FAMILIAR FACES (24th edition)



Welcome to our 24th edition of Familiar Faces! With Detroit Waldorf School Alumni spanning the globe, we thought it would be fun to share stories of what they are up to! Whether an alum spent ten years here, or just a few, we consider our alumni vital to the life and legacy of our school community.

*Note: class years listed are for graduation of the 8th grade and the names following the year are the class teacher at the time of graduation.

Dzvinka Hayda

Early Childhood Teacher, 1998-2020

Performing a puppet play at the Kyiv Teachers House in Kyiv, Ukraine

I am the 12th educator in my family. I was born in Ukraine, from which

my family had to flee due to the ravages of WWII. We finally arrived at

the American Zone in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where I attended a

German school. In first grade, I learned to knit, sew, darn, and draw,

similar to a Waldorf school experience.

My family immigrated to the United States and after an 11-day Atlantic

crossing on an American Navy ship, we arrived in New York City. To have

better working conditions for my mother, we moved to Detroit. I was part of a close-knit Ukrainian community attending a Ukrainian grade school and then continued my high school education at Girls Catholic Central. I completed my higher education at Madonna University.

Ms. Hayda with her Bluebird Class

When looking for a school for my two sons, it was suggested that I visit the Detroit Waldorf School. All the school faculty and staff I met on my first visit were especially kindhearted. The classrooms were lovely and inviting, but mostly, the pedagogy resonated with me. Once the interview was completed, I sat on the stairs of the auditorium and listened to the sounds emanating from the classrooms. I heard singing, clapping, poetry recitations, and laughter. It all felt so suitable as a learning experience for children.

The Waldorf Teacher Training was in a rented space at Dun Scotus

Seminary in Southfield, where I enrolled and graduated in 1985. I hold two degrees, one in Waldorf Education from the Waldorf Institute of Mercy College and the second in Child Development from Madonna University.

I took the position of lead kindergarten teacher at the Waldorf

Kinderhouse, an early childhood center, and outreach for the Detroit

Waldorf School founded by Laura Valsi.

Stork's Nest Waldorf Early Childhood Center in Horodenka, Ukraine

This was followed by my taking several years off to establish a Waldorf Teacher Training Seminar and The Stork’s Nest, an early childhood center in Horodenka, Ukraine, which has grown into a grade school. I returned to teaching at DWS as a lead kindergarten teacher, 5th-grade teacher, parent-child program facilitator, and preschool teacher. I have since retired, though I continue mentoring and offering workshops and consultations.

I am also an author and illustrator of children’s books. My book “Little Angel’s Journey” is a birthday story told in Waldorf schools worldwide.

I am forever grateful for my years at the Detroit Waldorf School, not only as a teacher but also as a parent. My gratitude extends to the parents who entrusted their children in my care, my colleagues who were a great support system, and the children who taught me to love unconditionally. Whenever I enter the school’s doors, I feel like I have come home again.

Amelaa Johnson (Brummitt)

Class of '90 | Douglas Gabriel and Francina Graef

Hello to all DWS Alumni! I wanted to introduce myself to those of you that don’t know me. My name is Amelaa Johnson (Brummitt) and I graduated 8th grade from Detroit Waldorf School in 1990. I attended Waldorf from kindergarten, where I was a “bluebird”, all the way through 8th grade.

Amelaa with her sister Doyla (class of '93)

I’m so thankful to my parents who sacrificed so much to send my younger sister, Doyla Johnson, and I to DWS. If it wasn’t for this education, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Detroit Waldorf paved the way for me to tap into my artistic abilities where I’ve used them to become a very successful licensed Celebrity Nail Technician since 1994 and a Certified Celebrity Makeup Artist since 2016. I currently work for TV/Film in Atlanta, GA at Tyler Perry Studios and I’ve owned a fully staffed Salon in Eastpointe, Michigan since 2008. I’m married and have four grown children, one stepson, and two grandchildren.

Amelaa with her children Titus, Kamari, James, and Amara

I will always remember my favorite teachers Douglas Gabriel, Francina Graef, and of course Mark Honey. I have so many wonderful memories, too many to name, but I’ll never forget going camping in “real tents”, playing in dirt often, drawing and writing our own books daily, and prancing around the eurythmy room. Detroit Waldorf School has left a beautiful impression on my life.

Michael Junge

Class of '90 | Douglas Gabriel and Francina Graef

From kindergarten to grade four, I went to the Toronto Waldorf School. When my family moved to Detroit in 1986, I joined Douglas Gabriel’s fifth-grade class at DWS. In sixth grade, Francina Graef became our teacher and taught us through eighth. She captivated us, made us curious about every subject, and was a dedicated teacher to whom I have always been grateful. I attended University-Liggett high school for two and a half years, then went on a student exchange to a Waldorf School in Tübingen, Germany. Since the high school at DWS had closed in ‘87, I moved back to Toronto for grade 12 and graduated with a lot of my old friends. 

I then followed my brother’s example and traveled extensively in Egypt, Israel and Palestine, Turkey and Kenya. Upon return, I moved around and worked odd jobs. After a brief stint studying ceramic engineering at Alfred University in upstate New York, I decided to study Art at Ontario College of Art and Design in downtown Toronto. It was there that I discovered graphic design, which allowed me to combine my creative and technical propensities.

After my formal education, I co-founded a boutique agency called Hello! Design and really cut my teeth on branding, brochure, editorial, advertisements, and web design and helped get quite a handful of startups off the ground. Five years later, I worked for a startup which ran three cable channels and added broadcast design to my skill set. 

Michael with his family, Damaris Limberger, Hartmut and Nancy Junge, Klara Limberger, Nevila Gremi-Junge, Nils Junge, Michael Junge, Felix and Christian Limberger

I had been fascinated by electronic sounds in music since I was a kid. In my teens I was introduced to House, Techno, Trance, Jungle, Ambient, Experimental and Industrial music and became enthralled. Later at a rave, I watched a performer doing a solo live PA with two drum machines and a single synth. It was like watching magic and I decided I could teach myself such wizardry! 

In 2011, I moved from Toronto to California to focus on making music. After a few years, I was introduced to Dennis Klocek’s Consciousness Studies in Sacramento. After the course, I was hired by Rudolf Steiner College as Creative Director and Production Designer. It was a joy to meet new people and all the teachers, lecturers, and professors who were giving their all to spread Waldorf education and Anthroposophy more broadly.

These days, I still reside in California and work in design. I also own a record label where I'm able to collaborate with other artists, DJ from time to time, and dial in on my signature sound.

Remembering Justin VanPoelvoorde

Class of '87 | Ralph Marinelli

Written by his brother Timur Kocak

We were living on Seminole, just a few blocks from Detroit Waldorf School, when my brother, Justin James VanPoelvoorde was born on October 4th 1972. While both Justin and I were at DWS, our mother, Mary Ann VanPoelvoorde played piano for Frau Beurgin’s Eurythmy classes at the very end of the hall, in what is now the new and beautiful library. Our mother later returned to teach at the school starting a first grade class in 1985. 

After DWS, Justin attended Community High School in Ann Arbor and after graduating he spent a year at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He completed his undergraduate degree at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. Justin’s professional career took many turns which both fed and followed his ambition: writing poetry and fiction. As is the case for many of us, Justin kept a roof over his head as a young adult with a series of food service and retail jobs. A costume shop and several restaurants in Ann Arbor saw him through the development of his work writing and illustrating.

Justin with his brother Timur, class of '79

For a year he joined me in London on a temporary youth work visa. This gave him an opportunity to travel around Europe and, as he did his entire life, establish lasting friendships everywhere. Later, when I had settled in New York City, I was able to entice him to join me in my one bedroom apartment on the Lower East Side. Making rent in NYC is infamously tough and Justin put in long hours at a series of jobs.

After a particularly draining day of work at a large retail book chain on Fifth Avenue in 2001, Justin took the first step on a new career with what was at the time a very new tool: the online job search. It was as if Justin need only drop his line into the vast internet pond. His first application for the first attractive job in the New York Times online jobs listings put him right where he wanted to be. Justin worked as a librarian at the New York Public Library, at first filling in around the city as needed and then for fifteen years as a fixture of the Roosevelt Island Branch. The NYPL supported and accommodated his achievement of Master of Library Science degree at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute. All the while he continued to write and draw and occasionally self-publish his work.  

Justin with Mary Ann and Leon VanPoelvoorde at Timur and Amanda’s wedding, September 2008 in New York City

Justin relished his role in the Roosevelt Island community where he created and conducted many classes and programs. He taught seniors how to email, lead book discussions in numerous diverse genres, and organized readings, screenings and live performances. He grew to believe deeply in the value of free access to information as well as media of all kinds and advocated for the mission of public libraries everywhere. 

The Monday after Thanksgiving 2018 my brother’s sudden and unexpected death due to natural causes dealt a shock to his family, friends, colleagues and patrons of the library where he worked. A memorial service was held for him in Manhattan and attendance strained the capacity of the venue, filling every overflow space available. Among his family and his many friends is absence is deeply felt to this day. The NYPL maintains a page on its website dedicated to the collection of contributions in Justin’s memory: nypl.org/justin.

Student Designed DWS Apparel Available

Ms. Lord and her 7th grade class are fundraising for their 8th grade camping trip next summer to Temagami in Canada and want to share their student designed apparel with the alumni!

Please place your order by November 7th. Items will be ready for pickup in early December. If you need to have your order shipped, please contact Rachel Ornstein and she will coordinate those details. Thank you for your support!

WANT TO SEE MORE FAMILIAR FACES?

ARE YOU AN ALUM? JOIN US!

May we feature you in an upcoming edition of Familiar Faces? Do you know other DWS alums who might like to join our growing Alumni Association?

Please contact DWS Alumni Volunteer, Claudia Valsi, (Class of ‘83) at alumni@detroitwaldorf.org.