Newsletter Archive
School Bulletin for the week of October 17, 2007
holiday fair 2007!
The organization of the Holiday Fair is changing this year and it will be structured like the May Fair. Each class will have an area of responsibility. The room parents are the points of light for this year’s Holiday Fair so let’s bring surprises and magic all along our merry way! The room parents in each class are in charge of deciding, buying, making, communicating and assigning tasks to the parents in their classes for their specific Holiday Fair class area. Every parent in each class is strongly invited to volunteer. Parents will now sign up to help with their child’s class.
We will all have fun as we go about creating Holiday Magic in the “Waldorf Way”. Feel free to to ask questions and ask for any needed support as we plan for this festival. With a lot of communication and patience, we can make this year’s festival the best one yet! It has been said that “happy people plan actions and not results”. The following is our first list of actions. Each class has been assigned an area of the Holiday Fair. See below for your class’s area.
Please determine which room parent in your class will be in charge of communication with the coordinators. Please have the room parent contact either Katybeth Jensen at 773.685.6667 or Tahirih Klass at 773.828.8451 by Saturday, October 20th, so we can make the information available to your class. Katybeth Jensen is coordinating the Early Childhood and grade school classes while Tahirih Klass is coordinating the high school.
Each class needs to provide one person to work a set up crew and one person to work a clean-up crew. These volunteers will be coordinated by Katybeth Jensen and Tahirih Klass. Set-up will be Friday, November 30th after school and Saturday morning, December 1st. Clean up will follow the Fair when the Fair ends at 5:00pm.
Holiday Fair Class Assignments:
• EC Donkel & EC Hart: Little kids crafts
• EC Bruck, EC Culbert & EC Matson: Children’s House
• 1st Grade: Pocketman/Winter Fairy
• 2nd Grade: Entertainment
• 3rd Grade: Greenery/Wreaths
• 4th Grade: Decorations/Welcome/Main Office
• 5th Grade: Candle Dipping
• 6th Grade: Vending/Raffle
• 7th Grade: Older kids crafts
• 8th Grade: Food High School: Bakery/Cafe
Merrily yours,
—Tahirih Klass, Special Events Coordinator
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Explore the principles that stand behind Waldorf education
Waldorf 101 with Carol Triggiano
This Saturday • October 20th • 8:00am-4:00pm
Please Register with Main Office
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universal & diverse
Join us on Tuesday, October 30th at 7:30pm for a community talk by Betty Staley on multiculturalism in Waldorf schools entitled The Universal Human and Multiculturalism, sponsored by the College of Teachers, the PTO and the Diversity Committee. Ms. Staley is the founder of the Multi-Cultural Committee of AWSNA. She comes to us by invitation of the College of Teachers to review the Language Arts program in all levels of the school. With 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.
—Judy Lubin for the PTO, and Carol Triggiano for the Teacher Development Committee
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in stock & in seasons
The 2008 Chicago Waldorf School Wall Calendar, Planner and Note Cards are here!
By now you should have received a package in the mail letting you know that the 2008 calendar season is upon us! The award-winning Chicago Waldorf School Wall Calendar, Planner and Note Cards are a wonderful way to showcase Waldorf education and raise money for our school. This year seven students from the Chicago Waldorf School are being showcased in the calendars and note cards. For the last six months, a group of parents, teachers and staff have been working together, gathering paintings from Waldorf schools across North America, selecting paintings and putting together these amazing pieces for all to see. It is a project that brings together Waldorf education in a very positive and beautiful light.
The Chicago Waldorf School Calendar and Note Cards are ideal as presents, thank you notes and holiday greetings. These calendars, planners and cards are so beautiful they almost sell themselves. These items are all available for purchase at the Four Seasons Shop located right across the street from the home office, or you can purchase them online thru the school store.
For more information, please call The Four Seasons Shop 773.828.8800 or contact the Chicago Waldorf School Special Programs Coordinator Tahirih Klass at 773.828.8451.
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theatre games implosion
The Rumble Club is proud to announce our next offering of Theatre Games for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders on Mondays after school. The fearless leader Mark Pienbaga will conduct classes in the lower eurythmy room for your energetic and incorrigible youths. Does your child like to talk? Tell stories? Jump around and make frog noises? Come be part of Theatre Games Implosion after school. You’ll have the chance to play cool games and learn some basics of improvisation and acting. You never know when you’ll suddenly get famous – this could come in handy!
Mark Piebenga has trained in and taught improvisation and theatre all around Chicago, including places like Second City and the iO Theatre. He has taught theatre classes for kids in places such as Montana and Ireland, and is excited to work at a Waldorf school for the first time. Improv classes begin on October 29th and run through December 10th. There will be no class on November 12th due to parent/teacher conferences. Registration forms will be passed out to your child in class and are also available in the Main Office. Questions? Contact Ms. Shaffer through her message board or at extension 8323.
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power of eurythmy
On Wednesday, October 10th, 33 hardy souls met in the Lower Eurythmy Room to hear Susanne Zipperlen and Dr. Andrea Rentea speak and demonstrate some aspects of curative eurythmy. They spoke about the differences and the commonalities of therapeutic and artistic eurythmy and how curative eurythmy can be used for a myriad of woes such as stroke, stress, arthritis, balance, emotional and physical problems.
The highlight of the evening was when Ms. Zipperlen made the attendees do some curative eurythmy. She made it seem so easy, when it was rather difficult for many of us. She did mention that she had seven full years of full-time eurythmy training.
Ms. Zipperlen and Dr. Rentea let us know that curative eurythmy ought only to be done under the guidance of a master eurythmist, so contact them if you have any health or medical concerns for you or your family.
—Stan Palder, father of Darcy (3) and Blake (9)
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manna is back!
The Manna program enables you to buy gift cards from CWS to use in various stores in the Chicago area. By your monthly participation in this fundraising program, a percentage of the proceeds – which varies by store – comes back to CWS to support our fundraising efforts. This year, to increase the simplicity and focus our buying power, we have narrowed our list of participating vendors to the following grocery stores: New Leaf, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Dominick’s and Jewel. The small rebate amounts add up over time: for the 2006 school year we raised at least $14,000 through the Manna program. Please take some time to learn how to use this program, it is really easy and can just become part of your monthly grocery buying routine.
Please Note: Returning families, your account will be debited for your regular monthly order on October 29th and may be picked up the 1st week of November. If you need to make changes please contact Carly Garcia in the school’s business office at 773.828.8454 or by e-mail.
Please see the order form located in the side bar of this Newsletter page. If you have questions or want to get started now feel free to call Carly as discussed previously, or contact Judy Collins via e-mail or 773.727.9148, or Carol McCullough by e-mail or 847.869.1678.
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harvesting memories
On Saturday, September 29th, most of the 103 early childhood families, along with the early childhood teachers, gathered to celebrate the harvest. The Harvest Festival is the Early Childhood’s Michaelmas celebration. It was a beautiful, clear Michaelmas day. The children baked delicious apple cakes and pumpkin bread, which we served at the festival. The music, provided by Jutta and the Hi-Dukes, helped to create a festive mood, and there was a lot of dancing. In addition, we painted two large panels with trees and handprint leaves (leaves of love). They are hanging in the sideyard along the alley, and do improve the view. We also made fall fairies. The festival closed with everyone joining together to sing and dance songs which the children had learned during circle time.
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recycling report
Cumulative recycling totals to date in 2007-2008:
• This week: 32.5lb of paper recycled. Last week: 15 lbs of paper recycled
• This week: 8.8 lbs of plastic/metal recycled Last week 4.4 lbs of plastic/metal recycled
• This week: 62.4 lbs of glass recycled Last week 43.5 lbs of plastic/metal recycled
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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 are available now.
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one coach’s corner
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
• Tuesday, October 23 Away vs British School, 4:00pm
• Thursday, October 25 Home vs Near North Montessori, 4:00pm
Go Thunder!
—Andrea Shaffer, Athletic Director
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high school news
college prep & college reps
Don’t forget! This Saturday is the PSAT. All 10th and 11th grade students need to be at the school by 7:45am – please call, email, or stop by if you have any questions.
Also this Saturday: National College Fair at Navy Pier from 10am-2pm. Visit www.nacacnet.org for a list of participating colleges and universities.
Upcoming College Rep Visits:
• 10/18/07 – Barnard College – 1:15pm
• 10/19/07 – Franklin College Switzerland – 12:45pm
• 10/22/07 – Bennington College – 1:00pm
• 10/23/07 – Cornell College – 1:00pm
• 10/24/07 – Occidental College – 1:00pm
• 10/25/07 – Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) – 1:00pm
• 10/30/07 – Eugene Lang College – 1:00pm
—Eliza Bivins College Counselor
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campfire tales
On Thursday, October 4th, right after morning lesson, the entire high school, both students and teachers, shouldered back packs and sleeping bags and set out by the el and train to the Indiana Dunes for our annual camping trip and the official welcoming of the freshmen. We have been making this trip for about a decade, and certain traditions have come to be expected:
• The teachers will make breakfast.
• The freshmen will clean up.
• Mr. Dozier will sing Sixteen Tons.
• There will be discussions and entertainment around the campfire each night.
• And on the second night, the freshmen will be awakened by the seniors, either rudely or gently as the case may be, and taken on a round of midnight adventures that serve as their welcome to high school.
The two classes end their shared ordeal by watching the sun rise over the lake and returning to camp for a hot breakfast.
This year’s trip fulfilled all of these and more. We were blessed with warm sunny weather, perfect for football on the beach and even a few brave dips in the lake. We returned to Chicago Saturday afternoon in good spirits and a more united school than when we left.
—Barbara Huckabay, for the High School
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another coach’s corner
It’s been a quite week for the high school girls volleyball team! The Our Lady of Tepeyac game was cancelled due to unforeseen problems. The girls were able to take some time from the games and finally have a couple of practices. With the long season, a few of the girls were not 100% due to either injury or just fatigue. So with only a week left before the Varsity tournament and Regionals, the girls are going to be looking to use these last two games versus Young Women’s and Cristo Rey as good warm ups to make a run at winning the league tournament and upsetting some of the teams at Regionals.
For the first time ever the first round game for Regionals will be held right here at Waldorf. The games will be on October 23rd at 6:00pm and our girls will take on Roycemore! Please join us to help our girls get to the second round for the second straight year!
In flag football, the middle school boys flag football team won its second consecutive game last week. They had a great defensive performance and the boys were able to beat Catherine Cook 42-28. The Thunder was in control from beginning to end and had interceptions on the first series by Ezra Edgerton and Noah Megregian. With just one more game before the playoffs, the 2-1 Thunder look to be 3-1 heading into the playoffs earning a second seed. This fall season has been full of potential and extremely fun to watch for all of our teams! So let’s get out and show some support for the playoffs!
Upcoming Games: High School Girls Volleyball
• Monday, October 15 Home vs Young Women’s, 4:30pm
• Wednesday, October 17 Home vs Cristo Rey, 5:00pm
• Friday, October 19 Varsity League Tournament at Cristo Rey, Time TBA
• Saturday, October 20 Varsity League Tournament at Cristo Rey, Time TBA
Flag Football
• Tuesday, October 23 First Round of Playoffs at Pulaski Park, Time TBA
• Tuesday, October 30 Finals at Pulaski Park, Time TBA
Go Thunder!
—Christian Schnell, Athletic Director
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community announcements
condolence card
Our condolences to Frances Vig and her family on the loss of her sister, Janet Anne Smith nee Gould. Janet struggled with cancer for 10 years and passed away on October 4, 2007. It is our deepest hope that she is at peace. We are taking up a collection to support St. Michael’s Hospice in Basingstoke, England in Janet’s honor. If you would like to participate, donations should be given to Kristin Pellicori in the Main Office.
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stage lights
Congratulations, Lily Fiske! Lily has been cast in Next Theater Company’s production of playwright Sarah Ruhl’s new work, Snowless. (Ruhl’s Passion Play opened this year’s Goodman Theater season.) Snowless was commissioned by the Chicago Humanities Festival and will have two (sold out) performances October 28th.
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spiritual ideas in art
A slide lecture entitled The Spiritual In Art: Ideas, Directions and Developments will be given on Thursday evening, October 18, from 7:30-9:00pm at the Rudolf Steiner Branch, 4249 N Lincoln Ave. The speaker is Frank Piatek, art professional and professor at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. General admission is $15; students, seniors and Branch Members admitted for $10. There will time for questions and conversation. Refreshments will follow to close. For more information call 312.217.1768 Welcome!
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classified ads
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.
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).
Children’s Furniture for Sale: Beautiful beech wood convertible changing table/3-drawer dresser ($75 obo) and Stokke booster chair ($40 obo). Excellent condition! One block from CWS. Call Tom or Jessica 773.465.5591 or 773.575.6215.
Artists Work Space/Storage space to share with CWS parent. 1 block from CWS. Secure and spacious. $175/month. Call Tom or Jessica 773.465.5591 or 773.575.6215.
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Four Seasons Shop School Store
• Store Hours
Tuesday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm
New! Now Open Saturday 9:00am-1:00pm
Closed Sunday & Monday
Don’t Miss!! Special Event! Story Telling with Judy Lubin Thursday, October 23rd 3:20pm in the German Room (behind Four Seasons Shop) Appropriate for EC-3rd Grade
773.828.8800
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Bulletin Submission Guidelines
New Deadline: As of October 15, 2007, the deadline for all Bulletin copy is 3:00pm Thursday for inclusion in the following edition.
Submission Guidelines: All submissions must be typed. No handwritten submissions will be accepted. All submissions are subject to editing. Please email submissions to Stefanie Safran.
Community Announcements: Public events (open houses, lectures, performances) can run free of charge in the Community Announcemens section; there is a limit of one insertion per event.
Classified Ads:
All ads must be paid at the time of submission. A classified run is two insertions. Price per classified run:
• $6 – students, parents, staff
• $9 – alumni (students only)
• $12 – all others
Once your ad has run twice we cannot contract for immediate additional insertions. All advertising for goods and/or services will go under the Classified Ads banner.
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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.