Just the Facts
Woodland Star Weekly Update
Monday, May 19th, 2008
Learning to think, to care, to create
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
Wednesday, May 21st, Charter Council Meeting, 6:30 PM
Thursday, May 22nd, Incoming 1st Grade Parent Tea w/Carrie Reuther, 6 PM
Thurs-Fri, May 22-23rd, 2nd Grade Play
Thurs-Fri, May 22-23rd, 5th Grade Parent Meeting, 7 PM
Monday, May 26th, NO SCHOOL, Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 27th, 5th Grade Parent Evening, 6-7:30 PM
Wednesday May 28-30th, 3rd Grade Play
Wednesday, May 28th , 1st Grade Parent Meeting, 6-7:30 PM
Thursday, May 29th, Charter Council Elections
Tues-Fri, May 27-30th, Handwork Show in the Main Hall
Saturday, May 31st, 9:30-11 AM, All School Parent Meeting in the Main Hall
CHARTER COUNCIL ELECTIONS
Charter Council Elections will be held May 29. We have two parent-held seats open on our primary governing board, the Charter Council. These seats are currently held by Sixth grade dad, Rick Love and Seventh grade mom, Jennifer Zur. Below are the four candidates who are running for these seats. Please review their statements and cast a vote for two of these parents. Election Day will be Thursday, May 29th with voting times TBA. One vote per parent and all are encouraged to vote!
Cindy Riley ~ 1st Grade Parent:
Hello, I'm Cindy Riley. I love Woodland Star Charter School. I'm very grateful to be a part of the amazing community of parents, teachers and staff who give so much in support of the school and our kids. My children are Jack, in First Grade, and Natalie, who will be entering Kindergarten in the fall.
I'm excited about being a Parent Representative to the Charter Council because it's a powerful group of diverse, caring, competent people who bring their hearts to their work, and I'd be humbled and honored to serve with them. I believe the Charter Council is the place to hold the whole picture of the school community and what is going to work best for the children and the people who serve them.
We've seen some challenges arise during the recent school year. I hold the greatest trust and respect for the faculty and administration and would bring that trust to the table. I do not have a personal agenda to move forward, however I am holding a vision of establishing a conscious community and more transparency of process where morally and legally possible.
My service experience started when I was sixteen. I was the youngest volunteer to make it through the Marin Suicide Prevention Center training and took a night shift on the phones every Friday night for 6 months. In my mid-thirties (just a few years ago!) I joined a volunteer non-profit organization called the Family of Women and held many different positions over a ten year period, some of which were Program Leader, Orientation Program Manager, Leadership Trainer, Production Manager and Audio Visual team member. Service is a big part of my life. I believe in it, it feeds my soul and I think each one of us has something special to bring to the community.
In the 3 years that I've been a part of our school I've been involved with several different things...I love fundraising and have served on the Steering Committee. I'm now finishing a two year term on the Parent Council (the past year as Secretary) and am the Festival Committee Chair. I've been involved in spiritual exploration based on the teachings of Rudolph Steiner with Karen Rivers for two years.
I commit to bringing my heart, gratitude, honor, respect, passion and my willingness to give and bring my best to the Charter Council position.
Thank you.
Cindy
Larry Bearg ~ 4th and 7th Grade Parent:
Hello All! I'm Larry Bearg, father of Jordan (going to 8th grade) and Dylan (going into 5th grade). My background is varied and my life experience diverse. I have been married and divorced, but I am still business partners with my ex-wife and we get along very well. I have run my own business for the past 20 years. I have Ph. D. in clinical psychology. I have written plays, acted and directed in the theatre. I am a very good entrepreneur and a bad manager. I'm patient and have a high tolerance for stress and a pretty good ability to see all sides of a situation.
Charter Council: I would like to be on the charter council to increase the community's sense of representation and participation in the running of the school. I would like to help foster positive change in the way some decisions are made and carried out administratively so that our community feels included and consulted as much as possible. I think we have a wonderful school and I hope my participation in decision-making can enhance our best qualities and be an example to our children.
Larry Bearg
Carlos Gonzalez ~ 7th grade Parent:
My name is Carlos Gonzales and I would like to serve as a parent on the WSS Charter Council. My son, Francis, is in the seventh grade.
I would like to serve on the council because I can be of service to the whole community, the parent, the teachers, the administration and the council itself.
I feel I am qualified due to my experience in various Waldorf schools.
- I served as the parent council president at East Bay Waldorf Schools for two years.
- I was on the East Bay Waldorf School Board for two years.
- I have served a term on the Woodland Star Charter Council.
- I have been a parent at various Bay Area Waldorf Schools for the past 24 years.
- I have been a Waldorf
class teacher and remedial teacher for the past 16 years.
Finally I would like to say that I thoroughly enjoy working with adults and children in a Waldorf community setting. Amidst all it challenges there can be great fun.
Both young and old,
Can be so bold,
To find the truth,
Their treasure of gold.
Warmly,
Carlos Gonzalez
Gigi Medan ~ 5th grade Parent:
I would like to introduce myself to the Woodland Star Community families I have not had the opportunity to meet. I am Gigi Pappas-Medan, Dushan's wife and Ilija and Marina's mom. My family joined our school community in 2001, when Ilija was in the second grade. In 2002, Marina was enrolled in Ms. Monnica's kindergarden class. Ilija is now graduating 8th grade, having completed his last 2 ½ years of school at Stone Bridge Waldorf Charter School in Napa. Marina is in Mr. Stone's 5th grade class. In the past six years, I have served our school community in several ways: as classroom parent, member of the Parent Council, member of the Outreach Committee and Open House organizer and member of the Fund Raising Committee. Most recently I participated in a task force that evaluated our current specialty teachers' salary and compensation structure, making final recommendations to the Charter Council. I would like to continue to further serve our school community as a member of the Charter Council.
To the council I will bring energy and enthusiasm for our school methods, Waldorf pedagogy and our school community. My husband and I have seen our son Ilija flourish in a Waldorf-inspired environment; I want to ensure our daughter has this same experience and preparation for high school. I will leverage my career experience in Health Care Information Technology management to approach my Charter Council responsibilities with a high degree of professionalism, integrity and dedication. Lastly, I will work for the Council with tenacity, commitment and a deep desire to have our Woodland Star School continue to prosper.
I fell in love with this school when I saw the curiosity and wonderment in the eyes of the kindergarten students, like my daughter, Marina. And I have grown to value and appreciate this gift of public Waldorf education when I see its results: thriving eighth grade students like my son, Ilija. I deeply understand the dedication and hard work that it took our community to progress from our temporary school on Andrieux Street to our permanent campus on Arnold Drive, securing a SVUSD charter along the way. I would like to continue to serve our school community in a leadership role to help make the decisions necessary to ensure the continuance of our campus. Therefore, I ask for your trusted vote as I seek a position on the Charter Council.
Fondly,
Gigi
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Student Handwork Show,
Tuesday, May 27 - Friday, May 30 ~ Once
again our school will be having the "Third Annual Woodland Star Student Handwork Show". Our student's work will be on display during school hours in the multi-purpose
room (next to the school office)from the
27th-30th. The work shown
will be an accumulation of projects that the children have completed from
Handwork classes, grades 1-7, during the
'07 -'08 school year. Woodwork will be
on display as well. The children are buzzing
with excitement over the chance to showcase their remarkable work. Take a moment to mark the above show dates
on your calendar. We look forward to
your attendance, and thank you in
advance for your support!
Here's an Idea:
Hi Everyone! A friendly message from the Parent Council...If you've been wondering how to spend your Federal Tax Rebate checks which will be arriving shortly, we may have the solution for you! How about donating all or a part of your check to Woodland Star? You would feel good about it, you would be donating to a very worthy cause, it's probably tax deductible (we do not give tax advice, so check with your accountant), AND you'd be helping the economy because you know the school would spend it wisely! Just an idea we thought we'd pass along!
Doll
Making with Truth Almond
An
experience that must not be missed! At the end of the day, you will have
not only experience something magical, but you will go home with a wonderful
doll for your child, you or you can donate it to the school! Truly
wonderful. Truth is like Lady Spring!
WHEN: May 24th, 9-5pm
WHERE: Ruby Morning Preschool on Railroad Ave.
RSVP: Nicole
495-6707
Character Education Meeting ~ An invitation to all community members interested in developing and implementing a character education program (conflict resolution, community building and conscious communication) on our campus. We have held two morning meetings and want to offer an evening meeting to include those parents who might not be available any other time. We will continue with information-gathering as the first step in our process so please bring your completed Character Education Surveys (available on the website under Documents - Parent Handbook). Join us on Monday, May 19th from 7-8:30 PM in the Main Hall. If you are not able to attend this meeting but have ideas and want to be involved, please let me know by e-mailing: asstadmin@woodlandstarschool.org Thanks, Sheila
GRATITUDES
- Thank
you Val Robbins and Nancy Hyde for doing such a fabulous job on costuming
our students during this busy play season.
- A huge thank you to
Miss Angela for her dedication and active participation before and during
the Greek Games. It was a hot, but
very fun day and our students were well prepared and had loads of
fun. Thanks again!
CLASSIFIEDS
You Can Be in a Band! ~ Come and make new musical connections. Learn to Gig or just have fun. Professional Musical Coaching and Teaching
- Ongoing bands and groups meet in Sonoma.
- Parents, do you wish your music student child was more motivated and practiced more ?!!!
- Do you wish you could get back ‘into' music after a hiatus?
- Wish you could get off the sheet music and have more fun?
- Want your family to play music together?
Get
In A Band.com is located in Sonoma
and directed by Leta Davis. Students are
placed in groups by age, level and instrument.
If you have a group already, that is great too. Leta has 25 years teaching experience working
with all levels and many styles of music.
Coaching is by experienced professionals and geared to the goals of each
group. Contact Leta Davis at 996-5233 or Leta@Artisanknobs.com
Circus Equipment Sale ~ More to come on the circus equipment sales next week....This is your chance to buy the circus equipment (and possibly javelins and archery equipment) that you've been asking about and to support the Movement Education program at the same time.
The school will purchase the equipment at wholesale price and sell it to you at the same retail price that you would pay if purchasing on your own. The funds raised by this order will go to purchasing new circus equipment for the school. Look for a pre-order form in an upcoming JTF.
July 7-11 ages l0 and up
July 14-18 Ages 7-l0
125.00/week 10-1pm daily
Call 996-9207 or email at skeezbot@sonic.netTaught by parent Jaime Love, graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts NYC- over thirty years of stage experience, including teaching theatre and creative movement for children in summer arts program at Community Cente. Special "guest star teachers" include Musical Director for Broadway Bound Sherrill Peterson, for a day of musical comedy interpretation! Classes at l95 Cooper Street, Sonoma (let me know if these dates don't workbut you are interested).