Parent Bulletin, May-June 2011

BULLETIN

May - June 2011

Table of Contents 2

Board Report

4

Getting Involved

4

Main Lesson

5-6 Summer Solutions 7

Notes from Inside

8

Class of 2011

11

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Board Report

Rudolf Steiner “I believe Dear Community: Board is winding Waldorf The down the fiscal year in with the acaeducation is parallel demic year, and there is amount a beautiful aofcomparable frenzy, enthusiasm, and accomplishment. year, the Board and rich This spent considerable time its internal prooffering to oncesses, the result of a process of our city.” multi-year redefinition. We adopted a Code of Ethics for trustees and formed a nominating committee, known as the Committee on Trustees. We created the Core Committee, consisting of the officers of the Board, to set the Board’s agenda. There is still much more “housekeeping” to attend to, but I am pleased to say that we have reached many of our goals in this area.

Regarding strategy, the Board has provided the initial push to create a community-wide Strategic Planning Committee. This will be co-chaired by Board Vice Chair Susanne Kastler-Knerr and US Admissions Director Julia Hayes. The co-chairs are still forming the committee, but we aspire for it to encompass membership from every corner of the community, including students, teachers, alumni, and alumni parents. This work will weave in directly with next year’s 10-year accreditation process with both the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) and the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA).

We began the year focused on development, in addition to the areas above. Later this month you will

receive the executive summary of the analysis of our fundraising consultant, Changing Our World.

One recommendation, to hire a director of development, is still left unfinished. As a parent and trustee, I believe Waldorf education is a beautiful and rich offering to our city, and that our school is a beacon for families seeking such a gift.

I am confident that our future director of development will share this conviction and possess dozens of ways to express it.

I try to maintain awareness of other schools’ board practices in my role as Board chair. Our board, in concert with the College of Teachers, stands apart in the amount of volunteer time and effort expended. This volunteer work comes not just from parents, but also faculty and staff who contribute time, energy, and expertise outside the bounds of their job titles. And this year, our efforts were helped by two new trustees, Bob Dandrew and Deb Winer ’79, who are neither parents nor faculty/staff. It is an honor to witness such dedication. Thank you to all who have contributed to this year’s effort!

Mark Reed Board Chair

A Bittersweet Farewell to our own Frau Hahn

W

e want to share with you some news that is both happy and poignant. Gudrun Hahn, our Upper School German teacher, has announced her intention to retire at the end of this school year. Frau Hahn has been an integral part of the Upper School for nearly three decades. We are all grateful for how much she has contributed to the classroom and to the life of the school in the past 27 years. Frau Hahn’s unflagging dedication to the school is a hallmark of her time here, and all she has brought to the school is deeply appreciated by all who have worked with her.

Her love of her students is reflected back in the joyful affection expressed by so many of her students, both past and present.

This is a bittersweet moment for all of us, and while we will miss Frau Hahn’s presence in our school, we know you will join us in wishing her the best for a well deserved retirement!

If you would like to share well wishes or a fond memory of Frau Hahn, please email them to Eileen Diskin at ediskin@steiner.edu, and they will be passed on.

Getting Involved

Parents Lending a Helping Hand to the School

Dear Susann and the Doll Hospital Helpers, Dolls are a pivotal part of any early childhood classroom. They allow the youngest children to feel safe as they begin their school journeys, and for the older children, to play out their blossoming imaginations. As the dolls get loved and played with, they often need repair and help. We would like to say a big thank you to all the helpers that lovingly took part in creating new clothes, toys and tending for our dolls. We love them. Thank you for caring and helping!

The Early Childhood Children and Teachers Thank you, Angela Bjelland EC Teacher

Main Lessons 1st grade May: Language Arts & Arithmetic

7th grade May: Renaissance History

2nd grade May: Long Multiplication & Division

8th grade May: End of Year Review

3rd grade May: Measurement, Farming

9th grade May: Drama

4th grade May: Local Geography

10th grade May: The Odyssey

5th grade May: Ancient Greece

11th grade May: Physics

6th grade May: End of Year Review

12th grade May: Internships - Class Trip

SUMMER SOLUTIONS

Waldorf inspired summer camps

Hawthorne Valley Farm

http://www.vspcamp.com/camp.htm If your child enjoyed their class farm trip, this is the summer version!

Many of the activities the children enjoy during their farm visit are the same: feeding animals, cleaning the barn, riding horses, and helping in the garden, with time for more traditional camp activities like hiking and arts and crafts added. Sleep-away camp is offered from one to three weeks during July and August, depending upon age (8-15). Call Nick, Helen, Tessa, Charlie, or Matt at 518-672-4790 for further information.

Wilderness Survival Summer Camp

Woodland Ways, located at the Hawthorne Valley Farm and School (2.5 hours north of NYC), brings people on exciting journeys into the world of wilderness survival and rites of passage. We offer separate courses for ages 7-16. Camp Director, Michael Pewtherer, Head Instructor Paul-Ivan Derramaux and camp staff, share their love of nature and passion for responsible living through wilderness survival techniques like fishing with hand and spear, shelter building, friction fires, camouflage and many other skills. Offering both day and overnight programs.

The Nature Place Day Camp

http://www.thenatureplace.com/ Located just 45 minutes north of NYC in Chestnut Ridge, NY on the grounds of the Green Meadow Waldorf School, this camp offers children a chance to enjoy the great outdoors all day and still sleep at home each night. The days are divided into six periods, with ten minute transition times in between each period, including swim time each day. Camp runs for 6 weeks this summer (June 28th -August 6th), with many different attendance options, and busing from NYC is available. Call 845-356-6477 for further details.

Rudolf Steiner School - June Days

Of course, don’t forget our School’s own June Days; a day program offered for children, grades K-5, the last two weeks of June. And for the musically inclined, Summer Interlude, co-hosted by Brearley and our school, offers half and full day options, including time for both instrumental and vocal music work. Our very own drama teacher, Clio Venho, leads the musically inspired afternoons! June 10th-18th (1st Session) June 21-25 (2nd Session). For more information on June Days, please contact April Pereyra at apereyra@steiner.edu.

Telemark Wilderness Lodge www.NewEnglandRidingandDriving.com Located just outside of Bethel Maine, our lodge is a family owned, kid friendly, working organic farm located inside the White Mountain National Forest. This historic lodge is also home to our 10 horses, a llama herd, and our kennel of very friendly and athletic Alaskan sled dogs and their new litter of puppies. For families and school groups looking for a unique, fun and educational experience, our “Horse and Husky” program may be just the thing! Both day and overnight programs are available. Our methods of teaching foster a direct and heartfelt connection to the animals, plants and world around us. Prices start at $75 p.p. for day / overnight programs for school groups!

Camp Glen Brook

offers a 3- or 6-week summer camp during which lifetime bonds are formed. The main camp program is for children ages 8 to 13 years of age; the Falcon Outdoor Leadership Program serves 14- to 16-year-olds.

Summer camp (ages 8 to 13) includes outdoor exploration and games; music programs; woodshop and numerous sports. In addition to recreation pursuits, the program fosters a sense of personal responsibility in its participants through an appreciation of the natural world and through daily chores. The Falcon Program (ages 14 to 16) trains young people in self-reliance and leadership skills through a combination of stewardship activities and a wilderness trip program. Enrollment is up to 65 campers per session. Admissions are rolling; however, returning campers have priority re-enrollment through November 1. Because of our high return rate, some groups may experience waiting lists.

6th grade eggshell mosaic

Notes from Inside

Parent Soc al I nclusion Council The Social Inclusion Coordinating Group (SICG), whose members come from all parts of our community, including students from the Upper School, has been meeting monthly to help our school more clearly define its own policy around bullying and teasing. Pulling inspiration from our continued work with Kim John Payne, we have begun to implement strategies which will assist all members of our school community to resolve conflict issues and move forward together in a productive manner. We have put together a policy that outlines procedures for our school and hope to present it to the community by next fall.

One of the most exciting developments this year is the increased role of the Student Action Committee (SAC), which is led by SICG and high school faculty member Marina McGrew. This group, comprised of students in grades 8-12, meets weekly after school to discuss social issues they observe in our community and to work together with the principles of the Social Inclusion approach on how they can assist in resolving them. In addition to this work, the group's members have been visiting classes in the elementary school and will share role-plays around bullying and teasing with some of those classes before the end of the school year. (Can we include a closing sentence?

– “The Social Inclusion committee looks forward to ….etc?)

The Social Inclusion Coordinating Group looks forward to continued collaboration with all members of our community and urges anyone in joining us the committee next year to contact either Linda Ogden or Leslie Li Best wishes to our entire community for an enjoyable end of the year and a restful summer!

Dear Parents, Faculty & Staff, As another school year comes to a close, and we begin to prepare for summer vacation our thoughts invariably drift toward our shared experiences as a community. We reflect upon and are joyful of our children’s accomplishments throughout the year and we are grateful for the new friendships we have formed as well as those made stronger through our shared presence at our many RSS community events.

As Parent Council, we began the year with a goal in mind: to bring our community together and encourage a sense of enthusiasm and community spirit. We welcomed with open arms and supported new and existing families within our school walls. We feel that we were successful in these endeavors. You attended our morning coffees and our various socials and the feeling of inclusion and community was strong indeed. Please continue to support PC sponsored community events!

Your presence and participation help to make this a truly special community not solely for the parent body but for our students as well.

To our amazing teachers, administrators and staff, we thank you for all that you do to inspire and guide our children. To all Rudolf Steiner School families, it has been a true pleasure and privilege to serve as President of Parent Council this year.

And on behalf of my fellow parents on Parent Council, we wish you all a wonderful and safe summer filled with much love, light and many wonderful adventures!

Warmly, Diana Mahiques President of Parent Council

S

ports at teiner

What a wonderful year for Steiner Athletics! The Sports Season began in the fall, with both our Varsity Volleyball and Soccer qualifying for the I.S.A.L Tournament Playoffs.

Our Varsity Volleyball team finished in 4th Place in the League and secured the final playoff spot for the League Tournament for the 1st time in 5 years! The team played extremely well but eventually lost to the League Champions, Brooklyn Friends School, in a hard fought and competitive match in the 1st round of the tournament. Our Varsity Soccer Team had a fantastic season, finishing in 2nd Place in the League and played power house Columbia Prep School in the SemiFinals of the I.S.A.L Tournament. In one of the most thrilling matches in school history where the Varsity Soccer played wonderfully as the game was tied after regulation, and continued all the way to a “penalty shoot-out.”

Despite losing 3-2 on penalty shots, we were extremely proud of the sportsmanship and team effort our Varsity players showed. Our Middle School Volleyball and Soccer Teams had very competitive seasons as both teams played very well all throughout their seasons.

With winter came Basketball Season. Our Girls’ Varsity team played very hard all throughout the year, giving their best effort in every contest, but unfortunately not making the League playoffs this year. Our Girls’ Middle School Basketball Team had a lovely season, as they were always very competitive in all their games throughout the season. Finally, our Boys’ JV Basketball accomplished the Championship glory the school was starving for! The Boys’ JV Basketball team won both the I.S.A.L League and Tournament Championship titles, capturing the first Boys’ High School Basketball Championship in 20 years since the 1990-1991Varsity Basketball team won the I.S.A.L Division II League & Tournament titles!

It’s been a pleasure to watch our spring sports participants compete. Our Middle School Track & Field team has a very nice season with all runners giving their very best effort in each and every meet. Both our Varsity Baseball and Track & Field Teams have been competitive in all their games and meets and have proudly represented our school with true class, dignity and a sincere passion to participate.

It has a been a wonderful year in Steiner Athletics and we are extremely proud of all of our Student Athletes, Coaches, and Parents who came out and showed great school spirit and pride in supporting all our teams. We confidently look forward to next year with high hopes for continued success from all our sports teams.

Go Dragons!! Fight with Fire Power!!

Ging Vann, Athletic Director

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2011!

Class of 2011 College Acceptances & Matriculation Adelphi University, NY Albright College, PA Allegheny College, PA American University, Washington, DC Arizona State University Bard College, NY Barnard College, NY Bennington College, VT Boston University, MA Carnegie Mellon University, PA Colgate University, NY Columbia University, NY Drexel University, PA Emerson College, MA Eugene Lang College, NY Evergreen State College, WA Fairfield University, CT Florida State University Fordham University, NY Goucher College, MD Green Mountain College, VT Hampshire College, MA University of Hartford Hofstra University Indiana University Ithaca College Juniata College, PA La Salle University, PA Le Moyne College Linfield College, OR Loyola University, MD Mary Mount Manhattan College McCauley Honors CUNY Xavier University, LA

Maryland Institute College of Art Muhlenberg College, PA Northeastern University, MA

New York University, Tisch School, NY Oregon State University, OR

Penn State University, PA Quinnipiac University, CT Reed College, OR

Rice University, TX School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL San Diego New School of Arch and Design, CA

San Francisco Art Institute, CA School of the Visual Arts, NY San Francisco State University, CA

Skidmore College, NY

School of the Museum of fine Arts, Boston, MA

Southern Methodist University, TX St John's College, MD Suffolk University, MA SUNY : Albany, Oswego, FIT, Geneseo

Syracuse University, NY Tufts University, MA

U of Arts London

U of Chicago U of DE U of Miami U of RI U of VT University of CA, Santa Barbara Ursinus College, PA

Wesleyan University, CT

Wheaton College, MA Woodrow Wilson College, NC

*bolded, maroon listings denote college matriculation list

Services Bring Joe Home Parent class of 2020 and 2023, Joseph Albano is a professional chef, Certified Holistic Health Coach and Culinary Institute of America graduate whose resume also includes a two year apprenticeship in France. Specializing in French, Italian, and New American cuisine, for over 22 years he has been creating delightful and delectable meals, tailored to any interest or dietary restricion.

Joe is available to cook for your next event or family gettogether! He can be reached at 516-314-8912 or josephmalbano@gmail.com If you’re in the mood for creativity, then head to Alumna Stella Metzner’s ’96 shop, Spacecraft. Located in Brooklyn, Spacecraft offers a variety of crafting options from knitting to painting, and pottery. Prices based on the project you choose. A great outting for the entire family. Head to Spacecraft, located at 355 Bedford Ave in Brooklyn or visit them online at spacecraftbrooklyn.com

Summer Art Lessons. Holistic Waldorf approach, any ages and any media, flexible days and hours. Lessons at your home or my studio. Please feel free to call me or e-mail with any questions. Gosha Karpowicz, artist/painter, experienced Waldorf Art Teacher. 845 596 3478 gosha. karpowicz@gmail.com

Congratulations!

Cliff Venho ’08, junior at SUNY New Paltz, was recently inducted into Sigma Tau delta, an International English Honor Society.

Parents and current faculty members Jeff and Clio Venho couldn’t be more proud!

Evan Buxbaum’s ’02 film, La Linea, will have it’s world premiere at the Nantucket Film Festival this coming June.

Evan’s film one of few films chosen from a submission pool of over 8,000. Click here to watch the trailer for Evan’s film.

Upper School Biology and Math teacher, Samantha Margles, recently published a book in the Mythbusters Series titled The Science Fair Book. Visit Amazon.com by clicking here to purchase your copy today!

If you have an advertisement you would like to appear here, please email your entry to ediskin@steiner.edu.

All entries are subject to review. Publication is not guaranteed.

Seeking Accomodations Steiner teacher seeks to rent a room during school year, M-F (away weekends).

Ideal tenant! Always at work, sleeping, and away on weekends. Please contact Renni Greenberg Gallagher rgallagher@steiner.edu or (212) 5352130 ex. 233 Seeking a Room for June (July/ August?) in the home of a Waldorf family in NYC. In exchange — pay rent, care for children, plan/shop/prepare family meals.

Barnard College grad/Colorado Waldorf school grad (1-12)— quiet writer; loves children; healthy, accomplished cook—Call Alex (303946-4663)

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