CELEBRATING 30 YEARS

heartbeatPORTLAND WALDORF SCHOOL 11/12

Harvest Festival was particularly festive this year, as October 13 also marked the occasion of beloved teacher Jim Conlon’s sixtieth birthday. Inspired by Jim’s special day, the first grade class seized the opportunity to honor a gifted teacher and beacon of light at PWS.

The rainy forecast drove the potluck indoors, which gave a cozy, familial feel to our celebration. The talented Lisa Harrison joyfully called Jim with song and pentatonic flute and led our community in a harmonious rendition of Happy Birthday. Afterwards, the first grade presented Jim with a decadent cake and gift certificate for a special retreat for Jim and his lovely wife, Sue.

The day of celebration culminated with the planting of two heritage red oak trees (one for

each of Jim’s classes at PWS), led by groundskeeper Brendan Eiswerth. It was moving to see early childhood, grades and high school parents gather their shovels and roll up their sleeves, working together to honor Jim and secure his legacy on our beautiful campus.

Finally, first graders, hoisted on parent shoulders, tied cards with wishes from first and ninth grade families to the branches. Children linked hands around the tree, and we watched our thanks, wishes and dreams for Jim flutter in the wind, above the roots now solidly planted on our community soil.

See page 3 for a long list of Thank You’s to all those that made this project happen!

Celebrating Jim Conlon BY ELIZABETH WEBBER, PARENT

nov. events11/ 19 -11/21Parent Teacher Conferences

in this issuepage 2 Meet the Board President

page 3 Annual Support

page 5Heritage Trees

page 9Parent Opportunities

page 10Photo of the month

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It’s amazing how much can happen in three years! I remember sitting at one of my first parent meetings in the fall of 2009. This being Portland, it's pretty safe to say it was drizzling outside. I was sitting next to my husband on a weekday evening in the Rose Kindergarten - we had our five-year old at home with a babysitter and our eight-month old was sitting on my lap, attempting to disrupt the meeting as best she could. Ms. Sonia was giving her hardest sales pitch (as only Ms. Sonia can) on the importance of Parent Council and the need for Rose Kindergarten to be represented by parents in the class – parents that perhaps wanted to learn more about the school or become better connected with the community. Since the birth of our first child, I’d been working about 10 hours a week from my home and was at this point beginning to contemplate my return to the “real” world of adults and community. While happy and thankful to have been able to set aside my career for awhile, I was feeling ready to add something more to my day, something that would challenge me mentally and provide me with a different set of meaningful responsibilities.

About six months later I was reading about the projected budget deficit in the school newsletter, Heartbeat. Since we had planned for our children to take the whole journey at PWS through high school, I became immediately concerned about the monetary well-being of the school. I called, asked questions and was invited to observe a Finance Committee meeting or two. Two and a half years later I find myself serving enthusiastically as Board President. Now I don't say that lightly – I have spent more time and energy on volunteer work for the school than any other work or play that I've managed to finagle as a stay-at-home mom. But the work has brought me such joy and fulfillment – I've been part of a process that has brought our school from a place of stagnation to a place of growth and

expansion. And literally, we've only just begun.Rudolph Steiner spoke about schools at various ages and stages and said that there is a natural sloughing-off around Year 25. In 2009, the initial vigor of our school’s inception (1982) and subsequent milestones (such as the move into our current building in 2002) had tapered off. In response to this downturn, a movement emerged to consciously examine the way we were operating and to reinvigorate all aspects of life at PWS.

When I began volunteering, a new governance model was being conceived and implemented. We then started rebuilding our long-term strategic plan from the ground up, with a first priority in putting our financial house in order. While the financial process has been challenging on both the leaders of the community and the parent-body itself, the short term plan has yielded enormous, long-term rewards. We now find ourselves, only a few short years later, with a balanced budget, a new head of school, a new Development Director, a College that has more members than it's had in years, and eleven effective Board Trustees. Moreover, we have a concise, prioritized, progressive list of attainable initiatives which will help us reach our singular goal of an enrollment of 360 students by 2016, also known as “360-in-four.” This is an exciting place to be!

Thank you for letting me share with you about one leadership group in our school, the Board of Trustees. I will keep you updated about our goals and progress. In turn, the single most important thing you can do to assist in our growth is to communicate with us. Our updated Parent Handbook (which will soon arrive) offers a list of resources. In general, you are welcome to bring financial or legal issues to me, or any Trustee. Your class teacher is happy to hear from you regarding your child and your class. Christine

Your New Board President BY WENDY REA

cont. on page 3

This Year’s Annual Support Campaign will launch in November! The Annual Support Campaign is PWS’s top giving priority. It supports the school’s operating budget with annual, unrestricted gifts that help fund our programs, students, and teachers. We need to be able to have a balanced operating budget in order for banks, foundations, and other outside funders to see us as a school that is healthy and has strong community support that they can back up with additional resources. This year, our Annual Support Campaign goal is $75,000.

Parents support the Annual Support Campaign at levels ranging from $25, $250, $2,500, or more. The important thing is that everyone participates and does so at the level they can afford.

This year parent volunteers will ask for pledges and donations and steward the Annual Support Campaign, so you can expect a phone call or email from a member of the Annual Support Campaign Committee. Our goal is to wrap up the campaign at the end of December, so please pledge or donate early!

If you have any questions about the Annual Support Campaign, please ask your class Annual Support Volunteer, Annual Support Campaign Chair, John Harrison, or Sara Case!

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Tree Planting Thank You!

Wolf, as School Chair, and Francine Adams, as Pedagogical Chair, will always make themselves available to you. But please, let us know what you see, what needs to change, and equally as important, how you can help.I am honored to serve in the role as President of the Board of Trustees. And I hope you'll join me in finding ways to be of service to our school.Happy Fall,Wendy ReaPresident, Board of Trustees503.310.2516wendy.n.rea@gmail.com

Thank you to all the wonderful parents that helped dig holes and plant the enormous trees that we put in at the harvest festival as a tribute to Mr. Conlon. Big thanks to this year’s 1st and 9th grade classes for purchasing the two red oaks and to Julie Machen for helping put this all together. Another extra big thanks to Jeff Bergstrom, Lily class parent, and his business Northwest Nursery Exchange for donating the columnar oak and for coordinating getting these trees. Tom Myers for the use of his dump truck to transport these behemoths. And extra big thanks to Brendan for all his help!

Annual Support Campaign

new president. cont. from page 2

7th grade perspective drawing

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Enrollment/Outreach BY MARY BEATON, ENROLLMENT OFFICE As always, parents are the best advertisers for our school.  Coupling good old-fashioned word-of-mouth with our exciting new marketing and advertising campaign is sure to increase our visibility in Portland and on the web.  We have spaces in our classrooms waiting for your friends’ lovely children!  PWS parents, you are warmly welcome to share our events with your friends, neighbors and colleagues.  We are offering a variety of fun ways to come visit the school this fall:  WALK THROUGH THE GRADESThursday, November 8, 2012 from 9:00 - 10:30 am  HARVEST TEA (for prospective early-childhood families)Saturday, November 3, 2012 from 10:00 am - 11:30 am ALL SCHOOL OPEN HOUSEThursday, November 15, 2012 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm WINTER TEA (for prospective early-childhood families)Saturday, December 1, 2012 from 10:00 - 11:30 am

 We also offer tours daily at 10:30am.  Invite a friend.  Share with a neighbor.  Tell your dentist.  “Like” PWS on Facebook and share posts.  Let’s boost our enrollment together!

We offer Parent-child classes through 12th grade on our beautiful 7.2 acre campus minutes away from Sellwood.

2300 SE Harrison Street, Milwaukie, Oregon 97222 portlandwaldorf.org

WALK THROUGH THE GRADES

NOV. 8, 2012 9:00 AM TO 10:30 AM

Come visit us for a unique opportunity to see Waldorf

education in action or call to schedule a tour.

EARLY CHILDHOOD TEANOV. 3 & DEC. 1, 2012 10:00 AM TO 11:30 AM

Bring your whole family, experience a magical morning in our Kindergarten. RSVP!503.654.2200!EXT 209

One childhoodLive it well

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The PWS campus is blessed with a number of “heritage trees”. There are a number of exquisite mature trees on our campus that provide both shade and beauty throughout the year. A few of these are the Atlas Cedar in the center of our campus, a few Liquid Ambers and a Magnolia in front of the main building and three stunning Hornbeams in the Harrison parking lot. Since PWS moved to this site, we have added a number of trees to the campus that will mature into substantial shade trees. Prior to me joining the staff here, there were a number of trees planted by folks at PWS including the alders and a variety of evergreens on the west and north sides of our playing field, alders along the north side of Spring Creek to cool the water as it passes through our campus and of course our wonderful apple orchard. Since my arrival here, we have planted a row of maples along Harrison St, a couple of ash trees in the Monroe parking lot, a couple Forest Pansy red buds, and a dawn redwood. This past weekend parents and staff helped in the planting of two red oaks and a columnar oak as part of the Harvest Festival and as a tribute to our first grade teacher Jim Conlon who just turned 60 years young. The trees that PWS has planted on our site will continue to grow and mature into amazing specimens that will provide beauty, shade, and in some cases fruit, for many years to come. My desire is that every year we can continue to add more heritage trees of the future to our campus. It would be great to plant at least 1 or 2 new trees a year with an eye for how they will look not just in 5 or 10 years but how they will add to the beauty and enjoyment of this site for generations to come.

If you would like to find out more about any of the trees on our campus or to find out how you can help plant trees at PWS in the future please contact Brendan Eiswerth – PWS Facilities Manager.

Harvest Festival Thank You’sThank you to all who helped make this year’s Harvest Festival a success! Especially Kathleen Taylor, 3rd Grade Teacher for taking the reigns.

New Season’s Market- donation of apples for pressing; Soter Vineyard- donation of straw balesSpring Creek Coffee House- donation of coffee for the bake saleJulie Machen- created the postersStephanie Baartz-Bowman and Claudine Moreno- bake sale organizersLisa Harrison- potluck organizer and MCGodet Family- cider press rental and deliveryOwen James- musician Community ChoirSet up and clean up volunteers!Brendan Eiswerth- all around helper and tree planterMichael Cromie and Arehn McCarty- field games coordinatorsAnd, of course, many people helped create all the classroom booths that makes the event such a joy!

Heritage Trees at PWS BY BRENDAN EISWERTH, Facilities Manager

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Boundaries of Thought BY JEFFREY LEVY

The other day, I was thinking about thought. After a middle school parent evening when Chiaki Uchiyama gave a delightful picture of the 12-14 year old, a question arose around thinking in the high school years from 15-18.

The first thing one can notice in the high school is the difference between the thinking of a 9th grader and that of a senior; the thoughts of the younger students are primarily imitative while those of the graduating students have begun to develop an independence. How does this happen?

Generally, at fifteen, feeling is the dominant driver of a student’s life. They still live in the land of “always” and “never”, of intense liking or equally intense disliking. If you ask a 9th grader to defend a view that they don’t immediately like, their defense will last about 15 seconds before they burst out with “But that’s not what I think!” Their feeling of liking an idea overcomes any consideration for a different view.

In the next year, a shift can begin to happen. Where the feeling-boundaries in the freshman year tend toward the black and white, the sophomore begins to have a better balance in their feelings. This balance helps to form a boundary with thinking. At fifteen the dominant feelings overwhelm thinking but in the 10th grade, a new skin can form. This is very important because clear thinking depends on boundaries. An idea needs definition, a particular form and particular links to other ideas.

At sixteen, moments begin to happen when the light bulb turns on. (It is interesting that this is seven years after the nine-year change.) One can almost see it happen. What before had been bound up in tides of emotion becomes clear – for a moment. “Now I get it!” a sophomore will say. Adults may remember that time in school when a formerly opaque concept or a puzzling social relationship suddenly became transparent. “Ah, now I see!” There is a little

thrill when, for a moment, a truth appears and in that moment it is irrelevant how one feels about it. It just IS.

As students move into their junior year (usually turning 17), this new visitation of thought becomes a bit more familiar. Deliberate thought can even be summoned at will, though this is difficult. And it comes with a cost. Typically students feel a sort of expulsion from the Garden of Eden (childhood) around this time and look back to a time when their feelings were unfettered by “the knowledge of good and evil.” (For some students this is a melancholy experience, but for others it is a relief.) They have crossed a kind of threshold into adult knowledge and they realize they cannot easily go back. At this point in thinking, questions of morality naturally arise. Do I do this, or not? What if parents, teachers, even friends don’t know? What can I get away with? What is my responsibility?

These moral questions lead, in the final year of high school to a firmer and more conscious relationship between thinking and feeling. Students begin to really be able to separate feelings from appreciation for the truth. The self begins to be a bit more focused so that students can recognize (and often forgive) classmates in a new way. They can disagree with each other or an adult (thereby establishing a new kind of boundary) but understand that it does not have to be about like or dislike. In fact, they discover that there can be strong liking even when there is strong disagreement.

In high school the boundaries in feeling life (I love coffee ice cream; I hate Jello) transform to become a different sort of borderland between thought and feeling. Thoughts can arrive with more precise form and maintain their identity. Feelings take a place in the soul separate from thinking so that each of these modalities can serve the other. Good fences make good neighbors the old saying goes; appropriate internal boundaries help adolescents make the transition to a responsible adulthood.

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Wreath SaleThe Annual Wreath Sale is in full swing!  The seasonal wreaths, swags, and garlands are handcrafted by an Oregon family-owned and operated nursery. A portion of each sale goes to support PWS’s programs, teachers and students.  

We will be selling the winter greens until November 12, 2012. Wreaths can either be picked up at PWS or shipped via UPS. They make great holiday gifts to friends and family! Pick up will be at PWS on Thursday, November 29, 2012.https://portlandwaldorfschool.ejoinme.org/2012wreathsaleIf you have any questions about the Wreath Sale please contact Sara Case at 503-654-2200 x210.

Shield BenefitCalling all artists! Shields will be ready for our Annual Shield Benefit in November! Forty hand-made, wooden shields will be provided to selected artists within the greater Portland area to be decorated through a variety of artistic mediums. The shields will be collected from the artists by January 15, 2013 and exhibited at Portland Waldorf School’s Wildflower Gallery.

On February 15, 2013, the shields will be raffled and auctioned off at the Annual Shield Benefit evening. It’s a wonderful way for artists to showcase their talents while supporting our students and ensuring that they continue to receive the wonderful art education which is an integral part of Portland Waldorf School’s curriculum.

To get a glimpse of previous shields, swing by the Community Art Bulletin Board at the Sellwood New Seasons Market! We have been on display all month.

If you would like to be considered to be an artist for our Shield Benefit, send an email including an example of your work to Sara Case, sara.case@portlandwaldorfschool.org.

Development BY SARA CASE, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

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Cookbook Thanks

We had such a wonderful time together collecting, designing and organizing our school’s community cookbook. I want to thank everyone who contributed a recipe or two and to our team Chrisi Eile, Carol Howe, Kelly Tidrick and Sheryl Murray. Many volunteer hours and support went into this beautiful book.

If you didn’t buy your copy at the Harvest Festival, they are available in the store. All funds go to support the school.

Due to some technical mishaps some recipes were missed, and we deeply apologize if your recipe was left out. We will most likely be adding recipes pages in the near future. We will keep you posted.

November Special Store Hours The store will be closed on Thursday November 1st

and Thanksgiving and Friday November 23rd.The store will be open during the “Heart of Advent” on December 1st for shopping and craft supply needs from 11:00 – 2:00.

Make One Take One November Craft ProjectsNovember 8th – Needled Felted Tapestry “Painting with Wool”November 15th – Watercolor Star LanternsNovember 29th – Felted Star and Bead Ornaments

Teacher Conference WeekWe will be open Monday November 19th - Wednesday November 21st from 9am till 3pm. during Teacher Conference week. Stop by and holiday shop in-between appointments! Coffee, tea and snacks will also be available to keep you replenished.

Advent CalendarsWe will again offer those beautiful German Advent calendars, but don’t delay in purchasing as they sell out every year.

!

Spring Creek Store BY YVONNE CSEKO

CONGRATULATIONS VOLLEYBALL!

Middle School VB went to Metro Christian League Middle School Playoffs for the first time ever. Well done team and Coach Raymond!

HS girls are in the middle of District Championships right now. Great job ladies and thank you Coach Markel Go Lady Wolfpack!!!!!

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Dear fellow parents: I would love to initiate a study group for anyone in the community who is interested in learning about and exploring the philosophy around Waldorf education, Anthroposophy.  This would be a casual discussion for anyone to join--those new to the philosophy as well as those interested in deepening awareness by participating in a philosophical discussion. The text or topic will be selected by the group depending on collective interests.

I'd like to start with meeting once a month over tea or coffee, day & time TBD by the group. :-)  If you're at all interested, please email or give me a call!  

Sincerely,Katie Schiavo ~Mother of Dylan, Class 3 & Molly, Class 1~-408-204-5399katieshy@gmail.com

Thanks to some very enthusiastic andhelpful parents and faculty, last year's Heart of Advent annual adult winter crafting event was a great success.  This year we'd like to invite all who are interested to help with the planning and seasonal celebration this time around.  Heart of Advent is slated to be held on the morning and afternoon of Saturday, December 1st.  We'll gather a number of times before then to share and collect ideas and dole out responsibilities, and we could use your creativity, crafting passion and organizational skills!  Even if you don't consider yourself "crafty", we can surely find ways to take advantage of your commitment to be an active part of the Portland Waldorf School parent community.  Our first meeting will be held in the school store on Friday, October 26th at drop-off

Please stop by if you think you'd like to be a part of the planning for this beautiful annual celebration.  We hope to see you there and at Heart of Advent on December 1st!

Join an Anthroposophical Parent Study Group BY KATIE SCHIAVO, Parent

Heart of Advent BY DIONNE KANE, Parent

Opportunities for Parents

 

We are pleased to welcome Mr. Benjamin Teasel our new aftercare assistant. He is a graduate of Reed College. He has taught for 5 and half years at the New Day School in SE Portland, as both a lead and assistant teacher in their afternoon kindergarten program. Benjamin is currently enrolled at the Micha-el Institute where he is finishing his certification as a Waldorf teacher. We are very excited to welcome Mr. Benjamin our school!

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Welcome to Benjamin Teasel

Photo of the Month

Each month we’ll be posting a photo that we feel embodies a little bit of what it means to be at PWS.

The first is taken by parent Julie Machen. It depicts the wishes written by parents and students for Mr. Conlon trees.

These were all tied to the trees at Harvest Festival.

Please email any photos that you’d like considered for the Photo of the Month to kelly.chappie@portlandwaldorf.org

Recent nature table depiction by Jesse Michener

November

Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat/Sun

11.1

NO SCHOOL Teacher In-Service

11.2

8:45 Adult Eurythmy8:45 Community Choir

11.310-11:30 Harvest Tea6-8pm Community Square Dance

11.51:30-3, Rose K Class Mtg

Board of Trustees Meeting6pm

Parent Council7-9pm

11.6 11.7 11.89-10:30Walk Through the Grades

1:30-3 Circus Skills Class (Grades 4-6)

11.98:45 Adult Eurythmy

8:45 Community Choir

5pm Martinmas

11.108

11.12Last day to order wreaths

11.137-9pm College Financial Aid Information Evening

11.147-8:00, Grade 3 ,4 & 5 Pt Mtg

11.151:30-3 Circus Skills Class (Grades 4-6)

6:00-8:00 Whole School Open House

11.168:45 Adult Eurythmy

8:45 Community ChoirGrade 5 Class Play

11.17

11.19Parent Teacher ConferencesNo School

11.20 Parent Teacher ConferencesNo School

11.21Parent Teacher ConferencesNo School

11.22Thanksgiving Break

11.23ThanksgivingBreak

11.24

11.26 11.27 11.286:30-8pm, Trillium Parent Meeting

11.291:30-3 Circus Skills Class (Grades 4-6)

11.308:45 Adult Eurythmy8:45 Community Choir

12.1Heart of Advent10-4

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