We are maximizing the use of our outdoor spaces around the gym construction. One particularly popular addition is the "Gaga Pit" for grades 4-8. Mr. Gardiner built the pit from reused materials (including parts of an outdoor classroom that was displaced by the construction). Gaga Ball is a hit! Stay tuned for more on how we are adapting recess time in light of the construction.

Yesterday was a big step forward in the gym construction with the pouring of the concrete slab. These pictures show Monday (pre-slab) Tuesday (freshly poured slab) and today. The next big step will be the steel structure - coming later this fall!

If you haven't seen the plan for the gym, this shows the general placement at the northwest end of the school and how the blacktop ("play lot" below) and the play areas around will adapt. Learn more about the project.

From Coach Micah Bump

For 10 long months, with the bitter taste of a disappointing final stretch to the 2021 season still in their youthful mouths, the WWS Middle School Boys (MSB) soccer team plotted their return to success on the pitch.

So it was fitting that last Thursday, on a bluebird afternoon at the freshly-mowed and mostly unmuddy WWS pitch, the MS boys donned their classic red-on-red kits and announced to the PVAC that the newly-minted Red-Tailed Hawks were a force to be reckoned with, soundly defeating their JDS rivals 3-1. Twenty boys, grades 5-8, had a hand, or should I say a foot, in the exciting victory.

And yet, one game is just one game -- as the boys quickly and agonizingly learned on Monday, bowing 0-3 to the fierce Red Devils of the perennial Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC) soccer-powerhouse, Washington International School.

With several more games lined up over the coming weeks, will these boys return to their winning ways? Only time will tell -- so come out and see the WWS Red-Tailed Hawks take on the Norwood Blue Hawks tomorrow at 3 pm at the Norwood School. Win or lose, it's a victory for the birds!

September

21/ Wednesday

• G1 Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7pm
• Trustees Council Meeting, 7pm 

22/ Thursday

• Craft & Conversation, 8:30am (see below)
• G12 College Night, 7pm
• G6 Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7:30pm
• Nursery Parent Meeting, 7:45pm

26/ Monday

• NO SCHOOL - Rosh Hashanah

27/ Tuesday

• G7 Parent/Guardian Meeting, 6:30pm

28/ Wednesday

• Songbirds Parent/Guardian Meeting, 7pm

29/ Thursday

• Michaelmas Celebration (rain date 9/30)

30/ Friday

• Bazaar Vendor Applications Due!

View the Calendar of School Days for the 2022-2023 School Year

Trustees Council Meeting - TONIGHT

Wednesday, September 21 at 7pm in the WWS library

(open to the community 7-7:45pm)

Trustees Council (TC) meetings are typically scheduled for the third Tuesday of every month of the school year in the WWS library. The first portion of the meeting (45 minutes) is open to the community, and all are welcome to attend. During this portion of the meeting, we hear a comprehensive report from our Head of School/Faculty Chair that includes updates from the various administrative departments of the school as well as other pertinent information. The Parent Leadership Group (PLG) also shares updates from their work with the school community during this portion of the meeting. 

Craft & Conversation

Thursday, September 22 from 8:30-10am at WWS

All are invited to join for Craft & Conversation, 8:30-10am. Gather to socialize and create handwork for fun and to (optionally) sell at the Fall Bazaar. Regardless of skill level, all are welcome! First session is Thursday, Sept. 22, 8:30-10am at school.

Subscribe to the C&C list.

Whole High School Musical: SEUSSICAL

Theatre for Young Audiences Version

by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty

Thursday, Oct 6 at 7pm

Friday, Oct 7 at 4pm 

• Please reserve seating in advance (general admission). 
• Because space is limited, we ask that you choose only 1 public performance to attend. 
• If you find that you cannot attend, please edit your response to free seats for others.  

Meet the School Counselor

Thursday October 13 from 7–8pm

Our School Counselor, Jessica Gottlieb, will hold a Zoom “Meet the School Counselor” evening for our community in October. She will speak about her role in the school and answer questions from the community. Before the event, Ms. Gottlieb invites members of our community to submit questions in advance so that she can best prepare for the meeting.

Submit questions in advance.

Zoom link coming soon.

Some email programs truncate long messages, so check when you get to the bottom of the Bulletin to see if there is an option to expand and see more. If you don't see the logos for our accrediting and membership organizations (AWSNA, AIMS, WECAN, AISGW & WSSA) than you haven't reached the end.  You wouldn't want to miss the notices and events shared by community members!

Here's an example of what you might see in Gmail...

Connecting sitters from the WWS community with families seeking them: We have an email group list for this purpose!

• If you are SEEKING a sitter, DO NOT join the group. You will send an email to WWSsitters@groups.io with your job posting, and sitters will respond directly to you if they are interested.
• If YOU ARE A SITTER and would like to receive job postings, visit https://groups.io/g/WWSsitters and click "Join this Group" at the bottom of the page.
• WWS students may participate only with their parents' permission.

• Current Health Policy - updated Aug 29, 2022.
• Lunch program info for current families in ParentSquare.
• Map of the pick up and drop off flow.
• Magnus Portal for student forms.
• BigSis Portal - keep your contact information up to date!
• Bulletin newsletters.

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

• Children's Garden - Cecilia Berg-Benson
• Lower School - Christen Leonard 
• High School - Bonnie McClelland

Maryland Lyric Opera

Presents Verdi's Macbeth

From Brad Clark (WWS Alum Parent)

September 23, 2022 7:30pm

September 25, 2022 2pm 

The Music Center at Strathmore

North Bethesda, MD 

www.MDLO.org

The first genuine masterpiece of Verdi’s career, and the first of his three Shakespearean operas, Macbeth is a political potboiler full of witches, ghosts, murders, mayhem, and madness. Verdi has created a stunning musical portrait of opera’s most power-hungry couple that bristles with doom and crackles with an unforgettable score. Starring the legendary baritone Lester Lynch as Macbeth and Jill Gardner (MDLO’s stunning Minnie in La Fanciulla del West at Strathmore) as the fiendish Lady Macbeth. The all-star supporting cast includes MDLO favorites Andrea Silvestrelli as Banco and Yi Li as Macduff.

MDLO’s presentation at Strathmore puts the MDLO Orchestra center stage, while dramatic lighting, captivating projections, and enhanced visual supervision by David Gately takes the audience directly to Macbeth’s castle for an unforgettable performance.

Sung in Italian, with English surtitles

Running time 2 hours 45 minutes, with one 20 minute intermission

5G Community Q and A

From Theodora Scarato (WWS Parent)

September 28th at 7PM

5G and “smart” speakers are the rage across the DMV, but is it safe? WWS Parent Theodora Scarato will hold an open dialogue to talk about the latest legal and policy news. She will share highlights of her Chapter on EMFs in the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments Nursing textbook.

Michaelmas Festival Gathering

Branch Festivals Group, Anthroposophical Society, Greater Washington Branch

From Nancy Foster (WWS Alum Parent & Grandparent)

Friday, September 30 at 7:30 pm

Please join us for a Michaelmas observance in song and verse, and a dramatic reading of A Michaelic Imagination, one of the Ann Arbor Festival Plays created by Ernst and Katherine Katz, followed by light refreshments.

We will gather on the Karpoffs’ screened porch at their home: 204 Quaint Acres Dr., Silver Spring.

RSVP: ceceliakarpoff@gmail.com

Questions: 301-622-0231

Eurythmy Spring Valley - Frontier Eurythmy Part-time Training

From Susan Walsh (WWS Faculty)

First two-week training block begins on October 16, 2022

A strong new Frontier class is forming to begin in October 2022. If you are interested in studying eurythmy as a profession, this part-time program was developed to pursue studies toward a career in eurythmy, while honoring other existing commitments. The Frontier training can also be taken as a stand-alone program, with its unique approach to foundation studies through an immersion into eurythmy, for the deepening of one's life and inner development.

Learn More

Donation Drive for Displaced Migrant Families

From Robin Leake (WWS Parent)

Please support this donation drive sponsored by WWS parent Robin Leake to assist the families and individuals bussed from migrant detention centers in other states to Union Station in D.C.

• Local volunteers and their non-profits have been working tirelessly to meet the buses, advocate on behalf of, and care for these individuals. Without such generosity, these families would immediately find themselves on the streets with few resources to locate shelter, food, or the myriad of other basic needs that arise.
• As an educational community that strives to confront injustice and to recognize our shared humanity across any number of labeled differences, I am asking those who would be interested to do what we can to help these families and individuals.
• More information is here. A collection box for donations will be placed inside the school vestibule for a week starting Monday, Sept. 19, through Friday, Sept. 23. Thank you for your support!

Nanny Available *UPDATED*

From April McDowell (WWS Faculty) 

Highly experienced nanny available immediately. Wasanthie Pathagama is looking for a full time position that can offer 40-50 hours a week.

From Wasanthie:

I have over 30 years of experience, with good references. I would love to work with ages from birth to kindergarten. I would prefer to keep a strong working relationship with the family for many years to come and see how amazing the children grow and develop. My rate is $25+ an hour, depending on the circumstances and number of children. I live in the Silver Spring area, if you live close that would be great. You can contact me at (240)550-9322. Call or text me if you have any questions or would like to know more. Thank you. 

Basement Apartment for Rent

From Caitlin MacKenzie (Alum Parent, Former WWS Faculty)

English basement one-bedroom apartment for rent, $1350/month includes utilities. This furnished, one bedroom with kitchenette, separate bathroom, separate entrance and shared laundry, is conveniently located near Georgetown University and the French and German Embassies (5-minute walk). 2 blocks from public transportation with easy access to the national mall and downtown. Perfect for student, intern, visiting faculty or relative. 

Email for more information. Available now. 

Looking for a WWS family living in Arlington to carpool

From Iryna Carlson (Current WWS Parent)

A WWS family living in Rosslyn is looking for a fellow WWS family to carpool. Our son is in G2. We hope we can partner with another family from Arlington to help each other with getting to and from school!

If interested, please contact Iryna Carlson at (703) 9460878 or irynamatveeva@gmail.com

Private Online Violin Lessons with Julie Stoessel

From Julie Stoessel (Former WWS Faculty)

Julie Stoessel is a graduate of the James Madison University School of Music, and former strings teacher at WWS. Along with her ten years of experience as an orchestra director, she has also taught private strings lessons for over thirteen years, and has had students go on to study violin at the university level. Julie is motivating and excited about music, and her (remotely held) lessons are detail-oriented, informative, and fun.

Julie has been teaching virtually for the past three years, and has found techniques that have proven to be as effective as in-person lessons. She brings her love of music and excitement to her classes, and understands that every student has their own individual learning styles and needs, and therefore approaches each class in a unique way.

Learn More.

Please contact her for scheduling, lesson policy, and pricing:

stoesselje@gmail.com

434-806-8768

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