Friday Bulletin, 12/16/16
Winter Break begins Thurs. Dec. 22
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Winter Break
December 22 - January 3
*** NO SCHOOL ***
School Resumes
Wednesday, Jan. 4th
Discussion with the Dean
Friday, Jan. 6th
9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Winter Conference Day
Friday, Jan. 13th
*** NO SCHOOL ***
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Monday, Jan. 16th
*** NO SCHOOL ***
Annual Town Hall Meeting
Tuesday, Jan. 17th
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Walk Through the Classes
Tuesday, Jan. 24th
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Experience the Grades
Tuesday, Feb. 7th
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
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Dear Maple Village Community,
What a busy December it has been with Explore Waldorf Education Night, Parent Village Meeting, Parent Education Class, Winter Spiral, Walk Through the Classes, Potlucks, Holiday Bazaar, Crafting, Violin and Choral Concerts. Thank you for attending, supporting and participating!
Once a year, we hold Explore Waldorf Education for not only prospective parents, but also for our current families in order for them to see what lies ahead for their children. We had an expert panel of MVWS parents who are also educators, Waldorf early childhood, grades and high school teachers, and four Waldorf High School seniors. This year, in particular, I found that the high school students captured so much of what I try to explain to people when they ask, “Why Waldorf?”
Aside from having lots of friends outside of school and participating is sports, they shared some very interesting points.
Several of the students talked about growing up in a small class. They said if they were at a larger school, they would have just chosen to “hang out” with other people who are similar to them because that would be the natural thing to do. Being in a smaller environment has challenged them to get along with everyone - to learn to honor and respect others for their strengths and differences. They were stretched and are stronger people for it.
One student talked about leaving Waldorf and going to public school for a while. He gave an example of what it was like coming back to the Waldorf school, and this one concrete example gives a picture of one of the key differences we try to explain. He said he came back and felt very confident about math because he had memorized all the formulas and felt he could keep up. Then, the next year, he felt he was at a great disadvantage because his classmates all understood the WHY behind the formula and he did not. He had only memorized them, and they held no meaning for him.
The students were asked about technology and if they were connected with social media. They said they all have cell phones, laptops, etc. and are up on the latest news, but they find that when they are together, they would rather be with each other and be in the moment instead of being with each other and on their devices. They do not feel controlled by their phones, and it is very easy for them to put them aside.
One boy shared that a teacher at another school told his mother that he would probably never read. She brought him to the Waldorf school, where he was educated moving forward. He just scored a 34 out of 36 on the reading portion of the ACT (for those of you not familiar with this test, that is the 99th percentile).
The students also appreciated not needing to focus on math or science or English, or art so early in their lives. They feel they have a very well-rounded education, and one student explained that even though she will go to college as a Biology Major, she will still want to take a variety of classes including visual arts.
I am very thankful for these students who help to give real-life examples of Waldorf Education, and I am very thankful for all of you for choosing to share your children with our school!
I wish you an absolutely wonderful holiday season filled with love, peace, harmony, laughter, wonder .. and well.. chocolate.
Warmly,
Lisa
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Lost & Found
Lost & Found items will be brought out one more time before Winter Break, and then any remaining unclaimed items will be donated. Please make sure to check for any of your child's missing belongings before the break!
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Annual Giving Campaign
Our Annual Giving drive has begun! We are asking all families to give in ANY amount, so that we can report 100% community participation when we apply to various educational grants.
If you haven't already, please share our fundraising site URL via social media with friends and family:
Maple Village Annual Giving and let them know that their donations will help fund further improvements to the play yard, more special subject teachers for enriching educational experiences, and more!
It only takes a moment to share a link on Facebook, but the net effect of our whole community doing so can be HUGE, so thank you all for your support!
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Shepherds' Play
Parents and children of MVWS might like to see this play. Waldorf teachers and an administrator from 6 Waldorf schools in the area are part of the cast.
The Shepherds’ Play
performed by the Christian Community Players
December 17th at 5:00pm at the Rudolf Steiner Community Center, 110 Martin Alley, Pasadena *
December 18th at 1:00pm at the Christian Community, 11030 La Maida St., N. Hollywood
Please give yourself extra time to find parking at either venue.
Persons 4 years and older are welcome. Admission free. Donations gratefully accepted!
The Shepherds’ Play, one of three plays in a 17th century Christmas trilogy, comes to us from the little island of Oberufer, close to the frontiers of Austria and Hungary. Rudolf Steiner gave the plays renewed life, producing and introducing them at every performance.
The poet and Waldorf teacher, A.C. Harwood, gave the English-speaking world an excellent translation of the plays. The Shepherds’ Play, in its peasant style of performance, combining reverent wonder with good-natured humor, appeals to young and older persons alike. It is performed annually in many languages and in many venues, totaling in excess of 500 performances a year. This makes this deeply inspiring production probably among those most performed in the world. Waldorf communities look forward to the Shepherds' Play as an integral part of their holiday celebrations.
*At this performance, young children are requested to sit with their caregiver.
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Save the Date!
Experience the Grades: An Evening for Waldorf Parents
Tuesday, February 7, 2017 ~ 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Come be a Waldorf student for the evening! Grades teachers will guide you in both early and upper grades lessons to give you a first-hand experience of the enlivening quality of this education. All parents of students currently enrolled in Maple Village, or any other Waldorf school, are invited to attend. Adults only, please.
Facebook event page |
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4th & 5th Grade Shady Trees Class
Here we are right before Winter Spiral with our apples and candles. |
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6th & 7th Grade Evergreen Class
The Evergreen class had a spectacular time on their camping trip in Death Valley! |
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We would also like to share this 7th grade writing sample with you!
My bed, so warm, so cozy. I hear the sound of thudding footsteps and doors closing and opening. It's still dark inside my room and outside my window. I start to shift in my half-asleep state. As I turn my body towards the sound, a light meets my slightly opened, sleepy eyes. I squint and try to look back at it. I see a silhouette of darkness in the blinding light coming through my open door. Confusion clouds my mind. I wonder what's happening, as the silhouette of darkness walks into my room. Oh yeah, I remember today's the day. I shift more to truly see the small commotion going on. The silhouette has glasses, Dad. He's going through my drawers across my room. He's packing my clothes in my New York suitcase with rounded edges. He finishes and another shorter silhouette comes to pick it up. It's probably Mom. She walks out of my room with the suitcase. Dad stays as I drift into a soft sleep. He picks me up and carries me to Mom's dark grey Honda. In the car, I slightly wake up and look out the window. "We're going to Palm Springs," I think, as I drift back to sleep. |
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Parent Village Meeting Minutes
Thank you to everyone who came out to our Parent Village Meeting last week! You can read a PDF of the meeting minutes
here.
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Green Piece
Get Your Reusable Handmade Snack/Sandwich Bags & Support Our Ocean Healer Team!
Still available from the MVWS school store!
Our students are spreading the message to reduce the use of single use plastics, in order to tackle our ocean pollution issues. This is a fundraiser!!
$5 for Sandwich Size
$3 for Snack Size
Added donations accepted!
Help our team AND reduce the use of plastic baggies!
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Doll Making Workshop
Have you ever wanted to make a doll that your child can cherish and love dearly, a doll that is imbued with your love for your child? Holidays are just around the corner and no toy will come close to a doll made by your own hands for a child you hold dear and near to your heart.
Christine Newell, an expert Waldorf handwork teacher at the Waldorf School of Orange County, will offer a Waldorf Doll making workshop at our Village. The cost is $90.00 per participant and it will be held on a Wednesday or Saturday TBD in December. The cost will cover all materials to make your very own Waldorf doll. You can let Ms. Christine Newell know your preference for skin color (e.g., peach, beige, brown, etc.), hair color and style (e.g., curly or straight), and eye color.
If you are interested, please contact Francesca Preponis at
francesca.delfin@yahoo.com.
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About Maple Village Waldorf School
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Maple Village Waldorf School aims to create a compassionate and welcoming environment rooted in the traditions and the philosophies of Waldorf education. We endeavor to engage and nurture the whole child resulting in a balance of heart, mind, body and spirit. We strive to provide a full living education integrating academia, the arts and communal awareness in order to inspire, energize and develop creativity and a love of learning in each student.
For more information or to apply, please call us at (562) 434-8200, email us at
info@maplevillageschool.org, or
visit our website. |
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