Just the Facts
Woodland Star Weekly Update
Monday, May 11th, 2009
Learning to think, to care, to create
UPCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
Tuesday, May 12th, MGK Class Parent Evenings, 6-7:30 PM
Thursday, May 14th, Parent Council Meeting, Main Hall, 6:30 PM
Friday, May 15th, 5th Grade Greek Games, Summerfield Waldorf School
Saturday and Sunday, May 16th and 17th, 8th Grade Garage Sale Fundraiser
Sat, May 16th, Miniature Golf Tournament Fundraiser, Maxwell Farms, 5-10 PM
FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
Budget Update: The Admin/Finance team has been working on the budget and will have a proposal to present to the Charter Council at the May 20th board meeting. We will publish the proposal ahead of time and email it out so all that are interested have an opportunity to read and review the proposal prior to the vote on May 20th. All that are interested in learning more are encouraged to attend the May 20th board meeting or contact a member of the Admin/Finance committee.
Hiring Update ~
1st grade ~We are very happy to announce that we have hired a new first grade teacher, Kathleen Pearl. Kathleen comes with many years of teaching experience (Waldorf and public) as well as being Waldorf-trained and trained in HANLDE neurodevelopmental modalities. We look forward to Ms. Pearl's visit to WSS later this month.
4th grade ~ Mr. Graham, our current eighth grade teacher will be teaching next year's 4th grade class. It is so wonderful to have such an experienced and successful teacher step into this role and as Mr. Graham is a very familiar face to these students (Mr. Graham's and Ms. Kanwit's classes are "buddy" classes), we expect the transition for these students to be very smooth and positive. We will certainly miss Miss Kanwit and thank her for three wonderful years. She and her fiancée are relocating to North Carolina and we wish them well.
6th grade~ Mrs. Reis will be leaving her current 5th grade class and we are in the process of interviewing teachers to lead this class. Mrs. Reis has done a wonderful job with these students and she will be missed by her students and parents alike. Mrs. Reis is leaving to pursue her interest in teaching younger children and has accepted a Kindergarten teaching position at Live Oak Charter School in Petaluma. We appreciate all that she has given this year and wish her the best in her new role.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Free-standing shade structures needed: For the 6th Grade Medieval Games Tournament. We would love to borrow them from Thursday, May 21st - Friday, May 22nd. It could be very hot and we need to keep our shires cool! Thank you! -Miss Sara
Robin White, a Mystery Lesson Teacher, is offering private assessments. This is an opportunity for your child to be evaluated individually on sensory integration issues and how they affect learning. She is available 5/16 and 5/17 for two-hour assessments. The cost is $200, and she will provide specialized feedback for your child, as well as activities that you can do at home. Sign up on the list outside 2nd Grade.
Please
don't make Aftercare an afterthought ~
In Aftercare, we provide a home, backyard, and neighborhood community away from
home. We provide rest, recreation,
safety and delight for all of your children. In order to continue offering
this very high level of service and standards, we need all of you who have outstanding
balances to take care of your bill as soon as possible. If your past-due
bill is too big to pay off in one check, please speak with Business Manager
Janis Lynne to make alternate arrangements for payment. Janis can be
reached directly at: business@woodlandstarschool.org. Invoices went in the
mail today so be on the lookout for them and please pay promptly. We
appreciate your help and support in this important matter.
HEAD LICE IS SPREADING ACROSS OUR CAMPUS! ~ Please check your children daily for head lice. If you need to stop by the office to see what you are looking for, Susan can show you. Notify the office immediately if you find it, and Susan can direct you to appropriate care measures. Thank you for your diligence with this...we are trying to get it under control and we need everyone's help!
San Francisco Waldorf Teacher Education program INFORMATION EVENINGS ~ Meet with master teachers and program directors to learn about our San Francisco Waldorf Teacher Education program. For information call Jessica Eicher at 415-359-5189 or e-mail jessicaeicher@gmail.com. San Francisco Waldorf School: 2938 Washington St., San Francisco, CA 94115 * May 6 * June 10 * August 28; East Bay Waldorf School: 3800 Clark Road, El Sobrante, CA 94803 * June 6
GRATITUDES
Thank you to all of the amazing individuals that worked on the Margarita Madness fundraiser especially Mara Lee Ebert & Monica Conway - you are amazing!
Also, a big thank you to the Outreach and Festival Committees for a wonderful Cinco De Mayo and May Day Festival. Having professional representation of our school in the community is so appreciated and necessary. In addition, these are two great groups to be involved in! If you are passionate about WSS and looking for some fun in your life, join up! Contact Andrea Gregory for Festivals: jacogregory@hotmail.com and Anne Cassidy for Outreach: anneandgrace@yahoo.com.
Thank You to all the class parents for contributing
to the first Market on May Day. What a fun day we had!!! Thank you so
much for all your support, the yummy food you provided and the help during the
day with strawberry cutting, table set up, garland making, etc. Plus we
made $500 at the market today!!!! So each teacher received $50 for their
class funds!
The class parents really are the back bone of the school, we could not function
without you!!
Thank You to Andrea Gregoary and Marika Schamoni for putting together the booths for the Cinco De Mayo on the Plaza AND to Annie Cassidy and Heather Zavaleta for doing the food booth, plus their teams! The all did an excellent job representing Woodland Star at the Cinco de May on the Plaza this year.
Big THANK YOU to Mara Lee Ebert for the fabulous party she put on Saturday night. We all had a great time and we made money for the school. Thank You to the volunteers, Chris Condon, Kelly Dillman, Andrea Gregory, Helen Batten, Genevieve Rousseau, Kerri and Poppy Mann, John and Carol Arntz, Larinda and Kyle Merkins, Jamie Love, Clive Prasad AND the Dadz Bank - Rick Love and Steve Ciurocco and guest appearance by Joe Koch!
FUNDRAISING
Mini Golf
Turn in your Mini Golf Registrations ASAP. A signal registration is $40
and a foursome is $150. Put your teams together Today! We will begin
assigning tee times this week! We still have a few sponsorships spots
available. Display your business at the first Miniature Golf
Tournament! Sponsorships are from $200 to $1,000. Call Monica
Conway for details.
Miniature Golf Tournament, Saturday, May 16th
at Maxwell Farms, 5-10 PM. Complete your registration form NOW (available
in the office). We have a few sponsorships left. Please turn in by
the end of the week we are beginning to assign tee times!
Monica
225-5557, pmgconway@sbcglobal.net
THE 8TH GRADE NEEDS YOUR HELP!! Please donate items for our class garage sale, which will be on Saturday and Sunday, May 16th and 17th. Bring items to the school office or phone for pickup of large items: Andrea Bossio, 227-6502 Marcella Note, 939-0679.
The sale will be held at Emilie Marenec's house 20220 5th Street West at 9am. All money generated goes to the 8th Grade class trip...please donate items AND come to the sale!!
eScrip Recycling ~ Keep them coming: toner cartridges, cell phones, iPods, laptops. There is a collection bin in the main office near the copy machine. It all adds up to funds for the school. Any questions, contact Monica Conway 707.225.5557 or pmgconway@sbcglobal.net
Seventh Grade Burrito Fundraiser ~ Please fill out your form and include payment ($4) by FRIDAY for yummy, organic burritos on Monday!
CLASSIFIEDS
*Farm Camp at Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm ~ 1 week sessions June 22-July 31st. Ages 4-5 years & 6-9 years. $225 per week. Animal care, farm work, herb & nature walks, cooking, crafts and more. New this year, Permaculture Camp for 10-12 year olds. July 13-July 24. $275 per week. Check Summer Programs on our website for more information: www.summerfieldwaldorf.org or call (707) 575-7194 x370
Got Gold? Do you have any gold items you no longer use, maybe one earring, a necklace that broke and has not been fixed. We will be holding a gold sale event on Tuesday, May 19, by appointment only. A gold representative will be purchasing gold pieces from people and paying cash for items. Please call Monica Conway for more details and to schedule a time to have your gold evaluated.
A little R&R? Interested in a great offer on vacation possibilities for this year? Starting 4-1 to 12-31 2009 I can make reservations for ANYONE interested in staying at a Fairmont Hotel and Resort for just $50.00 above my employee discounted rate. Check on line at www.fairmont.com and you will find Fairmont Hotels all over the world. Don't let the high prices scare you. Just call Milena Pritel at (707) 953-3865. Let's find a little fun in our lives.
Great website: www.thepuppenstube.com for beautifully handmade dolls, gnomes and more! The website also features Buntspechte wooden figures from Germany.
Planet Organics Store is open! ~ 19449 Riverside Drive. Woodland Star parents and staff can enjoy $10.00 off their first purchase of $50 or more! Open 7 days a week, 10am - 8pm. planetorganics.com 1-3% of your purchase goes to WSS when you use eScrip.
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. Please call Sue Pitman at 812-3720
For Rent ~ Beautifully maintained 1 br 1 ba second storey house for rent, furnished, no pets, W/D, month-to-month, $1200 negotiable. Lomita Ave. Bill or Doris 996-2755.
Calligraphy Class ~ On Thursdays at 1:10 PM, I would like to offer a Calligraphy Class for 6th-8th graders. Please call Carlos Gonzalez, 694-7500 or abczcarlos@netscape.net.
Afterschool violin, viola and piano lessons offered at WSS ~ For information please call Gail at: 953-4470 or gailclaus@comcast.net
Homework
Clubs ~Attention 6th, 7th & 8th grade parents and students. I am offering various
Homework Clubs for the upper grade students.
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. Please call Carlos Gonzalez,
707-694-7500 or abczcarlos@netscape.net.
Beginning Group Guitar classes ~ offered at Woodland Star School each Thursday beginning at 1:30. Students attending grades 3rd through 8th at Woodland Star School are invited to join. Cost is $20 per one hour session paid monthly. Call Ralph Cetola, 938-1357.
Experienced Babysitter, House-sitter and Pet-sitter ~ Sliding scale and references available upon request. Please contact Marie Hargitt (Miss Marie from aftercare!): 707-338-7571.