Dear Parents,
This Thursday, I will be traveling to Rudolf Steiner College near Sacramento, California to participate in a task force on Waldorf Early Childhood Training. I will be one of twelve who will be working with WECAN (our Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America) as we take up questions of providing education for the teachers and caregivers of young children.
Ordinarily, I would not miss a day of school this early in the year, but the children are settling in happily with the care and guidance of Mister John. Heather Wyman (mom of Lucas) will be here that morning through lunchtime. And Shelby Downing (mom of Evan) will be here to take the six older boys for a walk to the stream for the morning. (Not to worry, we will ALL hike to the stream soon!) So, the hikers may bring rubber boots and rain pants that morning.
Thanks for "letting me go" to carry on our work in the wider Waldorf and LifeWays community. And special thanks to Mister John, Miss Heather and Miss Shelby for their wonderful support. I will be back next Tuesday morning after recovering from the 'red-eye express' return trip!
(Many people "my age" move on to administration alone, but in my estimation, being with the children is the best part!")
Warmly,
Susan
Monday, September 21, 2009
Off and Running!
Dear Parents,
Thanks to your quiet and focused cooperation at drop-off time (helping your child find and put on inside shoes, greet the teachers and deliver food) we are off to gentle and harmonious start of the school year! Indeed, with your help in a cheerful and confidant "see you soon!", the "waving window" has quickly ceased to become a "wailing wall" and tears have quickly become smiles.
This second week, the children will recognize the "grain of the day" in our menu. It is a slight change from last year, with Tuesday being Rye Bread Day, Wednesday being Stone Soup with Barley, and Thursday being Rice Day. The complete menu is attached.
I forgot to mention previously (although perhaps this is part of the "lore" that is passed down from generation to generation of parents) that if someone other than the one doing drop-off will be doing pick-up, car seats may be stowed for the morning in the barn on the bench.
Also, we still have a few openings in the afternoon. So we are able to offer an afternoon "drop-in" option for $20/afternoon. We begin at 12:30 with lunch served by Mister John, then a quiet time on individual mats set up with pillows and blankets brought from home, a Thornton Burgess Old Mother West Wind story read by Mister John, foot rubs and quiet time for half an hour as one or two fall asleep. Then outdoor play and Mister John's woodworking shop until parents pick up at 3:00. It is a restorative afternoon of "neighborhood" activity, even if the children don't fall asleep.
Thanks again for the privilege of hosting your children at Spindlewood. Mister John and I regard it as a sacred duty to support the children and their families during these formative years.
Warmly,
Susan
Thanks to your quiet and focused cooperation at drop-off time (helping your child find and put on inside shoes, greet the teachers and deliver food) we are off to gentle and harmonious start of the school year! Indeed, with your help in a cheerful and confidant "see you soon!", the "waving window" has quickly ceased to become a "wailing wall" and tears have quickly become smiles.
This second week, the children will recognize the "grain of the day" in our menu. It is a slight change from last year, with Tuesday being Rye Bread Day, Wednesday being Stone Soup with Barley, and Thursday being Rice Day. The complete menu is attached.
I forgot to mention previously (although perhaps this is part of the "lore" that is passed down from generation to generation of parents) that if someone other than the one doing drop-off will be doing pick-up, car seats may be stowed for the morning in the barn on the bench.
Also, we still have a few openings in the afternoon. So we are able to offer an afternoon "drop-in" option for $20/afternoon. We begin at 12:30 with lunch served by Mister John, then a quiet time on individual mats set up with pillows and blankets brought from home, a Thornton Burgess Old Mother West Wind story read by Mister John, foot rubs and quiet time for half an hour as one or two fall asleep. Then outdoor play and Mister John's woodworking shop until parents pick up at 3:00. It is a restorative afternoon of "neighborhood" activity, even if the children don't fall asleep.
Thanks again for the privilege of hosting your children at Spindlewood. Mister John and I regard it as a sacred duty to support the children and their families during these formative years.
Warmly,
Susan
Monday, September 14, 2009
Parent Response to Family Work Party
Hi Susan!
What a great group of families yesterday! The morning was a great example of how Spindlewood benefits our whole family - not just our daughter Zo (although clearly, she reaps the real rewards). We all had such a great time. I only wish I could have stayed longer...
See you Tuesday!
NM
What a great group of families yesterday! The morning was a great example of how Spindlewood benefits our whole family - not just our daughter Zo (although clearly, she reaps the real rewards). We all had such a great time. I only wish I could have stayed longer...
See you Tuesday!
NM
The Magic of Work and Play
Our Parent-Child Teacher Michele Beckstrom found this quote that summarizes nicely what our intent is:
"When an adult is working with their hands, he/she is engaging themselves with life, with creative activity. Young children imitate the gesture of the work, and through this they show a greater ability to engage in their movement and play activity. Parents can see how their own activity influences their child in positive ways. The adult is not centered on their child but in work, and the outcome is that children can also do so with their world, therefore getting a better balance in the relationship."
Lourdes Callen (from The Parent and Child Group Handbook by Dot Male)
"When an adult is working with their hands, he/she is engaging themselves with life, with creative activity. Young children imitate the gesture of the work, and through this they show a greater ability to engage in their movement and play activity. Parents can see how their own activity influences their child in positive ways. The adult is not centered on their child but in work, and the outcome is that children can also do so with their world, therefore getting a better balance in the relationship."
Lourdes Callen (from The Parent and Child Group Handbook by Dot Male)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
What a happy, cheery, playful Family Work Party we had this morning! Windows are washed, flower boxes planted, firewood split and stacked, and leaves raked in preparation for the first day of school. The kindergarten building and grounds are fairly glowing from all of the good work of parents and grandparents. It is so amazing to see how the children engage themselves with work and play alongside the adults! Such parental involvement is so supportive of the children's succesful participation.
This is the mood that Mr. John and I will focus on maintaining throughout the school year, of cheerful, purposeful activity that inspires the children's cooperation and involvement. We are grateful for all of the parents who helped to warm up the kindergarten this morning and set the tone for our year together.
Looking forward to welcoming the children on Tuesday!
Ms. Susan
This is the mood that Mr. John and I will focus on maintaining throughout the school year, of cheerful, purposeful activity that inspires the children's cooperation and involvement. We are grateful for all of the parents who helped to warm up the kindergarten this morning and set the tone for our year together.
Looking forward to welcoming the children on Tuesday!
Ms. Susan
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
LifeWays in the Great Sandy Desert?
Dear Friends,
Thought you might enjoy this letter from Rae-Lee, who interned this winter here at Spindlewood. She was completing her Waldorf teacher training when she discovered Lifeways and created a way to work alongside her life partner in his work with the indigenous people of Australia.
Cheers,
Susan
Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 7:00 AM
Subject: Red Sandy Shoes
Greeting ladies With another week together fast approaching an update from my corner of the world seems due. I am living in the Western Desert of Western Australia. The Western Desert is actually made up of three deserts: The Great Sandy Desert, The Little Sandy Desert and the Gibson Desert. While the landscape is dry and certainly dusty, it is greener and more lush than you might imagine. Jason and I have driven many kilometers (about 5000) together in these past weeks, an excellent way to help me adjust to my new environment. I am delighted to report ther are enough bits and pieces to create my own little nature garden and I have been given permission to plant a small garden on the property where we are staying, so the sparse grass has been dug up and seeds purchased. I have visions of sunflowers sharing space with tomato plants and then some fast growing greens. One big experiment out here, will keep you posted. Jason's work as an environmental health officer is divided between two communities, three months at a time in each place: Jigalong and Punmu. Jigalong is the larger of the two but numbers are hard to count, there is constant movement among the 'mob,' as they are referred to. Numbers can be low or high at any given time and always subject to change, they are still a very transient culture. Theirs is a different way. Theirs is a different consciousness. Of that much I am sure. To view life out here with objectivity is my biggest task. The value of those words shared during the mindfulness sessions are particularly helpful, as there is much work to do here and the process crawls along at a snails pace.....maybe most all change does? But my LifeWays binder made the journey, I happy to report. So keep those pages coming, if you can! Of utmost importance is diet. Both communities have a small store which sells all the good stuff: pop, chips, cookies, candy, lollies, meat pies......and did I mention pop! Veggies are there but they take the back burner to be sure. The little ones suffer the most, very hard to watch a 4 year old walk around with a full can of coke, a bag of chips and a candied apple at 9am BUT I have seen it and all too much of it here. In an attempt to spread more awarness, Jason and I have set-up a Saturday morning market table in front of the shop. For one or two dolllars we prepare and sell different warm food stuffs. The first week was vegetable soup, and this past was pumpkin scones. It is a small way in which to establish a rhythm and routine to our actions that can resonate and by making healthy treats from ingredients in the shop then maybe some education can squeeze through....what is a pumpkin for example. Any and all ideas are welcome, think budget, think limited fresh produce and let those imaginations start rolling. I do have visions for a sort of after school care, lifeways inspired program for the young ones here (up to 7). I have a fenced in, very private back yard filled with about 7 big climbing trees and was thinking about a scaled down version of a morning program complete with a snack, a circle, a story. They are certainly not at a loss for outdoor time or free play. We will see, some planning and a few conversations throughout this week and I should have a better idea. I organize my week, just as though I would with a home program, another attempt to establish some routine for myself. Monday is bread day, Tuesday art day.....etc and so the days roll in and out. Here we are almost another session about to begin, almost three weeks into my first three months in the desert. Am sending thoughts of warmth, joy, happiness and love this day and everyday xoxoxo Rae and Jason
Thought you might enjoy this letter from Rae-Lee, who interned this winter here at Spindlewood. She was completing her Waldorf teacher training when she discovered Lifeways and created a way to work alongside her life partner in his work with the indigenous people of Australia.
Cheers,
Susan
Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 7:00 AM
Subject: Red Sandy Shoes
Greeting ladies With another week together fast approaching an update from my corner of the world seems due. I am living in the Western Desert of Western Australia. The Western Desert is actually made up of three deserts: The Great Sandy Desert, The Little Sandy Desert and the Gibson Desert. While the landscape is dry and certainly dusty, it is greener and more lush than you might imagine. Jason and I have driven many kilometers (about 5000) together in these past weeks, an excellent way to help me adjust to my new environment. I am delighted to report ther are enough bits and pieces to create my own little nature garden and I have been given permission to plant a small garden on the property where we are staying, so the sparse grass has been dug up and seeds purchased. I have visions of sunflowers sharing space with tomato plants and then some fast growing greens. One big experiment out here, will keep you posted. Jason's work as an environmental health officer is divided between two communities, three months at a time in each place: Jigalong and Punmu. Jigalong is the larger of the two but numbers are hard to count, there is constant movement among the 'mob,' as they are referred to. Numbers can be low or high at any given time and always subject to change, they are still a very transient culture. Theirs is a different way. Theirs is a different consciousness. Of that much I am sure. To view life out here with objectivity is my biggest task. The value of those words shared during the mindfulness sessions are particularly helpful, as there is much work to do here and the process crawls along at a snails pace.....maybe most all change does? But my LifeWays binder made the journey, I happy to report. So keep those pages coming, if you can! Of utmost importance is diet. Both communities have a small store which sells all the good stuff: pop, chips, cookies, candy, lollies, meat pies......and did I mention pop! Veggies are there but they take the back burner to be sure. The little ones suffer the most, very hard to watch a 4 year old walk around with a full can of coke, a bag of chips and a candied apple at 9am BUT I have seen it and all too much of it here. In an attempt to spread more awarness, Jason and I have set-up a Saturday morning market table in front of the shop. For one or two dolllars we prepare and sell different warm food stuffs. The first week was vegetable soup, and this past was pumpkin scones. It is a small way in which to establish a rhythm and routine to our actions that can resonate and by making healthy treats from ingredients in the shop then maybe some education can squeeze through....what is a pumpkin for example. Any and all ideas are welcome, think budget, think limited fresh produce and let those imaginations start rolling. I do have visions for a sort of after school care, lifeways inspired program for the young ones here (up to 7). I have a fenced in, very private back yard filled with about 7 big climbing trees and was thinking about a scaled down version of a morning program complete with a snack, a circle, a story. They are certainly not at a loss for outdoor time or free play. We will see, some planning and a few conversations throughout this week and I should have a better idea. I organize my week, just as though I would with a home program, another attempt to establish some routine for myself. Monday is bread day, Tuesday art day.....etc and so the days roll in and out. Here we are almost another session about to begin, almost three weeks into my first three months in the desert. Am sending thoughts of warmth, joy, happiness and love this day and everyday xoxoxo Rae and Jason
LifeWays Training this July
What a great class of LifeWays students gathered to complete their final session this summer. We met for two weeks in July in Freeport, and one day here at Spindlewood for a workshop in the arts. The students traveled from Atlanta, Baltimore, New York, Cape Cod and Vermont as well as Maine. They are parents, Waldorf early childhod teachers and home preschool teachers. This is the second cycle of training that I have been privileged to accompany. We are now planning for the next cycle of Lifeways Early Childhood and Human Development Training for the Northeast, beginning next July in our midcoast area!
For more information: http://www.lifewaysnorthamerica.org/.
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