Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Parents, Grandparents, and Friends are invited to our Autumn Festival on Friday, September 30, from 10:30am to 11:30am.

As summer changes to fall, days shorten, and the frost and cold of winter approaches, we as humans need strength and courage to help us stand upright through the darkness of winter. Different cultures have received inspiration from the meteor showers (heavenly iron, shooting stars) they observed around late September; the iron from the stars of heaven gave people strength. In various cultures and religions, this comes forth as a tale of a hero--a knight like St. George or Archangel Michael conquering or taming a dragon. For Rudolf Steiner, this battle between a knight and a dragon goes on inside each one of us--the dragon is not some Other out there to be excluded, but, rather, that part of ourselves that we need to confront, acknowledge, and tame so we are ready to be free individuals capable of serving humanity and the world.

Explanations of a psychic battle inside each of us or battles with dragons can be too much for children birth to 4, who, rather, find seasonal inspiration as days shorten and nights lengthen by looking in wonderment toward the stars. An early childhood teacher could simplify the celebration of Michaelmas toward an examination of stars--singing "Twinkle Twinkle" and cutting open an apple to reveal the star come to earth on the inside.

On Friday the 30th parents and children will gather outside to play and share a snack. We will also have a harvest dance to tune of the fiddle. Then we'll go inside for a puppet show. After that, we will walk to the woods to meet (as a surprise for the children) a knight from the stars and Mother Earth--they will both present us with gifts. After the walk, children and parents will depart with their gifts.


Again, this festival is open to current nursery and parent & child children and to all families in our community with young children. Please contact us at 341-5686 or enrollment@whidbey.com with any questions.



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Location:Young Child Autumn Festival

Monday Conflict talk, Wednesday Office Hours, Thursday Discussion

Dear Nursery and Parent & Child Families (and friends),

Here are 3 events to keep in mind this week:

1) Monday, September 19, Vanessa Kohlhaas will speak about conflict resolution with young children in the Butterfly Room, 7 to 8:30pm. Visit wiws.org for more information.

2) Beginning Wednesday, September 21, and repeating every other week (October 5 and October 19), I will hold office hours in my nursery for parents who prefer an in person conversation (children allowed if that makes it possible for you to attend). Each time there will be a 1:30pm and 2pm slot. Email wdolde@gmail.com, and I will reserve a spot for you.

3) On Thursday, September 22, I am holding a joint class meeting for nursery and parent & child families in the Butterfly Classroom from 6 to 7pm. All adults welcome. Please be aware, however, that this will be a discussion, not a lecture (as in past years). While I will follow the lead of the group, I will be prepared for the following:

A) To lead us in exercises and games to give a feeling for Waldorf early childhood education.

B) To preview books in the Kathrine Dickerson Memorial Library.

C) To follow up upon and discuss Vanessa's lecture on conflict amongst young children.

D) To suggest how I have adapted Kim Payne's social inclusion work into my early childhood teaching.

E) To talk about the all school Michaelmas celebration on Thursday, September 29, and the young child celebration at 10:30am on Friday, September 30.

At about 6:50pm, provided there is interest, I will then speak about specifics of this year's nursery class, what we are doing now, and where we are going (I will also provide this information in writing if members of our class cannot attend). If there is robust interest, I am glad to stay past 7pm to continue this conversation.

The frequency of adult evening events will not be so great in coming weeks.

With warmth and light,

William Geoffrey Dolde


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Below is a wonderful course for parents offered by my friend and colleague, Susanna Reynolds....highly recommended(!)

Dyanne (kindergarten teacher at the Whidbey Island Waldorf School)





Family Foundations:
A Course to Nurture Parents of Young Children



When parents consciously work on their own development and self-discovery, the lives of their children are affected in a positive way. This course draws upon a spiritual approach to parenting children from birth to seven to inspire balance, self-discovery, joy, hope, health and most of all: trust in oneself as a parent.

Monthly Saturdays, 9am-2pm, consist of the following classes:

Welcoming Warmth ~ From hand-play games to festival -- a variety of ways to play, move, sing and craft for, and with, children.

Developmental Dynamics with Susanna Reynolds
This course will be a supportive conversation and experiential workshop to develop skills and understanding in parents of the lively dynamics of the first seven years in a parent and child's life together. Subtle and practical resources will be given for parenting relating to both parents' and children's developmental needs.

Painting/Arts with Flora McEachern
Content in the Developmental Dynamics class will be experienced through the fluidity of color to strengthen the life forces through experiencing warmth, equilibrium, and deeper rhythmic breathing. From individual colors to dynamic composition, parents will have the opportunity to artistically explore painting in a healing environment.

Child Development/Life with Susanna Reynolds and guests including Holly Koteen, Johanna Steegmans, Mary Oak and Flora McEachern During this time we will explore the physiology of childhood in the first years of life, observed and described in many ways. We will be working from the basis of anthroposophy and the principles of Waldorf education. This time together also includes the opportunity for parents to share and ask their questions.

Orientation Session: Tuesday, October 11th, 6:30pm-8:30pm

8 Saturdays: Oct. 15 , Nov. 12, Dec. 10, Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 10, April 21 and May 12.

Presented by Sound Circle Center. Held at Seattle Waldorf School, 2728 NE 100th St, Seattle

Course Fee: $620; $930 for couples
Register here
Faculty bios available here

For more information, contact Flora McEachern: floramceachern@gmail.com or 206-501-6266


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Sound Circle Center | PO Box 15279 | Seattle | WA | 98115



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Pictures by Sunday please

Dear Families,

Enough have sent along pictures, and we are close enough to the gesture of a new school year with new classes for the children, that I think the time is ripe for me to make collages of last year's nursery class.

My goal is to send the pictures I have on Sunday night/Monday morning and pick them up on Tuesday. I'll work out getting them to you in an efficient way (thought probably not mailing except for those who have moved away).

If we get any more pictures after Tuesday, I can always reprint a 2nd set of collages with additional pictures, so let us not make this into a Dickensian tragedy but keep it at the Dickensian comedy level.

Thanks,

William

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Birthday Song Recording Complete

Dear Nursery Families and Friends and Anyone Else Interested,

I have finished recording birthday songs for students in the Butterfly Nursery for the 2010-2011 school year. Visit

http://williamdolde.com/fr_birthdaysongs.cfm

to hear or download individual songs. You should also be able to download every song at once.

Thank you to the first father who sent a picture for the collage. It would be great if as many of last year's nursery families as possible could email me photos in the near future.

Cheers,

William

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Location:Maxwelton Rd,Clinton,United States

Photos from last year

Dear Nursery Families,

I hope to finish recording birthday songs from last school year this week. As I finish them, I am emailing them directly to the child's parents. I also intend to post all the songs on williamdolde.com for those who are interested. I will let you know when I have done so.

In past years it has been challenging to get a satisfying picture of our nursery class, whether by a formal photographer or parent. Just recently I made some collages of pictures of my boys at Walgreens. It was easy and satisfying. It occurs to me this could be an effective (non stressful) way for us to remember the nursery year.

If you would send an email to me with a photo of your child attached, I will gather as many as I can and order collage prints from Walgreens. I am glad to pay for 15 5 x 7s and give them to you at the beach, at school, or when I can. If you want more (or aren't going to be by the school or Maxwelton beach to pick one up), I can email you the photo, and you can print out a bigger or smaller size. I'll let their computers randomly arrange the pictures, so there will be no worries about me seeming to have a teacher's pet (though Lynne did request that her photo be the biggest in the collage :)).

Because the pictures will be small in the collage, we also need not worry about photo quality. I am more interested in including as many children as possible in the collage (including children who left our class before June), so please allow timeliness to overrule artistic idealism.

My email is wdolde at gmail dot com--for those who have forgotten.

Cheers,

William


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Full Moon Rising Farm Camps

Dyanne, William and Vanessa,
Anne has asked if we can help get the word out about her summer camps which are a little under enrolled. If you feel comfortable could you send the info out to your contact lists.
thanks
Kim



Dear parents of young ones,

Here is some about the camps offered at Full Moon Rising farm this summer, please pass this information on to others you may know. I can highly recommend them ....Hope you are all having a lovely summer.




Farm & Wilderness & Yoga Camps

The Confluence of the magical and practical sides of nature...




We have hosted Farm and Wilderness Camps for children since 1997. Children and adults enjoy the magical, rural setting on Whidbey Island, nestled on the edge of a vast forest between two bays. Art, nature, crafts, song, story telling, yoga and games come together to teach the value of the environment, the impact of food choices, the stewardship of the land, and the kinship with the animals.


Scholarships: If finances are stopping you from attending, please call us and lets work something out!

Animals, Art and Nature

For children ages 6-11

Animals and nature become the inspiration for your child’s creative spirit. Children will make their own outdoor studio and working with color, clay, paints, plant and animal based material children will explore their originality. Camp includes farm animal care, harvesting from the gardens, games in the woods and a hike to Double Bluff Beach.

July 11-14

9 am -3pm
Cost: $200


Coyote Camp

For children ages 6-9

Come adventure into the woods in search of the trickster Coyote and down to the beach on trails leading from our farm. We will explore various trails above Double Bluff, learning about our natural environment through fun hands-on activities and games. We will begin our days on the farm and in the woods and end our days at Double Bluff Beach exploring the watery environment.

July 18-21

9am-3pm
Cost: $200


Dancing Goat Yoga Camp

We are having so much fun in the Teen yoga camp I wanted to offer this camp to a younger group. So here you are. Playful yoga all week mixed with farm life, yoga themed art, and a trip to the beach. We will learn yoga poses, make delicious lunches from farm fare, and milk goats. We will share stories and journal in the woods and by the sea and make "beautiful" crafts.

Ages 9-12
July 25-28

9 am -3pm
Cost: $225

Radiant Moon Yoga Camp

A playful week of yoga, art, friendships, water, animals, herbs and tasty food. Fourth year running and with a new name -you know we will be having a great time! Includes a two night (optional) sleep over this year too!

Ages 12-16
August 1-5

9am-3pm
Cost: $250





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Contact Anne Mauk 331 4087






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