"TIAOAIT" Eurythmy Form

Dear Washington Waldorf School Community,

I am thrilled to reflect on our exciting journey this year with our students in Grades 1 through 10. As their eurythmy teacher, it has been a great pleasure to witness the growth and engagement of your children in the eurythmy program. I am writing to share an incredible visit we will host from Eurythmy Spring Valley on Feb 27 and 28. This institution holds a special place in my heart as I earned my eurythmy degree and pedagogical training there between 2006 and 2010.

I am excited to share a glimpse into the rich experiences your children have been immersed in across the various grades:

• Grade 1 students have been exploring fairy tales, moving through circles and spirals in unison, honing their skipping, trotting, and galloping.
• Grade 2 has delved into "The Little Violet," a play inspired by Rudolf Steiner's "The Kingdom of Childhood."
• Grade 3 is mastering classic forms such as the crown form, the harmonious eight, the Curve of Cassini and soon, the five-pointed star.
• Grade 4 is engaged in the Maori block, learning the sea shanty "Wellerman."
• Grade 5 has been working with copper rods, mastering the energy and peace dances, and progressing to the planet dance, along with the seven and twelve fold copper rod exercises.
• Grade 6 is exploring the diamond transformation and ancient Greek speech pieces through movement.
• Grade 7 has focused on tone, speech, a rod medley, and the intricate iron cross form alongside the waterfall rod exercise.
• Grade 8 is immersed in the Ballad of Semmewater.
• In the High School, Grade 9 has learned a complex form designed by Rudolf Steiner known as the TIAOAIT (pictured above), while Grade 10 is working on a speech piece by Marianne Williamson.

Looking ahead, I am eager to commence work with Grade 11 this spring. The eagerness and anticipation from our students, especially those who recently inquired about the start date, fills me with immense gratitude and excitement for the remainder of the school year ahead.

I cordially invite our entire community to the performance by Eurythmy Spring Valley on the evening of Tuesday, Feb 27 at 7:30pm, which coincidentally marks the birthday of Rudolf Steiner. This event is especially dear to me as I will perform a solo piece for the first time in 14 years. It is an honor to share this beautiful art form with our cherished community, and I look forward to celebrating this special occasion together.

Warmest regards,

Catherine Padley, WWS Eurythmist

Recently the Grade 4 students explored dividing fractions during a fun and delicious class pizza party. Class teacher, Dawn Tanner, asked the students to write about the expereince in their own words...

If you weren't able to attend the recent Grade 6 Circus, here are some photos for your enjoyment.

On Valentine's Day the middle school brought music, conversation, and joy to a local assisted living community.

Wednesdays Are Pizza Days

Thanks for your support of the volunteer-led lunch program! Please order by Sunday 2/25 for next Wednesday’s pizza day!

Menu:

• Cheese pizza, salad, blanched broccoli
• Allergy-friendly options: Gluten-free, Dairy-free, and Gluten & Dairy-free
• Cost: $10 for G2 and up, and $8 for CG-G1

To Order:

• For new accounts, follow these instructions to set up an account with Boonli and create a profile for each child. Please use the exact web address listed so that the password will work.
• Orders must be submitted by Sunday before the Wednesday of service. Please sign up by Sunday 2/25 for service on 2/28!
• To avoid a $1 minimum order fee, order at least $10 per transaction.
• After you have registered and for more information, please read the FAQ.

For all food questions and concerns, including menu offerings, please contact Adam at: amutschler@washingtonwaldorf.org

Many thanks to the P/FO volunteers and the Grade 8 students for making the first pizza day a success!

February

22/ Thursday

• Senior Night (Girls), 5:30pm (see below)

23/ Friday

• Faculty Appreciation Luncheon

26/ Monday

• Senior Night (Boys), 5pm (see below)

27/ Tuesday

• Eurythmy Spring Valley Public Performance, 7:30pm (see below)

29/ Thursday

• G7 & G8 Dance, 7pm

March

1/ Friday

• First 24-25 Admissions Notifications Sent

6/ Wednesday

• 12:30pm Dismissal, Grades 1-6
• Day of the Languages (G7-12), 1pm
• G7-12 Post Day of the Languages Reception (more info soon!)

9/ Saturday

• CG-G6 Community Snack & Family Play Date, 3pm (more info soon!)

View the Calendar of School Days for the 2023-2024 School Year

Simplicity Parenting Family Life Course

February 29 - March 21

Thursday Evenings 7-9pm at WWS

Register

Too often, navigating our current cultural context to raise a family with deeply centered values can feel like a constant, or maybe near impossible struggle. 

To help families find more balance, more harmony and joy, and a shared sense of purpose and meaning, WWS is pleased to be able to offer WWS families the opportunity to join this session of Simplicity Parenting Family Life course for just the $30 materials fee.

Rooted in evidence-based research and the clinical experience of family counselor Kim John Payne, the course provides effective and doable practices and techniques for enjoying a more peaceful and connected home life. Best of all, it's done with a group of other WWS parents who share similar challenges in parenting and desires for their families. 

Through a series of meetings facilitated by WWS parent and Simplicity Parenting facilitator, Drew Sample, parents will get the structure and supportive environment needed to adapt these powerful practices in their household.

Contact Drew Sample with questions or learn more on the website. 

Senior Nights - Please Note the Dates!

We will celebrate our senior basketball players over two nights this year. Both games will be played at WWS.

• Thursday, Feb 22 at 5:30pm - High School Girls vs JDS
• Monday, Feb 26 at 5pm - Highs School Boys vs Washington Latin 

We hope you will join us in the John & Mary Brauer Gym to celebrate our senior players and their parents as their high school basketball careers come to an end.

Eurythmy Spring Valley Performance

Tuesday, Feb 27 at 7:30pm

Eurythmy Spring Valley will give a public performance at WWS on Tuesday, Feb 27 at 7:30pm (approx 90 min program): "A Shovel of Stars Overhead: Where to? What Next?": 

WWS Childrens' Garden, Lower School, and High School students will also see the group perform in assemblies during the school day on Wednesday, Feb 28. 

We are excited and grateful for these opportunities to see and share eurythmy!

Please help provide meals for the Eurythmy Spring Valley touring ensemble: please see the meal train page for information and to sign up.

Day of the Languages (Grades 7-12)

Wednesday, Mar 6 from 1-3pm

Our annual Day of the Languages is coming up! This wonderful afternoon program for grades 7-12 will showcase the Spanish and German classes skits -- students have been designing their skits for the past few weeks and are moving into full production. Designing costumes, making props, learning lines, and working out timing with their classmates all require a lot of patience, collaboration, and courage!

It is a student-driven day, including any surprises we might experience. It comes out of a long tradition at our school -- at the beginning, it was directly related to the end of winter and chasing away the cold, and it has kept its carnivalesque elements to this day. Please come to see our skits and enjoy the sounds of Spanish and German. It is definitely an afternoon of laughter at the end of winter!

All parents are invited to come to the event. No one younger than Grade 7 (except for babies) will be admitted to the auditorium due to potentially irreverent content.

Washington FAMILY "Best for Families" Nominations Are Open

Please take a few minutes and nomiate WWS for Washington FAMILY magazine's "Best for Families" awards. This is a simple way to help us spread the word about WWS.

Nominate WWS today!

Summer camp registration is open!

For camp related questions, please contact camps@washingtonwaldorf.org.

Proposals Due Tomorrow!

We've reopened our Request for Proposal (RFP) for Financial Advisor Services for the school. Qualified providers are invited to submit their proposals by Feb 23, 2024. For any questions related to the RFP, please email ltrue@washingtonwaldorf.org.

Read the RFP

If you are a current family - first, check ParentSquare for posts from your teachers, departments (Children's Garden, Lower School, High School), and the administration.

If you cannot find the information you are looking for on ParentSquare, please email your department coordinator/administrator or our Operations Manager:

• Children's Garden Coordinator - Cecilia Berg-Benson
• Lower School Chair - Janet Dunwoody
• High School Administrator - Bonnie McClelland
• Operations Manager - Laur Garner

Building Bridges Program - Coming to the Baltimore/DC Area in March

We are delighted to announce the start of our Building Bridges Program in the Baltimore/DC region starting on March 9, 2024! Building Bridges sessions are designed as engaging and inspiring in-person learning experiences consisting of a series of workshops designed to introduce the anthroposophical foundations of Waldorf education through study, group discussion, and the practice of the arts. With in-person long weekends, supplemented with some virtual learning, participants in Building Bridges will earn the equivalent of the first semester of teacher education and, upon subsequent entry in Antioch University, can be awarded 7 graduate credits in advance standing.

Who should consider Building Bridges?

1. Part-time teachers already in a Waldorf school who might want to move towards full-time work as class teachers, subject teachers, or a high school training through CfA.
2. Parents in area Waldorf schools who are considering Waldorf teaching and see BB as a “try us out” opportunity.
3. Public school teachers looking to make a career change.

Participants need to have completed our Explorations (formerly Foundation Studies) Program or demonstrate equivalency through life experience and/or willingness to do the online courses simultaneously with the face-to-face BB courses. Tuition and schedules are on the website. We offer group discounts for three or more from one school.

Learn More & Register

Community Service Hours Opportunity

From Tamara Minor, WWS Family

USA Gymnastics Youth Meets

March 9-10 & April 4-7

PG Sports Complex, 8001 Sheriff Rd, Landover, MD 20785

Volunteers needed in many roles, including timing & hospitality / sales. Sign up to work one, two, or all three meets. Bring a community service form, check-in at the ground floor volunteer table. All volunteers get free meals during the meets. Parents, other family and friends are also welcome to volunteer.

Contact Tamara Minor to sign-up: t.minor30@yahoo.com or 202-498-2764

Fiber and Fire Camp (Grades 10-12)

A camp of self reliance, empowerment, and art run by Waldorf educators.

• Camp Dates: June 15-23
• Location: Hawley, Massachusetts (We will offer a shuttle from Boston Logan Airport)
• For students in Grades 10-12. Space is limited to 12 participants 
• Price: $2600 (Current Promotion: $200 off if you register by March 1)

Learn More & Register

Join us this summer for a nature-based experience deeply rooted in early crafts of self-reliance. We offer a modern take on timeless techniques attractive to a newer generation of self-empowering artists. At this camp, you will learn to sew clothing (from beautiful, sustainable materials) that fit your unique body. You will hone the art of lighting primitive fires using classic methods and cook nourishing and delicious meals over an open fire...to include fire pies!

We will spend our time atop a high meadow in northwest Massachusetts on a family-owned organic farm with expansive vistas and dark night skies. We will stay in a lovely lodge built with timber from the land in a peaceful, wild setting. Artists in the group will have plenty of time to absorb inspiration from the natural world. In contrast, those seeking a more active experience will have opportunities to explore the vast trail system as we immerse ourselves in nature on this 450-acre property. 

This camp is a collaboration between Cassie of Morning Rove and Adria of Empowered Threads Studio, seasoned teachers with years of experience in Waldorf Education. Adria and Cassie are passionate about self-reliance, art, and sustainability; they feel inspired to bring together like-minded students from Waldorf Schools across the country for this unique and powerful experience. 

Please check out this video highlighting some of our past capstone trips!

Looking for a Loom

If you know of someone or an organization with a loom that they might donate to the school, please contact Cecilia Berg-Benson at cbergbenson@washingtonwaldorf.org.

Published by the Washington Waldorf School

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