Parent Bulletin, November 2008

Ru d o l f S t e i n e r S c h o o l

B ULLETIN

November 2008

FALL FAIR

IS IN THE AIR; THREE WEEKS AND COUNTING...

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS: Talk with Nancy Blanning; 7:00 pm-LSAR

11/3

Lecture: The Teaching of Reading; 8:45 am-LSAR

11/5

Lecture: Anthroposophy & other Spiritual Streams; 7:00 pm-LSAR

11/6

Community Association Mtg. 7:00 pm-LSAR

11/11

Fall Fair 10 am—4 pm Lower School Building

11/22

Noon Dismissal; Thanksgiving Break

11/27

*LSAR-Lower School Assembly Rm.

Fall Fair 2008 A Garden in Bloom Saturday, November 22nd 10:00—4:00 pm Artwork by 11th Grade Student

While on‐going for some time, plans for the activities surrounding the Fair have be‐ gun to step into high gear and it is not too late to help. Following are just a few ideas:

Volunteer Time; each parent at the school is requested to volunteer at least two hours to the Fair, either on set up day, Friday, November 21 or on Fair Day. You can expect a call from your class liaison to find out what day and time you can work.

For a complete and up-to-date Calendar of Events for the month Silent Auction; in the past, almost a quarter of the proceeds for the Fair have been o f N o v e m b e r , l o g o n t o made though the silent auction, but we need your help! It is our hope that each fam‐ www.steiner.edu. ily will donate or solicit at least one item that will be placed up for bid. Donation

Fall Fair 2008 Workshops Needle Felting

Tuesday mornings at 8:30 am Lower School Cafeteria Woodworking Wednesday evenings 7:00 pm and Friday mornings 8:30 am

forms can be found in the Lower School lobby.

Trip Raffle; the prize is four nights deluxe accommodations at the Huntington Hotel and Spa located in Nob Hill, one of San Francisco’s finest neighborhoods. The trip includes round trip airfare for two; raffle tickets are on the way home so sell, sell, sell.

Breakdown/Clean‐up Crew; it is vital that the building be returned to pre‐fair condi‐ tion for our children on Monday morning. If you are interested in volunteering in this important area please contact parent Brad Zola at (212‐876‐1361) or brad‐ zola@yahoo.com.

Knitting Circle Thursday mornings at 8:30 am Lower School Cafeteria Doll Workshop Friday mornings at 8:30 am Lower School Cafeteria

The Fall Fair is the School’s biggest community‐building event of the year. Funds raised through the Fair support the RSS student tuition assistance program. We look forward to seeing you and your families on set up day and Fair Day. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Shannon Williams or Stefanie Casillas by phone at (212‐535‐2130) or email (swilliams@steiner.edu) or (scasillas@steiner.edu).

Ru d o l f S t e i n e r S c h o o l BLESSINGS

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Page 2

GRATITUDE

REFLECTIONS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

BY PARENT CHAIR, JOY PHELAN-PINTO

In the Rudolf Steiner School community, we have much to be grateful for and it is a purposeful intention to express our gratitude frequently, openly and exuberantly. We may occasionally lapse, of course, but our intentions are true.

With that in mind, blessing and gratitude are in my thoughts these days. As our nation faces unusual challenges, I turn my gaze inward to our remarkable community and count our blessings….

We are deeply grateful for our faculty’s generous and dedicated attention to our children. We are equally grateful for the school’s steadfast and committed staff members. To detail all the ways in which we are grateful to these two sets of extraordinary people is a separate column of its own!

And, we are grateful to the third pillar of our community: our parents. Parent support—with gifts of time, assistance, participation in craft workshops, parent education, school beautification, committee membership, et cetera, et cetera, (and yes, Annual Fund donations!)—is a beautiful and fundamental part of our community.

Repeating a verse, saying a prayer or simply stating our gratitude reinforces appreciation and awareness. One of my favorite verses outlined below, which is often recited at school committee meetings, speaks to the heart of our community.

Thank you, one and all, for helping, caring and remembering.

The healthy social life is found When, in the mirror of each human soul The whole community finds its reflection And when, in the community, The virtue of each one is living.

--Rudolf Steiner

Spectrum ’08 Dear parents, faculty and neighborhood friendly businesses, Place an ad in Spectrum, the Rudolf Steiner School’s 80th annual yearbook. Why not promote your business, congratulate a graduating class, or thank a deserving teacher? We will guide you through the process and your contribution will be greatly appreciated.

Full page: $400.00 Half page: $200.00 Quarter page: $100.00 Eighth of a page: $50.00 Deadline: December 15, 2008 Contact Marina McGrew at mmcgrew@steiner.edu or call 212-879-1101 ext 323

Ru d o l f S t e i n e r S c h o o l

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APPLE PICKING The children and families of RSS ran and played on a cool, crisp, sunny Fall day at the annual Apple Picking at Outhouse Orchards on October 19. In an event sponsored by the Parent Council and facilitated by its Dads’ Committee, just fewer than 100 people ventured on two buses to the Putnam County venue hand-picking apples on the upper farm and then frolicking to the busy lower area general store and pumpkin patch. Hot cider, deep fried donuts and other fare anchored the parents while the children played busily on an old-style tractor, a play structure, and a collection of huge pumpkins. Some also enjoyed horse rides, hay rides, and running around the roosters and hens hopping about. A panorama of bright multi-colored foliage, sun and blue sky set the perfect stage for families to reconnect or meet and greet each other for the first time. The return ride reflected the out breath of all as children sang and napped after a hard day’s play

Ru d o l f S t e i n e r S c h o o l COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE Howard Straus ’60, a Steiner alum, has made his third documentary, The Beautiful Truth, which will be shown at the Quad Cinema at 34 West 13 Street from Friday, November 14 until Thursday, November 20. The film is recommended for children over 14 and is about the Gerson Therapy, a holistic cancer treatment developed by his grandfather (and Waldorf parent) Dr. Max Gerson. There are trailers on YouTube and at www.thebeautifultruthmovie.com.The theater’s website is www.quadcinema.com.

RSS parent Susanna Newman-Baddiel's theatre company, Actors Shakespeare Company, will be performing an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers as part of its 'Family Classics' series, November 6 through November 23, at the NJ City University West Side Theatre. For further information, tickets, or reservations call (201)200-2390. To purchase tickets online visit www.theatremania.com. For directions or more information, email Susanna at susnew@mac.com and www.ascnj.org.

Page 4 ANNUAL APPEAL 2008-2009

Support the Rudolf Steiner School and celebrate eighty years of educating the whole human being in a healthy and balanced manner.

Please give Generously to The 2008-2009 Annual Fund

RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL—EST. 1928