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Winter 2016 Newsletter
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Parent Village Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 2nd
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Deadline for Monthly Scrip Order
Friday, Feb. 5th
Experience the Grades
Open to Waldorf Families
Tuesday, Feb. 9th
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Discovering Waldorf Preschool
Open to the Public
Thursday, Feb. 11th
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Last Day of Winter Parent/Toddler Session
Friday, Feb. 12th
Waldorf Conferences Week
Feb. 15th - 19th
No School
Beyond Measure
Screening
Thursday, Feb. 25th
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Intellectual
Virtues Academy
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Dear Maple Village Community,
What sets one school apart from another with so many attractive options available in our area? So often, it is not apparent. After all the questions are asked, the boxes on the list are checked, and it seems to be a match for the child and the family, it then comes down to a feeling. And while this feeling can be a product of so many things (diverse and enthusiastic student body, devoted parents, dedicated and passionate leadership), I think it comes down to both parent and child truly feeling seen and held.
I believe our teachers are at the root of this.
I often hear comments from parents such as: "The teachers are so caring and attentive. The teacher sees my child for who he/she is. The teacher listens. The teacher gives so much of him/herself. What would I do without our teacher?" And these are all true. I have the honor of watching our teachers help the littlest ones change out of wet and muddy clothing, guide the early grade children in navigating social negotiations and assist the oldest ones in processing emotional challenges.
I would like to share with you some things you don't see - because they are about our collegial relationship. As much as our teachers are there for your children, they are there for each other. When a teacher calls to tell me she is ill and can't come in, all I have to do is reach out to one or two more, and the spot is filled within the hour. When one called over winter break to tell me she was very sadly unable to return in January, within 24 hours, three teachers agreed to spread themselves out over the days to fill the gap. When we need to schedule a teacher break for someone staying late for other duties, another jumps in. They not only do it willingly, they thank me for the opportunity and are sincerely similing at the end of the day. Our teachers mentor each other on their breaks and listen to each other over the weekends. They make tea for each other and cook and bake food to bring to meetings. We honor each other's birthdays, sing together weekly and recite verses together daily. We laugh together, share resources and inspire each other. We are truly a team, bonded together by a common goal.
What sets one school apart from another? Often it is the things you don't see.
We say that parents need to nurture themselves and each other before they can support their children in a healthy way. Because our teachers support each other, they are able to support you and your children. For this, and for so much more, I am grateful and privileged to be one spoke in this wondrous wheel.
Yours,
Lisa J. McCarthy
Dean of Education
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Are you interested in
checking out Maple Village?
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We still have space available for our February Walk Through the Classes event on Thursday, February 25th at 9:00am!
Our Dean of Education, Lisa J. McCarthy, will take a small group of parents into each of our classrooms (preschool through 6th grade) to observe for a short time while the classes are in session. Afterwards, there will be time for questions and discussion. Walkthroughs are for adults only (babes in arms ok).
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Experience the Grades:
An Evening for Waldorf Parents |
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Tuesday, Feb 9th 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
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 and a taste for how well-prepared Waldorf students are when they go on to high school. All parents of students currently enrolled in Maple Village, or any other Waldorf School, are invited to attend.
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Discovering Waldorf Preschool
and the Importance of Play
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Thursday, Feb 11th 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Come explore the rhythm of the preschool day with other current and prospective preschool parents. Enjoy the opportunity to sing a song from the morning circle. Bring all of your questions about what to expect when your child is in preschool. During the second half of the evening we will discuss the crucial role that play represents in the young child's learning process. We will also examine ideas about play from prominent child development theorists. Please join us for this exciting and informative evening!
This parent-only event is open to all current Maple Village families
(including those in Parent/Toddler class)
as well as potential new families!
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Beyond Measure
Presented by Little Owl Preschool,
Intellectual Virtues Academy &
Maple Village Waldorf School |
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Tuesday, Feb 25th 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
In
Race to Nowhere, director Vicki Abeles unveiled the dark side of America's achievement culture. In her follow up,
Beyond Measure, Abeles shows what's possible in education when we trust in the ingenuity of students, parents, and teachers. Communities transform education by putting research and proven, innovative models into practice. From rural Kentucky to New York City, we spotlight schools that are breaking away from our outmoded, test-driven education culture and pioneering a new vision for our classrooms.
Beyond Measure fills a void that too many other education stories have left empty: a positive picture of what's innovative and possible in American education when communities decide they are ready for change. In chorus with experts including Sir Ken Robinson, Linda Darling-Hammond, Yong Zhao, Alison Gopnik, and Daniel Pink, the change makers in
Beyond Measure prove that a new vision and a higher purpose are possible for American education.
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Meadow Parent/Toddler Classes
Our Parent/Toddler Outdoor class has been having a grand time in the outdoors during winter rainstorms, playing in a natural play-space with ropes, and rolling down hills. We have our story time on the San Gabriel River Nature Trail. We had a recent Wednesday rainstorm and got to walk in the rain and feel the winter weather. Another week we walked the trail and made piles of leaves, throwing and playing in them. Before the winter break we used a hand drill and the children drilled their own holes in a slice of tree branch to take home. In our indoor classes we have been busy working making a craft at the holiday time, and now working with wool. All the children had the opportunity to touch both dirty and clean wool fleeces, and then carded wool on our drum carder. Miss Kathy also brought her spinning wheel and the children learned about spinning, some even tried it with her! All the children squeezed oranges to make juice this past week, both indoor and out. It has been a wonderful and busy Winter session so far!
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Poppy Preschool
Among many other things, Poppy children love walking around the block, building structures during free play and trying them out, playing in rain puddles, having down time during inside play and helping to cut fruit for snack!
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Sweet Pea Preschool
The Sweet Pea class enjoys learning through social interaction and exploration. We make cars for the whole class to travel in and pile up all the pillows to jump in. Outside we can get messy with mud and climb in our banana tree fort. There is so much to do in preschool!
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Children love to craft at the local park. |
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Playing in the mud after a big rainstorm! |
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Rainy Day Fun - they take the path most wet!
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Parents surprised Miss Charlotte with a beautiful birthday puppet show and a homemade felted crown.
All class potluck parties are enjoyed by all! |
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Inspired by the book Anh's Anger, second graders drew their own anger and imagined it as a visitor they can learn to calm and send away. |
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In our winter math block, second graders work together to count enormous piles of gems in the Great Hall of Tens. |
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The second grade learned about the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh as part of our study of saints and made cards for him.
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We have many talented and enthusiastic artists in second grade!
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The second grade loves learning cursive, which they have taken up with ease and vigor thanks to their form drawing practice. |
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Shady Trees - Grade Three & Four
From top to bottom: The Shady Trees 3rd & 4th grade students look forward to their weekly Games lesson with Miss Parry at the park! They painted paper to make lanterns and partnered with the 1st grade to create a winter craft.
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Evergreens - Grade Five & Six
From top to bottom: Students listed the ages of all of our kindergartners, and then found the mean median, mode & range. As part of our Giving Campaign, the children knitted scarves and blanket squares for the homeless. Each student carved a person out of a block of soft wood for their woodworking project with Miss Lily. Students perfomed on recorder for our whole school. Evergreens walked with Shady Tree students to the library and then spent time reading in the park trees.
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Green Piece
Congratulations to our own 5th & 6th grade Ocean Healers who will join 28 other student teams from four countries at the upcoming three-day Plastic Ocean Pollution Solutions International Youth Summit! Our Dean, Lisa, is their advisor, meets with them weekly and will accompany them to the event.
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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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