Newsletter Archive
School Bulletin for the Week of December 20, 2006
annual fund update
To date, gifts and pledges to the Annual Fund total $145,000 towards a goal of $270,000. So the good news is we are about half way to the finish line! But there is another statistic to be less enthusiastic about: only a quarter of current parents have as yet made a pledge.
The Annual Fund is an important feature of the school's budget. The school’s financial model is premised on the idea that tuition should be kept as low as possible, with fundraising dollars and special programs (like the school store and the calendar/note card program) making up the difference between income and expenses.
That is the practical rationale for donating to the Annual Fund. But there is an underlying philosophical principle that is as important: CWS is a charity with a mission to educate children in a unique way using an approach that doesn’t rely on systemized teaching and standardized testing, but instead employs a living curriculum that promotes individual thinking and expression. CWS seeks to change lives. In this season of giving, ask yourself, doesn’t this charity deserve your support?
-Andrea Ragan, Director, Annual Fund & Alumni Programs
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A Holiday Gift from the Faculty to You
•The Paradise Play • Today • 2:00pm
(Please Note: The Paradise Play is not suitable for children under 3rd Grade)
•The Shepherds’ Play • Tomorrow • 1:30pm
•The Three Kings’ Play • January 6, 2007 • 7:30pm
All Performances Take Place in CWS Auditorium
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thank you 135 times
On Thursday and Friday of last week, we checked off names, straightened out bows, added a few name tags and delivered 135 gifts to the children in Esperanza School’s Early Intervention Program. These children are all developmentally delayed, some more severely than others. Each week the children come in and work with therapists; their families meet with counselors who give them support and ideas for working with their children. The ‘classroom’ for the children looks very much like one of the early childhood classrooms here at the Chicago Waldorf School. It is very moving to observe the children in their play. Our gifts will be given out this week as the children arrive for their therapy sessions. Thank you to all the members of this community who generously contributed gifts. The families of the children are deeply grateful.
-Lily (10) & Naomi (8) Muskovin
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third time’s a charm
The Holiday Fair planners wish to thank: Gary Anton of Anton’s Greenhouse in Evanston for donating the lovely tree displayed in the Children’s House and in the upcoming plays this week; Gethsemane Garden Center for the donation of a gift certificate for a Christmas tree; Tom Tunney of Ann Sather's for the donation of a gift certificate; Judy Collins for a variety of cool raffle items; Karen Keane and Steve Parkes of Newleaf Natural Grocery for snack cards; Bill at Chipotle Grill for burrito coupons; to Wild Onion Yoga for free classes; to Dominick's on Broadway for a gift card donation. Double thanks to Pat O'Malley, who schlepped tables, tables and more tables! If I have inadvertently forgotten anyone, please know that we are eternally grateful for all you did and/or gave. Until next time…
-Mary Jo Graden, Events & Volunteer Coordinator
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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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coach's desk
As we approach the winter break, our teams are starting to find themselves — and they have the bruises to show for it!
After going to Universal and beating them on their court, our high school boys team hosted the Universal team here last Friday. Our boys were unable to match the intensity that Universal played with and were soundly defeated. They then had to come back on Saturday to play a really tough team from ACT Charter. The boys came out playing hard and didn’t let ACT off easy but, although the boys showed a good team effort and were able to stay close to ACT, they were never able to put a run together and thus fell to a deeper team.
The middle school boys have been busy playing against the pesky British School team. They won the first game and, after a slow start, the boys really picked it up in the second game, pulling out a solid victory. They now go into winter break with a .500 record. With 6 more games on their schedule after the break, there is still plenty of time to come out and see them play.
The high school girls got their first win over the weekend! After what could be called a less than solid showing at Northtown where the girls got handed one of their worst losses, the girls came back on Saturday to beat ACT Charter. The girls played tremendous defense and held the ACT team to only 20 points. Led by Sanja Ramirez’s strong rebounding effort (14 of them!), the girls were able to keep the game at a slow pace. Adriana Kondrat scored 14 points; Danielle Marder added another 10 to lead the team to a 27-20 win. Congratulations, girls!
By the time this goes to press, our high school girls will have played Roycemore with hopes of extending their wins to 2, and the high school boys will have traveled to Chicagoland Jewish to try to keep up the momentum from the ACT Charter game. All will get a chance to rest up for the second half of the season. Meanwhile, you have one last opportunity to see the high school girls in action before the break in a home game at 5:30pm this evening versus Chicagoland Jewish.
Upcoming Games:
High School Boys
•Wednesday, January 10
Home vs Yeshiva, 6:30pm
•Friday, January 12
Away vs Roycemore, 7:00pm
High School Girls
•Tuesday, January 9
Home vs Our Lady of Tepeyac, 5:00pm
•Thursday, January 11
Home vs Josephinum, 5:00pm
Middle School Boys
•Tuesday, January 9
Away vs UIC, 4:30/5:30pm
Go Thunder!
-Christian Schnell, Athletic Director
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digestion corner
•Creative wrapping paper substitutes include used blueprint paper, the Sunday comics, or even the sports section for a sports enthusiast. Design your own wrapping paper using paper shopping bags: decorate them with paints, crayons, or markers.
•Replace tissue paper with old lace or strips of paper, shopping bags or used gift wrap.
•If you use traditional gift wrapping, always buy recycled-content wrapping paper. If your store doesn't sell recycled-content wrapping paper, ask the manager to order it in the future.
•If you send holiday cards, buy recycled-content cards and envelopes. Or make your own cards out of last year's cards and the wrapping paper you saved.
•Make gift tags from last year's holiday cards.
•Shipping a gift? Reuse the foam peanuts from another package, or use unbuttered popcorn for packing.
•Create a child's play kit from whatnots found around the house.
•Glue used comic book pictures, or playing cards from an incomplete deck to an old box.
•Fill the box with basic creative equipment: scissors, glue, tape, crayons, and colorful paper scraps.
•Search the house for unmatched treasures: bent cookie cutters, old game tokens, fabric scraps, ribbon, yarn, and so on.
•Use leftover dry-cleaner cardboard to cut out the various parts of a house, (walls, roof, chimney, etc.). The child can assemble the house and decorate it with the materials in the box.
•And don't forget to look for toys, books, and other products made from recycled materials!
-Brian Gleichauf
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community announcements
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condolences
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Muskovin family (Jeff, Dru, Lily and Naomi) on the passing of Jeff’s grandmother, Gladys Kessler; she was 97.
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grateful hearts
Thank you from the Marona family for a wonderful New Leaf gift from our secret angel. Happy Holidays!
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butterfly social
Come celebrate the winter solstice with an intimate sneak preview of the Butterfly Social Club before it opens to the
public! Thursday, December 21st, 9pm-midnight at 722 W Grand Ave. Free — just bring your drums and an offering of a stone or crystal to bless the space. BYOB optional. We will welcome the transformation to give birth from within, consecrating the nativity of this organic-solar-powered-mud-haven with a simple birthing ritual and much jubilant drumming in yuletide exultation of the longest night!
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classified ads
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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. Specializing in: in spyware/virus removal; computer repairs and tune-ups; networks; training. Waldorf discount. Chicago & suburbs. 773.761.1500 or www.thehometechs.com.
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. 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.
Maude’s Organics delicious cakes are available to order from Nancy Depondt up until Christmas Eve! Organic carrot cake or chocolate cake or the new Black & White (the best of both — organic chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting)! $26 for a 7” cake or $36 for a 10” cake. Discounts for teachers! Treat your family and friends this Christmas!
There’s still time to dash to the Four Seasons Shop for one (or more) of Judy Lubin’s storytelling CDs. Fun, nourishing stories for kids in EC-grade 3. You can also give yourself a gift and learn about the art of storytelling with the parent CD Guiding the Journey. CWS shares in the proceeds!