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AWS Awareness 2013-14, April/May Page 1
AWS Awareness
Alabama Waldorf School1220 50th Street SouthBirmingham, AL 35222
AlabamaWaldorf.orgBlog: AlabamaWaldorf.wordpress.com
April/May 2014
Common Core Curriculum:A Waldorf Response
Patrice Maynard’s keynote lecture at the 2014 AWSNA Southeastern Regional Confer-ence focused around under-standing the new Common Core State Standards curriculum (CCSS). As Director of Publica-tions for Waldorf Research Insti-tute, Patrice said it was impor-tant that, even though Waldorf
schools have their own “common core curriculum” to follow, teachers and administrators have a grasp on what is being emphasized and de-emphasized in the latest nationally standardized educational map. Patricebrieflytalkedaboutthehistoryofeducation in America and how it came to be con-trolled by the national government instead of plac-ing the power at the state level, which is supported by the Constitution. Between 1848, when public schoolwasfirstestablishedthroughtheimmigrantinfluxofthe19thandearly20thcenturies,throughthe1930sand40s,thestructureofschoolingwasunchanged. After Sputnik was launched by Russia in1963,fear became the prime motivator, May-nardexplained,andthegoalsofeducationbecamelinked to national safety. The Federal Department of Education was formed in the 70s and in the early 80s a report indicated that our education system was so bad it was a national crisis. Teachers were blamed for this, so the government stepped in. Throughoutthe80sandintothe90s,reportsde-termined that the U.S. was still behind in math and science and state governors met with presidents to establish a national plan of action. Clinton prom-ised funding to states who adopted the national plan and it was then that the states surrendered their sovereign authority over education. Business
involvement in educational goals became visible and public schools were held in higher esteem than independent schools. Theinternet,9/11,charterschools,HeadStart programs, and the push to dominate the glob-almarketallfiguredprominentlyintotheeducation-al goals set forth by the government, “No Child Left Behind,” being a culmination of all of these motiva-tors. All the while, the basic development of the child was unchanged; all the while the focus on the child took a backseat to the focus on the nation.
Fast-forward to 2014 and the Common Core Curriculum, in which “Ends” statements (e.g. “the adept mathematic student will be able to....”) become the driv-ing force for success. “College Ready” is one example.Thetesting
put in place by No Child Left Behind comes back to haunt teachers as their accountability relies on test-ing. Once again teachers and parents and children must march to the drum of an edict from the gov-ernment and not educators. It is not only that the CCSS contains ob-jectives in math, science, and language arts that are unreasonable, but that the measure of what is learned can only be determined by test scores that focusontherightanswer.Howthingsarelearnedbecomes irrelevant. The correct answer scores high on a test, but how you got it isn’t important anymore. Exceptthatitis!Brainscienceandresearchhave been telling us this for decades. (cont’d on p. 3)
AWS Awareness 2013-14, April/May Page 2
New Site & Capital Campaign News On April 11th, Alabama Waldorf School parents and friends gathered at the new site for a cleanup day. Folks brought brooms, shovels, and wheelbarrows to sweep up broken glass and tidy up the landscaping, and Jeff McPeters of Junk
King of Alabaster donated a $500 dump truck and loading services. Heendedupcartingoffoldceilingtiles, ruined furniture, particle board camels, old sheet music, and even astuffedpinkpig!
For parents, it was an opportunity to see the their children’s future school home. In Wal-dorf schools, the parent body takes up the care for the school grounds and facilities. AWS’s Fam-ily Association represents the “hands” of Alabama Waldorf School, and our new site is going to need the joining of hands to shape itself into our future home. Many thanks to all who came out to lendahand! Thank you to Mwenja (pictured upper right)fordealingwithallthebrokenfluorescentglass. Thank you to Kelly Wood and Lauren Brown (pictured upper left) for cleaning the kindergarten space and more. Thank you to Ned Boggan for sweeping up copper thief debris, hauling, cleaning, and helping direct. Thank youtoLisaHickmanforsweeping,cleaningoutclosetsanddoingfinalcleanupofbrokenglass.
Thank you to Brian Wilson for carrying heavy stuff, hauling, and general tidy up. Thank you to Brian, Ms. Lucas, and allher6thgradersforfindingthe secret storage closet un-der the stairs and cleaning it out. Thanks to Craig Ceravolo for removing the boards on the kindergarten doors so we could see and for help-ing do everything in that firstcrazyhour!ThankstoRobyn and Matt Lawrence for sweeping, hauling, blowing, and bagging.
Another grati-tude goes out to Susan Thompson of O-Jay Fence for their partial in-kind donation for a new barrier gate.
Miranda Springer, our Capital Campaign Consultant, continues to work with our adminis-trative staff and Capital Campaign Committee on the campaign’s marketing materials. The feasibil-ity study is underway and much helpful data is beingcollected.Thanksforyoursupport!
Accreditation News
AWSNA Accredita-tion Coordinator Joanne Andrus-cavage visited Alabama Waldorf School and made a presentation at February’s Family Association meet-ing for parents, faculty, staff, and
board members. The 18-month process of accreditation will involve reviewing ev-eryaspectoftheschool,fromfinanceand
governance to facilities and curriculum. This will be a whole school endeavor.
As of June 1st, Joanne will be moving to SAIS (Southern Association of Indepen-dent Schools) to serve as their Accredita-tion Coordinator. This is good news for us, as we are pursuing dual accreditation with both AWSNA and SAIS.
If you have a particular interest in being involved in either of these processes, please let Lisa Grupe know, [email protected].
AWS Awareness 2013-14, April/May Page 3
Common Core: A Waldorf Response (cont’d from front page)
Waldorf Education recognizes this, and that is why there is such a strong emphasis on learning via analysis instead of synthesis in the Waldorf curriculum. This was a distinction Maynard made between mainstream education and Waldorf. In “The Renewal of Education,” Rudolf Steiner (Basel,May5,1920)explainsthattrue analysis is going from the whole to the parts, as in the equation, 24 = 6 X 4.
SYNTHESIS ANALYSISResults in one answer:
6 x 4 = 24Starting with one
number, figuring out how many ways to
get it. 24 = 6 x 4, 8 x 3,
12 x 2
Multiple choice ques-tions
Essay questions
In math, multiple pages of problems of same process (all addition)
A word problem with multiple steps with different op-erations required to solve it.
In science, stating an answer before observ-ing the elements of the problem being solved
Making observa-tions and coming to a goal/answer after observing
Tires a child because of wearisome nature of process.
Tires child appro-priately because it stimulates and en-gages all processes.
Synthesis is grouping things together: 6setsof4is24.Synthesisresultsinoneanswer,as in multiple choice questions. It is the easier of the two processes, the one on which schools focustoteachefficiencyforefficiency’ssake.Sometimes this is a necessary thing, of course: memorizing your times tables is an essential skill forproficiencyinhighermathprocesses.Butsynthesisisnotasbeneficialintheteachingofhistory,forexample.Usingsynthesisinahistory
lesson would result in the student being able to recite a series of dates and names, instead of showing an understanding of the biographies of the people who lived during that historical period, or the culture that emerged, or the lessons that were learned from strife and war. Analysis is the more in-depth process for seeking an answer. When a child engages in the analysis of a problem, s/he is seeking the meaning behind the answer. S/he is learn-ingfromajoyfulprocessofquestioning,experi-menting, and discovering. Analysis is looking at problems that are connected to LIFE, not made up to accommodate an idea (Booth and Edelglass). In the case of the CCSS, a valid fear is that it was designed without a lot of critical analysis -- that it was made up to accommodate the idea that a nationally standardized curriculum is what’s best for the United States, not for the individual child living in the U.S.
InWaldorfEducation,Maynardexplained,each child in a class informs what the curriculum should be. “Waldorf education is not con-cerned with economic goals or nationalistic wishes for superiority. Our goal is to realize the unique mission of each individual. We emphasize capacity and skill building to help the child realize his or her best potential, to succeed at his or her mission in life.” Waldorf Education is not a mere alterna-tive to other types of education but an entirely new impulse – A REVOLUTION in Education. We understand what a foundation of health-for-life can do for a child. As Maynard pointed out, Col-lege and Career Ready (the goal for the CCSS) is good, surely, but nothing compared to “LR,” Life Ready. An effective curriculum is one that is built around the child, and that is what Waldorf educa-tion is.
Patrice Maynard is Director of Publications for the Waldorf Research Institute, www.waldorfresearchinstitute.org.
AWS Awareness 2013-14, April/May Page 4
AWS Calendar of Events Summer 2014
Holiday/NoSchool ParentAttendanceexpected.FreeChildcare provided by AWS.
May1 Movin’ & Gro-
ovin’ Field Day
2 Assembly 2:30p3
4
5
6
7 Marketing Mtg 11:30-12:30
8
9
10
11
12
13 F.A. Mtg 5:30...
18
19
20 Board Mtg 5:30p
21 Marketing Mtg 11:30-12:30
22
23 Last Day of School / Early Dismissal 12:30p; No XC / Nursery Ceremony 8:30a / KG Ceremony 10:30a / Gradu-ation 5pm at East Lake United Methodist
...
26 Memorial Day27 AWS28 Office29 Closed30 all31 Week
June1
2 AWS Sum-mer Program begins
3
4
5
6 OfficeClosed...
10
11 Faculty/Team Mtgs, 3:15pm
12
13 OfficeClosed/Grades & at-tendance due
14
15 Father’s Day
16
17 Board of Trustees Mtg 5:30-7pm
18
19
20 OfficeClosed21
22
23 AWSNA 24 Conference,25 Amherst,26 Mass.27 OfficeClosed28
29
30
July1
2
3
4 AWS closed for Indepen-dence Day/No Summer Program
5
6
7
8
9
1011 Officeclosed12
13
14
15 Bd. of Trustees Mtg 5:30pm
16 Faculty Mtg 3:30pm
17 College of18 Teachers
Retreat in Fairhope/ Officeclosed
19
...
25 Officeclosed26
27
28
29
30
31
August12
...8 Final Day of Sum-
mer Program
9
10
11 Faculty Work-shop week
12 Bd. of Trustees Mtg 5:30pm
13
14 SAIS Accredi-tation Work-shop. Open to all, 10a-1pm
15
16
17
18 BACK to School Night 6pm
19 Preschool OpenHouse10:30am
20 First Day of School
...
22
23
...
27 Fac. Mtg 3:30p28 College of
Teachers Mtg 3:30
29
30
31
Denotes weekend
AWS Awareness 2013-14, April/May Page 5
8th Grade AWS stu-dents received wonderful news regarding their future high school plans: they were ac-cepted to the programs they applied to, including Shades ValleyHighSchool’sVisualArtsand Engineering programs, The Altamont School, and Jefferson County International Baccalau-reate School. Congratulations, students!
Grayson Cusimano (AWS Class of 2008) is currently a freshman at the North Carolina School of the Arts. She recently emailed Dr. Grupe to let her know that the history lessons she learned during her time at AWS were coming in handy. For herfinalcostumeclassprojectshe had to create a shoe sculp-ture based off a “great woman in history.” Above is her work in progress for Eleanor of Acqui-taine.
Susan Mwenja (AWS Class of 2009),graduatingfromShadesValleyHighSchoolthisMay,wasofferedatotalof$146,000to 5 colleges She is not only graduating in the top 20, she is also an honors grad, which means she has a 4.0 or better. Hersister,Marian (Class of 2012), received honors recogni-tion in 7 of 8 classes, continues with her 4.0 gpa as a sopho-more, was one of 100 “super
scholars” rec-ognized by the county school superintendent this year, is a member of the local Youth Philanthropic Council, has been active with Peace Birmingham, is a member of high school think tank Future Problem Solv-ers, and is the treasurer of the environmental group Trees for Trees at JCIB. Big sister Ja-nine (Class of ‘07) is interning at Giattina Aycock Architecture Studios again this summer and will be a junior at Auburn in the fall.
Jessie Hook (pic-tured at right) will be a sophomore at Sewanee, Teresier McGough (Class of 2008), will be at Montevallo, Ryan Strawbridge (Class of 2009)willbeafreshmanatFullSail University in Winter Park, FL, and Wells Wagner, who won 3rd place in the Environ-mental & Earth Sciences divi-sion of Altamont’s 2013 Science Fair, and Elliot Gibbs and Nicholas Spence will enter UAB as freshmen this fall, Elliot intheHonorsProgram. Amelia O’Hare, one of Redmont’sveryfirststudents,won a contest sponsored by The National Mobility Equip-ment Dealers Association. The NMEDAisanon-profitorgani-zationdedicatedtoexpanding
mobility options for people with disabilities. The contest was promoted on facebook and many friends of AWS nominated Amelia for the prize. Recently, Ms. Powell’s class welcomed a special guest teacher. Colin Reily, who earned his Ph.D. in molecular pathology, has a background in biochemistry and is currently a research fellow at UAB and volunteered to help teach the 7th/8th grade Chemistry block. Dr. Reily is a graduate of the Emerson Waldorf School in ChapelHill,NC.HecontactedAWS when he learned there was a Waldorf school in Bir-mingham.HevaluedhisKin-dergarten through 8th grade Waldorf education so much that he wanted to give something back. We are grateful for his help.
------“The Waldorf student I taught
had a breadth of interest, a will-ingnesstoexplorenewareas
and to make connections to what she already knew, an ar-
tistic sense and an ability to ap-plyittoscientificproblems.She
also brought a strong, highly individualistic (non-sectarian) spiritual sense to her work—
her world was larger and more interesting than herself.”
– Stan Rachootin, Prof. of Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, as
quoted in the Research Institute for Waldorf Education’s “Survey of Waldorf Graduates Phase II.”
The pdf is available for down-load at whywaldorfworks.org.
Waldorf Graduates: Onward and Upward
Marian & Susan with little sister Lilla, AWS Classof2024!
AWS Awareness2013-14,April/May Page6
#Waldorf education is many things. It is alive. It is deep, it is inspiring and it makes good sense. Above all,
it is about becoming. Becoming more awake, becoming more conscious.
Follow “Waldorf Education” on facebook and twitter. It is a great resource for Waldorf articles and information about the Waldorf curriculum.
Symmetry is a concept exploredthroughform drawing and art in the 2nd grade. In Ms. Gibbs’ combined 1st/2nd class, students were instructed to make a dance using their paint brushes on the right-hand side of the page, and to paint the mirror image of that dance on the other side.
HistoryinWaldorfSchools is taught consecutively; over the course of 8 years, students learn 5000 years of history, starting with the Old Testament and ending with the Reformation. At right, Norse myths accompany the 4th gradeNordicHistoryblock. At left, a page froma6thgradeMainLesson Book about the feudal system in the Middle Ages.
From the concept of “the whole to the parts,” Waldorf 1st graders take part in Nature Studies by observing a natural object and how the seasons affect it. Throughout the years, observations focus on the smaller object cul-minatinginthe6thgradeChemistryblocks.Above,2ndgradeNatureStudiesMainLessonBook;atright,a6thgrader’sMLB.
In many established Waldorf schools, 8th grade students present projects and reports they’ve worked on throughout the course of the school year. On April 23rd, AWS students presented their reports. From left to right: Bronwyn talkingabout“TheHumanFaceandHowExpressionServesasaCommunica-tion Tool;” Darien presenting a report on Islam; and, below, Joseph presented on “The Beatles.”
AWS Awareness 2013-14, April/May Page 7
Above and at right: Our Movin’ and Groovin’ Walkathon Fundraiser was a huge success with a beautiful day of weather for our May 1st Final Mile Event. Students and their families raised over $5,000 fortheschool!
Left: 3rd Graders tookafieldtriptoJones Valley Urban Farm as part of their farming block. Jones Valley’s educational program, Seed to Plate, teaches students about where healthy food comes from. Pictured far left, Mr. “Rad” con-vinces AWS 3rd grade teacher Mr. Lucas to don a bee suit to show off the farm’s honey producers to the class. Top left: Mia and Zambia learn how to chop veggies properly. Middle: Mr. Rad introduces one of the farm’s chickens to John. Bottom left: Mr. Rad shows Anna and Arden which plants are right for harvesting for their meal.
Bottom right: 8th graders Bronwyn and Darien joined the efforts of Site Cleanup Day to sketch drawings for potential renderings for the new class-
Right:TheHinduspring holiday of Holiwascelebratedin the Kindergarten on March 17. Ms. Sadhna brought deli-cious Indian recipes for snack and the students had a joyful time painting their faces and throwing splashes of bright chalk on the play-ground to symbolize the colors of spring.
AWS Event Snapshots!
Thanks to all who helped out at AWS’s booth at this year’s Magic City Art Connection. Children had a wonderful time dyeing muslin head-bands with colorful flowersandveggies.A special thanks to Ms.Lucas’s6thgrad-ers for helping out on Friday (at right, Otto, Thalia, and Martha; not pictured, Jackson, Natalie, and Rosalyn).
AWS Awareness 2013-14, April/May Page 8
To accompany their study of Ancient Greece, Waldorf 5th graders across the country learn pentath-lon skills that the an-cient Greeks learned. The sports learned in Movement class are then performed at a
Waldorf Olympics. All students are divided into fourcity-statesthatcompeteinfiveevents:jav-elin, discus, long jump, relay race, and Greco-Roman wrestling.
AWS hosted this year’s Southeastern Pentathlon at Camp Kanawahala in Chelsea. AWS’ own 5th grader Geneva Avery designed the t-shirts (pic-tured above) for the 3-day long rite of passage, and several AWS parents participated as judges. Our special thanks to Mwenja, Bill Bradley, Brian Gosdin,DaveHall,andBetsyMillsforhelpingtojudgethefiveevents.
“MyPentathlonexperi-ence was greatly enriched by getting to know children from other Waldorf schools, includ-ing one of our very own, Geneva. I had the pleasure of assessing each child on pure levels of achievement, so pure that each child’s spirit was able to be represented in its entirety. I appreciate the welcoming environment that allowed me to have and sharetheseexperienceswithourWaldorfcommunity!”
- Betsy Mills, AWS Parent
“My job as judge meant that for two days I was to follow the kids. Watch them. To see not only how they performed, but how they interacted. Over the course of two days, I was to observe and at the end of the clos-ingceremonyfindsomethingmeaningfultoexpresstoeach of the children about themselves.”
-DaveHall,AgogeFitnessTrainer & AWS Parent
ReadmoreaboutDave’sexperi-enceatagogefit.com.
Waldorf Pentathlon 2014
AWS Awareness2013-14,April/May Page9
Photo Corner: Spring Gala Fundraiser!Thanks to all of the artists and business owners who donated to our silent and live auctions, our Gaelic Gala fundraiser propelled us closer to meeting our budget goals for 2013-14! (Photos courtesy of Flash)
This year’s Gala honored class teacher Lynda Powell andher19years of Wal-dorf teaching experience.
Pictured top to bottom: Ms. Powell’s family and friends;
Summer Aldrich, Ms. Powell, and John Aldrich; Ms. Powell, MaryAnnBentley,&BeckyO’Neil;Ms.Powellflankedbygratefulclassparents,SamanthaHallandEmilyLawler. The Gaelic Gala
AlAbAmA WAldorf School preSentS
Sunday, March 9th, 2014, 5-8pmWorkPlay500 23rd St S, Birmingham, AL 35233
Silent Auction & Signature Health Live Auction | Honoring Lynda O’Neil Powell
Tickets $40 | includes beer, wine, & hors d’oeuvres | Live music from Jasper CoalTickets may be purchased at the door or online at alabamwaldorf.org, or call 205-592-0541 for ticketing information.
Sponsors:
The Gaelic Gala
AlAbAmA WAldorf School preSentS
Sunday, March 9th, 2014, 5-8pmWorkPlay500 23rd St S, Birmingham, AL 35233
Silent Auction & Signature Health Live Auction | Honoring Lynda O’Neil Powell
Tickets $40 | includes beer, wine, & hors d’oeuvres | Live music from Jasper CoalTickets may be purchased at the door or online at alabamwaldorf.org, or call 205-592-0541 for ticketing information.
Sponsors:
A huge thanks to Irish band Jasper Coal (bottom left) for providing the awesome enter-tainment for the evening!Atright,Jennifer Robinson and Stephanie Mc-Donaldenjoyajig!
Our alumni who are in high school and college helped out at the event.
Above: Janine Mwenja with mother Cynthia during auction setup. Middle: Cynthia with second eldest daugh-ter Susan.
Right: over 150 people enjoyed the evening’s festivities.
Kindergarten teacher Sadhna Udharam with husband Albert.
AWS Awareness 2013-14, April/May Page 10
The AWS Awareness is brought to you by these proud sponsors...
If you would like a sponsorship
in the Awareness, call 205-592-0541 or email
AWS Awareness 2013-14, April/May Page 11
The AWS Awareness is brought to you by these proud sponsors...
Yoga. TaiChi. Meditation. Breathwork. ContinuingEducation. Workshops.
CranioSacral. Rolfing®. Feldenkrais®. MassageTherapy.
ThaiYogaMassage.Birmingham Therapeutic Services, LLC
The mission of Alabama Waldorf School is to cultivatehealthy,confident,compassionatelearnerswhoexcelacademically,socially,andcivically.
The vision of Alabama Waldorf School is to be a beacon for the Birmingham community, offering a vibrant future grounded in an engaged, compassionate, and insightful understanding of the world.
3918 Montclair Road, Suite 100
www.EMBODYbirmingham.com(205) 637.0299
c o l l a b o r at i o n o f a rt i sts : k at r i n a t u r n b ac h | s h e l l e i g h b u c k i n g h a m | l es l i e h i c k e r s o n
Paintings & art collages, up-cycled fabric purses & sachets, handmade soap, teacup bird feeders, silver & glass jewelry, and much more!
Visit the Artsy Chicks booth in the pavilion atArt On r MOuntAin
at ruffner Mountain nature Preserveon Saturday, April 6, 9am – 5pm
~ NEW LOOK, SAME CHICKS...AS SEEN AT AWS HOLIDAY FAIRE ~
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AWS Awareness 2013-14, April/May Page 12
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