Friday, September 18, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Why Waldorf Works Open House
The Redmont School in the Waldorf Tradition
is now
Alabama Waldorf School
a community dedicated to educating responsible world citizens since 1987
Join us to see
Why Waldorf Works
at an Open House
Thursday, September 17th, 5:30-7pm
Find out why we changed our name, who Rudolf Steiner was, what a main lesson book is, which two foreign languages students learn from 1st-8th grade, why we teach handwork, how we teach Spacial Dynamics®, and where YOU can go to find education that has a heart!
Special door prize will go to one lucky attendee: a hand-made, wooden, toy tree house!
1220 50th St S (Crestwood)
205.592.0541
Birmingham, AL 35222
AlabamaWaldorf.org
is now
Alabama Waldorf School
a community dedicated to educating responsible world citizens since 1987
Join us to see
Why Waldorf Works
at an Open House
Thursday, September 17th, 5:30-7pm
Find out why we changed our name, who Rudolf Steiner was, what a main lesson book is, which two foreign languages students learn from 1st-8th grade, why we teach handwork, how we teach Spacial Dynamics®, and where YOU can go to find education that has a heart!
Special door prize will go to one lucky attendee: a hand-made, wooden, toy tree house!
1220 50th St S (Crestwood)
205.592.0541
Birmingham, AL 35222
AlabamaWaldorf.org
Making a Difference
As many of you have experienced in your own lives, our school has also been affected by the economic downturn. The fiscal year budget for July 1, 2009 –June 30, 2010 was based on a hoped-for 155 enrolled students. As of this writing, there are 121. That difference created a significant budget shortfall. The Faculty and Administrative Staff met in late August and showed their unyielding commitment to Alabama Waldorf School by volunteering salary and other budget cuts. Every person made a voluntary cut. While difficult, this crisis-turned-opportunity gave everyone a chance to consider why they work at Alabama Waldorf School, and many, if not all, came away feeling more empowered and devoted than ever to the cause of bringing Waldorf education to our students.
The Board of Trustees approved the cuts along with additional cuts recommended by the Faculty and Administrative Staff in the areas of student evaluations, substitute pay, classroom supplies, and teacher training.
As integral members of the Alabama Waldorf School family, the parent body has a new opportunity to promote the health and vitality of the school. The new Streamlined Giving approach to Development will cover much in the way of teacher training and classroom supplies, but only if 100% of families participate! Pledge cards will be mailed out this month, so please consider giving at the highest level you can, and know that the Faculty and Administrative Staff join you in your commitment to the continued success of Alabama Waldorf School.
The Board of Trustees approved the cuts along with additional cuts recommended by the Faculty and Administrative Staff in the areas of student evaluations, substitute pay, classroom supplies, and teacher training.
As integral members of the Alabama Waldorf School family, the parent body has a new opportunity to promote the health and vitality of the school. The new Streamlined Giving approach to Development will cover much in the way of teacher training and classroom supplies, but only if 100% of families participate! Pledge cards will be mailed out this month, so please consider giving at the highest level you can, and know that the Faculty and Administrative Staff join you in your commitment to the continued success of Alabama Waldorf School.
Community Development Dish
by Adrianne Morrison, Director of Development
As most of you know, AWS is a private school and a non-profit. Just like all non-profits, we think about fundraising in order to come to a balanced budget. But development at a Waldorf School is much more than fundraising: it’s community development. This year, our development goals will focus on building relationships, working together, and maintaining what makes our Waldorf school so unique. We will make this happen in a very special way, through our Streamlined Giving Plan.
100% participation in Streamlined Giving plan will make it possible to:
Pay for teacher training, snacks in the preschool, field trips, 8th gradeclass trips, and supplies;
Completely underwrite Holiday Faire, so that we can provide free entry;
Fund community building initiatives, like free t-shirts and directories;
Underwrite the majority of the Spring $10,000 Giveaway Event;
Stock a full service-oriented Waldorf school store.
Streamlined Giving is meant to be a service to parents who desire a convenient way to support what they love about the school without a lot of fundraising. Watch for pledge cards in the mail this month. Thank you— from the whole community—to those members who have already contributed. Remember, for Streamlined Giving to work properly, we need 100% participation!
As most of you know, AWS is a private school and a non-profit. Just like all non-profits, we think about fundraising in order to come to a balanced budget. But development at a Waldorf School is much more than fundraising: it’s community development. This year, our development goals will focus on building relationships, working together, and maintaining what makes our Waldorf school so unique. We will make this happen in a very special way, through our Streamlined Giving Plan.
100% participation in Streamlined Giving plan will make it possible to:
Pay for teacher training, snacks in the preschool, field trips, 8th gradeclass trips, and supplies;
Completely underwrite Holiday Faire, so that we can provide free entry;
Fund community building initiatives, like free t-shirts and directories;
Underwrite the majority of the Spring $10,000 Giveaway Event;
Stock a full service-oriented Waldorf school store.
Streamlined Giving is meant to be a service to parents who desire a convenient way to support what they love about the school without a lot of fundraising. Watch for pledge cards in the mail this month. Thank you— from the whole community—to those members who have already contributed. Remember, for Streamlined Giving to work properly, we need 100% participation!
Welcome! What's New?
Welcome to the 2009-10 school year at Alabama Waldorf School! In addition to the new name, we have two newly certified teachers to recognize: Lynda Powell completed her 4th summer at Rudolf Steiner College and is now certified in Waldorf Grades Education; Jennifer Cripps is now a certified Spacial Dynamics Instructor, joyfully bringing her movement wisdom to all the grades students. There are also new people and new roles in the Administrative Office: Ginger Downs is our new Finance Manager, bringing a wealth of non-profit experience to the role; Opal Nicholson is our new Enrollment Manager, bringing Waldorf training, preschool teaching experience, and lower Grades teaching experience to the role; Adrianne Morrison (Roberts) is our new Development Manager, bringing her years as Development intern to bear on a Waldorf-inspired Streamlined Giving Campaign for which we have a goal of 100% faculty/staff/parent participation; and Lisa Grupe is our new Administrator, bringing Waldorf Grades certification, preschool and Grades teaching experience, and the benefit of current and ongoing Waldorf Administrative Training to the post.
Our new First Grade teacher, Erica Spencer, has completed her first of 4 summers of Waldorf Grades certification and is thrilled to be delivering a Waldorf curriculum to her first graders! We have several new block teachers for the 8th Grade including the current Mathematics block teacher, Alexander Blokh. Mr. Blokh is third-grader Daniel Blokh's dad and Rita Meikson's husband and has been enjoying our 8th graders who both bring stellar math skills to the table!
There are a few new faces in our Extended Care (XC) Staff. Richard Thornton, who will also be teaching an 8th Grade Woodworking block, is on the Grades XC staff; Anamaria Santiago worked in the Summer program and Pamela Basye subbed there, and now they both work on the Preschool XC staff.
New Family Association (FA) officers include Patrick McCarty, Brian Mixon, Cynthia Mwenja, Dennis Thurston, and Betsy Thagard. (Elizabeth Lasseter, Adrianne Morrison, Bernard Wolfe, Sina Skates continue to have FA roles but are not new to their jobs!).
New members for the Board of Trustees include Misty Garrison, Donna Yester, Elizabeth Westfall, and Patrick McCarty.
It takes a village of people to make the school run smoothly. If you are interested in becoming a room rep, Secretary of the Family Association, or in joining the Marketing Committee, please let the Administrator know!
There are also MANY new dates on the Event Calendar at Alabama Waldorf School. Hard copies are available in the Office, or you can conveniently reference it anytime on our website at alabamawaldorf.org.
We are especially excited about our Why Waldorf Works Open House on Sept. 17 from 5:30-7. Please help us boost enrollment by inviting or bringing a friend to this special event. Our Why Waldorf Works series of talks continues throughout the year on highly relevant topics; Miss Sadhna has begun her Waldorf Early Childhood Certification and kicks off the series on Sept. 22 with "The Importance of Play." Preschool and Morning Garden parents and their friends who are considering Waldorf education will benefit most from this talk which is open to the whole AWS community. Call 592-0541 to reserve limited child care.
From the AWS Faculty
by Melissa Downs, Faculty Chair
It is always so nice to come back to school in the fall – we are all rested up and rejuvenated, the children have all grown and changed, and we are all ready for the new challenges of a new year. The school is not truly living until the hallways echo with the sounds of children!
As most of you have heard by now, the school’s name is changing from The Redmont School in the Waldorf Tradition to the Alabama Waldorf School, a change that will be capped off by a ceremony during the school day on September 29th. This date was not chosen randomly – it is the day of an old festival known as Michaelmas. Michaelmas was one of the four cornerstones of the year in Europe hundreds of years ago, along with Christmas, Easter, and St. John’s Day. In the cycle of the year, each of these cornerstones embodies the character of the season - Christmas, and many winter holidays in other traditions, celebrating the light in the darkness; Easter, along with most spring holidays, celebrating the rebirth and rejuvenation that is easily seen in the natural world; and St. John’s Day representing the vitality and life of the summer season. As summer winds down into fall, we face the dying back of life and the growing darkness that is winter. In Michaelmas, we celebrate the story of St. Michael and the Dragon (and often a similar story – St. George and the Dragon). In both, humanity faces darkness and evil, and in both the darkness is conquered and transformed. It is a celebration of hope and transformation, and in the story of St. George – transformation through love.
It is always so nice to come back to school in the fall – we are all rested up and rejuvenated, the children have all grown and changed, and we are all ready for the new challenges of a new year. The school is not truly living until the hallways echo with the sounds of children!
As most of you have heard by now, the school’s name is changing from The Redmont School in the Waldorf Tradition to the Alabama Waldorf School, a change that will be capped off by a ceremony during the school day on September 29th. This date was not chosen randomly – it is the day of an old festival known as Michaelmas. Michaelmas was one of the four cornerstones of the year in Europe hundreds of years ago, along with Christmas, Easter, and St. John’s Day. In the cycle of the year, each of these cornerstones embodies the character of the season - Christmas, and many winter holidays in other traditions, celebrating the light in the darkness; Easter, along with most spring holidays, celebrating the rebirth and rejuvenation that is easily seen in the natural world; and St. John’s Day representing the vitality and life of the summer season. As summer winds down into fall, we face the dying back of life and the growing darkness that is winter. In Michaelmas, we celebrate the story of St. Michael and the Dragon (and often a similar story – St. George and the Dragon). In both, humanity faces darkness and evil, and in both the darkness is conquered and transformed. It is a celebration of hope and transformation, and in the story of St. George – transformation through love.
Enrollment Moment
By Opal Nicholson, Enrollment Manager
We extend a warm welcome to families new to the AWS community this school year! Nursery newbies include Asher Baay, Steven Cox, Jalen Crutcher, Megan Harris, Calli Hontzas, David Howard, Mary Kaitlyn Johnson, Izzy Knudsen, Kai Lozier, Tristan Nunez, and Neal Wellman. In the Kindergarten, we welcome Asata Rothblatt, Anna Mills, Phoenix Thrasher, Charlie Wellman, and Charlie Spine. New Grades Students are Grace Abbott and Joe Newman (3rd grade) and Arial Starks (7th grade).
Our 5-day and 3-day Nursery program is full, but there are still several spots available in the 2-day Nursery program, as well as the Kindergarten program. If you have friends, family, or neighbors who are interested in learning more about the preschool or grades program, you can have them call the office or look us up at our new website alabamawaldorf.org!
We extend a warm welcome to families new to the AWS community this school year! Nursery newbies include Asher Baay, Steven Cox, Jalen Crutcher, Megan Harris, Calli Hontzas, David Howard, Mary Kaitlyn Johnson, Izzy Knudsen, Kai Lozier, Tristan Nunez, and Neal Wellman. In the Kindergarten, we welcome Asata Rothblatt, Anna Mills, Phoenix Thrasher, Charlie Wellman, and Charlie Spine. New Grades Students are Grace Abbott and Joe Newman (3rd grade) and Arial Starks (7th grade).
Our 5-day and 3-day Nursery program is full, but there are still several spots available in the 2-day Nursery program, as well as the Kindergarten program. If you have friends, family, or neighbors who are interested in learning more about the preschool or grades program, you can have them call the office or look us up at our new website alabamawaldorf.org!
From the Finance Manager
by Ginger Downs
If you weren’t able to join us for Back to School Night, you might not know that you can pay your tuition bill monthly by auto draft with your checking account or credit card. Stop by the office to pick up an authorization form and avoid late fees by selecting the day of the month for your automatic payment.
Also, please stop by the office to review student info in the database. We can easily input any changes or new information, while you wait, or you can take a print-out home and return it with corrections. We’re all about making it easy for you!
If you weren’t able to join us for Back to School Night, you might not know that you can pay your tuition bill monthly by auto draft with your checking account or credit card. Stop by the office to pick up an authorization form and avoid late fees by selecting the day of the month for your automatic payment.
Also, please stop by the office to review student info in the database. We can easily input any changes or new information, while you wait, or you can take a print-out home and return it with corrections. We’re all about making it easy for you!
Family Association News
by Adrianne Morrison, FA Volunteer Coordinator
AWS’s Family Association is one of the three “legs” of our Waldorf School. It is the important task of the parent organization to incarnate the school with the spirit of cooperation and to support the work of the teachers and the staff.
The FA will kick off the 2009-10 school year with our first meeting, Thurs., Sept.10th at 5:30, place TBA. We will email a copy of the FA meeting agenda the Monday before each meeting.
Our annual Welcome Back Picnic, will be Saturday Sept. 12 at 4:30. Watch for picnic details in the invitation coming soon.
Even as go into our first meeting, the FA still needs a secretary and room reps. The secretary handles written communications internal to FA, and the reps maintain communication from the meetings to the class parents and back. If you think this is a volunteer job you would enjoy, please come to the meeting on Sept. 10th.
AWS’s Family Association is one of the three “legs” of our Waldorf School. It is the important task of the parent organization to incarnate the school with the spirit of cooperation and to support the work of the teachers and the staff.
The FA will kick off the 2009-10 school year with our first meeting, Thurs., Sept.10th at 5:30, place TBA. We will email a copy of the FA meeting agenda the Monday before each meeting.
Our annual Welcome Back Picnic, will be Saturday Sept. 12 at 4:30. Watch for picnic details in the invitation coming soon.
Even as go into our first meeting, the FA still needs a secretary and room reps. The secretary handles written communications internal to FA, and the reps maintain communication from the meetings to the class parents and back. If you think this is a volunteer job you would enjoy, please come to the meeting on Sept. 10th.
Administrator's Ad Lib
by Lisa Grupe, Ph.D., Administrator
In 2000, the Hopi Indian Elders made a prophecy 3 weeks prior to the date I began my Waldorf Teaching Certification for the Grades. They said, in a nutshell, that the time is now. They said it is time to consider where we are living, where our water sources are, and what our relationships are. They said it’s time to know your garden, to speak your truth, to create your community, and to be good to each other.
They said not to look outside ourselves for the leader.
And we were listening.
In 9 years’ time, we’ve grown our Redmont preschool into an AWSNA-member lower school with 8 grades, and we’ve earned a rite of passage to call ourselves a Waldorf school. To call ourselves what we are: Alabama Waldorf School. The Hopi Elders said this could be a good time. They saw a swiftly moving river that would make some too afraid of being swept away, but the ones who understood that the river had a destination would jump in and keep their heads above the water. They would notice who was in the river with them and celebrate.
As I look around our fast-moving river, I see the faces of our Waldorf community: the dedicated faculty members, the Family Association officers, the Board members, the Administrative staff, the parents, and the students. And, even when the water is so rough that we think we might not make it, we find a hand to buoy us up, a shoulder to latch onto, a foothold from the riverbed.
And we do make it. We know the river has its destination. And we celebrate.
Join us on September 29th at 12:30 as we use the Michaelmas festival day to christen the school with its new name. Come to this whole-school event. Stand on dry land. And see at least some of who's been in the river with you.
In 2000, the Hopi Indian Elders made a prophecy 3 weeks prior to the date I began my Waldorf Teaching Certification for the Grades. They said, in a nutshell, that the time is now. They said it is time to consider where we are living, where our water sources are, and what our relationships are. They said it’s time to know your garden, to speak your truth, to create your community, and to be good to each other.
They said not to look outside ourselves for the leader.
And we were listening.
In 9 years’ time, we’ve grown our Redmont preschool into an AWSNA-member lower school with 8 grades, and we’ve earned a rite of passage to call ourselves a Waldorf school. To call ourselves what we are: Alabama Waldorf School. The Hopi Elders said this could be a good time. They saw a swiftly moving river that would make some too afraid of being swept away, but the ones who understood that the river had a destination would jump in and keep their heads above the water. They would notice who was in the river with them and celebrate.
As I look around our fast-moving river, I see the faces of our Waldorf community: the dedicated faculty members, the Family Association officers, the Board members, the Administrative staff, the parents, and the students. And, even when the water is so rough that we think we might not make it, we find a hand to buoy us up, a shoulder to latch onto, a foothold from the riverbed.
And we do make it. We know the river has its destination. And we celebrate.
Join us on September 29th at 12:30 as we use the Michaelmas festival day to christen the school with its new name. Come to this whole-school event. Stand on dry land. And see at least some of who's been in the river with you.
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