Just the Facts
Woodland Star Weekly Update
Monday, October 6, 2008
Learning to think, to care, to create
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
October 1 - December 31, Nickels for Nonprofits at Whole Foods
Monday, October 6th, 7th grade parent evening 6-7:30 PM
* MGK parent evening rescheduled to Monday, October 27th 6-7:30 PM (after the break) *
Tuesday, October 7th, 6th grade parent evening, 6-7:30 PM
Wednesday, October 8th, Danny's Walk, Ernie Smith Park on Arnold Drive, 7:45 AM
Wednesday, October 8th, 2nd grade parent evening, 6-7:30 PM
Friday, October 10th, Fall Assembly, 9:05 AM
Monday-Friday, October 13-17th, Fall Break, NO SCHOOL!
FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
Our fall break is upon us and I wish you all a restful and enjoyable week off. Upon getting back to school we will be gearing up for the incredibly fun Sprite's Night festival. The festival committee is hard at work creating what is always a great family event. They welcome any and all who would like to share their talents and time. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Marika Schamoni at 299-0656.
SPRITE'S NIGHT FESTIVAL! ~ Saturday, October 25th, 5-8 PM, Sprite's Night~
Seasonal festivals mark the year in the life of a Waldorf School. They accentuate the seasons, helping us keep hearts and minds attuned to the earth and its rhythms and cycles. For ancient humanity, festivals were a true observation and celebration of life - planting and reaping, the return of spring, the rebirth of the natural works, and the descent into the darkness of winter. Today, the celebration of seasonal festivals reconnects us to the earth and our natural origins.
Sprites Night is the school's first festival of the school year. This year the festival will be held on Saturday, October 25th, 5pm to 8pm. Sprites Night is a magical event put on by the parents for the children. The classrooms are transformed into scenes from fairy tales, myths, fables or historical times. Small groups of children and adults travel from classroom to classroom where they meet characters both realistic and fantastical - pioneers and knights, gnomes and wizards. At each vignette children are given a simple memento. There is entertainment in the playground and homemade food is served.
Each class will create a vignette, except for the kindergartens and 1st grade. The parents of each grade set up their classroom vignette, act in the vignette and break it down. Kindergarten parents are responsible for the set up and break down of the outside décor. 1st grade parents will be responsible for Guides, leading the groups of children and adults to each vignette. Parent Council will be responsible for vignette tour and food ticket sales.
Look for sign-up sheets outside each classroom this week. Volunteering for this festival is a fun way to start the 30 hours of volunteer time required by each family.
Sprites Night is a community event so please invite your friends and family.
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! We meet on Tuesdays, at 8:30 AM, after drop-off.
Padres Unidos (Parents United) ~ Monday, October 20th, 6-7:30 pm in the Main Hall. Come one, come all as we discuss the Day of the Dead festivities for this year; planning the altar and the potluck. Anyone, Spanish or English speaking, is invited to attend and join part in what has been a fun and culturally rich experience.
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
CHARTER COUNCIL ELECTION will be held Thursday, October 9th. We have one parent-held seat coming open on our primary governing board, the Charter Council. 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.
Please use the form attached to VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE and return it to the office by Thursday.
Danny's Walk, Thursday, October 8th ~ In loving memory of a fantastic former parent and WSS founding family member, Danny Riley, we walk to school each year on this day. Danny was killed by a drunk driver on Highway 12, while biking to work. We meet at Ernie Smith Park on Arnold Drive, and leave from the baseball diamond at 7:45 AM. Please join us as we walk to school in his honor. Strollers, and bikes are welcome!
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!
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.
GREAT NEWS! ~ Receive FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDCARE COSTS! You may be eligible to receive HUNDREDS or THOUSANDS toward your childcare costs!! Here are FOUR different ways:
1) Apply for a Block Grant (CCDBG) @ www.naeyc.org/policy/federal/ccdbg.asp or @ www.nccic.org
2) Look to publication #503 entitled, "Child and Dependent Care Expenses" @ www.its.gov or you can call 800-829-1040
3) OFA runs Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). They help locate grants that pay for childcare. By contacting state agencies, they can find a program that is right for you. You can learn more @ www.act.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/
4) Check out other opportunities @ www.childcareaware.org or www.workfamily.org
‘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!
GRATITUDES
Thank you to Nancy Hyde, Val Robins, Melissa Barnett and Marcella Note for your fabulous work on creating costumes for the Knight George Play.
Thank you and congratulations 3rd and 4th grade! These two classes have both surpassed their supply fee goals and have won additional funding for their class budgets in the amount of $300. It was an amazing effort to watch parents come forward to add extra money into the pot and to sponsor other families in their classes who weren't able to contribute financially. I want to acknowledge those members of our community who might not be able to contribute financially but certainly do contribute volunteer time and expertise to our school. We appreciate all of these forms of supporting our school, our teachers and most importantly, our children. All of us working together is what puts us over the top, as 3rd and 4th grades so beautifully demonstrated!
CLASSIFIEDS
*OCTOBER BREAK CAMP*
Monday, Oct 13th - Friday, Oct 17th , 9 AM -4:30 PM
For those of you who need a place for your child(ren) during the October break, I am offering a baking camp. We will bake an assortment of breads and treats. Along with this we will play games, go on hikes (weather permitting), jump on a trampoline, do crafts and play games, etc. The camp will run from 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM. lease RSVP if you are interested as space is limited. $45.00/day- $200/wk. Carlos Gonzalez 416 4th St. West, (1 block from Sonoma Market) 694-7500.
Dazzle Dance Studio ~ WSS parent Melissa Barnett has recently opened a pre-school and dance studio across from Parson's Hardware featuring tumbling, yoga, infant massage, dance, circus arts, arts & crafts, drop-off playtime and more. For more info, call 938-7107 or check out the schedule inside the glass display case by the office.
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 John Arntz: 935-8789 / jwarntz@pacbell.net
OFFICIAL CHARTER COUNCIL BALLOT
Please return to the box in the office by pick-up on Thursday, October 9th
*one vote per person
circle one candidate
CARLOS GONZALEZ
MONICA CONWAY
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Voter's Name Date