Just the Facts
Woodland Star Weekly Update
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Learning to think, to care, to create
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
Saturday, January 11th, 1st Grade Parent Morning, 9-11 AM in the classroom
Tuesday, January 13th, 2nd and 8th Grade Parent Evenings, 6-7:30 PM
Wednesday, January 14th, Community Education Event, topic TBD, 7:00 PM
Friday, January 16th, EARLY DISMISSAL, 1:00
Monday, January 19th, Martin Luther King, Jr. HOLIDAY, NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, January 21st, Charter Council Meeting, 6:00 PM
ANNOUNCEMENTS
School Tours ~ All
School Tours the second Wednesday of each month. Step inside each classroom for a view into the
amazing world of the WSS curriculum. We will
start with a brief discussion and then spend a few minutes in each classroom (K-8)during
Main Lesson. It is a great way to learn
about the curriculum and what it has to offer your children as they move
through the grades. This is a wonderful opportunity for new, prospective and even
established families to learn more about our school. Tours are approximately 90
minutes and begin at 8:30 am. Adults only
please and reservations are required.
Please contact Susan to book a spot on our next tour.
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
GRATITUDES
THANK YOU, Nancy Hyde, for contributing so many countless hours to our school and our children! Thank you for helping create such a beautiful winter spiral, which the Kindergarten, First, Second and Eighth Graders and their families thoroughly enjoyed; and for managing such a fun Elves' Workshop with the 8th Grade! We treasure you.
Thank you, Ralph Cetola (guitar) and 7th Grader Melissa Mullen (harp), for creating such beautiful music for our winter spirals!
Thank you, 8th Grader Jordan Bearg, for being our ‘Angel of Light' in the 2nd Grade winter spiral!
A big thank you to our Parent Mentors this year. They have been working tirelessly to speak to each and every parent at the school: Poppy Mann, Lead; Monica Conway;
Evelyn Melendez; Eithne Bullick; Nicole Ducarroz; Amanda Brumme; Willow Mahoney; Annie Cassidy; Ellen Schwartz; Alex Leader; Shannon and Ben Dewees
Please be patient if you have not received your call. If you really want to speak to a mentor, please check with Poppy and she will let you know who your mentor is.
A big THANK YOU TO 6th grade parent Shirryl
Bayless. If you have seen the
fundraising invites, posters, ads, etc., we look so good because of this
lady. She is an incredible Graphic
Artist. ~ Monica Conway
FUNDRAISING
Hi all,
Our fundraising team has been hard at work and has some exciting news re: our on-line auction. Read below for all the details. Also, don't forget those ‘Mortgage for a Year' Raffle tickets, another great buy and way to support WSS. Tickets are available in the office or by
contacting Monica Conway at 255-5557 or pmgconway@sbcglobal.net.
*Online Auction starting soon!* Our first online auction starts on Wednesday January 21 on cMarket. You can visit the site at that time at http://www.WoodlandStar.cmarket.com. There will be a link from the Ed Foundation website at http://www.wsedfund.org and from the school website at http://www.woodlandstarschool.org. Please tell all your friends and
family, visit the site, bid and support our school. There are some wonderful items from a trip to Mexico, wonderful wooden toys, great gift certificates, winery tours and much, much more....
We are therefore having a donation drive for items as we will continue to have auctions throughout the school year. Our Donation Station will be open this coming and every Thursday to collect and help you with donations. Please help us with whatever you can and feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas at valrobins@sbcglobal.net.
Thank you and a Happy New Year to you all,Val Robins
Estate Fundraiser - First Meeting ~ The first volunteer meeting is this Thursday, January 8th for the Estate Fundraiser to be held on March 28, 2009. If you would like to help put on this event please meet at 8:30 a.m. in the Main Hall. There are many opportunities to help. Questions please contact Monica at 225-5557.
The Donation Station is Back! ~ If you have items you would like to donate to the auctions, please bring them on Thursday at pick up time between 12:15 and 1:15. We will be out in front collecting them! We will be using the items for either the new cMarket auction or the Estate Fundraiser. All handmade items to be sold at the Estate Fundraiser.
‘Mortgage for a Year' Raffle Ticket Sales ~ Raffle Tickets are still available to sell. You can pick up Raffle Tickets in the main office to sell OR you can purchase a ticket in the Main Office.
*eScrip
Recycling Program* ~ This program is FREE. Please bring to school and drop off in the
main office, laser/toner cartridges, inkjet cartridges, used cell phones, iPods
and laptops. How the program works:
There is a collection bin in the main office near the copy machine. You can
drop off your recyclable cell phones, cartridges, iPods and laptops whenever it's
convenient for you. Periodically, we will mail the items collected at our
school to the *eScrip Recycling* offices. *eScrip Recycling* will then deposit
funds electronically in Woodland Star's account!!! We get
anywhere from $.05 print for cartridges to $35.00 for iPods. It all adds up to funds for the school. I send in 3 or 4 boxes a month of stuff
collected from Paul's work! We would
love to send more. Any questions,
contact Monica Conway 707.225.5557 or
pmgconway@sbcglobal.net
CLASSIFIEDS
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.
Guitar Class for WSS students ~ This guitar class is an exclusive offer to Woodland Star Students on Thursdays beginning at 1:30p.m. The class will be a beginners' guitar class with a limit of 8 students per one hour session. The cost is $15 per session paid monthly. Classes will be held at Sonoma Music Arts School on Broadway. What a great gift idea! For scheduling and more info call Ralph Cetola @938-1357.
Wanted:
For use at school, bookshelves of
any and all shape and size.
Please contact Sheila at: sheila@woodlandstarschool.org
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
Monologue and Scene Study for Teens and Preteens with 7th grade parent Jaime Love for children ages 12-14 ~Using the "who, what, when, where, why" acting technique I will assist your child in creating a character, and interpreting the written word using age appropriate material. Our last class will include a low key presentation ofwhat we've been working on.
I have a degree in theatre from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts NYC,
and over 35 years of theatrical experience. I am currently the Co-Directorof the Nicholson Ranch Players at the Nicholson Ranch Winery.
Classes run Mondays for five weeks starting in February. Cost: $125.00. 195 Cooper Street 4:00-5:30. Email me at skeezbot@sonic.net or call 996-9207
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.
Share Rental for One Person ~ 2 connecting rooms for the price of one! Garden available. Arnold & Grove, $600 per month plus ½ utilities. Please call Anthony Abate, 494-4649 or anth.abate@gmail.com.