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From seasonal celebrations to ceremonies marking important transitions, our school gatherings bring students, families, and faculty together in meaningful community experiences.
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Festival of Courage
First through eighth grades at Woodland Star celebrated our Festival of Courage on October 2nd at 9:30 a.m., the classes gathered for a pageant in which each grade took a turn reciting lines and playing a role, joining together to sing songs of courage. The dragon, carried by the sixth graders, was successfully tamed and led to the garden. The students then enjoyed the Games of Courage until dismissal.
Many, many thanks to our wonderful Parent Association and to all the parent volunteers who baked dragon bread! One station in the games rotation offered a welcome feast of dragon bread, honey butter, and jam, which the students thoroughly enjoyed. This and juicy melon slices were enthusiastically received as new additions to our Games of Courage festivities. What a treat!
| Festival of Courage Pageant | | Kindergarten Festival of Courage | | |
Our kindergarten classes had their own celebration of the Festival of Courage, filled with fun and meaningful activities. The children enjoyed activities that encouraged courage, cooperation, and kindness, including a three-legged race, straw bale toss, slackline, and blindfolded walk. What a wonderful way to welcome the autumn season, build inner strength, and celebrate the joy of creating and working together!
A heartfelt thank-you to all the parent volunteers who helped bring this special celebration to life!
| | Take a look at these amazing dragon breads, lovingly baked and contributed by our wonderful parent volunteers for the Festival of Courage! | | Field trips deepen academic blocks by bringing students into direct relationship with the world around them, where learning becomes lived experience and study comes to life. | | Middle School Retreat: Point Reyes | | |
Our middle school students, teachers, and parent chaperones embarked on their third annual retreat to the Clem Miller Environmental Center at Point Reyes. The days away together gave our adolescents the opportunity to build friendships, strengthen independence and confidence, take on new challenges, and grow as a middle school community.
At the Middle School Retreat, we launched student government for the year. Additionally, each grade had its own environmental education experience during the trip. This meant that the middle school grades had shared student council sessions and bonding time, but each grade also had its own activities, such as beach time and hiking, with seventh graders enjoying a kayaking experience.
The retreat featured an industrial kitchen and cafeteria where students worked in shifts as part of the kitchen staff. The last evening culminated in a beloved talent show. Every student participated, and the evening was filled with joy and laughter. Chaperones who stayed at the retreat supervised student cabins and managed the student shifts, including those reporting to the kitchen run by Mrs. Hopewell.
Thank you to all chaperones and drivers for helping make these learning opportunities possible!
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4th Grade: Taylor Mountain | Fourth graders headed to Taylor Mountain for a hike as part of their study of topography, getting out of the classroom to explore Sonoma County’s beautiful landscapes and experience the terrain they’ve been studying firsthand. | Fifth grade visited the Sonoma Ashram, where they were introduced to aspects of Indian traditions and sustainable living through hands-on activities, including gardening and learning about the art of mandalas. | | Our Kindergarten offers a warm, nurturing environment where young children are gently guided through the early rhythms of school life, rooted in play, imagination and seasonal experiences. | |
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Morning Glory Kindergarten (MGK)
Morning Glory children and their families gathered in the upper meadow to celebrate summer birthdays and enjoy time together outdoors.
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Sweet Pea Kindergarten (SPK)
The Sweet Pea classroom is filled with the lovely rhythm of playing, creating, caring, and discovering. Mondays find us outdoors in the garden, snuggling the chickens; Tuesdays are for drawing and Spanish; Wednesdays fill the classroom with the warmth and delicious smells of baking; Thursdays invite us to explore color and water through painting; and Fridays bring crafting and caring for our classroom together.
Imaginative play flourishes as children build miniature houses with frames and sheets, lovingly tend to baby dolls, and spend long stretches of time building with blocks.
For their first handwork project, the children stitched their own shooting stars. With modeling and guidance, they practiced slow, careful sewing while developing fine motor skills, patience, focus, and perseverance. Through this work and the small challenges of everyday life, the children discover the quiet courage of trying something new and growing in confidence, one step at a time.
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Dandelion Kindergarten (DLK)
The Dandelion Class is growing and settling beautifully into our year together! Our class is made up of 19 children: 10 boys and 9 girls, with 11 TK students and 8 kindergarteners. We have been enjoying lots of time playing and exploring in the meadow, caring for the new chickens in our garden, and building friendships through our daily rhythm of play, stories, songs, and meaningful work. The children especially enjoyed celebrating the Festival of Courage and making their own dragon bread together!
| | A glimpse into the everyday experiences, discoveries, and meaningful moments that make up life at Woodland Star. | | |
Garden Work Day
A big thank-you to the farmers and gardeners who came out to work in the garden, and to the PA parents who provided a lovely lunch for everyone! We’re grateful for everyone’s time, care, and contributions to our school garden.
| Interested in joining the Garden Committee? We welcome volunteers who are ready to roll up their sleeves and help care for and maintain our school garden! The committee meets once a month for a meeting and hands-on garden workday. Email Mrs. Lawson to be added to the Garden Committee ParentSquare group. | | Our classrooms nurture each child’s development through hands-on experiences, creative exploration, and learning that meets students at each stage of their growth. From beautiful chalkboard drawings that bring lessons to life to students exploring new ideas, each classroom offers inspiration, discovery, and opportunities to deepen understanding. | | |
Glen Ellen Village Fair
Glen Ellen hosted its 34th annual Village Fair with this year’s theme, “Return of the Mothership.” Woodland Star students brought out their inner aliens in homemade masks from our very own Woodland Star families and again repurposed our star signs from years past to accompany the Woodland Starship!
Our eighth-grade class also joined the festivities with a booth selling wreaths of the season and handcrafted candles from Woodland Star Waxes and Wishes to raise funds for their class trip.
A big thank-you to the Parent Association and the Woodland Star Educational Foundation for organizing our participation, and to all the families who came out to celebrate and represent Woodland Star at this cherished community event! The excitement and joy shared were out of this world!
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Middle School Leadership in Action
Middle school is a critical time when students internalize values, test boundaries, and define who they are. Intentional leadership opportunities ensure these traits are shaped by positive guidance rather than outside influences such as social media or peer pressure. Early leadership training teaches students that being a leader is not about “being the boss,” but about listening, problem-solving, compromising, and leading by example. Through leadership, students discover their strengths, learn time management, and gain the confidence to know that their ideas can make a real difference. Practicing decision-making and communication in a lower-stakes middle school environment builds resilience and social awareness.
A fun takeaway from the retreat was an ice cream social! During a “get to know each other” session at the retreat, each student shared their favorite ice cream flavor. Two weeks later, on a very hot Friday afternoon, the middle school students gathered for an ice cream social, dividing into groups based on their favorite flavors. They enjoyed time together and built connections across grade levels. Thank you, Sweet Scoops, for providing mint chip, cookies and cream, and salted caramel ice cream!
On Friday, October 30, the Middle School Leadership Team will host Woodland Star’s annual Pumpkin Path, a night of gentle storytelling followed by games, crafts, and face painting. Dinner will be served prior to each “tour.” This is a student-led and organized event. Grades 6, 7, and 8 have united for the opportunity to collaborate and learn to serve and be an active team in our community, providing a great example of practicing decision-making, time management, and communication in a lower-stakes environment. We look forward to our Woodland Star families’ support this evening.
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Woodland Star Charter School has three volunteer leadership bodies, each playing an important role in supporting and guiding our school community:
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Parent Association (PA): supports faculty and strengthens the school community through parent involvement.
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Woodland Star Educational Foundation (WSEF): builds resources for Woodland Star through fundraising.
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Charter Council: provides governance and oversight for Woodland Star.
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Parent Association (PA)
Hello Woodland Star Parents!
Thank you to all the parents who have been able to make it to one of the monthly meetings, provide support to the amazing teachers and staff in the classrooms and garden, and for all of those who have shown up as volunteer bakers, makers and activity leaders! Our children thrive when our community comes together in support of the school!
The Parent Association is currently holding its bi-annual election for the parent-elected Charter Council position on Parent Square. A link to the candidates bios and the voting form can be found here. Please mark your vote by Friday, October 16th at 9AM!
Stay in the loop on volunteer opportunities and happenings at the school by joining the Parent Association Group on Parent Square by emailing a request to the PA! We will automatically add all parents who come to the meetings!
pa@woodlandstarschool.org
| | Supporting the Cost of Our Programs | |
Students at Woodland Star have Handwork class starting in first grade and continuing through eighth grade. Throughout their journey through the grades, students will knit, crochet, weave, sew, learn to make sewing patterns, and use sewing machines.
One of my goals as the Handwork teacher is to use high-quality tools and natural fibers for yarn and fabrics. These tools and materials are more environmentally friendly and often easier for students to use, but they are more expensive. For example, one ball of yarn for knitting costs $9.50, and fabric to make pajama pants costs $21 per student.
In a world of rising costs, your generous donations to the school make a difference in funding the Handwork program. Thank you for your kind support!
—Mrs. Lawson
Handwork Teacher
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Everyday Shopping, Supporting Woodland Star
Welcome to our Community Scrip Programs. Make a difference when you shop at our local markets.
Sign up for a community scrip card or register your phone number to participate.
Ensure you select Woodland Star Educational Foundation as the beneficiary when registering.
The scrip fundraising programs are free and offer a unique, year-round solution for our school to generate much-needed funds.
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Sonoma Market - Earn up to 4% on eligible purchases. Cards available in store and in the school office. Card required at checkout.
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Glen Ellen Village Market - Earn up to 5% on eligible purchases. Cards are available in-store, or simply register your phone number to enter at checkout.
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Oliver's Market - Earn up to 3% on eligible purchases. Cards are available in-store, or simply register your phone number to enter at checkout.
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Petaluma Market - Earn up to 5% on eligible purchases. Cards are available in-store, or simply register your phone number to enter at checkout.
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Charter Council
As we head into the fall season—a time of renewal, reflection, and transition—the Charter Council remains focused on its role in supporting the long-term health and direction of Woodland Star. We work to balance our individual perspectives with our shared responsibility to the administration and the broader school community.
An important part of that is understanding where the Charter Council fits within our school. We are not intended to be an alternative pathway around direct communication with teachers or school administration. Open, respectful, and direct communication is essential to a healthy school community, and we encourage families to begin there whenever questions or concerns arise.
When direct communication has been attempted but common ground remains difficult to find, the Charter Council can serve as a bridge—helping ensure concerns are heard, perspectives are understood, and the school’s established processes are working as intended.
Our role is not to drive the day-to-day policies or decisions of the school unless we are specifically called upon to do so. Rather, we look at how those decisions are working in practice, whether they are effectively serving the school and its mission, and how we can best support the administration in moving Woodland Star forward.
We are a diverse group of community members who may not always share the same perspective—and we believe there is real value in that. What brings us together is a shared commitment to strong leadership, thoughtful collaboration, and continually strengthening the Woodland Star experience for our children.
As we settle into another school year, it has been especially lovely to see so many new faces alongside the familiar ones that have helped shape Woodland Star over the years. It is a wonderful reminder that, while each of us may experience the school from a different perspective, we are one community—working together to continually build upon the strong foundation that has been created here.
We are deeply grateful for the parents, teachers, staff, and administrators who bring their time, energy, care, and commitment to Woodland Star every day. It is through that collective effort that we continue to create a place where our children are known, challenged, supported, and encouraged to grow into thoughtful, capable young people. Together, we are providing an exceptional, well-rounded education and strengthening something truly special for families throughout Sonoma Valley, Santa Rosa, and the greater community.
Thank you for being part of it.
Warmly,
Hycen Jewett
President, Woodland Star Charter Council
chartercouncil@woodlandstarschool.org
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Mark your calendars and invite your friends! Join us on October 30th for a gentle storytelling walk for children and families.
Tours begin at 5:45 p.m. and depart every 15 minutes, with the final tour at 7:15 p.m. If you’d like to enjoy dinner before your tour, please plan to arrive 15–30 minutes early
Tour times: 5:45, 6:00, 6:15, 6:30, 6:45, 7:00 & 7:15 p.m.
Entry: $15 each | $30 max / family
Dinner: $7/person
Please enter through the back gate near the blacktop. To help everyone enjoy a safe and magical evening, we ask that children stay with their grown-ups throughout the event. Thank you for helping us create a relaxed and enjoyable experience for all our families!
To sign up, scan the QR code on the flyer or use this Venmo link to go directly to Woodland Star Waxes and Wishes Venmo to pay and reserve your tour time. When submitting your payment, please include your family name, preferred tour time, and number of dinners in the memo.
For additional details about Pumpkin Path, including accessibility and safety information, please view the Pumpkin Path flyer.
We look forward to sharing this special evening with you!
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Parent Handwork
Join Handwork Teacher Mrs. Lawson on Friday mornings in the Handwork Room, from 8:10–10:00 a.m., right after drop-off on school days.
No prior crafting experience is required. All are welcome!
Please note: Parent Handwork does not meet during school breaks or on festival days.
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Glen Ellen Farmers' Market
Join us every Sunday, year-round, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. right here on the Woodland Star School campus!
📘 Facebook | 📸 Instagram| 🌐 Website
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🍂 Harvest Picnic at the Farmers’ Market! 🍂
Join us on Sunday, October 18th for our second community Farmers’ Market, the Harvest Picnic! Come enjoy a fall afternoon with local vendors, live music, and face painting with Art Escape.
Bring your family, invite your friends, and enjoy a chance to connect with our school community while supporting local vendors.
We hope to see you there!
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Coming Soon: Free Family Fall Clothing Swap!
Kids grow fast, and closets fill up even faster! The PA is hosting a free fall clothing swap during teacher conference week, November 9–13. Families will be able to browse racks and tables of clothing, outerwear, boots and shoes organized by size and take whatever they can use, completely free.
Now’s the perfect time to clean out closets! As you switch over to cold-weather clothes, set aside any items your family has outgrown or no longer needs. We’ll start collecting donations in two weeks, beginning October 26, in a bin outside the gym next to the lost and found closet.
What we’re looking for:
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Fall and winter clothing, outerwear, boots and shoes in sizes 4T/5T through adult, like long-sleeve shirts, pants, sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets, coats and boots. Please hold on to summer items for a future swap!
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Clean items free of holes and stains. If it’s something you’d happily hand to a friend, it’s perfect!
We’ll send a reminder when collection begins. We will also be looking for volunteers each day to keep the swap running smoothly. There will be a sign up closer to the event. Thank you for helping our community share, save, and keep clothes out of landfills! 💚
— Woodland Star PA
Clothing Swap Organizers: Jenna Charton & Kaiti Donati
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Newsletter created by
Carly Fedor
Newsletters are a wonderful way to showcase the life of our school—highlighting where your child’s educational journey has been and where it’s going. If you capture any great moments or happenings at Woodland Star, we’d love to see them! Please email your photos to me for possible inclusion in future newsletters.
~Carly Fedor
outreach@woodlandstarschool.org
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