RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL
BULLETIN MARCH-APRIL 2012
THE FIRST WALDORF SCHOOL IN NORTH AMERICA
BE INVOLVED
In the future of local food
Y
ou may find it hard to believe that Rockland County (30 min, north of the GW Bridge) was once home to more than 900 farms. What’s more startling is that with the opening of the Tappan Zee Bridge and the rise in suburban development there were just four farms remaining by 2001. In an effort to refute the idea that “farming was dead,” Alexandra Spadea (our upper school Eurythmy teacher) and her husband John McDowell founded Rockland Farm Alliance, whose mission is to facilitate local sustainable agriculture through farms that serve as models of smallscale food production. Currently, RFA has grown to include thousands of members and supporters who are helping to revitalize our local food system. RFA has gained the support of the community and municipalities in championing the need to support existing farms as well as future farms in Rockland, and under an agreement with the County and the Town of Clarkstown, launched Cropsey Community Farm, Rockland’s largest organic, biodynamic vegetable farm CSA in New City, NY. Now in its second year, the 12-acre farm produces food for 250 families and has become an educational resource for people of all ages. The Farm operates under the model of a Community Supported Agriculture, whereby CSA members receive weekly harvests of freshly picked, locally grown organic produce for 22 weeks of the year, and enjoy the myriad benefits of community farming, building relationships and bonds with each other and with the earth. This year’s 10th Grade farm trip will be held at the Cropsey Community
IN THIS ISSUE
Diversity Committee
4
Parent Council Update
5
Sports at Steiner Student Accomplishments Annual Fund Update Pinhole Photography
6 8 9 10
Continued from page 1
Farm, and hence we are happy to extend CSA memberships to Rudolf Steiner families, otherwise only available to Rockland county residents. Join this exciting movement to bring small farms back to our communities. Become a RFA and CSA member, donate or volunteer. To learn more or join, visit www.rocklandfarm.org. You may also contact Alexandra Spadea: aspadea@steiner.edu
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RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL
5
Reasons
 
 to
 
 Join
 
 Rockland’s
 
 Largest
 
 CSA
Cropsey
 
 Community
 
 Farm A
 
 Rockland
 
 Farm
 
 Alliance
 
 Project
 
 
1.
 
 FRESH.
 
 Your
 
 weekly
 
 share
 
 of
 
 the
 
 harvest
 
 ensures
 
 fresh,
 
 organic
 
 and
 
 locally
 
 grown
 
 
 
  produce.
 
 A
 
 steady
 
 supply
 
 of
 
 fresh
 
 veggies
 
 in
 
 your
 
 kitchen
 
 makes
 
 it
 
 easier
 
 to
 
 stick
 
 to
 
 a
 
  healthy
 
 lifestyle
 
 plan. 2.
 
 FARMER.
 
 Know
 
 your
 
 farmer
 
 and
 
 
 
 
participate
 
 in
 
 the
 
 growing
 
 of
 
 your
 
 own
 
  food.
 
 Your
 
 family
 
 will
 
 connect
 
 with
 
 a
 
 farm
 
  to
 
 table
 
 experience,
 
 while
 
 supporting
 
  healthy
 
 eating
 
 habits
 
 and
 
 enjoying
 
 peace
 
  of
 
 mind
 
 about
 
 food
 
 safety
 
 and
 
 quality.
 
 
3.
 
 EXPAND. Step
 
 out
 
 from
 
 your
 
 cook-Ââ€? ing
 
 (and
 
 eating)
 
 comfort
 
 zone.
 
 Seasonal
 
  eating
 
 creates
 
 opportunities
 
 to
 
 try
 
 new
 
  foods
 
 and
 
 recipes
 
 as
 
 you
 
 receive
 
 a
 
 variety
 
  of
 
 fresh
 
 ingredients
 
 while
 
 increasing
 
 your
 
  family’s
 
 nutritional
 
 intake. 4.
 
 LOCAL.
 
 Support
 
 local
 
 farms
 
 and
 
 the
 
  local
 
 economy.
 
 Keep
 
 your
 
 food
 
 dollars
 
 in
 
  the
 
 local
 
 community
 
 and
 
 be
 
 a
 
 part
 
 of
 
 a
 
  movement
 
 to
 
 bring
 
 small
 
 farms
 
 back
 
 to
 
  Rockland
 
 County. 5.
 
 COMMUNITY.
 
 Build
 
 relationships
 
 with
 
 new
 
 friends
 
 as
 
 you
 
 dig
 
 in
 
 the
 
 dirt
 
 together.
 
 
Participating
 
 in
 
 a
 
 community
 
 farm
 
 can
 
 be
 
 a
 
 great
 
 way
 
 for
 
 the
 
 entire
 
 family
 
 to
 
 make
 
 new
 
  friendships,
 
 strengthen
 
 old
 
 ones
 
 and
 
 connect
 
 to
 
 the
 
 land
 
 and
 
 the
 
 seasons.
To
 
 join
 
 or
 
 to
 
 learn
 
 more,
 
 visit
 
 our
 
 website
 
 at
 
 www.cropseyfarm.org,
 
  call
 
 us
 
 at
 
 845.634.3167
 
 or
 
 email
 
 us
 
 at
 
 info@cropseyfarm.org. Community
 
 Supported
 
 Agriculture
 
 (CSA)
 
 is
 
 a
 
 farming
 
 model
 
 where
 
 members
 
 purchase
 
 a
 
 weekly
 
 share
 
 in
 
 the
 
 farm’s
 
 harvest
 
  throughout
 
 the
 
 growing
 
 season.
 
 Members
 
 can
 
 purchase
 
 a
 
 working
 
 (15
 
 hours
 
 of
 
 time
 
 required)
 
 or
 
 non-Ââ€?working
 
 share.
 
  Cropsey
 
 Community
 
 Farm # ! % & educational
 
 programs
 
 relating
 
 to
 
 sustainable
 
 farming,
 
 a
 
 historic
 
 intermunicipal
 
 project
 
 of
 
  RFA
 
 helping
 
 to
 
 revitalize
 
 a
 
 local
 
 foodshed
 
 in
 
 Rockland
 
 County. Rockland
 
 Farm
 
 Alliance -() + # ! local
 
 sustainable
 
 agriculture
 
 in
 
 Rockland
 
 County
 
 by
 
 creating
 
 farms
 
 that
 
 serve
 
 as
 
 models
 
  of
 
 small-Ââ€?scale
 
 food
 
 production
 
 with
 
 educational
 
 facilities
 
 dedicated
 
 to
 
 the
 
 teaching
 
 of
 
  sustainable
 
 farming
 
 practices
 
 to
 
 people
 
 of
 
 all
 
 ages.
 
 
$ 0,-".+,"+)./ **( " ! ! )(1-. $ ' " $ www.rocklandfarm.org
JANUARY 2012
Local Farms Local Food
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Awareness + Skills + Diversity + Talk = Inclusivity by Justin Peyser, Parent and Diversity Committee Co-Chair
The Diversity Committee’s goal is to help us become a highly functioning inclusive community. This work is an intellectually and socially rewarding process and we are lucky to have a diligent and competent mix of educators and parents forging the way. The faculty and staff appreciate how relevant getting this right is to your child’s education. Accordingly, we have begun implementing a diversity plan whose steps include: sponsoring educational and social events; promoting faculty study of diversity; diversifying our leadership and faculty; increasing diversity in the student body; supporting student leadership; adding to or expanding on existing scholarships; and folding these steps into the school’s strategic plan. If you have chosen to read this article then this issue means something to you. You can help, too. You can recommend a new family or educator or potential trustee who may not have known about Waldorf education. You can host an enrollment outreach event in your home. You can donate to our new scholarship fund. Just reaching out to meet someone you don’t yet know at school will help. Most importantly, start talking about what difference in color or class or religion or gender or sexual preference or learning difference or physical ability means with your children, friends, and colleagues. While these conversations can be awkward, they are ultimately rewarding, and we neglect them at risk to our children and selves. For background on why excellent education today includes diversity, we suggest, “From Assimilation to Inclusion: How White Educators and Educators of Color Can Make Diversity Work” by Michael Brosnan of the Association of Independent Schools in New England. Please send your questions, comments and suggestions to: jbpeyser@nyc.rrc.com
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RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL
Parent Council Update by Diana Mahiques, Parent Council Chair
Parent Council is a vital part of the RSS community as a result of the support and coordination it lends to various school functions throughout the year. We work closely with class reps to communicate school policy, liaise with our administration regularly to maintain an open dialogue and meet as a group to brainstorm ideas that will benefit both our children and the parent community. The work we have done this year was single mindedly focused on supporting the RSS community as a whole. We ask that when you receive your Parent Council Election Ballots in the mail and online, please take the time to take part in the voting process by electing the 10 parents who you think would serve our school best during the upcoming 2012-2013 school year. We need your participation to ensure a fair and balanced election.
an improved space to gather and enjoy throughout the year. We hope to see all of you at this year’s Spring Gala on Friday, May 18th at Gustavino’s, a stunning historic NYC venue which serves as a backdrop for an event that supports our childrens’ education is so many ways. Lastly, on behalf of this year’s Parent Council, I would like to thank the parents, faculty, staff and administration for their support this year! It has been my privilege to serve as Parent Council Chair for the past two years. I have enjoyed the opportunity to forge new friendships, deepen existing ones and work with such a wonderful group of dedicated parents.
Parent Council is excited to announce that we will be using end of year funds to refurbish the Lower School Terrace so that the whole community (parents, children, faculty, staff and administration) will have
Dr. Linda Ogden-Wolgemuth - 6th grade Class Teacher
I want to express my sincere thanks to my colleagues who generously nominated me to represent our school at the International Waldorf Teachers’ Conference, held in early April. At this meeting of over 800 grade school teachers from over 50 JANUARY 2012
countries, I was able to both network and gather information for our school. Between informative lectures, workshops, and communal meals, participants could share ideas about our profession and forge new friendships. I am so grateful to have had the chance
to take part in this week of professional development and renewal, as it expanded my horizons in understanding Waldorf education and its powerful influence in our world.
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Sports at Steiner
by Ging Vann, Athletic Director
T
he Steiner Athletics Program had another phenomenal year of student participation and athletic award achievements. The fall season began with our Varsity and Middle School Soccer and Volleyball teams conducting their preseason practices in late August and competing through the end of October. Our Girls Varsity and Middle School Volleyball teams performed well and were competitive throughout their seasons, with our Girls Middle School team finishing in 3rd Place overall in the I.S.A.L: Independent Schools Athletic League. The future looks very bright for both our Volleyball teams with the team members excited to return next season. Both our Varsity and Middle School Soccer teams had fantastic seasons. Our Varsity Soccer team finished in 3rd Place overall in the League and once again made it to the I.S.A.L Semi-Finals. Ultimately, the team lost a hard fought match 1-0 to York Prep but left us all looking forward to next year. The Middle School Soccer team achieved the greatest accomplishment, winning the 2011 I.S.A.L Middle Soccer League Championship by defeating Brooklyn Friends School 5-0 in their final match of the season. The entire Steiner School community is proud of this great accomplishment and joyfully salutes all of the student-athletes 6
and their wonderful coaches. Well Done! Our Middle School Girls and Boys Basketball Teams both had good and challenging seasons this year. Our Girls Middle School Basketball team was extremely competitive, fighting for a shot at the League Championship up until the last week! After two vacant seasons, we were delighted to welcome the return of the Boys Middle School Basketball Team! The boys played their hearts out with total team spirit and look forward to next year’s competition. The Boys Varsity Basketball Team had a very challenging season, competing on the Varsity Level for the first time in over seven years. This move proved demanding on our students, but our boys approached every game with focus and camaraderie.
We look forward to another great and exciting year in Steiner Athletics in the 2012-2013!
Go Dragons!!! Fight With Fire Power!!!
Our Varsity Baseball Team continues to play their hearts out and currently holds a 2-5 record. Finally, the Varsity Track Team has had a very good season with the largest number of participants on the team in many years. Our students have been respectfully competitive thus far with teammates placing in the top 10 in several events during the 5th and 6th grade Metropolitan Invitational Track Meet held on April 30th.
RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL
JANUARY 2012
7
Student Accomplishments
T
his was the second year of School Scrabble and our first competition. School scrabble is played with a team of 2 or more players on each side. The winning teams were: in first place Luka Albano and Kamen Kresnitchki and in second place Martin Levy and Travers Silverman. Nicole Hsuan, Kamen Kresnitchki, and Travers Silverman received perfect attendance award for attending in the fall and winter sessions.
T
his spring our Student Action Committee (SAC) continued their biweekly visits to their “buddy” Lower School classes. They presented skits portraying bullying and teasing behaviors to the fourth grade, asking students about which behaviors help and hinder interpersonal relationships. They plan to visit the fifth grade with their skits later this month. In two meetings with the sixth grade, the SAC led small group discussions, focusing especially on those involving peer pressure and technology. Members of the SAC also attended a screening of the film “Bully” (highly recommended for adults), were invited to 8
attend a Diversity Committee meeting, and in May will be helping at a New Parent Welcome Evening in the Upper School. The SAC bids a fond farewell to its current seniors and looks forward to working with new members in the rising eighth and ninth grades!
RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL
Annual Fund Update
A
s the end of another school year approaches, we turn to you, our parent community, for support. Parents at Rudolf Steiner School know too well that tuition only covers a portion of the total cost associated with educating children. Contributions to our Annual Fund are essential to bridging that gap and affording us the opportunity to expand programming in the future. Please make your
JANUARY 2012
commitment to our school known with a gift to this year’s Annual Fund before June 30th. Our sincerest gratitude to those who have already made a gift to the 2011-2012 Annual Fund! Donations may be made by check or online. Click here to visit our online donation page today!
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Pinhole Photography
The High School Photography class, a semester long elective class for sophomores and juniors, taught by Marina McGrew invites guest photographers each semester. Students often work with digital cameras and photo editing computer software as physical circumstances do not allow for a proper darkroom.
These were then developed, without charge, by Mr. Duggal’s Big Picture Foundation. Each future photography class will continue to use these cameras to connect with the earlier techniques of capturing images.
In the previous Bulletin, we told you about the students’ experience with Mindy Veissid and her approach to “Intuitive Photography.” In another lesson, the class was visited by German documentarian, Goetz Rogge, a friend of Middle and Upper School Eurythmy teacher Alexandra Spadea. Goetz worked with students, teaching them how to make and use cameras obscure with film, experiencing the earliest type of photography, far more primitive and observable than the digital mode. To make their own camera osbsura, students were provided with (full) cookie tins with lids. After consuming vast quantities of chocolate covered cookies, each transformed the tin into a pinhole camera by using a drill, black paint, and tape. The tins were “loaded” with 8” x 10” film and taped shut with tape over the drilled hole. Off we went into Central Park with a light meter to determine the amount of light exposure needed. Each student selected a spot with trees, a turtle pond, plants, or a self-portrait, set the camera down, and had a classmate take off the tape for the metered amount of time. Photos were developed in the chemistry lab, the negatives converted to positive in photo shop, and printed in positive on photo paper. Others were developed on sun sensitive paper called Canno Type under glass and fixed with water, resulting in blue and white images. Later, the teachers built a large “camera obscura” from black foam board, measuring approximately 5’ x 3’ x 2’, and carried it to the park with a huge piece of color film paper adhered inside. The class used the camera to photograph trees and buildings and, finally, posed for a class photo. 10
RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL
JANUARY 2012
11
You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown
T
he High School Drama Club presented the musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, March 7th -11th in the Lower School Assembly Room for family, friends and the general public. The response was wonderful! This production was chosen as an anniversary salute to the drama club program which presented You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown in the fall of 2001-2002, exactly ten years ago. Some of the current cast members remember that performance from their first grade and kindergarten years, and say that they were inspired as young audience members. Oliver Henn, the eleventh grader that played Snoopy, was thrilled to be playing the role that “his senior,” Justin Aaronson (Class of 2002) did when he, himself, was in first grade. Oliver actually wore the same costume! That performance was codirected by Ms. Clio Venho and Mr. Jeffrey Spade, who will be returning to Steiner to head up the Lower School music program next year. It was clear that the charm and humor of this piece remains timely and universal. Bravi to the cast and crew!
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RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL
Marketplace
Service
of teaching that allows kids to become technically proficient on their instrument while having fun in the process. Lessons can be held either at The Rudolf Steiner School, Aaron’s guitar studio at 111 East 87th Street, or in your home! Rates: $30/half hour, $50/hour. Lessons at Home: $45/half hour, $60/hour. Contact Aaron at aaronrochemusic@gmail.com
Marion Lang Moving to NYC to complete my nursing degree at Hunter College. I am currently an AmeriCorps volunteer at Camphill Village in Copake NY and attended the Monadnock Waldorf school in Keene, NH. I have worked for several families as a babysitter and for one summer as a nanny, received training in early childhood development and education, am a competent cook, and am a powerful house cleaner! Looking for a live in situation for the summer -June, July and August. Please email me for more information: marionrlang8@ gmail.com or call in the mornings: 518 329 3119 (Kaspar House).
Gabriel Garzón-Montano ’07 Steiner graduate and brother of Luna Garzón-Montano, offers private music lessons, language tutoring, and babysitting services. Areas of expertise include: Piano, Bass, Drums, Gruitar, Theory, Composition, French, and Spanish. To contact him, call 646-852-7489 or email him at gabriel.garzonmontano@gmail.com
Guitar Lessons with Artist/ Producer/Educator Aaron Roche Aaron Roche is now offering guitar lessons to students of any level and style. Having toured the world and produced albums for many diverse artists in the studio, Aaron has developed a method T
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32 N Moore St. NY NY 10013
JANUARY 2012
L
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(646) 484-6845 www.playing-mantis.com
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with 10% discount to Steiner School Parents.
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