Friday, August 30, 2024
IMPORTANT DATES
September
9/2: Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
9/6: Community Singing, 8:30-9:15
Canoe Trip, Grades 4-6
9/7: Seniors Head to Maine!
9/13: Community Singing, 8:30am (Community Room)
9/17: Parent Association Meeting, 6pm (Choral Music Room)
Access the CWS Calendar here.
Highlights from the Week:
The seniors are preparing to travel to Hermit Island, Maine to study Marine Biology with other Waldorf seniors from across the country. Tent set-up, check!
The 5th Graders are so excited to begin their study of Botany in Ms. Schewe's class! They began by observing and drawing plants in the woods.
The 8th Grade takes some time to observe and draw clouds in their Meteorology block.
Our high school students worked on self-portraits with Ms. Manship this week. WOW!
This year our classes have new Buddy "families," which allow them to develop their social aptitude by interacting across ages/grades in supportive ways. This week the Buddy families ate lunch together outside!
Follow Us on Social, and Join the CWS Community FB Page
Social media is a great way to see what's happening day-to-day around school, and joining the CWS Community Facebook page is a great way to connect with other parents and families. It's a useful tool for sharing information, events and happenings, and swapping or selling clothes, outdoor gear and other items.
Watch Ms. Harwood's Back-to-School Address
On Back-to-School Night, Ms. Caroline Harwood (Lead Teacher and College Co-Chair) shared some observations about the current state of Waldorf education and what makes her excited to be a Waldorf teacher in this moment.
Save the Date for Michaelmas: Friday, September 27th
We welcome our community to attend our Michaelmas celebration for the Grades (1-12) on the afternoon of Friday, September 27th. This celebration includes our beloved Michaelmas play, performed by Grades 2 & 4, as well as other class sharings. Families are also invited to stay and partake of our Michaelmas feast, which will include dragon bread and honey butter, apples, and veggies. The specific timing and logistics for this event will be shared next week, but please put it on your calendar and plan to attend if your schedule allows.
Not sure what Michaelmas is? Check out this blog post, which explains more.
Want to learn our school's Michaelmas songs? The CWS Community Singers have recorded many favorites here. Singing along with your kiddos in the car or at home can be super fun!
Save the Date for Fall Fest @ OTR Stillhouse!
Get to Know Our New Faculty!
We have so many wonderful new people joining our faculty this year. Take a minute to get to know them, and be sure to help welcome them to our school!
The CWS Magic Meadow Store Is Open!
New this year! We have a small pop-up school store in the front entry, featuring CWS t-shirts, tote bags, beeswax strips and crayons, colored pencils, and other fun swag. You can pay by credit card or Apple Pay using the QR code in the main office or by cash/check.
Get Your CWS Calendar!
You do not want to miss this beautiful wall calendar featuring art by CWS students in Grades 1-12! This stunning calendar takes you on a journey through the grades and our Waldorf curriculum. It also includes basic dates for this school year — first day, last day, parent teacher conferences, open houses, breaks, festivals, and more!
This calendar is being offered at accessible price points so that all families can have one to enjoy, but you can also use your purchase to support CWS fundraising efforts. CWS calendars can be picked up in the office or sent home with your student.
ATTN: Parent Drivers Need a Background Check
CWS requires a formal consumer report background check from an outside organization for any parent, relative, or friend who will be driving students other than their own for field trips or chaperoning overnight trips. This background check gives our school a general report on the volunteer’s criminal history and driving record. (Please note that we do not request information regarding any parent’s financial records.) The report detail allows our school’s leadership to make the safest decisions for our students when assigning volunteers to particular school events or trips.
What does this mean for each individual parent? You will need a background check if you intend to be alone with any CWS students aside from your own children as part of a school sponsored event. This includes driving students other than your own on school field trips or chaperoning overnight events, such as camp-outs or out-of-town field trips. If you do not intend to do any of these things, there is no need to complete the process. Please note that volunteering at school or attending events when staff is present does not require a background check.
What are the next steps for a parent volunteer? Please print and complete the Disclosure and Form found HERE and return them via email scan or paper copy to Libby Rupp in the Business Office. CWS will cover the cost of the reports for any parents or domestic partners living in the family home. Grandparents and other friends will need to fund their own consumer reports (cost ranges from $20-$30 per person). If you have already completed a BCI or FBI background check for your own place of employment, please provide a copy to us and you will not need to reapply through the school.
Is the information obtained confidential? Yes! All completed forms and consumer reports are locked up and are never shared with anyone. Teachers will receive a list of parent volunteers that are eligible to drive or host for their class, but no further information is given.
Please direct any additional questions about this process or our safety guidelines to Libby Rupp, CWS Business Manager. Thank you for your cooperation and support for the safety of our students.
Join Us for Community Singing on Friday Mornings!
Families and friends of CWS students are invited to join choral music teacher Adam Petersen on Friday mornings from 8:30 to 9:15 AM in the new community room for Community Singing! This is a wonderful opportunity to cultivate our community, to make new connections, and to share in the songs of our school's festivals and our students' curriculum. No musical experience is necessary.
Our first meeting will be Friday, August 30. The community room is just beyond the office at the front of the school. Little ones are welcome, with space to roam and play.
If you'd like to get a jump start on learning songs - or just enjoy singing these songs with your your family - check out our CWS Community Singing recordings here.
Don't Forget Your Labels, Mabel!
Mabel's Labels are a great way to keep track of all your child's things — from clothes and shoes to water bottles and lunch boxes. And best of all, when you order your labels, your purchase supports the CWS Parent Association. It's a win-win!
Did You Get a 2023-24 School Yearbook?
Last year's yearbook is absolutely incredible, and it's not too late to order one for your student/s! We promise, you'll be glad you did.
Community News:
Come sing for the joy of it. Join the Riverside Choir—a welcoming, intergenerational group singing folk and contemporary music together. No auditions or prior experience needed; just bring your enthusiasm.
Inspired by WaldorfSings song-leader Meg Chittenden, The Riverside Choir is led by former Cinci Waldorf teacher, April Mann, who started singing in choir at age 3.
Meets Mondays, 7:00-8:15 PM, September 16th-November 25th, at The Carnegie Center in Columbia-Tusculum 45226. Early Bird pricing ends September 1st. For ages 9 and up; children must come with a singing adult. Easy parking available. Learn more here.
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