Community Update
Dec. 14, 2018

Dear Friends,
Next week you have the opportunity to take a glimpse of sorts into the future. A group of our former students will be back on campus with us to carol 'round the fire and then share stories of their journey beyond CSWS at our Alumni Panel on Thursday morning from 8:45-10:45 a.m. Alumni from our school venture in many directions. Many transition to El Dorado County public high schools, of course, while some continue on with their Waldorf education at The Sacramento Waldorf High School in Fair Oaks or George Washington Carver School of Arts and Science public Waldorf high school in Sacramento. Still others attend parochial schools in Sacramento, such as St. Francis and Jesuit High Schools. We're often asked what our students go on to do after they leave our campus, how the fare out there in the larger world. Now's your opportunity to find out, first hand. Next week's visting panelists represent two colleges and a half dozen high schools from around the area, and their current interests include drama, public arts, student government, social justice activism and nursing, among others. They are an impressive cohort, and if you have the flexibility in your schedule, I would highly recommend your stopping by the woodshop to hear what they have to share!

I also happily announce that our new Cedar Springs Website was officially launched today! Many thanks to web designer Sean Malone for his creative site design, and to CSWS Systems Coordinator Jordan Tanaka and Board Co-Chair Amber Jensen for their hands-on efforts to get the site up and running. Please take a moment to click and explore and let us know what you think!  Also, our auction donation deadline is this weekend, so please consider if you would like to contribute an item or service to the biggest and best school party of the year. Donation forms are available farther down. Thank you!

The coming week will be here and gone before we know it. The pace and
Children_s store 8th grade
Class of 2019 students all dressed up for their Children's Store role
energy at this tim e of year tends to increase exponentially as the month charges on toward the holiday. I hope that in the mid st of the hustle and bustle, you are finding some time with friends and loved ones for connection, and a few quiet moments  with yourself for reflection. It is when we take a moment to stop and breathe that we notice this season can indeed be magical. 

I was reminded of this fact this morning as I climbed the steps onto our campus and was warmly greeted by a smiling 8th grader, one of my former students, who ran to give me a hug and share excitedly about his role in helping the young students navigate our charming Children's Store. His smile was genuine and broad, and as I looked up toward his classroom, I saw many of his classmates with a bubbly air attending to store tasks, including shepherding the little ones to and fro. I quietly stepped inside the "store," and where previously a frequently cluttered and occasionally stuffy classroom had been, I found a winter world transformed. Truly, it was nothing short of magical, a lovely and wide meandering passageway adorned with light blue draping and twinkle lights, stars and snowflakes. On each side were precious handmade baubles, toys, dolls, and myriad other gift items that were sure to delight the little shoppers. Aside from the beautiful gifts, there was something else inside that store as well: a feeling of reverence. I sensed it as I observed two 8th grade students, stooped down and speaking gently with each of their small charges, both in first 
grade. I  thought back to a time when these tall, confident students were once the ones being guided around with (what must have seemed to them then) a towering 8th grader, but today they were the ones inhabiting that leadership role, modeling patience and loving care to children who, too, will one day be the guiding angels. It's a beautiful cycle of sharing and learning, a gift for both the older and younger children, and just one of thousands of gestures that take place every year on this campus that make it so special.

No wonder our former students want to come back to visit.   I hope you'll take some time to visit with them while they're here.

Blessings on your weekend.

In spirited community,

Nicole Deutsch 
Director of Community Development
If You Missed our Lovely Advent Spiral ...
campus candid












   Advent         Advent Ice candle 

Advent campus

advent wreath  

advent spiral
The Alumni are Coming!
alumni
CSWS Class of 2012 Alumna Kaitlyn Crowley, featured as one of Style Magazine's "20 under 20" 3 years ago.
alumniHow do CSWS Alumni continue their journey after they've transitioned to high school and college? Please join us next Thursday, Dec. 20th, inside the woodshop as we welcome 8 of our graduates and hear their stories about moving out into the wider world, as well as what Cedar Springs lessons they have taken with them along the way.

The event will be held from 8:45-10:45 a.m. Refreshments will be served, and the All-School Assembly will follow at 11:30 a.m. 

Please contact Donna Soldano for more information at enrollment@cedarspringswaldorf.org
Auction Donation Deadline Today! 

auctionformsPlease click on donation forms below to download and print. Completed forms should be sent to:  cedarspringsauction@gmail.com

For more information about the auction, visit our auction website:

Click the images to open for download!
A Window into Your Child's Waldorf Classroom Experience
Save the Date, CSWS Parents!
Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 15-16 
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Have you ever wondered about your child's experience during their Main Lesson?  Here is an opportunity for you to observe the magic of Waldorf teaching in real time as you are guided on a tour through the grades.

Enrollment Director Donna Soldano will lead group tours on Jan. 15 and 16 for current parents who would like to do a "Walk Through the Grades." The Tuesday, Jan. 15th tour will begin  in the 1st grade,  continuing on the path to the 3rd, 5th and finally ending in the 7th grade. The following day's tour  will begin at 8:30 a.m. on the lower campus observing the 2nd grade and continue on to visit the 4th, 6th and 8th grades.

Please contact Donna Soldano at (530) 642-9903 or  enrollment@cedarspringswaldorf.org if you re interested in joining us on the tour.
New Parent-Child Session Beginning in January!
Please join us for our Parent-Child Program for 3-4 year olds.  The Sunflowers Program is held fully outdoors and designed to help children deepen feelings of confidence; build capacities for learning; develop new communication and problem-solving skills, and strengthen emotional well-being.

Our Day:
  • Gather and play 
  • Morning circle time: singing, movement, finger games and verse
  • Nature, crafting, and/or a campus walk, or more play if that is what the day is asking of us
  • Snack time (We will supply delicious homemade snack, please let the teacher know of any allergies when registering) and meal clean-up
  • Nursery rhyme/nature inspired story and a goodbye song 
For younger children (19-36 months), our Daffodils Program offers interactive play, singing, finger games, story time, snack and craft activities. Parents and children work on projects that rotate between gardening, baking, painting, toy making/craft.

Breathe deep and enjoy parenting support, imaginative play, laughs, and warm meals while you share good conversation with like-minded parents.

All-School Assembly and Early Dismissal this Thursday!
This Thursday is our last day of school until Jan. 7, 2019! Please join us for our All-School Assembly at 11:30 a.m. in the Outdoor Amphitheater. Early dismissal at 12:30 p.m. will follow. Aftercare will be available as normal.
Candids from Among the Oaks ...
KG Nature Table
KG Nature Table
Enjoy these photo captures from around our wonderful campus!
Taking a break from the Children's Store!















3rd Grade Winter Watercolors
Could Excessive Screen Time Literally be Altering our Kids' Brains?
A new article featured on the Screenagers' "Tech Talk Tuesdays" blog outlines a groundbreaking study that has discovered an association between screen time and actual brain changes. 

~  Read Article Here  ~
New Waldorf100 Video Highlights the Social Mission of Waldorf Ed
waldorf100 A second international Waldorf100 video was launched this week. The theme of the new film is "Encounter, Engagement, Inclusion" and it features schools from around the globe. The particular emphasis of the film is on schools that are working in very important ways to advance the social mission of Waldorf education, such as the Community School for Creative Education in Oakland, schools in Jaffe Israel that serve both Arab and Israeli students, and the Parzival-Zentrum school in Germany which serves a high population of refugee students.
Deepen Your Work with Children Through this Special Waldorf Workshop
paid advertisement
Workshop Fee: $250 
Help Needed! 
Our school is much in need of an early childhood extended care assistant. We are  seeking a warm, responsible individual to help supervise this program. Experience with young children and knowledge of Waldorf pedagogy is preferred, but not required. The extended care position hours are Monday through Friday, 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. To meet state licensing requirements, applicants must have 12 ECE units, and be willing to comply with current CPR and First Aid training, clear a Livescan background check, a TB test, and a health screening and comply with current California vaccination requirements.  Please send inquiries to: Veronica Gunasekara at  veronicalavergne@gmail.com  

The College of Teachers is seeking individuals who can act as substitute teachers. With our pedagogical chair position now vacant, we no longer have a go-to for when our teachers are ill or need to be away for the day for personal or family needs. With the cold and flu season approaching, the College would like to begin compiling a list of people, especially those with a teaching credential or experience working with children, who can support our faculty in this way. Please contact Amy Roehl at classof2023@cedarspringswaldorf.org if you would be able to help with this. 
calendar
Upcoming School Calendar Dates

Dec. 20 - Alumni Panel, 8:45-10:45 a.m.
Dec. 20 - All School Assembly, 11:30 a.m.
Early Dismissal at 12:30 p.m.
Dec. 21 - Winter Break begins, no school
Jan. 5 -    Faculty, Board, PG, Admin Retreat (all day)
Jan. 7 -    Classes resume
Jan. 10 -  Board and Trustees meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 15 -  Tour through the Grades (1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th), 8:30-                      9:30 a.m.
Jan. 16 -  Tour through the Grades (2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th), 8:30-                      9:30 a.m.
Jan. 16 - Parent-Child classes, Session 3, begins

Inspiring our students to reach their highest potential as free-thinking, creative human beings who have a life-long love of learning, Cedar Springs offers Waldorf education to families and their children, infants through Eighth grade. - CSWS Mission Statement

This form is made available to guide parent questions & concerns in support of our school's communication model. Please download and complete with Parent Mentors, Faculty, and Staff.