Tidings - Fall 2009

The Quarterly Newsletter of Sun Haven Waldorf School Tidings 8


GRADE 4-5 EURYTHMY

Tidings is published quarterly for the parents, friends, and

extended community of Sun Haven Waldorf School.

In order to be published, submissions must be received

electronically before the deadline and include the full name of the

contributor. Handwritten submissions will not be accepted.

Submissions received after the deadline will be included at the

discretion of the editor.

e-Subscriptions: FreeMail: $20/year

Disclaimer:Items and advertisements appearing

in Tidings may be the opinions or beliefs of their contributors and may not necessarily reflect the policies or ideas of Sun Haven Waldorf School.

The next Tidings

publication will be Spring 2010

Submissions are due February 15, 2010

Submit to:[email protected]


GRADE 2-3 NIMBLE FINGERS – NIIMBLE MINDS


The Quarterly Newsletter of Sun Haven Waldorf School Tidings 10The Quarterly Newsletter of Sun Haven Waldorf School Tidings 13

~continued~




Jack Clarke

Alaya Conway

Benjamin Millar- Volmar Mackenzie Walters

Robyn Wareham

Phoenix StarllenJustin Sheppard

Arif Janmohamed

Social Commitee Leader Kim Barbaro, along with the support of many, offered the parents, students, faculty and board a wonderful evening to celebrate the tradition of Halloween, but in a unique way. The evening included a shadow puppet play by grade 2/3 teacher Cary Davis and the Grade 4/5 students, storytelling by grade 4/5 teacher Marsha Flad, apple bobbing, and Halloween beeswax candle making. Glowing pumpkins and a bonfire added warmth to the cool evening. To wrap up the evening the children were treated to homemade cupcakes and muffins. Everyone left with a sense of magic and enchantment.

GRADE 1 : LEARNING TO WRITE NUMBERS

Eurythmy on the Sunshine Coast means that you move like the wind; it means that you move like the waves that roll full and deep until they break upon the shore.

We have had a true adventure these past three weeks. The children of Sun Haven Waldorf School like to learn quickly and well. They have been very welcoming of Eurythmy. They like the strength of the gestures and the flow of the choreography.

On Tuesday afternoon, November 17th, all grades shared their work with each other, teachers, and parents. Through their movement, they revealed their love of shining like bright lights out into the world.

Warm thanks to Joy McCloud for leaping in to play the piano for the Eurythmy classes. She not only brought us wonderful music but also a lovely sense of musical expression.

Janette Jacobson has been teaching Eurythmy to children and adults since 1989. She enjoys becoming part of a school community and working together creatively.

~by Janette Jacobson

SUN HAVEN ANNUAL FUND

I’m Walking With My Lantern

I'm going with my lantern, my lantern goes with me. And up above the stars shine, and down below shines me.

My light shines bright in darkest night, Ra-bimmle, ra-bummle, ra-bim.Repeat

The stars shine bright in pale moonlight, Ra-bimmle, ra-bummle, ra-bim.Repeat

My light goes out, I must going home, Ra-bimmle, ra-bummle, ra-bim.Repeat

1

2

3

~Eurythmy teacher Janette Jacobson


The preschool students spent time one morning focused on making paper airplanes after they had finished their drawings. Preschool teacher Janice Hendry-Cote mentioned that it was a very spontaneous moment and these photos capture that spontaneity and joy found in the preschool classroom.

GRADE 4-5 ART

PRESCHOOL : A SPONTANEOUS MOMENT


IN THIS ISSUE~Celebrating a new name & itentity~Eugene Swartz Speaks~Art, Poetry + Thoughts from grade 5~Fundraising Fun~Painting with the Pre-schooleak Kindergarten class ~Art from grade 1

Message from the Board PresidentMessage from the Board President

NewsletterFall 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

Tidings

tel/fax: [email protected]

www.sunhavenschool.ca

1341 Margaret Rd.Roberts Creek, BC

CANADA V0N 2W2

Sun WALDORF SCHOOL

Haven

The Quarterly Newsletter of Sun Haven Waldorf School

Welcome to the Fall issue of Tidings! It comes to us in the midst of Advent (from the Latin, “to come”), a festival with ancient roots celebrating the return of the sun from its long winter slumber. Winter Solstice, and the longer days that follow, is just around the corner.

We have had so much to celebrate this school year! Tidings has captured the excitement of the annual Michaelmas play, the fun of Hallowe’en, the beautiful lanterns of Martinmas, and the wonder of the Christmas Faire. How quickly the year goes by!

The tradition of Martinmas on November 11th is always a favourite festival. The lanterns made by the children to hold the light and bring it within as they prepare for the shorter days ahead are a keepsake many families treasure for years. How powerful it is for each child to hold their light and sing:

“I’m going with my lantern, my lantern goes with me. And up above the stars shine, and down below shines me.”

This Waldorf education brings so much to the children of Sun Haven Waldorf School. The articles on “Numbers in the Grade One” and “Nimble Fingers, Nimble Minds” remind us of how closely this education mirrors the natural development of the child, and provides a firm foundation for the future. What a beautiful education this is!

Blessings of the season!

Jenine GobbiPresident, Sun Haven Educational Society

~Michaelmas Play ~Kindergarten Lantern-making~Eurythmy with Janette Jacobson ~Grade 1 Learning Numbers~Grade 2/3 Handcraft~Grade 4/5 Art~Hallowe’en Journey~New Playground~Annual Giving Campaign~Children’s Christmas Faire

Tidings is published quarterly for the parents, friends, and

extended community of Sun Haven Waldorf School.

In order to be published, submissions must be received

electronically before the deadline and include the full name of the

contributor. Handwritten submissions will not be accepted.

Submissions received after the deadline will be included at the

discretion of the editor.

e-Subscriptions: FreeMail: $20/year

Disclaimer:Items and advertisements appearing

in Tidings may be the opinions or beliefs of their contributors and may not necessarily reflect the policies or ideas of Sun Haven Waldorf School.

The next Tidings

publication will be Spring 2010

Submissions are due February 15, 2010

Submit to:[email protected]


The Parent-Child program has been up and running since September. We have had a full house, with children of various ages, from tiny to four years of age. We have welcomed new families into our Waldorf community, and are enjoying spending time together. Parents have had an opportunity to craft fairies for their children, and last week we made food for the kitchen from felt - a variety of little sandwiches, sushi, etc. Children have had their first felting experience, creating wool cherries and berries. Parents help with snack, and we have a short story and circle time. Anyone interested can come to the office to pre-register. There are a few opportunities for parents to sign up for a single day to try out the program. See you there!

~by Janice Hendry-Cote Janice is the current preschool teacher and leads the Parent-Child sessions. She has been teaching at Sun Haven Waldorf School for 3 years.

Sessions are 6 Friday morning classes, from 9:30am to 11:30am, in the preschool room. Fee for one parent and one child is $72 per session (or $12 for pre-arranged one-time class). Please note it is preferred that you commit to a full session, however, pro-rated fees will be considered (with notice at the time of registration only). Pre-registration and advance payment are required and accepted at the school office on a first-come, first-served basis.

Chalkboard drawing by Cary Davis ~grade 2-3 teacher

PARENT- CHILD PROGRAM

SUN HAVEN ANNUAL FUND

The preschool students spent time one morning focused on making paper airplanes after they had finished their drawings. Preschool teacher Janice Hendry-Cote mentioned that it was a very spontaneous moment and these photos capture that spontaneity and joy found in the preschool classroom.

PRESCHOOL : A SPONTANEOUS MOMENT


THE GIVING CAMPAIGN

every child benefits

The Sun Haven Annual Fund is a new initiative for our school. This campaign is a direct appeal to board members, parents, grandparents, alumni parents, alumni, faculty, staff and friends for financial contributions in support of our school’s operating budget.

The Sun Haven Annual Fund contributions are essential to the day to day operations of the school, and are tax-deductible for the donor. These funds help fill the gap in the operating budget — of about $1,000 per student that is not covered by tuition.

As we continue our work with the wonderful children at Sun Haven Waldorf School, we feel an appreciation for everything that makes this school so vibrant and successful. The ongoing commitment and involvement of our families in many roles, contribute to the vitality of our school.

Throughout the year, each contribution will be acknowledged with a hand made leaf with your family name, being placed on our growing and flourishing tree. Adorn our tree and our school with your generous donation. It is a gift that will resonate throughout our school community.

Details on the Sun Haven Annual Fund will be distributed to parents after the holiday break and will be available on our website, www.sunhavenschool.ca

Why is the Sun Haven Annual Fund necessary?Tuition and government funding cover about 90% of the annual operating expenses of the school. The Sun Haven Annual Fund is to help bridge this gap. Income from the Christmas Faire and the Mid-summer's Eve Gala also go toward annual operating expenses. We raise hope to raise $20,000 per year from these three initiatives.

What makes Sun Haven an independent school?We design our own program and curriculum, are self-governed by our Board of Directors and our Teachers and receive only 50% of the government funding that is provided to public schools. Independent schools rely upon tuition revenues and philanthropic gifts to meet their operating and capital expenses.

I’m Walking With My Lantern

I'm going with my lantern, my lantern goes with me. And up above the stars shine, and down below shines me.

My light shines bright in darkest night, Ra-bimmle, ra-bummle, ra-bim.Repeat

The stars shine bright in pale moonlight, Ra-bimmle, ra-bummle, ra-bim.Repeat

My light goes out, I must going home, Ra-bimmle, ra-bummle, ra-bim.Repeat

1

2

3

LANTERN MAKING IN THE KINDERGARTEN


In preparing for the annual lantern walk in November the kindergarten students took turns working on their lanterns, with guidance from teacher Mary Rocha-Leite. After each child finished their lantern, the classroom lights were turned off, a candle lit in their lantern and thechild walked around the dim classroom as the whole class sang the traditional lantern song, “I’m walking with my lantern.”

GRADE 1 : LEARNING TO WRITE NUMBERS


Avri Bell

Jonah Bryon

Findley Whyard

Jaden Lacroix

Although the question that is usually on the tip of every parent’s tongue in First Grade is “Is my child learning to read?” an even more important question should be, “How is my child doing in arithmetic?” Reading and writing are “spectrum” subjects, that can be mastered over a wide range of years – there is hardly an age at which reading is amore easily mastered than at any other age. Arithmetic and, later, mathematics, are quite “age-specific,” and what is not learned during a given “window,” is far more difficult to pick up or master several months later. I say this not to inspire panic, but rather to point out that our culture tends to place too much emphasis on literacy and not nearly enough on numeracy.

~Eugene Schwartz


Wecome Grade One teacher Mrs. Michelle Wesanko. She has created a wonderful classroom.

Ellan Billbach

Leya Studer

Hannah Moxham

Maggie HarveyOliver Dory

Findley Whyard


On October 2, families were invited to the school to watch the grades 1-5 students present the Michaelmas Play. The autumn festival traditionally known as Michaelmas is celebrated in Waldorf schools around the world. Every year Sun Haven Waldorf School students celebrate the festival with the play named for the Archangel Michael, conqueror of the powers of darkness, the harvester of the deeds of humanity. This seasonal play of St. George, Michael’s earthly counterpart, and the Dragon illustrates the human struggle over darkness and light, right and wrong, good and evil.

MICHAELMAS FESTIVAL


On Michaelmas, the grade 4-5 class set up an obstacle course (feats of strength and daring) in the field. The children in each class took their turn walking along logs, jumping into hay bales, walking on tightropes, etc. If they completed all the events, the 'knights in training' were knighted by the king at the end. After the feats of strength and daring, dragon bread was served in each class. Eating dragon bread is symbolic of the Michael vision - taming the dragon in ourselves and in the world around us. Some classes made golden crowns to wear on this day. The kinder-garten children received beautiful capes as they were knighted. Mrs. Flad told a story about St. Michael to all the grade school children.

~by Cary Davis Grade 2-3 teacher


The Parent Council at Sun Haven offers parents an opportunity to become engaged in the school community through meaningful participation that enriches and strengthens the life of the school. All parents and guardians of students registered at the school are voting members of the Parent Council. The Steering Committee meets once a month and dates are announced in the school's weekly notice. All parents, faculty, staff and board members are welcome to attend Parent Council meetings.The Parent Council actively participates in the following school committees: Fund-raising, Social Committee, Festivals and Events Committee, Caregiver Committee, Playground Committee, Health & Safety Committee, and Adult Education Committee.

2009/10 SUN HAVEN WALDORF SCHOOL PARENT COUNCIL

The Parent Council has been busy these past three months hosting our annual Welcome Back Harvest Potluck where families had a chance to re-connect and share a delicious meal together. The Social Committee hosted a Halloween Journey, transforming our school's forest and cabins into a wonder-filled enchanted evening of lit jack-o-lanterns, craft-making, and healthy treats for our children. The Playground Committee installed a new slide structure over the November break so when the children returned to school, they were met with a new place to play! The Fund-raising Committee has had a successful Fall fund-raising campaign selling Vesey's Bulbs and was able to raise money for both the school and Parent Council at this year's Christmas Faire.

The 2009/10 Parent Council Steering Committee members are:

Robin Hansen - Co-chairJanet Lacroix - Co-chair, Board RepSue Millar - Vice ChairRhoni Whyard - TreasurerSarah Start - SecretaryLaura Bergstrom - Kindergarten Class Rep, Christmas Faire Committee FocusVictoria Gazeley - Grade One Class Rep, Marketing Rep (e-notices, website)Lindsay Hatloe - Grade 2/3 Class Rep, Playground Committee FocusKelly Lavery - Grade 4/5 Class Rep, Admin. RepOlivia Candille - Health & Safety Committee FocusKim Barbaro - Social Committee FocusBeth Hawthorn - Marketing Rep (newsletter)

Faculty Reps are Mary Rocha-Leite (early childhood) and Marsha Flad (grade school)

Parents who are interested in learning more about the Parent Council at Sun Haven are welcome to attend a parent meeting or contact a member of the Steering Committee through the school office or website.

Keep an eye out in the Spring 2010 Tidings newsletter for a full feature on the new playground. It is currently being built and will be in full force in the new year.

*Led by Derek Hansen rain or shine, volunteers building the initial structure of the playground.

GRADE 4-5 EURYTHMY


Eurythmy on the Sunshine Coast means that you move like the wind; it means that you move like the waves that roll full and deep until they break upon the shore.

We have had a true adventure these past three weeks. The children of Sun Haven Waldorf School like to learn quickly and well. They have been very welcoming of Eurythmy. They like the strength of the gestures and the flow of the choreography.

On Tuesday afternoon, November 17th, all grades shared their work with each other, teachers, and parents. Through their movement, they revealed their love of shining like bright lights out into the world.

Warm thanks to Joy McCloud for leaping in to play the piano for the Eurythmy classes. She not only brought us wonderful music but also a lovely sense of musical expression.

Janette Jacobson has been teaching Eurythmy to children and adults since 1989. She enjoys becoming part of a school community and working together creatively.

~by Janette Jacobson

~Eurythmy teacher Janette Jacobson

GRADE 2-3 NIMBLE FINGERS – NIIMBLE MINDS


~by Sarnia Guiton

If anyone is interested in exploring this further, there will be a one week intensive course on Handwork in Waldorf Schools, July 2010, offered by the West Coast Institute in Duncan. Further information is available from Sarnia Guiton – 604-740-0676.

*

One of the attributes frequently spoken about Waldorf graduates is their enviable capacity to solve problems, meet challenges and find creative solutions. There are many facets to this capability and how it arises from the opportunities provided in the rich Waldorf curriculum, most particularly in the arts.

Handwork is an applied art, which means an artistic skill that can be developed, whether or not the child has a particular artistic talent, and used to create something useful for everyday life. There is great value in this, not only the practical aspect just referred to, but the confidence that comes with it and the brain development that is intrinsic to the process.

Current brain research is showing that, indeed, nimble fingers do make nimble minds. A child engages in problem solving through the creation of their knitting needles and learning the basic knitting process. Knitting a scarf is simple; knitting a soft toy animal is far more complex. How does one shape it? Will the legs really look like legs? If they don’t, what can be done to make them so? Are they long enough – too long? It is easier for the teacher to do it for the child, or to show exactly how to do it. Initially some guidance is necessary, but then children can determine for themselves what needs to be done to get the result they want – and the result they want may not be the same as the teacher would be looking for and that needs to be honoured!

Knitting - including knitting in the round and turning a heel for socks, crochet, embroidery of all kinds and for different purposes, creating patterns for three dimensional soft toys, doll making, sewing clothes - eventually with a sewing machine, all require dexterity of the hands and mind. These are all parts of the Grade School Handwork Curriculum. In high school this is taken further with spinning and weaving, basket-making, leather work, book binding and costume design and creation.

Along the way attention is brought to colour, fibres and textiles, design, and aesthetics. What is made should be beautiful, even if not perfect. Creation of beauty feeds the soul, of the creator and the spectator.


Jack Clarke

Benjamin Millar- Volmar Mackenzie Walters

Robyn Wareham

Arif Janmohamed

In grade two, a transition is made from the telling of Fairy Tales in grade one to the telling of suitable Fables, stories of the Saints and Celtic-Irish stories such as The King of Ireland's Son. Such stories have great significance at this stage of a child's spiritual development. Fables, in particular those involving animals, mirror the soul qualities which are present within the human being. Later, when the children meet stories about the lives of the Saints, where the 'ego' of such personalities has been developed to a greater degree, these same 'soul' qualities are unconsciously seen as having been elevated to a higher status within the human psyche. We thus see in the animal in a Fable a picture of the lower self, and in the Saint, a picture of the higher or elevated self. Through listening to both kinds of stories, the grade two child finds and incorporates into their being the balance between these two polarities.

~by Cary Davis Grade 2-3 Teacher

SAINTS AND FABLES

GRADE 2-3 ART

The Quarterly Newsletter of Sun Haven Waldorf School Tidings 10The Quarterly Newsletter of Sun Haven Waldorf School Tidings 13

Alaya Conway Phoenix StarllenJustin Sheppard

GRADE 4-5 ART

Sage Swann

Aubryn Bell

Saleah Billbach Riley Lavery

Amelia Lyon- Finnie

Kira Sapach

Devon Wilson


Q. How did you initially feel about the idea of graduating from Sun Haven and going into a public high school?A. I was definitely a little nervous, especially about fitting in.

Q. What were your expectations of attending public high school and did it live up to your expectations?A. I expected the subjects to be harder than they actually were.

Q. What did you discover that you excelled at?A. I did well in most subjects, except social studies. I received all high A's, except socials, in which I received a B. This surprised me since I hadn't really expected much, mark wise. Not that I expected bad marks. I guess I assumed things would be harder than they were.

Q. How did you adjust to the teaching style of a public school?A. It's weird, I don't really remember what I learned at Sun Haven, but all the information I needed was just there when I went to Elphi. I adjusted fine.

Q. What were some of your fondest memories from Sun Haven?A. Catching leaves with everyone. As soon as the leaves started to fall we'd all go stand under the trees and stare up at the branches until the wind blew them, and when they fell we'd all run for them. Also making bread. And the plays. The great thing about Sun Haven was we (the kids) always had some kind of "mission" going on. One day we discovered that if we jumped on the ground from the porch, the ground shook. So we got some shovels and began to dig. We spent every spare moment at the school digging to find out why the ground shook. In the end it turned out that we had uncovered an old septic tank. But it sure was fun thinking about all the possibilities -- could it be a secret hide-out? The residence of the Camp Douglas ghost? The reward for all of our hard work was to pile all the dirt back on again. Oh, what fond memories ....

Q. What advice would you give students who are going to graduate from Sun Haven? A. Do the work. Do not let yourself fall behind! The homework is not an option (well, in some ways it is, but only if you don't care about marks, which, by the way, you should). Try to do your best. The work isn't actually that hard, you just have to stay on top of it. As soon as you let it slide the work load gets bigger and bigger.

Taysha Grindon is a Grade 9 student at Elphinstone Secondary School in Gibsons. She started at Sun Haven in Kindergarten in its first year and was a member of our first graduating class in 2008 in Grade 6. Tidings recently interviewed Taysha. The photos to the left are of her in grade one and a recent photo.

INTERVIEW WITH A PAST STUDENT - TAYSHA GRINDON

~continued~The Quarterly Newsletter of Sun Haven Waldorf School Tidings 15

Social Commitee Leader Kim Barbaro, along with the support of many, offered the parents, students, faculty and board a wonderful evening to celebrate the tradition of Halloween, but in a unique way. The evening included a shadow puppet play by grade 2/3 teacher Cary Davis and the Grade 4/5 students, storytelling by grade 4/5 teacher Marsha Flad, apple bobbing, and Halloween beeswax candle making. Glowing pumpkins and a bonfire added warmth to the cool evening. To wrap up the evening the children were treated to homemade cupcakes and muffins. Everyone left with a sense of magic and enchantment.

HALLOWE’EN JOURNEY : A WHOLE SCHOOL EVENT


Children’s Christmas Faire

Saturday, November 2811:00am - 4:00pm

7th Annual

Puppet ShowChildren's MarketWaldorf Cafe Elves WorkshopMagic Cookie HouseCrafts RoomCandle DippingWoodworkingChristmas MarketDelicious Lunch MenuBake Sale

At Camp DouglasCorner of Beach Ave

and Margaret Rd.

Sun Haven Waldorf SchoolRoberts Creek

7th ANNUAL CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS FAIRE

Wow, another magical Children’s Christmas Faire hosted by parents, faculty, students and staff. The Magical Cookie House, full of gingerbread and sugar cookies, offered the children a wonderous moment to imagine a land of decorated cookies to choose from. The Crystal Cave Candle Dipping room by Mary and Alistair was as magical and surprising as ever. A new performace by the Green Man brought children and parents to a small theatre in the forest to hear a story from the heart. The more traditional gnome garden and wood crafts were full of creative beings. The storytelling room offered a calm place for all to gather. The amazing hot lunch service and bake sale gives Sun Haven a reputation of healthy delicious food that is hard to resist. The vendors’ room was full of colourful poinsettias for sale as well as unique handcrafted items, made with love by Sun Haven parents and others artisans in the community. A new ‘secret’ children’s market offered children a place to choose a gift for a loved one that was wrapped and could be a surprise to the person who opened it on Christmas. What a wonderful way to start the holiday season.


Sun Haven Waldorf School was founded in 2001 and is located in Roberts Creek on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada. The school offers a developmentally appropriate, experiential approach to education, integrating the arts and academics for children from pre-school through fifth grade. The aim is to inspire life-long learning in each student and enable them to fully develop their unique capacities. Founded in Germany in the early twentieth century, Waldorf Education is an independent and inclusive form of education that is regionally adaptive and has grown to include hundreds of schools worldwide.

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Tidings - Fall 2009