Newsletter Archive
School Bulletin for the Week of December 13, 2006
media watch
We turned off! Here's why:
Before we came to CWS, we were a TV watching family. Admittedly, by that time, I could already see some issues with media usage and was ready to turn-off.
Before Waldorf, my son went to another pre-school which had two families that watched an exceptionally high level of TV. By early winter, every child in the class had asked their parents not to arrange play dates with the two TV families. The TV kids only knew how to play Bad Man [sic] and Robin, which had too much hitting.
It was around this time that I heard media expert Diane Levine tell the story of the 1984 TV deregulation. Prior to 1984, the number of advertising minutes on children's shows was strictly limited. If a show had a corresponding toy, the entire show was considered advertising and could not air. In 1984, this was relaxed. With more time for advertising and corresponding toy sales, children's shows became more profitable and more of them were made.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was the first big hit to take advantage of the new rules. As soon as the show aired, kindergarten teachers around the country began saying that play had changed, that it was noticeably different and more violent. Much was made of the violence, yet no hard evidence was found at that time to support a direct link. (Later research has
confirmed a direct correlation between TV watching and aggression.) The real story, however, went unnoticed. In the years after deregulation, studies began to pop up that suggested that play had changed. Ms. Levine believes that the real culprit was not only the violent images but the amount of time spent running a script created by someone else rather than creating your own play. Using toys that look exactly like the characters in the show, children began to spend non-TV time re-running the shows' scripts in exact detail. Children began to lose the ability to create their own script and could only repeat what others had given them. In its extreme, this phenomena has been blamed for some of the school shootings like the one in Littleton, CO. But even in its more ordinary, non-violent form, the phenomena does have adverse affects that can be seen with the naked eye.
Years ago, my daughter had a friend from another school who watched limited TV. One day, I overheard the friend suggest, “Let’s play Lion King.” My daughter had never heard of the movie, but she knows what a lion is and she knows what a king is. She pulled out a crown and a cape, dropped to all fours and began to roar. For a few minutes, all was fine. Then, her friend whined, “No! Lion King doesn't do that! He's supposed to …” My daughter had no problem redirecting her play — she's very creative and can easily improvise. Several more minutes went by before I heard, “No! Lion King doesn't do that!” After a few more bouts of this, they decided to end the ‘open-ended’ play and take up a board game. When her friend left, my daughter asked not to play with her again.
My daughter had gone to another pre-school before Waldorf and I had spent time in that classroom. One thing that struck me was that the play was ‘lumpy’. While some of the children could play with anyone, many of the children played only in their regular group of two or three. These groups did not change during the course of the day, nor over time. The teacher, who was not bothered by this, said that “the children don't know each other's games.” When I came closer and listened in, I could tell that the kids who “did not know each other's games” were all playing out TV shows. They were running scripts that could not be improvised upon. They could only play with kids who knew the script and ran it ‘correctly’.
Whenever I tell non-Waldorf parents about my turn-off decision, the first question that I get is, “Won't your rules ostracize and harm your children socially?” After my kids’ pre-school experience, I'm inclined to believe that it is the TV itself that harms their social skills, not a lack of it. The inability to vary from a pre-formed script is not at all conducive to peak social skills. Nor is it conducive to success in the Creative Economy that will greet our children after college — unless, of course, they become call center workers in a low wage country. But since I am hoping that my children will succeed in the high wage world of the Creative Economy, I want them to learn how to write their own scripts for life.
Indeed, a unique study in the Canadian Rockies showed empirically that television decreases creativity. By measuring creativity both before and after a small town installed television broadcast equipment, the researchers found a 20% decrease in creativity in both children and adults after the TV arrived. In addition to creativity, attention management, an important skill required both for creativity and for productivity in general, can be harmed. A 2004 study published in the scholarly journal Pediatrics found that every hour of TV watching in an average week before 3 years of age led to a 10% increased chance of attention issues at ages 7-10. This study is consistent with earlier studies on newborn animals that show that TV-like visual stimulation actually changes brain architecture.
For me, the job-related concerns pale in comparison to the more human aspect of raising creative children who are able to think for themselves and take charge of their lives — the kids are just plain more fun to be around! I'm no more interested than my daughter in continuing to run an old Lion King script over and over again.
-Judy Lubin, mother of Emily (2), Jackson (4)
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Tonight! • 7:00pm • St. Ignatius Church
Holiday Music Festival
Performances by grades 5-12
Grade 5-12 Students — Gather at CWS • Parents & Spectators — Go directly to Church
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thank you two
In addition to all the amazing coordinators that helped make Holiday Fair 2006 a magical day, there were many donors who gave us goodies to add to the festivities. We wish to thank the following people who donated food and cool stuff: Again,
Michelle Feuer, owner of tweet let’s eat, and mother of Michael Sanders (11) donated Italian Beef and all the
fixings; Guy Nickson of Wishbone, and father of Daniel Nickson (10) donated chili with the works; Chef Earl Manesky, owner of Chef Earl’s and grandfather of Clay Shane (6) donated the hummus and baba ganoush; Nancy Depondt, owner of Bagel Art and mother of Claire Depondt (11) donated bagels. Thanks also to Gregg and Tonya Tomlinson of fathead design and parents of Sidney (1) and Griffin (EC Donkel) for all the goodies from Little Miss Muffin. Thank you one and all!
May you all have a fabulous winter break and holiday.
Think Auction!
-Mary Jo Graden, Volunteer & Events Coordinator
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losers weepers
Before you weep over lost mittens (or hats or boots or coats or…), we encourage you to come search for your lost items in the Lost & Found box. All unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity on Thursday, December 21st.
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good coffee
The PTO wishes to thank Frances Vig and all of those who came out for the December 5th Coffee & Conversation on Spirituality. We had a great turnout! We spoke candidly about the importance of spirituality in the curriculum, the universal essence underlying some of the festivals and the need for a more inclusive language.
We have had several requests to keep the conversation going. While we consider a format for this, please pass along any questions and comments that you may have on the issue. You can email them to PTO Parent Education Co-chair, Judy Lubin at Judy Lubin or leave them at the Front Desk addressed to Judy Lubin.
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giving (tree) thanks
Thank you to everyone who has taken a star from the Giving Tree. The children and families in the early intervention program at Esperanza will appreciate your generosity. For many of these families, the gifts that we give are the primary holiday gifts the child will receive. This year we received the names of 135 children. We will be delivering the gifts on Friday, December 15th. Please return your gift to the Front Office by Thursday, December 14th.
-Lily (10) and Naomi (8) Muskovin
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retro facebook
Relive the wondrous memories of the 2006-2007 school year with your very own copy of the CWS yearbook, The Loop! Yearbooks are $40. Please make checks payable to Chicago Waldorf School, and include your child’s name and grade on the check. Checks can be turned in to Tiffany Ying in the High School Office or the Main Office.
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headline of the week
Both the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune have been reporting about outbreaks of pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough around the country. Its symptoms are very similar to bronchitis and, if untreated, can easily lead to pneumonia. We encourage parents to keep their children home if they display symptoms of a persistent cold or a chronic cough. This is particularly important for those children who have not received the DPT immunization.
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around your neck
There are still a few of Dru Muskovin’s hand-dyed scarves from the Holiday Fair Care to Share room for sale for $40. To arrange to see and/or buy, call Margaret McGuire at 773.828.8460. All proceeds go to Waldorf-related charities.
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what’s in seasons
The Four Seasons Shop is back in action after the Holiday Fair and overflowing with exciting new items perfect for any occasion! Books such as Wind Boy, A Child’s Seasonal Treasury, Seven Times the Sun, Betty Staley’s new book Adolescence: The Sacred Passage and many others are on the shelves along with craft kits and supplies for all ages. Felting kits, Stone and DaVinci Artist’s watercolor paints, vibrant hand dyed yarn, roving, silks and more! We also have a large assortment of beautiful beeswax candles and stunning lanterns. Stop by Tuesday through Friday, 8am-4pm and see what magical things you can find.
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Let Us Help You with Your Holiday Shopping!
Special Holiday Manna Order
Place Orders on or Before Monday, December 18th
Manna Cards will be delivered Thursday, December 22nd and Friday, December 23rd
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passing through
Harry Wang and Li Zhang, the founders of the Chengdu Waldorf School in Chengdu visited Chicago recently. They arrived Friday, December 1st after 2 days of travel, and were immediately ready to set up a table at the Holiday Fair! Their beautiful display of work, books about their school and Chinese art was well received. They met many parents and teachers. The couple had two full days here at school on Monday, December 4 and Tuesday, December 5 for teaching, visiting, sharing their history, knowledge and experiences. We are exploring ways to share ‘sisterhood’ with their school. It is an exciting time! We are so grateful that it was possible for them to come. Thank you all, especially all those who offered their services to make their stay in Chicago pleasant.
-Claude Driscoll
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come all ye…
Come and bring your crafts, games, ideas, thoughts, recipes, questions, frustrations, joys and conversation. ( Maybe we can resist media during the holidays!) Join other parents on Monday, December 18th in the Canteen for a little of everything.
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high school corner
debate!
The high school is excited to announce that we have a debate team this year! Practices are Tuesdays after school (subject to change after winter break) with coaches David Massie and Tiffany Ying, and anyone in the high school is welcome to join. It is challenging but rewarding, as students gain an in-depth understanding of current events and politics while developing invaluable skills in research, organization and critical thinking. Come check us out!
Since our team is brand new, we are low on resources, so we would greatly appreciate any donations of back (no earlier than 2005, please) issues of publications such as The Economist, the Cato Journal, The Nation, The Atlantic or other similar magazine/journals. Additionally, if you have any experience with Policy or Lincoln/Douglas debate and would like to volunteer your expertise, please contact Ms. Ying
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coach's desk
Here we go again, fans! The basketball season is in full swing. With a full slate of games last week and a full slate again this week, our teams will doubtless be looking forward to resting those sore muscles over Christmas break.
The high school boys’ team that got their first win of the season this last Friday when they went to visit Universal School. Earlier in the week they had played their first home game against St. Gregory, and after struggling for the first 3 quarters, they turned it on in the 4th quarter with a 28 point outburst. Unfortunately the comeback fell a few points short of what they needed to pull off the victory. They followed this game with a trip to Cristo Rey where they were handed a sound defeat. They were able to shake that game off in time to travel to Universal on Saturday night and notch their first victory of the year. The boys put together a sound second half comeback, to go from 10 down at half to win the game by 7. Led by Dennis Robles’ 31 points and clutch free throw shooting by the entire team, the boys were able to ice the game with a couple of minutes left in the fourth quarter. Come see what promises to be a great rematch Friday night when Universal comes into our gym to try and return the favor!
The high school girls are starting to hit their stride. They played a tough game against Providence St. Mel but were ultimately worn down by the size and speed of the PSM team. Next they went to Cristo Rey and even with two starters missing were able to give Cristo Rey a real scare before eventually falling by 12. Led by senior Adriana Kondrat, who’s averaging 20 points a game, the girls are running on high and are looking to put a couple W’s on the board.
The middle school boys played recently against Near North Montessori. Although the team started the game strong they were unable to keep things going for the entire game.
The middle school girls are getting excited because their first game is finally coming up; they will finally get to open their season this Thursday against Near North Montessori.
Come check out the action with your all Waldorf Thunder teams. The games are exciting and it’s a lot of fun!
Schedule of Upcoming Games:
High School Boys
•Friday, December 15th
Home vs Universal, 6:00pm
•Saturday, December 16th
Home vs ACT Charter, 7:00pm
High School Girls
•Thursday, December 14th
Home vs Noble St., 5:00pm
•Saturday, December 16th
Home vs ACT Charter, 5:00pm
•Monday, December 18th
Home vs Roycemore, 4:30pm
•Wednesday, December 20th
Home vs Chicagoland Jewish, 5:30pm
Middle School Boys
•Thursday, December 14th
Away vs The British School, 4:30pm
Middle School Girls
•Thursday, December 14th
Away vs Near North Montessori, 4:30pm
•Friday, December 15th
Away vs Roycemore, 3:45pm
Go Thunder!
-Christian Schnell, Athletic Director
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digestion corner
No Waste Gift-Wrapping Ideas:
•Wrap the gift in a drawstring bag and use an inexpensive luggage tag for the gift tag.
•Decorate oversized gifts with just a bow that can be used again.
•Put toy animals in a cowboy hat and wrap a cowboy scarf around it.
•Use a jewelry box for flea market jewels.
•Use a knit hat to wrap a small gift. Close the hat with a barrette or a decorative hat pin.
•Games or toys for a child can go in a new backpack designed pillow case.
•For a person who is handy, wrap a gift in a tool box.
•Put blouses and other gifts in decorative hat boxes and tie with a hair ribbon.
•For the sewing enthusiast, wrap a gift in a fabric remnant and tie it with a piece of lace or ribbon.
•Any kitchen gift can be wrapped in a colorful dish towel. Kitchen utensils can pop out of an oven mitt.
•Place home-baked cookies in a reusable tin box, a kitchen container, or a decorated oatmeal box.
•Use a colorful tablecloth to wrap dishes or dining room gifts.
•For a reader, wrap a book in a reusable canvas shopping sack.
•Wrap tools for a gardener in the pocket of an apron, planter, or bucket.
•Hang earrings, bracelets, or necklaces right on the Christmas tree, or put them inside or around an open ornament.
•Search the flea market, garage sales, and thrift stores for interesting old boxes that can be used as decorative packages.
More ideas next week…
Source: California Waste Mgmt Board
-Brian Gleichauf
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community announcements
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warmed by kindness
Dear friends of this caring Chicago Waldorf community — Clay, Keven (7) and Cheryl Henley are so grateful for the generosity of spirit that lives in our community, especially reflected during a very sad and painful time of loss of Clay’s 93 year old mother, Lois Henley. Thank you all. Love and blessings, the Henley family
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holiday solstice party
All are invited to a holiday Solstice Party at Roberta’s (formerly Fashion International, across from Sophia Garden) on Thursday, December 21, from 3-6pm. Featuring 10-year old piano sensation, Anthony Milano, crafts, snacks and more. Admission $5 (ages 3 and under, free). Call 773.972.3549 for more details.
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classified ads
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Tweet, Let’s Eat — a delightful Waldorf-parent owned eatery at 5020 N Sheridan Rd is now open during the week for breakfast and lunch 9am-3pm. Closed Tuesdays. Stop in after drop off, meet friends for lunch, have a meeting at Tweet, enjoy a cup of organic Fair Trade coffee and use our wifi access! Mostly organic breakfasts and lunches. Parking lot in back. Child friendly. 773.728.5576, Michelle Fire.
Find That Perfect Present! If you didn’t find the perfect present at the Holiday Fair, visit www.HEARTof.com, the online mall of over 600 stores (everything from Amazon.com to Zappos.com), where every purchase earns a donation for CWS. Millions of possible presents, millions of possible donations for CWS — now that’s perfect!
Holiday Family Wellness Day at Yoga Now Chicago, Goldcoast. A fun-filled day of healing, massage, arts and crafts, yoga, dance, hula-hoop, drumming and more! Come learn about healing as a family. Hosting by The Rhythm Within. Saturday, December 30, 2006, 1-6pm at 742 N LaSalle, Ste 2, Chicago. 312.280.YOGA to reserve your space. $25 for 3 people, $10 per person thereafter.
We are looking for gently used Waldorf-inspired playstands, kitchen playsets, toys, etc. Please call Lydia and Joe, 773.509.1129.
Massage by Lydia Clark licensed massage therapist and current Arcturus student. Therapeutic massage that incorporates
Swedish and deep tissue techniques is soothing, rejuvenating and integrating. Please call Lydia at 773.509.1129.
Former CWS family downsizing and must sell! Charming 2-story brick English cottage on extra large landscaped corner lot in West Ridge. Spacious light-filled home includes 4BR, 2+1/2 baths, including new 1st floor master suite. Updates include eat-in kitchen, custom wood-framed windows, 2 cedar porches and new CAC. Lazured DR by John Stolfo. Perennial gardens, large fenced backyard, 2-car garage on alley plus second driveway. This perfect Waldorf home is at 7346 N Oakley. Come see it before spring! Call Marcia Waller at 773.743.1290 for appointment.
Antiques conservation, restoration, or repair. Please contact Filip Marona 773.727.1699.
Give the Gift of Music — Waldorf graduate offering private piano or voice lessons in West Rogers Park. Contact
Lyndsey Baker at 773.420.7695 or LyndseyBaker@gmail.com for more information or to set up a free trial lesson. Musical sound is a direct expression of the Will itself. -Rudolf Steiner.
Mathematics Tutor: I am a CWS parent who is state-credentialed in math and currently offering tutoring. I encourage students to take ownership of math concepts through the use of physical math models and by allowing them to pursue their natural curiosity. The initial consultation is free. $35/hour. Please call Verne Peterson at 773.478.7695.
Home & Business Computer Service and Support — HomeTech Computer Solutions, a local, Waldorf-family owned business founded by CWS parent, Bill Weingarten. Our technicians come to your location on your schedule: weekends and evenings no problem. Specializing in: in spyware and virus removal; computer repairs and tune-ups; home and business networks; training. Waldorf discount. Chicago & suburbs. 773.761.1500 or www.thehometechs.com.
'Tis the Season! Last minute gifts? A new shade of lipstick? An afternoon pampering session with a few friends before the holiday rush? A personal color and skin care consultation? Customized gift baskets? I can help! Call 773.241.4265 or visit my website www.marykay.coj/marguerite.st.clare. @5% of all proceeds will be donated to the Chicago Waldorf School. Happy Holidays!
Need Some Time for Yourself over the holiday break? Kids looking for something to do? Roberta Schmatz and her boys (EC Culbert and 4th grade) will be at their space across from the Sophia Garden (1228 W Loyola) hosting fun-filled days. Crafts, games, music, stories, ping pong and more. From 9am-2pm December 27, 28 and 29 and January 2-5. Stay for the whole day or a few hours. Kids 5 and up. Call Roberta at 773.972.3549 for details.
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food for thought
gift suggestions
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.
-Oren Arnold