Newsletter Archive
School Bulletin for the week of October 10, 2007
staley here!
The College of Teachers, in conjunction with the Teacher Development Committee, is pleased to announce that renowned Waldorf teacher and author, Betty Staley, will be visiting our school the last week in October. As part of the Teacher Development’s 5-year plan to evaluate all the major teaching programs in the school, Ms. Staley will be observing language arts classes in grades 1-12. This visit is the second step of the program evaluation plan, following Jamie York’s work with the math curriculum last year. Ms. Staley will offer feedback, insight and direction in when and how language arts skills are developmentally introduced, practiced and mastered. She will guide us through some major language arts teaching principles that will help better develop the school’s scope and sequence. Ms. Staley will meet with individual and small groups of teachers to share grade specific recommendations and will present her overall impressions and directives to the College of Teachers.
Ms. Staley has over 35 years of wide reaching Waldorf teaching and leadership experience. She currently directs the Waldorf High School Training Program and the Foundation Year at Rudolf Steiner College. She works as a consultant with Waldorf schools, as well as public school teachers and teachers of at-risk students. She has written several books, including Between Form and Freedom and Hear the Voice of the Griot!: A Guide to African Geography, History and Culture.
Ms. Staley is also the founder of the Multi-Cultural Committee of AWSNA. On October 30th at 7:30pm the College of Teachers, the PTO and the Diversity Committee will sponsor Ms. Staley’s community talk on The Universal Human and Multiculturalism.
-Carol Triggiano for the College of Teachers
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Tonight • 7:00-9:00pmt • Lower Eurythmy Room • Therapeutic Eurythmy Workshop on Breathing Issues with Dr. Andrea Rentea & Susanne Zipperlen.
Come prepared to join in an experience of these exercises. Please wear comfortable clothing!
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money matters
Having a professional, well-run, parent-friendly business office is a high priority for us at the Chicago Waldorf School. In order to accomplish that goal, we have established policies and procedures that are in line with the best practices of other independent schools. For our office to run at its best, we ask the cooperation of parents in complying with CWS policies and procedures.
Each family’s Enrollment Contract and Tuition Payment Agreement is a legally binding document with the school. This document clearly states all terms and conditions. When you sign this document, we have the expectation that you have read it and agreed to it. The contract states that certain fees, such as tuition deposits, are non-refundable. The document provides a clear schedule of your liability in case you have to withdraw from the school. We will and need to enforce these terms. We also depend on everyone to make sure their tuition payments are on time. Regular payments are an absolute necessity for our school to run smoothly. Thanks for all your cooperation! Please feel free to call us at 773.828.8453 or 773.848.8454 with any questions.
-Linda Abrams Carly Garcia for the CWS Business Office
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crossing the bridge
There will be an internal high school visiting day on Friday, October 12th. The entire 8th grade will attend for the day to experience a variety of classes, have lunch with the Student Council and meet with high school faculty.
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parent education: across the bridge
All members of our current 7th and 8th students are invited to attend a special parent evening on Monday, October 15th at 7:30pm in the lower eurythmy room. The evening is designed to give parents an opportunity to learn more about our high school program. Members of the high school faculty will provide an overview of the high school curriculum and experience and will answer questions. This event will also feature a panel of alumni, current high school students and parents who will share their experience and insights.
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waldorf 101
Did you ever wonder why…
• We do not teach academics in the kindergarten?
• The EC teachers tell the same story for several days?
• The Old Testament is the story curriculum for 3rd grade?
• The children participate in a Pentathlon?
• We teach eurythmy? (and what is it?)
• The high school has a balance of academics and the arts?
Come and find out the answers to these and many more questions at Waldorf 101, October 20 from 8:00am-4:00pm. There will be stimulating lectures, inspiring teaching demonstrations, group participation, conversation and questions. Just bring your lunch and an eager heart to know more about the principles that stand behind your child’s education. To help with more effective planning, please register at the Main Office 773.848.2662.
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piles of smiles
Individual picture proofs have arrived and have been sent home. Class picture proofs are available for viewing in the Main Office. Please return your order form and payment to the Main Office by next Monday, October 15. If you would like your child to retake his/her picture on Tuesday, October 16, please complete and return the reshoot consent form to the Main Office by Monday, October 15. Retakes will not be taken without the consent form. Retake orders will be due to the Main Office by Monday, November 5. After that date orders may be placed with Warling Studios directly for a $10 fee.
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conference call
The fall round of Parent/Teacher conferences are scheduled to take place in just a couple of weeks. There will be no classes for Early Childhood, grade school or high school on Friday, November 9th and Monday, November 12th while the conferences are taking place. (The Parent/Child program schedule will not be affected; classes will take place as usual.) Exact schedules vary by teacher, and some teachers are offering time slots over the weekend. Schedule sheets for Early Childhood conferences will be available on the bulletin boards outside the classrooms.
Parents of Grade School students should call Ilene Warfield in the Grade School Office at 773.465.2372 to schedule their appointments. Schedules are available now.
Conferences for High School students can be made through Tiffany Ying in the High School Office 773.828.8464. Schedules will be available next week.
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educational profiling
We are pleased to announce that Chicago Waldorf School will be among the profiled schools in the upcoming issue of Chicago Magazine’s Private Schools issue in December. The listing will be an alphabetical view of the various private schools in the Chicagoland area. This is a very exciting announcement as this is the first time Chicago Waldorf School has been profiled. We look forward to other such exciting announcements in the future!
-Stefanie Safran, Marketing & Communications Director
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fair warning!
The Holiday Fair is coming up on Saturday, December 1st. We need to have all ads for the Holiday Fair 2007 Program book by no later than Wednesday, October 31st. If you combine an ad for the Holiday Fair and the Yearbook, we will give you a 10% discount! Please see the attached flyer for prices and more information on how to order your ad.
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recycling report
Recycled so far in 2007-2008:
• 15 lbs of paper
• 4.4 lbs of plastic metal
• 43.5 lbs of glass
Thank you 8th grade for emptying and tracking the amounts!
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block errata correction
Last week we inadvertently gave incorrect information regarding the current 8th grade block. Please note the correction below:
• 8th Grade: Mr. Husseini – Science / Physiology
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driving for dollars
Parents or legal guardians who provide transportation to and from school because free transportation is not available for their children may be eligible to receive money from the state of Illinois to help offset some of the cost.
To qualify, you must live over 1.5 miles from school. This transportation reimbursement program has been in effect for some time and Waldorf parents have taken advantage of the program in the past. To apply, parents must submit claim information (social security number and claim amount or distance from home to CWS) to our office. Then we transmit it electronically to the State Board of Education. We suggest that parents interested in applying for the reimbursement come to the front office to verify eligibility and begin the process. Reimbursement requests must be submitted no later than June 30, 2008.
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did you know…
• That we have no try-outs in our school for sports teams? Did you know that in grade school volleyball every girl plays every game? Did you know that the high school girls volleyball team beat several large public schools in the last tournament at St. Ben’s? That the boys middle school flag football team beat Near North Montessori? Good to know, huh!
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be a thunder booster!
We need help in the gym for our home contests. If you love sports and understand the value of healthy competition for adolescents, then we need you to help host other schools in our gym. We need help at the score table, running the scoreboard, welcoming other teams, and just helping contests run smoothly. We will especially need help during our volleyball tournament on the last Friday and Saturday of October, when we welcome five other schools to our gym. If you have an interest in the athletic program, and have some time to help in the gym, please contact Andrea Shaffer through her message board or at x8323. Thanks!
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one coach’s desk
The grade school volleyball team will play Lycee Francais in our gym. Last week we had games against Catherine Cook and Ancona. The A team was victorious over Catherine Cook, and we had two hard-fought matches against Ancona, with one of the A games going all the way to 30 points. In the B team, Joanna Northage-Orr disturbed the opponent by launching 7 straight points.
Upcoming Games: Middle School Girls Volleyball
• Tuesday, October 16 Away vs Near North Montessori, 4:00pm
• Thursday, October 18 Away vs Catherine Cook, 4:00pm
Go Thunder!
-Andrea Shaffer Athletic Director
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college prep & college reps
This Week in College Counseling: PSAT Reminder
I mailed a letter to all parents of all 10th and 11th grade students about the PSAT that will take place Saturday, October 20th. Please let me know if you did not receive it. I have also posted the letter on my message board on the CWS website.
Seniors: If you have not already, you should be logging on the Common Application by now! Also, many of you have come by my office already with questions and ideas – keep it up – you’re the reason I’m here! For those of you who don’t know where my office is, it is one door East of the School Store entrance.
Upcoming College Rep Visits:
• 10/16/07 – Global College – 1pm
• 10/17/07 – Mills College – 1pm
• 10/18/07 – Barnard College – 1pm
• 10/19/07 – Franklin College – 12:45pm
• 10/22/07 – Bennington College – 1pm
• 10/24/07 – Occidental College – 1pm
• 10/25/07 – Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) – 1pm
• 10/30/07 – Eugene Lang College – 1pm
National College Fair!! Saturday, October 20, 2007 from 10:00am-2:00pm at Navy Pier. Visit www.nacacnet.org for more information (including a list of participating schools). FYI: I will be out of the office October 11, 12 and 15.
-Eliza Bivins, College Counselor
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another coach’s desk
After a great showing at the St. Benedict’s tournament, the girls had a bit of a let down when league leader Northtown Academy came to town. Sanja Ramirez’s playing time was limited due to injury, so the girls could not stop the big runs by Northtown. We fought and pushed Northtown all the way to the end but we fell short. After some time off the girls came back and beat Noble St. for the second time. However, they showed a little rust after the three days rest and lost the first game 17-25. They quickly turned it around and put a great effort and won the second game 25-9 and finished the third game ahead at 25-14. With just a few more games left before the League Tournaments and Regionals, the time to come see them is running short!
The middle school boys’ flag-football team got their first win ever in the second game ever played, by beating Near North Montessori 45 to 32. The offense was strong, could not be stopped and scored every time they had the ball all but one time. The defense is also beginning to play better by forcing one turnover and a couple of great stops.
Upcoming Games: High School Girls
• Friday, October 12 Away vs Our Lady of Tepeyac, 4:30pm
• Saturday, October 13 JV League Tournament at Northtown Academy Time TBA
• Monday, October 15 Home vs Young Women’s, 4:30pm
Flag Football
• Tuesday, October 16 Away vs British School, 5:00pm at Pulaski Park
Go Thunder!
-Christian Schnell, Athletic Director
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the way to san jose
CWS dad Chad Willetts (Mason, 8th grade) just composed and installed his second sound track for Gunther von Hagens’ internationally acclaimed Body Worlds 2, which opened at The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, CA, on September 26th. The sound track accompanies the center stage feature, The Three Pound Gem, which explores the human brain and was inspired by the latest findings in neuroscience on brain development and function, brain disease and disorders, and brain performance and improvement. The show runs through January and is a fascinating journey of human anatomy.
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community announcements
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warmest greetings
We were pleased to receive the following note from former eurythmy teacher, Laura Radefeld:
Life here is good. I am finally feeling somewhat settled in my home here and last week I had the feeling that the school year was off to a good beginning. I am enjoying the beauty of the coming autumn here – glorious color and continuing summery weather.
Laura would love to hear from her dear CWS friends. She can be contacted at: PO Box 7 Chesterfield, NH 03443 603.363.4182
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reflex integration update
Another change in Janet Oliver’s scheduled October visit has occured. Instead of being available for Reflex Integration screenings on October 25, 26 and 27. She will be here Monday, October22, Tuesday, October 23 and Wednesday, October 24. Ms.
Oliver, neurodevelopmental specialist from Plan for Learning near Minneapolis, will be doing 1 1/2 hour screenings and follow-up sessions in a private home near the Chicago Waldorf School. She will also be able to do follow-up Handle activity checks, including activity checks for Pat Grosso’s Handle clients. (Janet and Pat collaborate with this work whenever possible.) The cost is $95. For more information go to www.planforlearning.com. For an appointment, contact Margaret McGuire at 773.828.8460.
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taking sanctuary
The Sunflower Children’s Garden in Hyde Park, 4945 S. Dorchester, Chicago Il 60615, invites you to a parenting workshop with Shea Darian: The Sanctuaries of Daily Life – Creating Home as a Haven for the Soul on Sunday, October 28th from 3:00-6:00pm. Please join us for a potluck dinner at 6 pm. Prices are $30 per person, $15 for 2nd parenting partner. Childcare will be provided; however, donations for childcare are welcome.
Shea is the author of three parenting books as well as a children’s picture book. She gives keynote speeches and workshops to enthusiastic audiences throughout the USA. Shea offers practical and inspirational tools to build healthy family relationships.
Please RSVP to Elisabeth Swisher 773.973.7416, or eswisher@rcn.com with how many people are attending, whether you need childcare, etc.
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classified ads
SolFire Homes & Realty, the first “Green” brokerage firm in Chicago, is seeking an office assistant who knows Quick Books and spread sheets, filing & general office skills. An organized, positive, self-starter, with a “green sensibility” is a plus. Call Chuck Ginsberg 773.456.0134 or e-mail your resume to Chuck directly.
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Infant Massage Class: Beginning in the neighborhood, starting October 15th for 5 weeks. Please contact Soham Wilkerson for details. 773.764.5807!
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Looking for a Creative & Fun After-School Job? Do you love to craft, design jewelry and take photos? Local Chicago giftware company, Modern Surrealist, seeks juniors and seniors for paid apprenticeships. Business owned by CWS parent, Marisa Pawelko. 773.243.6186.
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Quinn Baron, a new 7th grader, would like to find another family (or two?) who wishes to carpool. We’re near St. Francis Hospital, SE Evanston. Mom, Rachel Baron, works from home, is flexible for both drop off or pick up. Fun family, safe driver, reliable Call 847.208.9264 or 847.332.2174, or send Rachel Baron an e-mail. Peace!
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Looking for a Creative & Fun After? Music Makes a Difference! Little Learners Musikgarten provides weekly music and movement classes for children 3 months-5 years along with parent or caregiver. Currently accepting registrations for classes at Immanuel Lutheran Church – 1500 W Elmdale Ave (near Greenview & Peterson). All classes on Mondays: Family Music for Babies (3-16 months) 9:15-9:50am; Family Music for Toddlers (17 months-3 years) 10:10-10:45am;. Family Music for Toddlers (17 months-3 years) 10:50-11:25am; Cycle of Seasons (3-5 years) 1:00-1:45pm.
To register for classes or questions, contact Amy Hodges: 312.961.0506 or amy@littlelearnerschicago.com For more about Little Learners and other class locations visit www.littlelearnerschicago.com . Mention this Bulletin and receive 10% off first quarter tuition! (Cannot be combined w/any other discount).
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special report: social inclusion corner
Kim John Payne may be gone for now, but our work with him is just beginning! Our new Social Inclusion vision will take commitment from the entire community. Kim does not see this issue as just “a program.” Rather, we will be creating the proverbial village needed to raise a child. We hope that all members of the community take this new vision to heart.
Before Kim returns in January, we will be setting up a Social Inclusion Coordinating Team of teachers, parents and students. Once the Coordinating Team begins, the Social Inclusion Corner will be one of the vehicles for the Team’s regular communications to the community. The first of these communications will come to you from the PTO and provides a summary of Kim’s September 28th talk and an overall overview of the work ahead of us. The essence of the Social Inclusion approach is finding the healthy center point between the extremes of hyper-parenting, which stunts a child’s growth, and permissiveness, which leaves a child feeling lost and unsupported.
In the olden days, rituals and ceremonies, like vision quests and tribal initiations, helped bring children into the adult world of freedom and responsibility. Our modern world is bereft of such ceremonies, yet children are still expected to grow and mature. Rudolf Steiner predicted that as traditional ceremonies decrease in importance, our children will be “initiated” by intense social interaction. Kim believes that this prediction is living in today’s world. The most intense form of social interaction is conflict. Through social conflict, today’s children learn how to stand up for themselves, which necessitates that they know themselves and know what they stand for. Hence, social conflict brings out the “I am” in a growing child and brings them into a place of both freedom and responsibility. When we prevent children from experiencing social conflict, we deny them access to the path towards maturity.
However, conflict that has crossed the boundaries into bullying harms a child by leaving him stuck and unable to complete the maturation process. In traditional rituals, elders asked the children to stand on their own during the initiation process, but worked to ensure that the process supported, rather than harmed, the initiates.
When social conflict takes the place of these rituals, then we adults, working in role of elders, are responsible for holding the process in much the same way that the elders of old held the ritual process. We must ensure that the conflict remains within boundaries so that our children’s struggle is worthwhile.
In this sense, the word “elder” means anyone who has been through the eye of the needle of social conflict and emerged changed. High school students will be “eldering” elementary school students during this process.
To build the container, “elders” must work together to build communities of consciousness. When conflict does cross the boundaries into bullying, our tendency is to blame others, which only pulls us apart. The Social Inclusion process will help us to work together to create a healthy container for conflict, using three precepts.
First, we must recognize the value of in-boundary social conflict and allow our children to work out most conflicts on their own. Second, we will develop a common definition of the boundary lines (i.e. teasing becomes bullying when children want to change schools or when friends step in to help, but it still goes on, etc.). Third, we will develop parameters that will allow the elders of the community to help each other and, when necessary, to intervene in the conflicts of our community membersí children.
The next part of the Social Inclusion process is to develop techniques so that, when boundaries have been crossed, we can guide the children back into the container without blame, shame or punishment. The basic idea behind these techniques is to show full disapproval of the behavior (not the child), affirm the child (not the behavior) and ask what is making you feel so powerless that you would behave in such a manner?
Other techniques that we will be working with involve de-stressing our children’s lives so that they will be less reactive to teasing, creating a telling culture so that behind-the-scenes bullying comes out into the open and turning passive bystanders into helpers who will disapprove of and stop the bullying. With all of this work beginning in the school, Kim reminded us that, in general, the home culture has a pre-dominate effect on the occurrence of bullying. We elders can best help our children if we have cleared our own lives of the behaviors that we are hoping to stop in the children. Put-downs (or dissing in teen-speak) are a common occurrence in our culture. But they also work against the creation of an inclusive environment. He asked that all community elders try some “weight watchers for put-downs”. Begin by becoming conscious of your put-downs. Try to stop yourself before you say something disparaging or belittling. When you feel a put-down coming on, ask yourself, “What’s up? What’s making me feel so powerless?” Kim ended his talk with a quote from Gandhi: We must become the change we wish to see.
-Submitted by Judy Lubin, PTO Co-Chair for Parent Education
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newsletter submissions
• Deadline for all material is Friday 3:00pm.
• Submissions should be emailed to Stefanie Safran and are subject to editing if longer than one paragraph. Written submissions may also be handed in at the front desk.
• If you would like to receive the newsletter by email, send your email address to Stefanie Safran.
• If you have any questions, call Stefanie Safran in the Development Office at 773.828.8457.