A Christmas Story

Dear Kindergarten Families,

I have a tradition--sometimes honored--of creating a Christmas story every year.  If you wish to read it, follow this link to my blog

http://cottageglen.blogspot.com

May light and joy visit you.

With appreciation,

William

Thanks for anonymous gifts

Dear Families,

Thank you for the physical gifts you have given me, and for the gift of trust and well being you give to me all year long. 

Thanks to the anonymous donor of home-made apple juice, pears, and pickles/relish.

With appreciation,

William

Just Right Timing Friday, Emergent Advent Festivals

JUST RIGHT FRIDAY TIMING -- I love the Advent Spiral.  It is a pleasure to watch the diverse ways in which children walk to the central candle and spread the central light out to wide world spaces.

As I reflect upon what works well to create the vessel for this beautiful creation, it occurs to me that this year in particular it will help if you are neither early nor late.  The Butterfly nursery families will be walking at 4:30.  It would be beyond great if almost no cars pulled into the drive (and hence near Huckleberry Hall) until at least 4:55.  So if you are one who likes to be early, I would appreciate very much if you can find something fun to do in your car while parked at the corner of Cultus Bay and Campbell, or in the private road across the street from Old Pietila, or drag racing around Deer Lake, or (prizes for the best story of what you did).

We also have dancers and others who have other events to attend Friday evening after our Spiral, so I will want to commence our Golden Forest Advent Spiral really close to 5pm as well.  So please accept this spiritual challenge of coming neither early nor late, and being really relaxed about it as well.

EMERGENT ADVENT FESTIVALS  At some point in my path, I heard or pretended I heard someone say that a simple way of bringing peace and light into the season can be incredibly opening and effective.  I heard (or pretended I heard) that one wise kindergarten teacher brought the mood of Advent to her children by turning her rocking chair to look out the window and rocking and waiting expectantly.  I have threatened to have Dyanne sit in the lobby in a rocking chair as our school's Advent Festival for the grades (and will perhaps do that once I am tenured and have a long title in front of my name--The Living Green Endowed Early Childhood Teacher Emeritus William Dolde, or something like that).

It occurs to me that our consistent long walks on Mondays and Tuesdays provide another simple and powerful access point to the world wisdom of Advent.  It was a delight to feel a couple hours of warmth as we walked.  When we heard a bird song and felt a warm breeze, I told of a story (from a collection of stories I've told to my sons from before there were born) of how when Mary was cold one night on her way to Bethlehem, the winds sang her a spring song, with scents of fresh jasmine, to warm her and cheer her on her path (and hence, every year as Christmas approaches and we allow the light to flow to, through, and with us, some days will feel warm like a spring day).  Later, our winds rustled in the most pleasant way as we enjoyed a snack at Grandmother Rock, quite an example of the mineral element for the first light of Advent (stones, plants, animals, humans--over the 4 weeks).  I am very interested in stories of light from many cultures, religions, literatures, spiritual paths, and more.  Please share any gems you might have with me.

With much appreciation,

William

Fwd: Advent Spiral, Friday Dec 7

Kindergarten & Nursery
Advent Spiral Garden
in Huckleberry Hall
December 7th, 2012

At many Waldorf Kindergartens throughout the world, the season of Advent is marked by the ceremony of the Advent Spiral Garden, an experience of moving from darkness into the light.  The garden is a beautiful spiral pathway of evergreen boughs, interspersed with pine cones, crystals, seashells, and shining stars leading to a candle in the center.  In the darkness of the evening, held by reverent music or voice, each child in turn carries an unlit candle held by a rosy apple and walks the spiral path to the center, lights his own small candle from the center candle and embarks on the journey back outward, placing the apple and candle in the spiral boughs alongside the pathway.  Slowly, with each child's journey, the Light glows and grows.  It is an archetypal experience of birth and incarnation which honors the Journey of the (every)Child of Light.

Please bring your warmly dressed child to their respective classrooms at the time designated below for your family. Parents can then make their way to Huckleberry Hall and wait until the children are led down by their teacher. It will be important to be on time, not late, and not too early.  We will be holding the children in a quiet space until all have arrived.  Please let Vanessa, William or Dyanne know if you will not be coming so that we can know whether to wait for you.  This is a Festival which is held in quiet reverence.   To support the children in such an experience, we will be building up to this festival with the children during our mornings at school.  The children will also be supported by your own quiet mood of reverence during the week and during the festival itself. 

 We look forward to sharing this experience with you.

Vanessa, William and Dyanne


4:30                                                              5:00                                                     6:00
*****************************************************************************************************************************
Butterfly Nursery                                                       Golden Forest                                                  Sunflower
(please meet in Huckleberry Hall with your nursery child)               (Please drop your kindergarten child off in their room with their teacher,
                                                                                    then take your seat in Huckleberry Hall)