Just the Facts
Woodland Star Weekly Update
Monday, September 22, 2008
Learning to think, to care, to create
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
Tues, September 23rd, Surviving & Thriving with your Adolescent w/Penni Sparks,
7-8:30PM, **FREE childcare offered for this event**
THIS WEDNESDAY, September 24th, SCHOOL PORTRAITS!!
Thursday, September 25th, Parent Tea with Penni Sparks, 8:30-10 AM, Main Hall
Friday, September 26th, Harvest Festival, 6-8PM, fun for the whole family!
Tuesday, September 30th, Festival Committee Meeting re: Sprite's Night, 8:30 AM
Tuesday, September 30th, First Grade Parent Evening, 6-7:30 PM
October 1 - December 31, Nickels for Nonprofits at Whole Foods
FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
Hi all,
We've got some wonderful community events coming up starting with Penni Sparks and ending with a great, Harvest celebration. Please join us as we bring in the Fall season and celebrate the bounty we all enjoy in our lives.
*Surviving and Thriving with your Adolescent with Penni Sparks ~ Tuesday, Sept. 23rd, 7-8:30 PM in the Main Hall. Hear Penni's inspiring and practical ideas on navigating the stormy seas of adolescence. FREE childcare to those who sign up in advance, and FREE entry to anyone bringing in either a completed Family Giving or E-scrip form. What a deal!!
*Parent Tea with Penni Sparks ~ Thursday, Sept. 25th, 8:30-9:30 AM. Join Penni as we follow up topics discussed from the previous Tuesday lecture and explore new topics alive within our parent body. If you have a specific question for Penni to address at the tea, either place it in her box or email her at penni@woodlandstarschool.org
*Harvest Festival! ~Friday, September 26th, 6 - 8 PM at WSS. Join us as we celebrate harvest together! We will have music, dancing, activities for the kids, potluck dinner, and endless socializing...fun, fun, fun! Please sign up on your classroom bulletin board to bring something to share. Please bring your own picnicware and blankets to sit on. Also, if anyone wants to help with décor, that would be great! There is a suggested donation of $10 per family. We respectfully remind parents that our teachers are attending the event as participants; they are not watching the children. In addition, Parent Council members will be roaming the grounds, but they will be monitoring the event, not the children. Parents, please be attentive and responsive to your children's needs.
Class Supply Fees Contest ~ Have you noticed all of the thermometers located outside of each classroom detailing where each class is at with respect to class supply fees collection? Take a look and if you haven't already done so, please submit your payment and watch your class mercury rise! Each class budget is composed of two funding sources; 1 the parent payment of supplies fees and 2. the school general fund contribution. Last year in order to balance our budget, the general fund contribution was decreased by 10%. That means we are relying more heavily on parent funding in order to meet our class budgets. Your contributions are so critical and so appreciated! If you can give the upper end of the range, please do so. If you can only meet the lower end of the range, we appreciate your contribution. This is not an optional contribution, rather it is paying for the basic necessities of the classroom specifically paper, pencils, paint, crayons, beeswax, main lesson books and fieldtrips. The materials we need to deliver this program to your children. We expect full participation in whatever capacity you can give.
In order to provide a little extra incentive, we are holding a contest. The class that is the first to meet their financial goal will receive an extra $300, the second to reach their goal, an extra $200 and the third, $100. These prizes were generously donated to WSS in the hopes of getting all parents on board and accountable. Let's work together and get this task done!
Great News from Whole Foods ~ WSS is next in line as a recipient of the Nickels for non-profits program. When you shop at Whole Foods between 10/1/08 and 12/31/08, be sure to bring your cloth bags so you can donate the 5 cents per bag refund, to the WSS Library program. Since the WSS community makes up such a big percentage of the Whole Foods customer base, we expect to see a nice return from this program. We'll keep you updated as to how much we receive from this program.
Other great community support ~ Don't forget to sign up and/or update your credit cards on e-scrip.com. It is a free and easy way for WSS to be earning funds and it doesn't cost the donor any money. Did you know that WSS can earn a portion of your bill directly when you grocery shop at local merchants: Safeway, Sonoma Market, Glen Ellen market and Planet Organics. Simply register on-line and when you use that card at any of the above listed merchants, WSS automatically receives revenue. Let friends and family know also as they can be shopping in Omaha, Nebraska and WSS can be receiving the bounty!
Lending Library ~ We have a great collection of books for you to borrow! Please take a look at our collection in the Main Hall, and sign out a book.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
THIS WEDNESDAY IS SCHOOL PORTRAIT DAY ~ Wednesday, September 24. Individual and class photos will be take by Sari Singerman Photography. Look sharp!
CHARTER COUNCIL MEMBER NOMINATIONS, Due by Monday, October 6th. Elections will be held Thursday, October 9th. We have one parent-held seat coming open on our primary governing board, the Charter Council. This seat was held by Second grade mom, Cindy Riley, who is stepped down as her family is moving out-of-state and will be leaving WSS. We will sorely miss Cindy who has been such an integral part of our community for the entire time she has been a parent here. Best of luck on your new, undoubtedly successful endeavors!
The council meets monthly (typically on the third Wednesday) with occasional additional meeting in the spring. This is a two 2-year term that begins July 1. Any parent who has been with the school for one year has the right to run. Candidates may self-nominate or be nominated by others. Please deliver a brief letter explaining who you are, why you want to run and why you would be effective as a Charter Council member to Susan in the main office. Self-nominations are welcomed; if you nominate someone beside yourself, please first confirm their willingness to serve. If you need additional information regarding the roles and responsiblities of a Charter Council member, please contact Ben Dewees (Charter council President) at: bdewees@bmrn.com
Miss Gaylan's 2:30 Club ~ We are respectfully asking parents to either pick up their children at 2:30 or send them to aftercare for the 2:30-3 pm timeframe (see below for great offer). This allows your child to experience aftercare and its magical offerings, at a very affordable rate all the while being well supervised. If you are in need of scholarship assistance, please see Miss Gaylan.
A special offer for 1st and 2nd grade students waiting for parents who pick up older siblings at 3 pm. Come join the fun in Aftercare for a mere $25 per month! Parents can be rest assured their children are well looked after, the children can enjoy the extra play time and the office staff can be certain the children are safe and accounted for. It works for everyone! No aftercare supply fee is required and at $1.25 per 30 min session, compared to the $5 per 30 min drop-in rate, it is an incredible deal!
SPRITE'S NIGHT FESTIVAL! ~ The Festival Committee is looking for lots of people to help with our annual Sprite's Night Festival. No experience necessary! Lots of jobs available; will train! Please contact Marika Schamoni, at 299-0656 to sign up for this FUN opportunity! Our first meeting will be Tuesday, September 30 at 8:30 AM, after drop-off.
Nickels for Nonprofits at Whole Foods ~ October 1 - December 31. We are the next recipients of the cloth bag refunds from Whole Foods. For each bag you bring in when you shop, Whole Foods will give us 5 cents. Please remember to BRING YOUR BAGS with you and request that your nickels go to Woodland Star Charter School. Just in time for all of the upcoming the holidays...spread the word and shop, shop, shop!
Family Giving Update ~ Thank you to all that participate in WSS's family giving program. If you had filled out a participation agreement and had monthly deductions last school year, we need you to update your account by filling out a participation agreement for this school year. Participations agreements are available in the office. For those of you who haven't participated and would like to, please fill out and submit the same form. Family giving is a critical way of financially supporting the school to deliver the rich and varied Waldorf curriculum. The funding that we get from the state falls short by approximately $2,000 per child from what it costs to educate a child in the Waldorf curriculum. Any and all donation amounts are most welcome and appreciated! For further information, see Sheila or Janis in the Business office.
Class Parent Meetings ~ Check the website: woodlandstarschool.org for the dates of the various class parent meetings. Childcare is provided for these meetings at a cost of $5 per child. Please sign up in advance (in the office) and pay the childcare provider directly.
Lost & Found ~ We already have a hefty supply of "lost" garments and accessories. Have your child check the box regularly and please label items.
Wish List ~ We have several items that we are in need of for the school and aftercare program. Please check to see if you have any of these items available to donate. This list will be updated regularly and posted outside the office and in the JTF. Thanks in advance for your help!
- Bookshelves: either short and wide or tall and narrow
- Floor lamps
- Love seat or small sofa
- Balls: rubber, tennis and basketball
- Frisbees: foam or silicone
- Classical marble or wooden Chess set
- Slipcover for a loveseat or queen futon
- Corduroy winter curtains
- Clean, untreated lumber for outdoor play
- Food supplies: ketchup, mustard, olive oil, organic fruit, organic vegetables
From Miss Gaylan: Dear families, sharing food and feeding the hungry is what we do for children, faculty, visitors and parents. We need your help. Please share your bounty whether it be an abundant crop from your garden or fruit trees or maybe from a shopping spree at Costco or leftovers from parties. Whatever you can bring we will gratefully accept and share with all.
Let's Make a Deal ~ You choose which deal works best for you, several options are available: You can pay the annual aftercare registration fee ($40 for 1st child, $35 for the 2nd) and contract for 2 hours of aftercare per week (8 hours per month) at an amazingly low cost of $5.95 per hour. You may schedule the 8 hours per month in anyway/time that is flexible via a drop-in contract. If you choose not to pay the supply fee, but do contract for 8 hrs, the rate is $8 per hour. Without a contract or supplies fee, the per hour rate jumps to $10 per hour. We have several options to fit your budgeting needs. Please see Gaylan in Aftercare if you have any questions.
‘Tis the Season ~ Unfortunately, the season is for head Lice and they have been appearing on campus. Please check your child's head weekly or more frequently if they show any signs of itching or irritation. Lice and nits are treatable but do require vigilance on the part of parents and education for the children. Discourage your children from sharing any hats, brushes combs, etc and bring your own pillow to sleepovers! If we all work together we can eradicate this and a lot of extra work for the whole community.
"Just the Facts" is available on the gate at the front of the school...grab your copy today and stay in touch! Or, sign up on our website for an electronic copy and save trees!
OPPORTUNTIES
We have many important committees and dedicated parents who make the functioning of our school so smooth. Would you like to be part of this incredible group of people? Even if you have only a few hours to donate, we can find something that helps our community without causing hardship or stress on you. An added bonus is that you can learn a new skill , meet new friends and feel good about the service you are offering. It's a win-win for all involved! Below are the committees, for more information about these and other volunteer opportunities please contact volunteer co-ordinators Todd Kneeland (tkneeland@mac.com, 935-6286) or Sheelagh Murphy: 996-8766, sheelagh@peterson-motorsports.com .
- Community Education Festival
- Hospitality E-scrip
- Site committee Outreach
- School Store Grant Writing
GRATITUDES
A HUGE thank you goes out to Cindy Riley, for all of your incredibly hard work and dedication over the past several years. We wish you and your family the very best as you move across the country...we will miss you all!
Thank you, to Patricia Dominquez and Robin Rosholt for transforming the Aftercare Kitchen, dusting, cleaning and arranging materials leaving the space in order and beauty. Let's keep up their good work by having a thorough cleaning each week, please contact Gaylan if you are available to help.
CLASSIFIEDS
Help Needed ~ Our family is in the process of adopting a baby from Guatemala, and we are traveling back & forth for hearings due to a problem with our case. We are humbly requesting flight miles to help us with our next flight. We need 2 one-way tickets to LAX from San Francisco this week. Southwest issues free tickets as soon as you accumulate 16 points. We could use one round trip ticket on Southwest to cover us both for this one-way flight. (We already have other legs of the trip covered). Does anyone have a free ticket on Southwest (or any other airline) that they would be willing to donate? Thank you so much, Kathy, Brett & Rose Lee. Please call Kathy Lee at 996-1297 if you have a ticket to donate.
Another thought: If you'd like to help us out in our adoption journey, but don't have flight miles to donate, you can support us by shopping at http://www.aromatherapist.mionegroup.com/ for your organic needs. Thanks so much! Kathy, Brett & Rose Lee
Escape to Oregon ~ Fly fishing, hiking, sight-seeing...sound good? Offered is a one week rustic camp retreat, suitable for up to 4 people. "Alkali Flat Wild Life Refuge", 50 miles east of Bend, Oregon, approximately 10 hour drive from Sonoma. This is your very own 340 acre camp site, which includes a 12' X 16' cabin with sleeping loft wood stove, and generator; no electricity. All this for only $335! Based on availability, please arrange 30 days in advance, flexible expiration date is 3/8/09. Please call Sue Pitman at: 812-3720 or sue_pitman@yahoo.com
Just the Facts