Newsletter Archive
annual fund
On behalf of the Development Office, welcome back! It is hard to believe that the first month of 2008 has already come to an end and we are moving into the second at full speed. We have been hard at work sending thanks to parents, alumni and grandparents who made contributions to the Annual Fund, Endowment Fund and Building Fund over the Winter Break. Total contributions to all Development programs were well over $20,000! A big thanks to everyone who contributed but we still need support!
In addition to our Annual Fund financial goal of $280,000, we also have a current family participation goal of 90%. Why is participation important? The likelihood of foundation support for any purpose is strengthened by evidence of broad participation from alumni and parents in the Annual Fund. In addition, the level of support the school receives influences all potential donors and creditors — both in our immediate community and in the community at large. When we turned to lenders to help finance the purchase of the Science Center, for example, participation levels of our community and the charitable dollars attracted by our school were a key factor in determining our ability to secure and service a loan. These are just a few reasons why every gift matters. Last year we achieved an 87% participation rate, and we really hope this is the year that each and every one of you will find it in your hearts to make a generous contribution to the Annual Fund.
So far, 28% of our families have contributed to the 2007-2008 Annual Fund. We will start to post class participation percentages in the Bulletin soon. If you have not made a contribution towards the Annual Fund, it's a new year and a wonderful time to do so. Envelopes for the Annual Fund are available at the Main Office, Development Office or you can even make donations online on our website. Just go to the CWS website and click on Annual Fund⁄Donations.
Please consider making a contribution to the Annual Fund…your gift does make a difference at the school and in the life of your children. Thanks!
-Kristi Richey, Development Associate & Sheree Moratto, Co-Administrator
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12th Grade Eurythmy Festival
Monday, February 4 • 7:00pm • CWS Auditorium
Wednesday, February 6 • 10:30am • CWS Auditorium
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reaccreditation 2008
The Chicago Waldorf School is fully accredited by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) and the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS). In order to keep that accreditation, we need to complete a reaccreditation process every few years. The first step we need to complete is getting input from the Chicago Waldorf community via an anonymous survey which was mailed out last week. This is a reminder to please complete your survey and return it to the Main Office by February 4, 2008. It is important that your voice be heard so we can formulate an accurate picture of what the school is doing well and what needs to be worked on. If you have questions regarding the survey, please contact Flora Calabrese at 773.381.1327.
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traffic safety
For the safety of all Chicago Waldorf School students, please adhere to the following new after-school pick-up procedures. We once again ask for your cooperation; the rules are the same for everyone and the safety and efficiency of our traffic plan only works if all of us are willing to comply:
•There will be absolutely no parking in front of the school (north side of Loyola Ave) or alongside the early childhood on the west side of Lakewood Ave.
•Parents are highly encouraged to park in the Loyola lot, located 1⁄2 block east of the school on the north side of Loyola Ave (across from Sophia Garden) or other legal spots.
•For rare extenuating circumstances (such as a sleeping baby, an after-school appointment) we ask that parents pull up in front of the school and form a car pick-up queue (using the same formation as during morning drop-off).
•In the event of an extenuatingcircumstance, please remain in the car. School personnel will have students gather in a specific pick-up area in front of the main entrance for pick-up for special circumstances only.
•If your child is not ready and waiting in the pick-up area when you arrive, parents must drive around the block and get back into the queue. No curbside waiting.
•Please be good neighbors. Park in the Loyola lot or other legal parking spaces only; no parking at stop signs, no parking in front of fire hydrants, no blocking driveways or parking in such a way as to prevent other parked cars from exiting.
•Never double park your car.
•Finally, please be courteous to the traffic patrol. They only have your child(ren)’s safety in mind.
Thank you!
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social inclusion corner
I have often wondered, What do the teachers and administrative folks do on those ‘in-service’ days? Well, this past Monday and Tuesday I got to experience first hand how diligent and hard working they are. I attended with them a workshop led by Kim John Payne who is working with our school to achieve Justice without Blame using the Social Inclusion approach. The training continued for the Social Inclusion Coordinating Group (SICG) through Thursday! We are looking deeply into the social dynamic of bullying, teasing and exclusion to cultivate growth through conflict, which is not the absence of peace, but the beginning of it. Intense social encounters have become one of the new rites of passage, therefore it becomes crucial that conflict is not avoided but channeled. The nature of these encounters can be guided with consciousness and wisdom to bring healing and wholeness. From the implicit actions of authentic adult imitation, healing story, art, drama (movement, puppetry, games) and class and family habit, to the explicit, where the Student Social Action Committee (SAC) made up of high school student volunteers, work with the younger students to create change plans, support circles, social coaching, simple ‘no blame’ meetings, goals achievement cards or mediations. We learned that simple things like politeness and courtesy and employing the Put Down Diet where dissing is discouraged; increases perspective, empathy and impulse control.
What brings us together is karma, the operative forces of the past.
Once we meet, it is up to us, this is no longer to karma!
There are not fated consequences;
everything depends on our own ingenuity as to what happens next.
-Rudolf Steiner, Karma Lectures, Volume 5
The SICG members are: Christine Culbert, Dean Husseini, Lisa Payton and Frances Vig for the faculty and administration, and parent representatives: Martha Arnett, Hazel Lucchesi-Ginsberg, Julie Scher Nebel and Melyssa Wergin-Reesh. This group is in the process of developing a mandate of Social Inclusion for our school in our weekly meetings. We will be having phone conferences with Mr. Payne monthly; he will return to CWS to provide additional training over the next two years. SAC members will begin researching and writing a Code of Compassion, a school definition of bullying, teasing and exclusion.
The healthy social life is found
when in the mirror of each human soul
the whole community finds its reflection,
and when in the community
the virtue of each one is living.
-Rudolf Steiner, The Social Motto
Watch for more updates to the Social Inclusion Corner in upcoming Bulletins, as we continue to manifest this powerful tool of transformation.
- Hazel Lucchesi-Ginsberg, SICG parent member
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what's in seasons
Stop by the Four Seasons Shop to pick up your own copy of the 2008 MeGoGreen Guide! Find coupons inside for local green products and services such as the Four Seasons Shop, New Leaf and Greener Cleaners! Find a beautiful present for your valentine; we have a new shipment of heart shaped beeswax candles, handmade doll quilts (created by our very own Mrs. Holdrege), Uriel Pharmacy skin care and magnificent Young Living essential oils! Have you already got a calendar for 2008? If not please support one of our school’s largest fundraisers: the Waldorf School Calendar and Note Cards! Stop by Tuesday-Friday from 8:00am until 4:00pm or Saturday 9:00am until 1:00pm.
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your picture here
Whether your children are five or fifteen, the yearbook has a place just for them. We feature in full color every class from Early Childhood through High School, with individual portraits and candid shots that will bring back wonderful memories of their school days for years to come. Pre-order now at just $50; quantities are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Orders and
payment may be turned in to Kristin Pellicori in the Main Office or Tiffany Ying in the High School Office.
Don’t forget: January 31st is the final day to purchase an ad in the Yearbook. What a great way to promote your business or congratulate your graduate! Contact Tiffany Ying in the High School Office.
Coming soon: a sneak peek of the yearbook on Tiffany Ying's message board on the CWS website. Watch this space for further updates!
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baby, it’s cold outside!
Please send your children each day with hats (not just hoods), mittens or gloves and warm coats. Ideally all children would also have boots and snowpants, but this is mandatory if they go to the park. It is good for them to wear different shoes for the outside and inside. It helps keeps their feet warm and dry, protects the gym floor and keeps the number of puddles down in the classroom. Though the class teacher may make adjustments, please have the underlying expectation that the items you send to school will be worn each recess. Thanks so much for your cooperation.
-Andrea Shaffer
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mainly manna
There is still time to sign up for Manna. The forms are at the Front Desk with Kristin Pellicori. Completed forms are due Monday, February 4th. Manna will be available for pick up Friday, February 8th. Any questions call Carol McCullough, Judy Collins, or Carly Garcia.
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staffing changes
It is with regret that we announce that Stefanie Safran, Director of Marketing & Communications, and Peter Dodson, Afternoon Office Assistant, are no longer working with us. We wish them both all of the best in the future and thank them for their dedication and hard work.
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many thanks
Dear Parents, Children & Colleagues,
Warm thanks for all the goodies and gifts which I received for the holidays!
-Ms. Zipperlen
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free vacation…on us!
Walk in the woods…partake of an endless salad bar…enjoy cozy nights by a fire…skip rocks on the lake…free transportation there and back. Yes, you too can be a judge at this year's Pentathlon. This amazing opportunity to help with the all-important athletic rite-of-passage is open to all parents⁄alumni — yes, all. You can meet parents⁄teachers⁄students from area Waldorf schools. The dates are May 19-21, and overnight stay is required. Accommodations are in cabins; hot showers are available. Advance training will be provided by Ms. Shaffer so that you can be confident about being informed about the event. Whether you enjoyed this event as a student, or your child is in early childhood and you'd love to be more involved, this is a tremendously rewarding deed for our school and for the Midwest Region.
My goal is to have adults from various grades do the judging so that the 5th grade parents can watch. I'd love for you to call and discuss this opportunity with me so you can be part of this special event. I can be reached at 773.465.2662×8323. Thanks!
-Andrea Shaffer
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you do the math!
I trust everyone is having a happy New Year. Let's see if we can dust away the cobwebs and get back in the game. The last problem was:
Problem #6:
Julie is 30 years old, which is 37.5% younger than Gail. What percent older than Julie will Gail be 12 years from now? Hint: Mind the keywords younger and older.
If Julie is 37.5% younger than Gail, then Julie is 62.5% or 5⁄8 of Gail's age. Julie is 30 so Gail is
8⁄5 of Julie which means Gail is 48 years old. In 12 years, Gail will be 60 and Julie will be 42. 60 – 42 = 18 and 18⁄42 = 42.86%. Thus Gail is 42.86% older than Julie.
Several members of the Waldorf community answered this correctly including Doug Culbert and Clay Henley. Nicely done!
I hope you enjoyed that problem. Here is another interesting problem the math club tackled:
Problem #7:
Find the smallest positive integer (whole number) for n such that n² + n + 41 is not a prime number.
All answers should be submitted to (astarzynski@chicagowaldorf.org) or you can put the answer in my box in the main office.
Good Luck,
-Coach Starzynski
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eurythmy festival
Come experience a celebration of color and sound that is the pinnacle of the eurythmy curriculum. The 12th Grade Eurythmy Performance will feature tone eurythmy pieces from Johann Sebastian Bach, Arcangelo Corelli, Felix Mendelssohn, Frederic Chopin and Bela Bartok along with romantic and contemporary speech eurythmy pieces. And join nimble Nisse’s adventures in Hulta Wood. Following two performances at the The Chicago Waldorf School, the 12th graders will travel to Minneapolis to share their work at the City of Lakes Waldorf School.
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coach's desk
The action as been fast and crazy for both our boys' and girls' high school basketball teams, with plenty of on-the-edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting moments.
The boys' basketball team traveled to Roycemore this last Friday and put everything together to get their first win. The boys have played some really strong basketball all season but always tripped themselves up. At Roycemore they played really aggressively on defense, made the extra passes on offense, and hit the timely shots to take away a 1 point win. In what was a great team effort, Danny Nickson had 16 points, Noah Pool added 15, Josh Collins had 11 and Sebastian Lazar and Tanner Rubin each added another 5 points to the scoreboard. Connor Dillon added 5 assists, and Mike Matson led the way with 8 rebounds and a strong inside presence against their 6’5” center. With a good crowd that traveled to the game to cheer them on, the boys came out strong in the first quarter, took the lead and never looked back. Danny made some key plays to keep the pressure on the hosting Roycemore. As the game moved along everyone did their part to keep the lead with key shots or strong rebounding. Roycemore was able to tie up the game in the fourth quarter, even after we hit some key free throws, but with less than 20 seconds Danny drove the ball hard and drew the foul. After hitting the first and missing the second he gave us a 1 point lead with 15 seconds remaining. Roycemore had the ball for the final shot but with some strong defense we were able to force them to put a bad shot, clinching the victory.
The girls have had three heart stopping games in a row, starting with a tough game against Roycemore where we took the lead into the second half but were unable to hold onto it, losing by 1 point. This was followed by another close game against Cristo Rey in our gym. After close, well-fought play by both teams, we held a three point lead with less than 3 seconds. Cristo Rey's #11 was able to push the ball down the court and hit a running three as the buzzer went off to force overtime. In overtime, Cristo Rey got off to a quick start and was able to end the game with a 1 point victory.
The Cristo Rey game led off a week of four straight games that took a toll on the girls. After the loss to Cristo Rey, the girls had to host the best team in the league, Providence St. Mel. Though injured and sore the girls played some really great basketball and stayed close the entire game, finally losing by only 11 points. The next day we traveled to Providence St. Mel. In a game where a lot of the starters played limited minutes, PSM had no trouble
taking care of us. On Friday, we hosted Young Women's. The wear and tear of four straight games showed in the first quarter for our girls who had trouble getting on the board but had a strong second quarter of 12-2 giving us the lead going into half time. This time no exhaustion or injury was going to stop the girls from holding on to this one for the victory. With Olivia Ragan and Sanja Ramirez fighting season-long injuries and Arielle Lawson getting injured in the fourth quarter and having to sit out a long period of time, the rest of the girls stepped up and held onto the lead for a 3 point win.
I want to thank all the fans who have been out to the gym to cheer on our teams. The fans were great at the girls’ home games last week, with all of the noise and energy they were giving out. And to all who made the trip to Roycemore to help the boys, everyone involved with the teams are appreciative of your efforts. If you haven't come out to see any of these games there isn't much time left. The boys only have a few more home games left and the girls games are all on the road.
Upcoming Games:
High School Girls:
•Thursday, January 31, 5:30pm
Round 1 League Tournament, Cristo Rey
•Monday, February 4, Time tba
Regionals at North Shore Country Day
High School Boys:
•Tuesday, February 5
Away vs Islamic Foundations, 6:00pm
•Wednesday, February 6
Away vs Chicagoland Jewish, 5:30pm
-Coach Schnell, Athletic Director
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community announcements
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healers who share
Did you know that there are healers who share vibrational remedies that allow healing on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level? David Alan Slater, founder of Healers Who Share, will present a seminar on Tuesday, March 4th from 9:15am-2:30pm at Wilmette Public Library at 1242 Wilmette Avenue in Wilmette. Topics covered will include: stress, sugar, digestion and hormonal problems. Questions will be taken on specific issues. A 15 minute free consultation with David is available to the first few who sign up. The cost is $50 in advance or $55 at the door. For registration, contact Elbrey Adair Harrell at 773.477.9833. For more information, go to Healers Who Share.
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cabaret in exile
New Budapest Orpheum Society will perform a concert: So That Their Voices Will Not Fall Silent — Jewish Cabaret in Exile. Tuesday, February 5, 6:30pm; Quadrangle Club, The University of Chicago, 1155 East 57th Street, corner of 57th and University Avenue in Hyde Park; Free, reservations recommended. 773.702.2550. We will perform songs by Nick⁄Kastner; Eisler⁄Tucholsky; F. Hollander and others. Hope to see you there.
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classified ads
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Kids Yoga at Yoganow Edgewater! Thursdays: Ages 5-7, 3:30-4:15pm; ages 8-11, 4:30-5:15pm. 5852 N Broadway, 773.561.YOGA or Yoga Now.
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Early Childhood Student and Experienced Childcare Provider is starting her own daycare in Evanston for babies⁄children 0-5 years old. She is kind, loving and gentle. Please call Marie at 224.392.9011 or email Marie. Transportation provided if necessary. References provided. Center hours are flexible, depending upon the needs of parents. Possible financial assistance available.
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Allergy Safe House for Sale! A healthy house! 3 BR, 2 Bath, beautiful, solid dry. Located in Skokie the house is a brick ranch. Fantastic laundry and kitchen! Separate office⁄rec room with lots of storage and detached garage. Low taxes. No pesticides used for over 20 years. $449,000.For more information, please email House4You.
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Northwaters Wilderness Programs: An outstanding complement to Waldorf education, weaving environmental consciousness, community awareness and native philosophy into outstanding wilderness adventures. 5 distinct summer programs — boys, girls and co-ed ages 10 to 17. For more information visitNorthwaters Wilderness Programs or call 866.458.9974.
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Futon Sofa For Sale: Mission style futon sofa (frame and mattress). Honey colored wood. Very good condition. Mattress very comfortable. Paid $470 for it in 2001. Your price: $150. Pick up in Rogers Park. Call Jacque Harper at 773.764.4654.
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Child Care Available: My name is Erika Meers. I have just graduated from a Masters program in Education and Waldorf certification. I am a responsible, outgoing and friendly person. I love children and I have experience working with children from the ages of 3 through 10 both in the classroom and in the home. I am available immediately with a two hour minimum. Please contact me at 773.726.9660
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food for thought
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
-Abraham Joshua Heschel
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Four Seasons Shop School Store
Gifts for All Ages!!
Valentine's Day Items
Calendars & Note Cards
Books
Uriel Pharmacy Skin Care
Young Living Essential Oils
Toys
and more…
Store Hours:
Tuesday-Friday
8:00am-4:00pm
Saturday
9:00am-1:00pm
Closed Sunday & Monday
773.828.8800
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Go Thunder…!!
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Newsletter Submissions
• All submissions must be emailed to
iwarfield@chicagowaldorf.org
and are subject to editing.
• If you would like to receive weekly
email notification of electronic
publication, send your email address
to iwarfield@chicagowaldorf.org.
• If you have any questions, call Ilene
Warfield.