aws awareness june2010 -...

grade rolls around, the students are much more at home in this new space and we find them flour-ishing—much like the Greeks did-when they founded their own so-phisticated civilization! Both the mind and body of the 5th grader experience a balance and propor-tionality not present heretofore. This overall harmony is recognized and celebrated in the Regional Waldorf Pentathlon. Fifth graders from area Waldorf schools (Atlanta, Clearwater, Tampa, New Orleans, Nashville, Chapel Hill, even Charlottesville, Baltimore, and D.C.) come together to com-pete in the five events of the an-cient… (cont’d on p. 4)

On the last Thursday in May, AWS celebrated its 4th annual gradua-tion ceremony in

the beautiful sanctuary of East Lake United Methodist Church. It was a lovely evening, and watching the 8th graders was yet another reminder of why I, especially as a developmental psychologist, truly love Waldorf educa-tion—it celebrates meaningful rites of passage deliberately and by design.

The journey through the Grades be-gins when the elder kindergartners, in their own special end-of-the-year cere-mony, wave goodbye to their younger classmates and eagerly make the tree-stump jaunt to their next shep-herd, the new 1st grade teacher. At the beginning of the new school year, the 8th graders present flowers to1st graders during the traditional Rose Ceremony, officially welcoming them to the Grades program. And their new teacher makes a speech architected by Rudolf Steiner which sets the stage for all the festive learning and doing that will take place over the coming eight years.

Third grade brings another mile-stone—what Steiner termed “the 9-

year change.” This rite of passage is when the child leaves childhood be-hind, as if on one side of a riverbank, and makes the trek in whatever fash-ion (skimming across happily or slosh-ing through begrudgingly!) to the other side of the river. (For a teacher’s per-spective on the 9-year-change, see story on pg. 6.) The curriculum meets this major transition with core curricu-lum blocks on house-building, habitat studies, cooking, and farming. These blocks help the child to create, build, and nurture this new space they have come to find on the other side of the river and in themselves. It is custom-ary in Grade 3 to have a camping trip in which these skills can be used. This adventure is a collaborative one in terms of which activities will be in-cluded, what the menus will feature, etc., but the teacher and the parents hold the responsibilities and much of the “doing” nature of the trip. You will later see how this contrasts with the 6th grade camping trip’s goal of self-sufficiency.

Fourth grade celebrates being on “the other side of the 9-year change” with tales of the Vikings and Norsemen who proudly stand on their own as they conquer new lands and create new communities. By the time 5th

Alabama Waldorf School

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

AWS AWareneSs

AWS Events Calendar — Summer 2010

Marketing Committee Meeting — 5k Race! All

invited to participate! Noon-1pm, Wednesday

Wed, 6/9

Student Progress Reports distributed (Grades) Tue, 6/15

Father’s Day 5k Race & 1-mile Fun Run

(see p. 5 for details!)

Sun, 6/20

Assoc of Waldorf Schools of North America Con-

ference on the Adolescent — Atlanta, GA

6/22-25

Therapeutic Classroom begins (pilot program) Mon, 6/28

Administrator’s Ad Lib—by Lisa Grupe, Ph.D.

Last day for Summer Preschool Program Fri, 8/13

Back to School Night, 6-8pm, featuring “Skits” Mon, 8/23

First Day of School for Grades Students Wed, 8/25

Preschool Open House, 8:30-9:30am Fri, 8/27

First Day of School for Preschool students Mon, 8/30

Full-scale plays are one example of

how Waldorf education celebrates

meaningful rites of passage.

ner Board member, Kathy Freeland, and former AWS Site Committee member, Cynthia Mwenja. With AWS’ values consonant with Ruff-ner’s, the donation was one the site committee members felt was worth pursuing. Shepherded over the years by former AWS Board Chair-man Bart Slawson, the an-nouncement was made to a mix of long-time and hopeful AWS families and enthusias-tic new families. Excitement and positive energy will be necessary to transform the property that was once used as a recreational site that served the Roebuck and Eastlake neighborhoods. Before the pool and ball-

fields, the area was mostly farmland. Architect Chris Giattina (Giattina-Aycock) has generously agreed to donate his time to draw up plans for the future school, which, in keeping with AWS’ commit-ment to promoting a sustain-able society, will be “better than green”—it will be a pio-neer school. Although we will remain in our current site for the next couple of school years, AWS is al-ready looking forward to meet-ing its Roebuck neighbors and projecting a healthy and hum-ble attitude toward moving to the area. As Kathy Freeland said, “You’ll be permanent now, and people will feel dif-ferently about that.”***

Alabama Waldorf School Receives Land Donation!

AWS AWareneSs

• Get the pool in a “non-risk condi-tion” for liability insurance (Thanks to Ber-nard Wolfe and Kyle D’agostino, who worked to-gether to get the pool drained!!)

• Clean out the pool house

• Begin process of ground clearing.

What needs to

be done... The Ruffner Mountain Board of Directors has met and made it official! Alabama Waldorf School is only wait-ing on the deed that will grant them a little more than 5 acres of land on Ruffner property. At a school-wide meeting on May 20th, Administrator Lisa Grupe discussed plans for clearing the land and build-ing a new home for AWS, which has been leasing its current building since the early 90s. Altamont School, the property owners of the current site, have plans to raze the lot for a sportsplex in the short-term future. The plan to secure land was the brainchild of former Ruff-

Aerial maps of Future AWS Site

Aerial

View 2007

Site

Vicinity

Map

Creating a

Community

Garden

This summer AWS

has plans to start a

community garden

on the new site. All

are invited to con-

tribute ideas and

labor! E-mail

[email protected]

if you’re interested

in helping!

You can help! We need…

• Heavy land-scaping equip-ment (incl. a trachoe!)

• Machine Op-erators

• Temporary buildings

Excerpt from Kindergar-ten Circle for May, from Ms. Sadhna, Ms. Andrea and Ms. Carole

“Lady Spring’s dressed all in green, she wears a

pearly crown,

And all the little buds and twigs are clinging to her

gown.

The sun shines if she laughs at all,

And if she cries, the rain-drops fall.

Lady Spring, our Lady Spring.”***

Spanish Block Review, from Senora Mixon

The first graders learned so much this year! They were eager and bright from the very beginning and have made much progress. They have learned greet-ings, self-introductions, as well as commands and how to make re-quests. They learned how to say their colors in Span-ish and they can all count

up to 50. As the year pro-gressed, they learned about the different seasons and words and songs as-sociated with each sea-son. They learned words for different body parts, and for many new com-mands. They know the Spanish words for various pets and farm ani-mals. They can all recite at least five songs and poems in Spanish and can do so beautifully! I am very proud of how much pro-gress they’ve made their first year of Spanish. ***

Classroom clips! Excerpts from Teachers’ lessons

& Block Reviews

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Excerpt from Nursery Circle for May, from Ms. Ashley & Mr. Huck, and Ms. Samantha & Ms. Holly

“Dandelion, yellow as gold, What do you do all day?

I wait and I wait in the tall green grass till the children come to play.

Dandelion, yellow as gold, What do you do all night?

I wait and I wait in the tall green grass till my hair grows long and white.

What do you do when your hair turns white and the children

come to play?

They pick me up in their little hands and they blow my seeds away.”****

Some of Ms. Spencer’s 1st

graders (Jaden, Izzy, Kai and

Jaren) at Graduation.

Parting Gifts crafted by Teachers & Students

Children in the AWS multi-aged Nursery program (2 1/2 to 4 yrs old) painted their own diplomas with watercolors. Teachers presented the diplomas to each child, along with homemade “star babies” made of felt and wool and treasured by the chil-dren, whose initials were also embroidered into the felt.

(from left) Ms. Samantha presents Gracie with her Nursery Diploma;

Ms. Holly presents Jenner with his.

Kindergarten Closing Ceremony!

...Greek Pentathlon (javelin, relay, long jump, discus, Greco-Roman wrestling). Schools are not pitted against each other; students from each school are assigned by their teachers to one of the four city-states (Thebes, Athens, Sparta, Corinth). In this way, friendships are forged, and the competition is against one’s self.

As the student moves into 6th grade, the harmony and balance s/he experienced as a 5th grader, give way to law and order, and that natural ability to see the gray in-between gives way to an over-whelming polarity in thinking: eve-rything becomes black or white, day or night, right or wrong. This shift in thinking is met with the study of Rome where the founda-tion of our current law was formed. Students also study business math and ideally engage in a fundraising project that teaches them about self-sustaining economies. There is also the 6th grade camping trip which students plan and carry out entirely on their own.

Enrollment Moment by Opal South

AWS AWareneSs

AWS Welcomes Stella Pearl!!

AWS Handwork and Chorus

teacher Sarah Gur-ganus and her hus-band, Alan, wel-comed into the world their first child. Stella Pearl was born at home on May 20th, 8lb 2oz and 21 inches long. Mom and baby are doing

well, and the family would appreciate any help with meals. If you’re interested in lend-ing a culinary

hand, e-mail Enroll-ment@alabamawal

dorf.org. Congratulations, Sarah and Alan!!***

Waldorf Olympics 2009. Hosted by AWS at

Camp Kanawahala.

I’ve often heard it said that a Wal-dorf education isn’t fully appreci-ated until after age 35 when the fruits of those early labors are borne; however, it is my studied opinion that students, families and teachers all benefit from the way Waldorf education recognizes developmental shifts in the stu-dents and intentionally celebrates them with appropriate rites of passage.

As Family Association President Patrick McCarty said to me after this year’s Graduation:

“Celebrating the rites of passage helps the

students to know where they are; this is what is

different about our

graduates.”

****

Seventh grade sees a renaissance of the 5th grade harmony and bal-ance, and the study of the Renais-sance complements this develop-mental shift in the child. Finally, 8th grade finds the student rebelling and revolting against anything and everything, either quietly or overtly. The study of the Revolutions (English, French, and American) meets the child by offering them a necessary outlet for his/her own inner revolution.

The 8-grade journey culminates in a class trip, designed and planned by the class over a long period of time. Often, the class takes respon-sibility for all or a majority of the fundraising so that the trip reflects their own hard work and is really theirs. The graduation/closing cere-mony at AWS has always included offerings (usually musical or poetic) from each grade to honor both the graduates and the families gath-ered in the audience. Individual graduates offer an original speech, song, or performance as a parting gift to the school.

Administrator’s Ad Lib (cont’d from p.1)

AWS Welcomes New Students!

Lynzey Peede (Ms. Downs’ rising 4th grade) and family, Amber, Steve and Mason;

Chance Bryan (Ms. Spencer’s rising 2nd grade) and family

Amanda and Micah;

Faith Presley (Samantha & Holly, Nursery) and parents

Dee and Ryan;

Kiran Pradhan (Ms. Hane-mann’s rising 1st grade) and

parents Erin & Ashish;

Sorina Shirley (Nursery) and parents Iona and Peyton;

Jodi Parrish (Nursery) and parents Sunni & Keelan;

Jack Saylor (Kindergarten) and mom Mary Ann.

We’re so glad you’re here!!

May was a busy month for

enrollment! Students and their

families transferred to AWS

from traditional programs like

public schools and alterna-

tives like homeschooling.

Students who were being

bullied at their former schools

found acceptance and secu-

rity in AWS classrooms. Par-

ents of preschool students

who transferred from schools

where the children were

forced to cross milestones

they weren’t yet ready for,

found at AWS a joyful social–

and play-based learning envi-

ronment where they could

flourish.

I

In my first year as Enrollment

Manager I have guided fami-

lies through the application

process, and for those I wit-

ness a sense of relief when

they realize that they have

found a home here.

I look forward with great an-

ticipation to the challenges of

the 2010-11 school year, but I

am able to do so with the

firsthand knowledge that here

at AWS we can offer families

who seek out consonant val-

ues a place where learning is

imbued with joy and peace.

Best wishes to all of you for a

safe and happy summer!***

Alabama Waldorf School: Answering the question,

“How can Education have a Heart Again?”

Race to the First Ever AWS 5k!!

Come get fit with us on Sunday, June 20, 2010 at Oak Mtn. State Park!!

6th, 7th and 8th graders created the prizes, but you can only win if you register!!

Register on Active.com or visit

alabamawaldorf.org.

Please consider patronizing our sponsors:

Agoge Fitness Systems Backyard Movie Parties

Coca Cola David Carpenter for Circuit Court Judge

Health Foods West mental_floss magazine

Organic Harvest Sylvia Martin Photography

Trak Shack Witt Chiropractic

Birmingham Track Club

If you’re interested in sponsoring a tent in the parking lot after the race, or adding to the goody bags, e-mail [email protected].

3rd Grade Circus a Hit!!

The 2009-10 3rd Grade Class debuted their

own original circus creation on Friday,

May 21st to an enthusiastic crowd of

parents and students!

Ms. Cripps and the upper-class students

helped with make-up, costumes, set-up of

the parachute curtains, and acted as spotters

during the performance.

Congratulations on an AWeSome show,

3rd Graders!!

It’s time for…

Pop Quiz, Parents!! Free Money!

1) What is the first day of school for the 2010-11 year?

2) What document is your child required to have on file

to attend the first day of school?

3) Name the new First Grade Teacher.

Know these answers? You will by the time

you finish reading this month’s AWareneSs!

Email answers to the mystery person in

the picture (at left), and the first three

correct respondents will receive a $5

credit on their school account!



1220 50th Street South

Birmingham, Alabama 35222

To schedule a tour, e-mail or call:

205.592.0541

[email protected]

Visit us on the web!

AlabamaWaldorf.org

Alabama Waldorf School

Look us up on the web!

AlabamaWaldorf.org

The Nine-Year Change: A Teacher’s Perspective By Melissa Downs, 3rd Grade Teacher (09-10 school year)

Congratulations to 6th grader Emma Yester on her successful audition for the Birmingham String Orchestra!

This beginning-level orchestra oper-ates under the Music Opportunity Program, a 30 year veteran organi-zation in the city and home of the Alabama Youth Symphony. When writing to tell us the great news,

mom Donna Yester stated, “I’m not sure this wonderful opportunity

would have occurred without all the exposure to music in the Waldorf curriculum and all the fantastic teachers who brought it to life!”

Emma will play the contra bass in the orchestra, and is the first AWS student to audition and be accepted into the group. Way to go, Emma!

*******

Real Food continues even though school’s out! Fresh produce, free-range eggs (you can taste the differ-ence!), and local honey. Visit Cyn-

thia’s stand every Thursday through-out the summer here at the school. 8am-noon. Proceeds benefit AWS!!

*******

Former AWS Morning Garden mom, Christy Batts will be hosting a kids’ program at the Red Caboose in His-toric Irondale. Free. Ideal for ages 7

and below. E-mail [email protected] for info.***

AWS Updates & News!

AWS has newly-hired

2010-11 Extended

Care teacher Brad

Daly to thank for ar-

ranging the donation of

an Automated External

Defibrillator to the

school. The AED itself

comes from The Heart

Center/Huntsville Hos-

pital and the donation

will be conducted

through St. Jude Chil-

dren's Research Hospi-

tal in Memphis. Though

Mr. Daly’s contact

wishes to remain anony-

mous, we hope Mr. Daly

can pass along our

gratitude for the poten-

AWS Receives Life-Saving Donation

tially most important dona-

tion we will ever receive.

AEDs have been making

headlines ever since they

were introduced into

schools for saving children

in emergency, life-

threatening situations.

Thanks, Brad!****

Our story for the Shelters block was one that I created to fit our purposes. It told the story of two small people (literally–they were only an inch or two high!) that fall out of the sky one day and find themselves in a strange, big world. Looper and Lil, journey all over trying to find a place to call home. They come across many different types of animal homes, but none of them is quite right. After crossing a mountain, Looper and Lil meet people that look like them, though quite a bit

bigger. The many different peo-ple live in all kinds of different houses, and Looper and Lil try out every single one of them. In the end, Looper and Lil build a hodge-podge house that suits them, using all the things they liked about the different shelters.

This animal and human homes block is a common block for the third grade because it meets the children so well developmen-tally. As they go through the nine-year-old change, the stu-dents are coming down to earth—much like Looper and Lil.

There are many neat things to see in the world, but it can also seem big and scary. Children react to this rela-tional change in different ways, but very often with some insecurity. This curricu-lum block eases the transition by showing how each animal and each person has its place –and they’re all unique! As the children’s relationship to the world shifts, they also become more aware of their own physical bodies and settle into them more: before the nine-year change, many

children tend to walk on their toes, but as they go through this transition, they start to walk more on their heels; the children also have better awareness and control over their limbs; they will lose some of the springy-ness of childhood and experience gravity a bit more. The stu-dents have been building their physical bodies since birth, and now they are really mov-ing into them! The Waldorf curriculum allows them to feel a bit more secure during an otherwise scary transition.****



Snapshots of AWS —

Learning (and Fun) caught on CAMERA! Hey, AWS Teachers and Parents!

Send your photos of class events, field trips, birthday celebrations, festival parties, and performances to [email protected] — and we’ll be sure to add them to the Snapshots page next month!

New Class

Teacher,

Rachel

Hanemann at

the Kinder-

garten

Graduation

Ceremony,

with one of

her eight 1st

graders,

Madi (photo

courtesy of

Chris Prich-

ard).

For Graduation, 4th/5th graders performed

pieces for voice & recorder. Above: students

sing “States & Capitals.”

1st grader Ge-

neva, 2nd

grader Gabe

(left), and 4th

grader Karen

(right) show off

their stilt-walking

skills. All AWS

grades students

learn circus

skills in Move-

ment classes,

taught by certi-

fied Spacial

DynamicsTM

instructor Jenni-

fer Cripps.

After hearing

stories of the

mischievous

animals in the

fables, Ms.

Lucas’ 2nd

graders took a

trip to the Mont-

gomery Zoo in

May!

AWS Russian teacher

Rita Meikson with 3rd

grade son, Daniel, at

Graduation/Closing.

Nursery Teachers psyching themselves

up for Graduation! (Ms. Samantha, Mr.

Huck, Ms. Holly, & Mr. Ashley)

Kindergarten

Field Trip to

Old Baker

Farm: Enjoy-

ing the pet-

ting zoo are:

(top) Rikki,

Charlie, &

Donelle.

Bottom: Ri-

ley, Asata,

Kenji, Ja-

mahri, &

Nikki

Magic City Ballet Discover Joy in Motion

At the Devyani Dance Center in Irondale

Vaganova-based Ballet and Creative Movement for children and adults

Cynthia Mwenja, Artistic Direc-tor

Call or text 205.249.8955 [email protected] www.MagicCityBallet.com

aws awareness june2010 -...

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