jacob LaviButterflies flutter, butterflies die, I wonder what will happen when I will start to fly? -Alisa O'BrienYou can read all the poems here.
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Annual Appeal Update
Ashwood, we are rocking it! Over the past week, nine families have stepped up and given to the annual appeal. Also, two board members have come forward with a $2,000 match: BUT only once we reach 100% within our parent body. This means that any gift of any size will be worth double, but only when we've reached 100%. The board is at 100%. The faculty is at 100%. Here are the numbers by class. Keep up the good work! Right now it looks like Grade 5-6 is the frontrunner for a yummy cake. E. C. - 47% (up from 16%) Grade 1/2 - 61% (up from 43%) Grade 3/4 - 57% (up from 33%) Grade 5/6 - 67% (up from 42%) Grade 7 - 50% (up from 42%) Grade 8 - 56% (up from 22%) Thank you so much to everyone who has given to this very needed effort. - Annie MahleDevelopment Director 
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The Skinny on the Serve-A-Thon!
By now you've probably been hearing about the Serve-A-thon weekend coming up April 29 and 30. Well, here, in one place, is everything you ever wanted to know about the great Ashwood Serve-A-Thon (and the fabulous party to follow)!
Between March 15 and the end of April, we are asking families to collect sponsorships for their participation in the Serve-A-Thon. Our goal is to raise $25,000. This money goes toward the 2015-16 budget and is already accounted for in the form of salaries for our wonderful teachers, tuition assistance, grounds maintenance, and more. You will be able to collect donations directly from sponsors or direct them to your individual Serve-A-Thon website page where they can donate online. There will be fabulous prizes throughout so get started right away!
On Friday, April 29, students will be volunteering with their classmates, teachers, administrators, and parent volunteers at a number of area nonprofits. Some of these include Youthlinks, Pope Memorial Humane Society, P.A.W.S., Tanglewood, and Loaves and Fishes lunch program. Saturday, April 30 will be a day of service from 10-2, serving many of the same nonprofits as well as Hospitality House, and a music program at Quarry Hill. We hope all Ashwood families will participate. This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the larger Midcoast community.
Worked up an appetite doing service work? We'll be raffling off $500 in gift certificates to fabulous local restaurants. Each family will receive tickets to sell, to help bring us to our $25,000 goal.
 Saturday evening we will have a chance to kick back and relax after a job well done. Come dance the night away to the salsa rhythms of Primo Cubano. A little rusty on your salsa moves? Not to worry, there will be half an hour of instruction before the dance, not to mention a cash bar. Bring your friends and neighbors; come early (you don't want to miss the door prizes!) and stay late! This is sure to be an event to remember!
Still have questions? Talk to any of your friendly Serve-A-Thon committee members:
Dana Anderson, Ronni Blaisdell, Erin Brainerd,
Kate Chandler, Julia Dodge, Sarah Ewing
Lisa Newcomb, Amy Thompson.
-Amy Thompson
EC and Grade 2 Parent
Thank you to our business sponsors:
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Parent Education Opportunity
The Association of Waldorf Schools in North America (AWSNA) invites parents to join a webinar co-hosted with the Anthroposophical Society on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, at 8:00 p.m. EST. "Soul Journey: Awakening the 'I.' How the Waldorf Curriculum Unfolds Healthy Child Development in the High School Years." Register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Sincerely, - Beverly AmicoExecutive Director, Advancement Association of Waldorf Schools of North America
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Click the icon above to read the March issue of INFORM.
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Thursday, March 10
Let's Play! "Mashenka and the Bear"
Farnsworth Art Museum
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Friday, March 11
All-School Assembly
Shared Open House in Grades 7 and 8
8:40-9:15 a.m.
Let's Play! "Mashenka and the Bear" Belfast Public Library 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, March 15
Parent-Child Class
Rosewood Early-Childhood Center
9:00-11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, March 16School Tour. Register in advance, please. 8:15-10:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 17
Let's Play! "Old Gnome in the Winter"
Toy Library, Rockland, 11 White St.
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Friday, March 18
NO SCHOOL. Teacher Work Day.
Monday, March 21Grade 8 Physics Presentations 5:00 p.m .
Tuesday, March 22
Rosewood Early-Childhood Center
SAVE THE DATE!
Open House Saturday, April 2 10:00 am.-1:00 p.m.
Fun for all!
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New Teacher Seeks Housing
New teacher and family in the community seeks 3-4 bedroom farmhouse (1500-2000 sq. ft.) with acreage (3+) and outbuilding(s) for homesteading lifestyle. Location should be roughly 20-30 minutes from school (between school and downtown Damariscotta). Elizabeth Doshi ph. 513-516-1472
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Enroll Now for the Christian Community Camp This Summer
The Christian Community Camp has moved to Maine! The Christian Community, a Rudolf Steiner initiative, has operated its camp for over 40 years on the East Coast, offering a nature-loving, child- and community- centered overnight camp experience for 100 campers ranging in age from 8 to 13. The camp will be in session from August 4 - 20. Click here for details. Local contact person is Richard Ailes: 207-236-0505.
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Farm Hands at Aldermere
Starting April 4, Maine Coast Heritage Trust's Aldermere Farm in Rockport will host Farm Hands, a free, experiential program for youth ages 10 to 18 to practice haltering, grooming, and leading young calves. Program runs from 3:30-5:00 p.m. every Monday, April 4 to May 16. Space is limited. Registration is recommended by Friday, March 25. FMI, call 236-2739 or email.
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We publish community-service announcements from and for Ashwood community members at no charge (50-words max.). Send to: Judith Soleil.
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Be a Sponsor
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.
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| | Excellence in Reading in Waldorf Education |
The parent of a Waldorf student in grade 5 describes her child's experience learning to read.
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Do you have a story to tell about Ashwood? A review of a book or an event? A reflection on Waldorf education? Photos you've taken?
A question about the Leaflet?
Send us an email! We would love to hear from you. The next Leaflet will be published on Wednesday, March 23. Deadline for submissions is MONDAY, March 21 at 9:00 a.m.
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Thank you!
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