Preschool

Continued from page 5 we started making our way back to the nursery classroom on Sacramento Street. Heidi told me that they normally stay in the woods longer until after their snack, but that the rain was intense, and we did hear what sounded like a small clap of thunder. I made her promise she wasn’t cutting the outdoor time short because my wet pants and shoes made me look like I had just walked through a swamp, and she assured me this was not the case (but I think it may have been a factor).

Various children helped pass the snacks around and everyone helped clean up and sweep. Play time came next and then a short time of quiet rest stretched out on the floor. The children were fully engaged in all these activities with only gentle direction or redirection from the teachers.

This was a special day that then brought all three nursey classes together in the big nursery room to celebrate Heidi’s birthday. Heidi was seated in the front with Nichola who gave her a beautiful introduction and a cape. Then Susanna told the story of a little angel travelling through the heavens and across the rainbow bridge to first find the kingdoms of nature and then her waiting parents. The children were rapt with attention as were Bodo, Paolo, and I who, along with Monique, sat in the back row. After singing Happy Birthday a couple of times, a cake with candles blown out by Heidi, and a treat, our group went back to Elves Corner for a lunch of pasta, soup, chips, and carrots.

Continued from page 4 move, to Dornach, Switzerland to undertake the two year therapeutic eurythmy training.

A handholding walk back to the classroom through the rain and puddles with me in the caboose position was interspersed with songs, imaginary obstacles that needed to be overcome, and a few running dashes down a safe section of sidewalk where Heidi first had the children wait for her to get about 20 yards ahead of the group and then released them to come running and yelling towards her. It was really fun. Back at the classroom the children changed into a dry set of clothes with only minimal help from the teachers. I checked, but there were not any pants my size in the cubbies, regardless though, the warm classroom still felt, looked, and smelled like heaven. After the children were changed and had washed their hands, we sat down for a snack at a big round table.

And then it was time for the transition to after care and my departure. The children, teachers, and I exchanged waves and goodbyes, and as I walked to my car, I realized I had been smiling for about 3 hours straight. Thank you, Heidi and Robin and children, for welcoming me into this amazing experience of early childhood where less is more, and the world is full of magic and wonder. ~

In 1993, Maria moved to the United States with her partner, Rodney Sutton. They both joined the faculty of SFWS and Maria taught eurythmy to 1st through 4th grades and offered therapeutic eurythmy. Maria was very involved in the school, belonging to the College of Teachers for 12 years. She went to Norway in 2004 to care for her dying mother, then returned to SFWS in 2006 and became the therapeutic eurythmist for the grade school and the high school.

Maria is the co-director of the Therapeutic Eurythmy Training in North America, hosted by Camphill Copake, in upstate New York. She has also been teaching constitutional polarities and therapeutic eurythmy in Bay Area teacher trainings since 2000 when she was part of a research project on constitutional polarities with David Weber, Dorit Winter, Dr. Bob Dudney and Amie Wong.

Now, in what promises to be an active retirement, Maria will move to her own little farm in Sweden and will travel to continue co-directing and teaching in the Therapeutic Eurythmy training.

We have been honored to know and work with her and will miss her deeply. We wish her all the best.~

Have you seen these year’s Portal? A summer’s day is a perfect time to enjoy pages of writing and art by our talented high school students from grades 9 through 12. Enjoy this excerpt, and read it online

by Lauren Lum

In the uncertain economic climate we found ourselves in this past year, it is a major feat to have achieved our Community Fund goal of $675,000. Thank you to everyone who donated to this year‘s Community Fund campaign.

We received gifts from 350 current & alumni families, grandparents, special friends, faculty, staff, and community partners. The median gift size was $500. Overall, our community participation reached 78%, with the 2nd grade achieving 100% participation, celebrated with a class ice cream party.

We have room to grow to reach 100% participation, which is important because it signals to the community the commitment each of us have to our students, faculty, and the mission of SF Waldorf. We stand stronger as a community when we all participate at a level that is meaningful to us and our families. Additionally, as we plan for a future capital campaign, it strengthens our financial standing with foundations and lenders.

I hope you‘re enjoying summer and are looking forward to fun community events when return in the fall including Stern Grove AllSchool Assembly and Winter Fair.

- Eric Norman, Advancement Director enorman@sfwaldorf.org