Just the Facts
Woodland Star Weekly Update
Tuesday, November 24, 2008
Learning to think, to care, to create
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
Tuesday, November 25th, ALL SCHOOL ASSEMBLY, Altimira Auditorium 9:05 AM
Wednesday-Sunday, November 26th - 30th, Thanksgiving Break NO SCHOOL!
Monday, December 1st, 5th Grade Class Parent Evening, 6-7:30 PM
Tuesday, December 2nd, Padres Unidos, Main Hall, 6-7:30 PM
Wednesday, December 3rd, Sweet Pea Kindergarten Class Parent Eve, 6-7:30 PM
Thursday, December 4th, "Restorative Practices" Conf, 8 AM - 4 PM, Santa Rosa
Monday, December 8th, 6th Grade Class Parent Evening, 6-7:30 PM
Tuesday, December 9th, Morning Glory Kindergarten Class Parent Eve, 6-7:30 PM
Tuesday, December 9th, "Winterizing Your Child", 7-8:30 PM
October 1 - December 31, Nickels for Nonprofits at Whole Foods
FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
Hello all,
As we move into the official holiday season, it is important to slow down, take a deep breath and give thanks for the bounty of blessings that surround us all. I personally want to offer my thanks to all of you, dear members of the WSS community. I have been so amazingly supported by all of you via kind words, hugs, gifts of food, smiles and your kind thoughts. I love what I do and so appreciate all of you. Doing this work has been such a gift and although I keep long hours, I've never been happier. Enjoy the holiday and I look forward to seeing you all on December 1st.
Warmly,
Sheila
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Admin/Finance Committee~ The Admin/Finance committee is looking for a few good members to work closely with Administration to formulate our 2009-10 budget. This six member committee will be comprised of two members of Administration, two parents and two teachers. We are looking for people who have experience working with financial statements and budgets, those who can commit to regular meetings (every 2 weeks or so), and those who can serve for a one-year term. If you are interested in applying, please send a statement to Sheila at: Sheila@woodlandstarschool.org. Ideally, we will begin our work in January 2008.
Padres Unidos ~ Tuesday, December 2nd, Join Spanish teacher, Heather Zavaleta, for an informative and community-building event from 6-7:30 pm in the Main Hall. All are welcome.
Winterizing Your Child, an Eastern and Western Approach. Practical and quick solutions for keeping your child healthy during the winter months. Presented by Shiroko Sokitch, MD. Tuesday, December 9, 7-8:30 PM in the Main Hall. Free childcare available if reserved in advance.
Sonoma Valley High School ~ Learn about the local High School and what it has to offer...Wed, Dec 3, 6:30pm, Sonoma Valley High School Pavilion. For more information, call 933-4030.
Parent Mentoring Program ~ Attention PARENTS & TEACHERS, there is a newly implemented Parent Mentoring Program. Mentors will be meeting with each and every family to discuss governance, committees, important financial information affecting our school and getting to know you. Meetings are about ½ hour or less and can be scheduled at a convenient time for you. We will make sure your escrip is up to date so have your cards handy. We will discuss some changes at the school and make sure there is a way your needs and contributions are being met and acknowledged. Your mentor will contact you very soon if you have not had your meeting yet. Thank you so much!
Calling all Compostphiles!! Please assist the 3rd grade garden class by bringing decomposable materials to school for us to compost. We would appreciate the following materials:
* Manures
* Grass clippings
* Kitchen scraps
* Leaves (as long as there aren't poison oak leaves in there)
* Soft perennial prunings (please no stems larger than ½ inch, or with thorns)
FYI: I am a proponent of composting oils, meats, etc...but it isn't appropriate on campus as it can attract flies and smell horrible.
Please bring the materials on Monday mornings and place behind the Resource Room in plastic bags, or dump from a can next to our bed of compost (surrounded by straw).
Many thanks for your rotten stuff,
Mollyanne Meyn, Ms. Molly, the Gardening Teacher
Housing Needed: Our Chinese friends from the Cheng Du Waldorf School in Cheng Du, China are wanting to plan a return trip to WSS and are in need of housing. We have a combination of: 1 adult with 2 children as well as as 1 adult, 1 child who are looking for lodging from January 10th thru February 15th. Please let Sheila know if you can provide housing for our guests for part or all of this time. It is a unique opportunity to learn about another culture. All children and adults are English speakers. Thanks!
GRATITUDES
Aftercare gives thanks ~
To all the parents who provide us with food - "soup to nuts". Thank you Carlos, Jules, John and Planet Organics.
Last Saturday, the Hendersons, Monica, and Matt and Susan refreshed the aftercare room...thank you, thank you.
We will need more volunteers Saturday, December 13 from 10-12 to again refresh the Aftercare room. Please see Gaylan to sign-up. Thank you.
FUNDRAISING
Whole Foods Shopping ~ Shop at Whole Foods for the holiday and BRING YOUR REUSABLE CLOTH BAGS so that you can donate your 5 cents to Woodland Star!
*Items needed for ebay auction! ~ *We want to get our ebay auction up and running with the holidays fast approaching. We will start as soon as we have enough items so, please donate as soon as you can. Smaller items (e.g. jewelry, gift certificates) are the best, but we thank you for any donations. Please bring them to school and complete the donation/gifting form (available in the office). Thank you.
Seventh Grade Burrito Fundraiser ~ Begins Monday December 8th
The Seventh Grade class will be preparing, with strict parental supervision,
wonderfully tasty burritos each Monday. The burritos will be delivered right
to your child's classroom just before lunch.
The Burritos will consist of the following all natural ingredients with no preservatives:
organic whole beans, organic whole grain rice, rBST free cheese and mild salsa
lovingly wrapped in a flour tortilla. The food items will be prepared by
7th grade parents using fresh ingredients (organic whenever possible).
An email with more information and order forms will be sent out soon.
Thank you! We look forward to serving you!
CLASSIFIEDS
THANKSGIVING BREAK CAMP -
Thanksgiving day is upon us soon,
A delectable feast that makes us swoon.
So, let us bake your pumpkin pies,
To grace your table and make you sigh.
For those of you who need a place for your child on the Wednesday and Friday of Thanksgiving break, I am offering a baking camp. On Wednesday we will bake a pumpkin pie for your Thanksgiving dinner and on Friday we will bake English Muffins for your weekend meals. Along with this we will play games, go on a hike, weather permitting, jump on a trampoline, etc., etc.
The camp will run from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM on both days Please RSVP if you are interested as space is limited. $45.00 per day.
Carlos Gonzalez 416 4th St. West, (1 block east of Sonoma Market) 694-7500 Ahhhh.... The aromas
Homework Clubs ~Attention
6th,7th & 8th grade parents and students. I am offering various
Homework Clubs for the upper grade students. The main emphasis is on math,
but if your student needs help and a quite place to work on any homework
assignment space is available. We will meet in the Mail Hall or in a
classroom at 3:10 PM or 2:10 on Thursdays. The cost is $10 per
student. The intention is for certain grades to meet on certain days and there
is some flexibility here if needed. Here is my tentative schedule:
Mondays for 8th graders.
Fridays for 7th graders
Tuesdays
and Thursdays for 6th graders
Calligraphy Class ~ On Thursdays at
1:10 PM, I would like to offer a Calligraphy
Class for 6th-8th graders. In my experience with teaching the upper grades,
this is a class they really love and it gives many benefits for their
development. It can obviously improve their handwriting and it can also work on
their fine motor development, tactile and spatial awareness and increase
their sense of appreciation for beauty in this world.
Please contact me if you are interested, Carlos Gonzalez, 694-7500 or abczcarlos@netscape.net.
Lost: Still missing from Sprite's Night, last seen
on the Kindergarten picnic table: small black leather fanny pack w/video camera
and wallet (irreplaceable memories on camera).
Please call Anthony Abate: 494-4649 or via email at: anth.abate@gmail.com
Summerfield Winter Faire December 6th
The Winter Faire is an opportunity for children and families to share an old fashioned holiday outing. It features craft-making for children and adults, such as beeswax candle-dipping, gingerbread cookie-decorating, wreath-making, and wool-crafting. A puppet show is offered, as well as a hearty lunch and holiday desserts for sale. In addition, a unique selection of classic books and handcrafted gift items make the Winter Faire an excellent day for seasonal shopping! 11am to 4pm
Restorative Practices: A unifying framework for schools. Thursday, December 4th, Finley Community Center, 2060 West College Ave, Santa Rosa. $90.00 fee. 8-9 a.m. - registration, 9 a.m. -2 p.m. Conference. Includes breakfast and lunch.
Wanted:
For use at school, bookshelves of
any and all shape and size.
Please contact Sheila at: sheila@woodlandstarschool.org
Happy Holidays from Selah Body Care ~ Woodland Star discount: 1 or more items 15% off; 3 or more items 20% off; 5 or more items 25% off. Custom gift bags and baskets available. Pick up in Glen Ellen or have it delivered locally! Pure and delightful quality skin food: water free & packed with nutrients; made with organic ingredients; no phthalates, parabens or synthetic color; kind to those with chemical sensitivities; sustainable sourcing of ingredients; environmentally friendly; never tested on animals. To receive pricing, email or call Haushinka: info@selahbodycare.com (707) 933-9945. Visit www.selahbodycare.com
*Get
your holiday photos taken now! *Sue Block is having a "holiday
special" for the next two weeks - family or individual in studio on digital. You will receive your photos on a disk - fast
turnaround. All for $100. Location can be discussed - call or email for
appointment:
938 3909; sueblock@sbcglobal.net <mailto:sueblock@sbcglobal.net>.
Afterschool violin, viola and piano lessons offered at WSS ~ Long-time music teacher Gail Claus is coming to WSS to offer our students the opportunity to continue music lessons at a reasonable rate and maximum convenience. Gail will offer 45 minute lessons on a first-come-first-served basis starting with Thursday afternoons. Private ($160/mo) and semi-private: 2-3 students, ($100/mo) lessons available. For an added incentive, parents are able to rent the WSS violins for a refundable $100 security deposit to enable your child to have access to this incredible opportunity. For information please call Gail at: 953-4470 or gailclaus@comcast.net
Girls
Rising ~ Specifically for 6th-8th grade girls. Discover
adolescence, self-confidence, agency, creativity, compassion, mindfulness and
learn to be yourself! We will: share stories, write a play and poems; perform;
sing; paint; make collages; cook; hike; garden; play; serve in the community. We meet at Woodland Star on Thursdays,
1:13-2:45 PM. Girls' parents will meet
twice during the sessions, dates to be determined. The cost is $100-150, sliding scale, per
child for 6 session + 2 adult sessions.
To reserve a spot or for more information, contact Kathy Hargitt, M.A.,
at (707)235-8488 and/or kathyhargitt@vom.com
WALDORF INSPIRED CHILDCARE PROGRAM
We have a special place for your child! A Child's Garden Childcare offers loving, supportive care in a small group environment, perfect for 1 - 3 year olds. We have a very large yard, and spend lots of time outside in creative exploration and nature "studies" - playing with sand, water, mud, herbs & flowers, bubbles, etc. Our program is rich with both music and language to stimulate brain pathways. Of course, there is no TV, instead we spend lots of time telling stories, singing, playing and exploring. We make homemade playdough, paint and do crafts, as well as baking and gardening. The children pick herbs and make their own "rosewater", fairy balm, and herb vinegars. We serve all organic, home cooked meals and snacks. Many happy Woodland Star families have had their children in our program, which opened in 2001. CPR/First Aid certified with over 28 early childhood education units, including some Waldorf training. Please call Kathy Lee, WSS parent, to set up an interview.
(707) 996-1297
Handyman
available ~ Jesus Gonzalez, friend of WSS community member,
is in need of more work. He is a
handyman, able to do carpentry, gardening, and electrical work. His telephone number is 343-6314.
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At Woodland Star Charter School, we are starting a new Holiday tradition of sending letters to parents, grand parents, family and friends asking for tax deductible contributions to help fund our work during the coming year. The letter will be mailed after Thanksgiving.
We are asking parents, teachers and staff to contribute names of family and friends, neighbors and coworkers to help expand our mailing list. We will be using our current fundraising data base. Please let us know who you would like to add to the data base to receive our Holiday Appeal this year by completing this form and returning it to the Office as soon as possible, but no later then November 25. Thank You very much for your help!
Your Name ________________________
I would like t o put a note in the letter, please contact me at __________________________
1. Name: ________________________ Relationship to child: ______________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
City, State & Zip code: _____________________________________________________
2. Name: ________________________ Relationship to child: ______________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
City, State & Zip code: _____________________________________________________
3. Name: ________________________ Relationship to child: ______________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
City, State & Zip code: _____________________________________________________
4. Name: ________________________ Relationship to child: ______________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
City, State & Zip code: _____________________________________________________
5. Name: ________________________ Relationship to child: ______________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
City, State & Zip code: _____________________________________________________