Weekly Bulletin
March 9, 2022
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Curricular Conversation Follow Up |
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Recently, the Parent Leadership Group asked what teachers have been doing to move toward an anti-racist, more inclusive curriculum. That question prompted the curricular conversations that the Anti-Racist Curriculum Group (ARCG) began to host in January. During the Curricular Conversation in February, Laura Cox (Grade 3), Lauryn Morley (Grade 2), and Linc Kinnicutt (Waldorf in the Woods) shared about the WWS approach to storytelling and developing literacy through the lens of anti-racism, diversity, inclusion, and social justice. |
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From Laura Cox, Grade 3 Class Teacher |
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One answer to this question of how we are working towards an anti-racist education is most easily shared in a picture, this photograph of the readers now available in the third grade classroom. Most were new purchases this summer. The reading levels vary; many are books in a series and some are historical fiction. Their covers capture the diverse characters and content shared in these stories. They have provided a wonderful launching point for conversations about identity, which meets the emerging nine year old well. The children have engaged in many questions and conversations that range from how a Shoshone man might resent the people who took his tribal lands, to why a girl’s name, handed down through her family lineage, would be important to her, to why a boy could not compete to throw candy from a parade float as Little Miss Apple Pie in a town’s apple festival, and how words really matter. |
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Another answer to the question could easily come from the children. Third Grade has often been known in Waldorf schools as the year of the Hebrew People’s stories, or even the “Old Testament” year, but my current class will undoubtedly walk away with a different impression. I have shared stories of the Hebrew People this year, but not to the degree that I have in the past. It is a conscious choice that I use the term “stories of the Hebrew People,” rather than Torah stories, for that comes from the Jewish religion, or Old Testament stories, which references the Christian Bible. Many of these stories, in fact, are also found in the Quran. I have chosen to focus on the people themselves as opposed to the religious text that may tell these tales.
Of my ten blocks this year, three focus on stories of the Hebrew People. The rest highlight stories of Indigenous People of this continent, traditional ways of measurement, and ways to create what one needs to live on the earth. The overarching theme of the year is less a year of the Hebrew People than it is Living on the Earth, learned through multiple lenses.
It is common in many Waldorf third grades to begin the year painting the Seven Days of Creation as told in Genesis. We did that, but I have also chosen to highlight creation stories beyond those known from the monotheistic religions. We also spent a month with the Haudenosaunee story of Skywoman Falling and painted that as well. We will paint other Indigenous Peoples' Creation Stories as we hear them throughout the year.
Both the Hebrew and Haudenosaunee stories of creation meet the inner development of a third grade student who is learning to stand more independently, apart from the entirety of a group or class. Nine-year-olds often feel isolated and left alone to figure out their next steps. Adam and Eve leaving the Garden of Eden mirrors these feelings, as do Skywoman’s twin children, the first humans born on Turtle Island (North America), learning how to survive on their own. How beautiful that these two traditions both meet this particular human question of how to stand on one’s own, and that our students can experience them both as equally important as they come to understand who they are on this earth today.
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St Anselm's Tournament 2022 |
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This past weekend, the high school boys basketball team participated in the 74th St. Anselm’s Invitational. This is one of the oldest high school tournaments in the DMV area and our team appreciates going each year. Thanks to Steve Roush and all the folks at St. Anselm’s who make this event happen.
This year the WWS team went 2-1 and finished in third place. Sam Merkel made the All-Tournament Team! Go Sam!
Congrats to the team for a strong finish to the season and for sending the seniors off with a winning streak!
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Thanks to Bill Merkel for the tournament photos! |
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Staying Up to Date With Our School Calendar
* Current Parents can find Zoom information for meetings in ParentSquare
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March
9/ Wednesday
- Seedlings Parent Evening, 7:30pm
10/ Thursday
14/ Monday
- G4 Parent Evening, 6pm
- Curricular Conversation with the Community, 7pm
16/ Wednesday
- G7 Parent Evening, 7pm
- G1 Parent Evening, 7:30pm
17/ Thursday
18/ Friday
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Early Dismissal - Spring Break
21-25/ Monday - Friday
28/ Monday
- Community Book Club, 8pm (see below)
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The Community Book Clubs will next meet via Zoom on Monday, March 28, 8-9 PM, to discuss Colin Whitehead's award winning novel, The Underground Railroad.
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Politics & Prose Book Fair
Save the Date!
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Shop and Eat Local While Supporting Washington Waldorf School
Save the Date for Sunday, April 10 when Washington Waldorf School will partner with local independent bookstore Politics and Prose (Connecticut Ave. location) and local restaurant Comet Ping Pong. Your shopping and dining will support Washington Waldorf School's ONE FUND, with 20% of your Politics and Prose purchase and 10% of your Comet Ping Pong purchase going back to the school's ONE FUND.
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At Politics and Prose, you may purchase a book for your own family's use or, if you would like to donate books to Washington Waldorf School as well, we will soon share our book wish list for our library, reading resource room, and classrooms. Please present this flyer at check out. You may either show the flyer on your phone or present a paper copy.
Then, walk next door and enjoy lunch or dinner at Comet Ping Pong! Mention you are with Washington Waldorf School to direct 10% of your dining bill to the ONE FUND.
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Announcing the Spring Gala |
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Back in Concert: A Spring Gala Together
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Join us for an elegant evening at Wolf Trap with dinner from Foxhall Catering, live music and dancing. In addition to the in person event, this year's Gala will feature an online auction, raffle, and the opportunity to purchase buy-in party tickets. Even if you are not able to attend the evening at Wolf Trap, please consider donating items and bidding on the exciting packages.
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We've posted a few new open positions in the past week - both teaching and administrative faculty. Some positions are open currently and some will begin with the move to the next school year. If you know of any strong candidates, please share the list of open positions on our website and encourage them to apply!
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International Waldorf Community Support for Ukraine |
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From the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN)
Our Ukrainian colleagues are reporting devastating attacks on their cities, schools and kindergartens are closed, children are suffering from trauma, and families are leaving their homes in fear for their life. The international Waldorf movement, including the International Association for Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Education (IASWECE) and our colleagues in the European Council for Steiner Waldorf Education, stand in support of the families in Ukraine. Learn more about this initiative.
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Photo from a Ukraine Waldorf school courtesy of IASWECE. |
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How to Submit a Listing
- We welcome submissions of community news, items for sale, want ads, etc. Please keep notices to 500 characters or less. There is no charge for listings.
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Please submit listings by COB Tuesdays with the subject "Bulletin Submission."
- If you are sending images or flyers, a link to an online version is preferred.
- Bulletin Board notices generally run for 3 weeks - if space allows - unless other arrangements have been made. Please let us know if listing information is no longer accurate. Listings may not be accepted and will likely be edited.
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These notices are from the WWS community, the greater Waldorf community, and occasionally from our school neighbors. The information and views in them belong to the individuals who submit the notices and do not necessarily reflect the views of WWS. |
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Eurythmy Technique Webinar - Revitalizing Your Eyes
How can we support and nourish the eyes during this era of increased screen time, video webinars and zoom calls?
April 10, 2022 at 7pm
Barbara Bresette-Mills will present a webinar for the public sharing eurythmy exercises to refresh and revitalize our life forces essential in keeping the flexibility and fluidity of the seeing process. Through gestures that breathe in relation to the outer light and inner life, we can quiet and calm the overactive head and enliven and warm the limbs.
This webinar is free, however donations are gratefully accepted:
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Donate Items for Refugee Families
from Robin Leake, WWS Parent
Homes Not Borders is looking for donations of gently used items to furnish homes for refugees.
Current top needs: Dining chairs, side tables, pots & pans and queen sheets! If you have some of the items above in good condition to donate, please bring them by our warehouse 3610 East Street, Landover (10-2 every day) or fill out our Donation Pick Up Form. Or just purchase some from our Amazon Wishlist today!
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Published by the Washington Waldorf School
Copyright © 2022 All rights reserved
We welcome your comments and submissions. Contact Alia Goodyear if you would like to be added to our mailing list, or if you have submissions, questions, or suggestions. Please email submission by COB TUESDAY with the subject line "Bulletin Submission."
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Washington Waldorf School
4800 Sangamore Road,
Bethesda, MD 20816
301-229-6107
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Washington Small Schools Association
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