From Barb Bancroft, High School Art Department Chair & Art Teacher

ALL HAIL THE SENIORS!

Mounting the senior portraits always brings mixed feelings for me. This was my final art block with these fine people. All too soon we’ll be saying more lasting farewells this spring… 

On the other hand, what a celebration! Believe me, you don’t know how hard it is to paint yourself until you’ve tried. The brain is a labyrinth of coils and tunnels, and like hamsters on their wheel, we’ve all got our habit-trails that condition our views. Not to mention the self-talk! Even the healthy among us fall prey to it. Patience, self-acceptance, empathy, courage, and above all –humor! are forged in the crucible of a self portrait. So, all hail the seniors! Live long and prosper! And… watch out for that tomato!

Summer camp registration is open!

We are thrilled to announce that registration is open for 2024 WWS Summer Camps.

Tomorrow, we will announce camp registrations to those who have requested information through our website. We will not advertise beyond that for at least a week to give our community the first opportunity to register.

Note: There will be a few more camps added in the next week or two. 

For camp related questions, please contact camps@washingtonwaldorf.org.

We are pleased to announce that registration is open for a winter session of our Parent-Child classes. Spaces are filling quickly!

Learn More & Register

Parent-Child Classes will be held on Saturdays, Feb 3 - March 9, 9:30am-11:30am. This session is for children aged 18 to 36 months. The class is taught by Katrina Hampton, whom many of you know from her years in our kindergarten and first grade classrooms. 

Please reach out to enrollment@washingtonwaldorf.org with any questions.

January

26-27/ Friday-Saturday

• Green Meadow Basketball Tournament (No school for G7/8 on Friday)

30/ Tuesday

• G1 Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7pm

February

6/ Tuesday

• Middle School (G 6-8) Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7pm

7/ Wednesday

• CG - G5 Tour for Prospective Families, 9am

9/ Friday

• High School Not in Session

View the Calendar of School Days for the 2023-2024 School Year

Join us for a home game in the John & Mary Brauer Gym!

Check the wws website calendar for upcoming games. Home games are marked as "@WWS."

Note that the sports calendars are hidden by default. To view, select a team calendar listed at the top.

From Aleksey Gibson, College Advisor

On January 10 we were honored by the presence of seven of our graduates from the classes of 2021-23 at our second annual Alum Lunch: Seychelle Singh, Magdalena Steckler, Pritam Khalsa, Owen Benson, Sasha Woodward, Lucia Kaufmann, and Myriam Joseph-Schilz. Each in their own way shared a great many anecdotes about college life, as well as valuable insights into the transition from high school to college or a gap year. In particular, they strongly advised our present high school students to visit in person as many colleges as possible before applying and certainly before accepting an offer of a place. It's always great to hear how completing a Waldorf education provides excellent preparation for college courses and forming rewarding relationships with classmates and professors.

From Meg Kneisl, Assistant Director of Development and Events

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to our MLK Day of Service! We received many generous donations of food for the P3 Initiative at Food for Others. Volunteers created packs of food for school children experiencing food insecurity. The donations of crafting supplies gave our volunteers plenty of fun options to create many beautiful cards to send to the Nursing Home Card Project in Honor of Shaunna Bennett. In addition, our volunteers created over 150 paracord lanyards to send to Operation Gratitude, which creates care packages for men and women serving in the United States military. Adult volunteers who attended the Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop, read works created by incarcerated poets and left uplifting comments. 

We were so grateful to Barbara Buchman for teaching us all how to do the quick release “zipper stitch” for the paracord lanyards. Special thanks also goes to Jesse Travis for organizing the Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop activity. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the food and craft supply drives, giving us the resources we needed to make a difference. And a very special thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers, who braved the weather and brought the true spirit of community service and stewardship to the event.

This year's Spring Gala will be held on Saturday, April 20. The Gala is an evening for the community to come together to make memories and support our school. There are a few different ways you can help with preparations:

• Volunteer for the Gala Committee - This is the best way to have a voice in the planning and execution of the evening.
• Volunteer to host a Buy-In Party - Each year the Gala offers many exciting and varied experiences. Community members host these events, based on their time, talents, and interests. If you have a special skill you would like to share, or just love hosting social events generally, we can work with you to create a Buy-In Party you will really enjoy sharing with our community. (Past Buy-In Parties included dinner parties, sporting events, dance lessons, craft or cocktail making, and much more!)
• Volunteer to create your child’s Class Basket - As part of the Gala, each class creates a basket to raffle off at the Gala. We have had some beautiful baskets over the years, and we need help creating them this year.
• Sponsor the Gala - More information about Gala Sponsorships is coming soon!

If you would like to help out at this year’s Gala, please contact Meg Kneisl, Assistant Director of Development and Events.

Mental Health Panel: Supporting Balance

Tuesday, Jan 30 from 7-8:30pm

The Parents Council of Washington invites you to a panel discussion with psychologists and school counselors. The panelists will discuss finding balance in our achievement-focused society and ways parents and caregivers can partner with schools to enhance a culture of balance for their students. A question and answer period will follow the panel discussion.

This event will take place in person at The Lab School of Washington Performing Arts Center, 4759 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20007.

Learn More & Register

Do you have a student athlete at WWS?

Does your little hawk dream of playing in the new gym?

Join the WWS Red-Tailed Hawks Athletic Booster Club to boost school pride!

Our school strives to meet the needs of our students. We believe that athletics play a significant role in the healthy development of our children through competition and teamwork, cheering each other on, and hard work and dedication to achieving goals.

What is the booster club? The purpose of the WWS Red-Tailed Hawks Booster Club is to provide WWS student athletes and their fans with the best possible sports experience.

The Booster Club is a 100% volunteer organization comprised of parents, guardians, alums, coaches, teachers, school personnel, and community members.

The Boosters support all school sports programs through planning, promotion, coordination, and fundraising.

Our primary objectives are:

• Maintaining and improving the school’s athletic facilities, uniforms, and equipment
• Supporting and recognizing the efforts of our teams, coaches, and athletes
• Increasing community awareness of WWS athletics and events
• Providing additional funding for sports programs not covered by the school

Our fundraising efforts include WWS all-school activities, snack bar sales, spirit wear sales, and other community activities.

What can you do? Join us and get involved! 

Membership is only $50 per year per family. Your membership fee gives you access to exclusive Booster Club events and giveaways. We need new and fresh ideas and volunteers to implement them. Monthly meeting dates and times will be posted in the Weekly Bulletin and in the Events Calendar. All members and prospective members are welcome to attend. Please join online or email the Booster Club (boosters@washingtonwaldorf.org) for more information. Go Hawks!

If you are a current family - first, check ParentSquare for posts from your teachers, departments (Children's Garden, Lower School, High School), and the administration.

If you cannot find the information you are looking for on ParentSquare, please email your department coordinator/administrator or our Operations Manager:

• Children's Garden Coordinator - Cecilia Berg-Benson
• Lower School Chair - Janet Dunwoody
• High School Administrator - Bonnie McClelland
• Operations Manager - Laur Garner

Building Bridges Program - Coming to the Baltimore/DC Area in March

We are delighted to announce the start of our Building Bridges Program in the Baltimore/DC region starting on March 9, 2024! Building Bridges sessions are designed as engaging and inspiring in-person learning experiences consisting of a series of workshops designed to introduce the anthroposophical foundations of Waldorf education through study, group discussion, and the practice of the arts. With in-person long weekends, supplemented with some virtual learning, participants in Building Bridges will earn the equivalent of the first semester of teacher education and, upon subsequent entry in Antioch University, can be awarded 7 graduate credits in advance standing.

Who should consider Building Bridges?

1. Part-time teachers already in a Waldorf school who might want to move towards full-time work as class teachers, subject teachers, or a high school training through CfA.
2. Parents in area Waldorf schools who are considering Waldorf teaching and see BB as a “try us out” opportunity.
3. Public school teachers looking to make a career change.

Participants need to have completed our Explorations (formerly Foundation Studies) Program or demonstrate equivalency through life experience and/or willingness to do the online courses simultaneously with the face-to-face BB courses. Tuition and schedules are on the website. We offer group discounts for three or more from one school.

Learn More & Register

ARTIST OPPORTUNITY: Exhibit Your Work at Main Street Gallery

From Barb Bancroft, Alum Family & Faculty

Main Street Apartments in Rockville is an inclusive community that brings together people with and without disabilities. You can see a little bit more about this wonderful community on their website.

Main Street typically has a resident artist who can display their works in the building and is expected to conduct two seminars over the course of several months. One is an introductory Zoom event to discuss your work, inspirations, influences, processes etc. The second is a hands-on workshop in the medium of your art for the building residents. This is a truly exceptional community and teaching here is tremendously rewarding and fun! Take a look at the information sheet attached and to reach out if you are interested.

The current artist had to withdraw unexpectedly, and they are seeking someone who can jump in quickly to fill the void. I think they’d be delighted to hear from artists who are available later in the year as well. You can contact Sharon at SharonC@mainstreetconnect.org and Isabel at IsabelG@mainstreetconnect.org to express interest and for more information. Learn more about the exhibition program at Main Street.

Service Opportunity In Georgetown

From Jennifer Page, Alum Parent & Former Faculty

I am sharing a service opportunity open to adults and HS students. It's cooking/hosting/serving a meal for unhoused friends in Georgetown run through the Georgetown Ministry Center which works with the homeless population in the Georgetown/GW area (I’m on the Board). The dinners will be served in the big activity room at St. John's Episcopal Church in Georgetown, but the dinners are not religious activities.

Dates: weekdays February 5-23 4-6pm with setup beginning at 3pm. 

If HS students are interested, I will commit to meeting with them ahead of time and being present with them on the evening they choose to serve.

Learn More & Sign Up

Best to everyone!

Jennifer

Acupuncture and Massage in Arlington, VA

From Tova Steiner, Alum Parent

Hello! My name is Tova Steiner, mother of former WWS student Molly Bishop. I am a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist. If you are looking for an integrative way to approach a health concern, acupuncture and massage are wonderful complements to other health approaches. Acupuncture can be an effective treatment for acute and chronic pain, stress, anxiety, and other emotional concerns, hormonal and reproductive issues, and many other conditions. I would love to help you address any health concerns you might have. I am located in the Old Dominion neighborhood of Arlington.

You can contact me with questions about my services or take a look at my website www.innerpasswellness.com

The Sword, The Pen, and The Arrow

Spacial Dynamics Summer Program Ages 11-16

From Judith Graff, Faculty & Alum Family

The fire of fencing

The lightness of the pen

The flash of the arrow

Freedom is born out of form and function

The young individual will be introduced to the disciplines of fencing, writing, and archery where goal-orientedness, word-smithing and social interaction pave the paths for sovereignty, inventiveness, and independence. The elegance, expression, and exactness of these three disciplines will remain with your child long after they have returned home from this life-altering experience. 

This unique summer program is designed to give middle schoolers, girls and boys ages 11 through 16, an invaluable experience that will last a lifetime.

Learn More & Register

Free Books from Ronald Oechsler

From Ronald Oechsler, Alum Family & Former Faculty

I have 17 classic Steiner and Waldorf education books that are available for free to a good home. Contact me at ronexx8@gmail.com if you are interested. See photo for the titles.

Play Workshop for "Grown-Ups"

From Liz Hagerman, Alum Family & Former Faculty

Hi WWS friends! I wanted to let you know I'm offering a Play workshop for "grown-ups" on Saturday, Feb 3 from 9:30-noon at The Center For Family Well-being (right next door to Comet Pizza in NW DC). Fee is $65. It's for teachers, child therapists, parents, and any grown-ups who want to re-ignite their playfulness.

In this 2 ½ hour workshop, you’ll come home to the natural reservoir of play within you by reacquainting yourself with the playfulness, creativity, and lightness that has never left you.

Register online or if you want to ask me more about it, email me at liz@centerforfamilywellbeing.com or call/text 301-233-7264.

Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® Series In Person: Walking & More

From Alison Babil, WWS Alum Parent

In Person Classes at the Carderock Springs Clubhouse

Seven Thursdays, Jan 18 - Feb 29, 10-11:15 am.

Walking is an essential movement that involves a high degree of coordination. This Feldenkrais® series will focus on bringing comfort and efficiency to walking and running for improved balance, grounding, posture, and overall well-being. Feldenkrais ATM classes are an incredible tool for gently transforming pain, tension, and movement challenges. Each class takes the student through a series of movements which create new pathways in the brain and body. The aim is greater freedom in one's body and life.

"Feldenkrais works from the inside out. I've found it to be extremely beneficial mentally, physically, and emotionally" -- B. G., Owner, Spiritual Silks

$125.  

First class free for newcomers.

For more information and Registration:  

Email Alison: alison@truenorthhealing.com 

• Discounted rate for Carderock Springs members.
• A limited number of discounted slots available for those who truly need it.
• Participants are welcome to join after the start of the series.
• Another series will begin after this one. The next series will be Feldenkrais for Stress & Anxiety. 
• No refunds or transfers after your first class regardless of illness or pandemic.

Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® Series: Online

Feldenkrais Classes for Melting Freeze with Maintain Alignment

Free Introduction Class

Wednesday, January 24th, 12:30 - 1:30 EST

Zoom link for free class:  Zoom link

Freeze shows up in many ways in the body, mind, and heart. These classes will gently meet and transform patterns of freeze and tension. 

"Since the Feldenkrais class with Alison I have more energy, strength, mobility, and presence. This is such powerful work. THANK YOU Alison!" -- Feldenkrais for Melting Freeze Participant

Four Seasonal Feldenkrais Series through 2024.  

Topics include:  Breath, Posture, Walking, Early Developmental Movement. Topics will interconnect. Sign up for one or all four at a discount.  

Learn More & Register

Published by the Washington Waldorf School

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