Your Own Beeswax

Check out Cedar Ring Circle

2011-03-21T10:32:00.000-07:00

Just drop what you're doing and check out www.cedarringcircle.com. (Well, wait. Read what I have to say first. I'll try to make it quick.) They're having a giveaway! All you have to do is check out the delightful array of items offered through Cedar Ring Circle, an online Waldorf supply co-op. It's so thrilling to see so many useful, beautiful Waldorf-related items available all in one convenient place. Here are some of my favorite things:

Gorgeous beeswax tapers--aromatherapy, long-lasting in a rainbow of choices!

Mmmmm. There's really nothing quite like freshly baked bread. (And don't forget the butter and jam!) This book was written by Warren Lee Cohen who taught Olympia Waldorf School's pioneer class. He "pioneered" our first class to graduate from eighth grade. He is now the Director of Teacher Education at the Rudolf Steiner Centre in Toronto. We are so proud of him.

I LOVE springtime. These pastel silk colors just make me more ready for it!

Once my hands "thaw out" from this cold weather we're having, I'm ready to model a little daffodil or maybe a spring chicken out of this colorful modeling beeswax!

Sturdy raingear is a must-have here in the Pacific North"wet" so we are in love with these fabulous rain pants. At OWS we play outside in rain or shine. Mostly rain.

To enter the giveaway, go to the Cedar Ring Circle store and choose one item you adore in the Cedar Ring Circle store and post a comment on their blog about it. A winner will be selected on March 28.

Good luck and enjoy all that Cedar Ring Circle has to offer!

Signs of Spring

2011-03-16T13:23:00.000-07:00

This felted Lady Snowdrop was featured on the recent WaldorfTeachers.com e-newsletter. Even though I'm not a Waldorf teacher, I simply love receiving their publication in my email inbox. It is simply loaded with interesting Waldorf news, inspiring stories about people making a difference, and beautiful images like the one pictured above. You can sign up for the newsletter, too. Just go to www.waldorfteachers.com, scroll down the homepage and look for the "Join the Mailing List" announcement. Simply enter your email address and enjoy reading all the news from WaldorfTeachers.com!

Here are some other delightful images from WaldorfTeachers.com. They have a lovely "Gallery" of art--including some amazing felted images.

Also in the Gallery are student and adult works. Here is a sixth grade geometric drawing:

There is also a "Gallery" section of Main Lesson Book work. I chose a couple of "spring" themed pictures to share here.

While we're [patiently] awaiting springtime, we are grateful for the beauty and warmth in all of these works of art! Thank you to the greater Waldorf community and to our friends at WaldorfTeachers.com for their outstanding communication.

First and Eight Grade Block Tower

2011-01-07T14:36:00.000-08:00

Our students in first and eighth grade always look forward to the last period on Friday when they get together for work and play. Today...they played. It was a very rainy afternoon and so they reached for the building blocks. Together they built quite a tall tower! "Even taller than the eighth graders," said a little one. So tall, in fact, that the eighth graders had to give the little ones a "boost" to reach the top!

And then, of course, they had great fun knocking it down!

Olympia Waldorf School Catches the Holiday Spirit

2010-12-17T14:24:00.000-08:00

It's the last day before Winter Break and joy is in the air! Mr. Steffen's fourth grade invited me to their classroom for a fun little holiday potluck. Boy, do those fourth graders know how to throw a party!

I was enjoying the festivities and the cheerful company of fourth grade "when what to my wondering eyes did appear?" I saw out the window a second grade Santa being pulled by reindeer (and possibly a mouse)! So, naturally, I went next door "to see what was the matter!" It was Ms. de Ney and her second grade class in a final dress rehearsal performance of "T'was the Night Before Christmas." It was so adorable.

Every day is special at Olympia Waldorf School, but the time before Winter Break is especially festive. It is such a joy to work with all of our students. I also thoroughly enjoy the children's artwork that graces the hallways. I particularly loved these second grade "notes to Saint Nicholas." They must have prepared them before we celebrated Saint Nicholas Day in school in hopes he would leave a walnut and mandarin.

While we're on the subject of holiday art, you've got to see the delightful needle-felted wool gingerbread man that Mr. Lee's class collaborated on last year.

Saint Nicholas paid a visit to OWS again this year (all of our children were deemed "nice," of course!). He brought Miss Melcher's sixth grade genuine Roman coins. Obviously, St. Nicholas knows that Ancient Rome is an essential study in the Waldorf sixth grade curriculum.

Holiday-themed watercolor paintings are some of my favorites:

And we've been hearing holiday music. LOTS of music!

...gorgeous chalk art, too!

We're wishing all families everywhere a magical, restful, joy-filled winter. Happy Holidays to all!

Citrus Sale: A Truckload of Fun

2010-12-13T15:03:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to parent volunteers, Brandon Austin and Mike Rechner, for lifting, unloading, hauling, and sorting boxes upon boxes of oranges. We really knew we were "in for it" when the enormous semi-truck pulled up and had to use the Fire Station parking lot to swing around and back up to the Middle School. Then we really got to work! All the driver had to do was open up the back and the rest was up to us. Here's what we saw when we peered inside the truck:

Okay, so that might not look like much to you, maybe. But for the three of us standing there staring at it, it seemed as long as a football field. (Yes, those are our oranges down there. Five pallets of them.) We quickly set to work. Brandon climbed up in the truck and opened a pallet, stacked several 20- and 40-pound cartons on his hand-cart, and rolled them to the end of the truck. From there, Mike and I loaded cartons onto each of our hand-carts and took them into the Middle School foyer where we stacked them up.

That's a lot of fruit! Thank you to everyone who sold, purchased, and volunteered with Citrus Sales. We hope you enjoy your delicious fruit--while we enjoy our ibuprofen tablets!

Let the Sun Shine!

2010-11-30T20:15:00.000-08:00

If you have been on campus this week, you have surely noticed what is missing: our ugly-but-useful Echohaus. I hope you have also noticed what arrived along with the Echohaus departure: a host of fresh new viewpoints and opportunities! It is truly remarkable how much that utilitarian 1950's structure shaped the flow and feel of our campus and how fresh and light the space feels without it. The building was removed over the long weekend by the skillful contractors from Raderbilt, who hauled the pieces off to recycling heaven--or as the beautiful Fifth Grade posters say, "May our dear Echohaus 'Recycle In Peace!'" (or in pieces?). Not surprisingly, this project, which was undertaken first and foremost for the safety of our students, has sparked lively interest and discussion about our site and what the future might hold for it. On behalf of the management team, I want to sketch out the work before us related to the removal of the Echohaus so you can understand how we are looking at this opportunity and so you can see a role for yourself in the process.

First--in the short term--we will observe our own response to the lack of covered outdoor space and make the necessary adaptations to keep our programs healthy and lively with this new challenge. By watching students' playground habits, teaching out-in-the-open games classes, and seeing where parents congregate to visit, we will recognize immediate needs in both behaviors and facilities and also see whether we might have depended too much on the Echohaus. For example, we will certainly need renewed focus on the part of families, students, and teachers to ensure students are dressed properly every day for outdoor play. We will also likely identify a few small projects that will make our campus a fun and healthy place to play, perhaps including basketball hoops, some canopies or other small covered areas, or a free-standing version of the "ball wall."

Second, with an eye to the longer term, we will collect and review relevant prior planning efforts, sorting through what has been accomplished, what has not, and what still seems relevant as we look into the future from the vantage point of the 2010-11 school year. As we pull these pieces together, we will make them available to the community in various ways so you can feel a connection with where the school has come as we form a picture of where we are headed.

Third, we will coordinate work by faculty, staff, Board, and parents to form a fresh and vibrant vision for the next stage of OWS' future. What programs are essential to our mission? What organizational and physical structures are needed to bring these programs into being? It is important to realize that this long-term work is not Echohaus-centric; it is about the whole organization, and more specifically about the campus as a whole. This stage of our work will include surveys and community meetings to brainstorm, share results, and receive feedback.

Finally, we will lead the development of a plan to guide our work in the coming years. The plan will include program development, community development, and campus development, phased in and coordinated in a way that can be accomplished step-by-step, with each step fitting into a bigger picture. It will only be a true plan if it has the understanding and support of the OWS community, so we will welcome your participation in this stage, as well.

We realize that for some, the whole idea of long-range planning can put one to sleep. But we can feel the energy and interest that has been created by the needed removal of the Echohaus, and we intend to capture it and channel it into an effort encompassing the whole campus and, indeed, the future of our school. We will proceed energetically, but not hurriedly, to form a community vision for our future, and then work with creativity and inspiration to create a plan for bringing that vision into reality. We ask that you keep your interest and energy flowing and look for your rightful place in the process. If you have questions, please feel free to stop in the office and ask! -Tim Morrissey for the Management Team

Thank you to Brandon Austin and Kim Rechner for capturing the event on film.

The end.

Five Little Pumpkins

2010-10-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

It's so fun to teach children fingerplay gestures to their favorite verses. Here's one you can share with your little ones:

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate

[hold up five fingers]

The first one said, "Oh my it's getting late."

[touch wrist as if pointing to watch]

The second one said, "There are witches in the air."

[swoosh hand through air with flourish!]

The third one said, "But I don't care."

[shake head and finger indicating, "No!"]

The fourth one said, "I'm ready for some fun!"

[rub hands mischievously]

The fifth one said, "Let's run and run and run."

[fingers running up the arm]

"Wooooooo" went the wind,

[cup hands around mouth, sound effects encouraged!]

And out went the lights...

[cover hands with eyes]

And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

[roll fists around each other]

Prepare to repeat this over...and over...and over!

I am dedicating this blog post to grandmothers across the nation who are busily making costumes for their grandchildren. In the girls' bathroom yesterday, I overheard a sweet conversation that went like this:

Girl 1: What are you going to be for Halloween?

Girl 2: Either a tiger or a dalmatian.

Girl 1: What were you last year?

Girl 2: A tiger. And I was a tiger the year before that. But this year I'm going to be a dalmatian if my Grandma can sew my costume in time!

Blessings to all the grandmothers who have ever made Halloween wishes come true!

P.S. The pumpkins photographed above were carved by fifth graders. Too bad I missed my photo op when there were at least a dozen lined up on the steps. Every single one had its own personality!

Third Graders are Golden

2010-10-11T15:03:00.000-07:00

If I could go back to grade school again, I think third grade would be my first choice. Take a look at the harvest shelter--or Sukkah--they recently built.

They wrote about the Sukkah in their Main Lesson books. What beautiful printing!

And their watercolor paintings are vibrant and energized--just like the third grade class!

Isn't this serene?

Root vegetables are our friends.

What a sweet beehive. I do believe these creatures are in awe of this third grader's impressive cursive writing! (Regardless of the fact that they need a little "glorious" spell-checking.)

I love these watercolor carrots grown in the light of the radiant sun.

Our third graders are definitely bright spots in my day!

OWS at Fall Arts Walk

2010-10-01T16:31:00.000-07:00

Thank you to our dear friends--Nancy Graybeal, Gary Graybeal and Amy Chartrey of Canvas Works in downtown Olympia--for hosting Olympia Waldorf School's display for Fall Arts Walk! Visitors will enjoy a fine display of eighth grade platonic solids, Geometry Main Lesson books, sixth grade form drawings, seventh grade drawings inspired by a recent astronomy block, third grade pastel drawings, as well as alumni art in honor of our twenty-fifth anniversary celebration this weekend.

The chalkboard above was lettered and drawn by Mr. Martin Lee, eighth grade teacher. It depicts our school bell and Mission Statement: "Awakening minds, enlivening hearts, and engaging hands for lifelong learning."

The framed form drawing (pictured below) called upon a sixth grader's precise use of a compass and pencil. The watercolor pencil allows the student to add color and their personal embellishment. Geometry is such a beautiful subject!

The following piece was drawn by an "all-star" seventh grader in her Astronomy Main Lesson block. According to Mr. Keenan Hand, OWS seventh grade teacher, the image was originally a medieval wood print suggesting what it would be like to peek through the veil of earth into the celestial realm. The original artist is unknown. I find this student's rendering so vibrant and intriguing. Also on display is an equally impressive drawing of the same scene--drawn by a different student--that offers a completely different impression. At OWS, nearly every day we witness young artists reflecting upon the same images and creating entirely different moods and imaginations in their Main Lesson books and artwork. Consider the similarities and differences of both artists' interpretations if you happen to visit the display tonight.

This auto-biographical collage was made by an alumna of OWS' Class of 2009. I love this piece and am inspired to create one for myself!

We do hope you'll stop by in person to see these works of art on display--as well as many others fine pieces. We applaud our creative, imaginative and artistically-prolific students and are grateful to all of them for loaning us their work.

Team OWS Wins Silver Shovel Award

2010-08-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Team OWS for their second place win at "Sand in the City 2010!" Our team worked hard to create a whimsical scene on the theme of "Education From the Inside Out." The result was a 12x12 plot sporting a delightful set of stacking gnomes--two of the "tops" of the gnomes appeared to have been lifted off and set on their sides. In the foreground, a sign depicts the name of the school and our design title. To the left of the sign, an igneous rock juts out of the ground and is engraved with our "rope girl" logo and "25 years." A network of garden paths weave between the gnomes. This is one of the design sketches we were working from.

And eight hours later...this is what it looked like completed!

Thank you to our architect and designer, Tom Rieger, of Street Lundgren & Foster Architects (and Waldorf parent) for his talented and affable leadership of our "rookie" team! My sincere thanks goes out to every single team member for their hard work (and, believe me, it IS hard work!):

Tom Rieger, Architect
Tim Morrissey, Dean of Education and OWS parent
Martin Lee, Eighth Grade Teacher and alumni parent
Robin Melcher, Sixth Grade Teacher
Brenda Baker, Enrollment & PR Manager and OWS parent
Mike Rechner, President of Board of Trustees and OWS parent
Kim Rechner, OWS parent
Brandon Austin, OWS parent
Chris Buckley, OWS parent
Kamuela Klemmer, OWS parent
Fred Purrington, OWS parent
Kolea Quincey, Third Grade Teacher
Lori Capra, Site Manager and OWS alumni parent
Brian Gregory, OWS parent
Kurt Rader, OWS alumni parent

What a fantastic team--and a highly competitive group, too. In fact, I've received several emails in the past couple of days saying, "Next year...Golden Shovel!" Count me in! I believe we can do it.

New Loos

2010-08-11T17:40:00.000-07:00

I love summer. And probably not just for the obvious reasons. You see, at OWS summer is the time for projects, remodels and general "spiffing up." It's just too hard to do it during the school year when all the kids are here. Plus, we're way too busy to even think about projects that might actually involve more effort than emptying out the recycling bin. (And truth be told, we get the fifth graders to do that.)

But summer. Ah, summer. It's not a time for rest and relaxation. Just ask our Site Manager, Lori Capra. She is the super-staffer pictured here sprinkling pretty little colored flakes into a freshly rolled floor paint...in the boys' bathroom! Now, the boys' bathroom is a place we tend to avoid. We really do keep it as clean as possible, but it can quickly become one of the ickiest corners of the campus. Sometimes we even hold our breath walking [quickly] by to get to the first grade classroom. But look at it now!

One of the big campus projects this summer was refreshing the girls' and boys' bathrooms in our historic Prairie Hall. One of the main objectives was creating an ADA or disabled stall in each room. We also got new toilets and sinks in the process! And we couldn't just stop there. Volunteers have been painting the rooms a cheerful yellow with white trim while Lori prepped the concrete floors with a nice terracotta-colored garage paint. That's where the flecks come in. They look like fish flakes but they give this fun retro finish to the paint job. I couldn't get a great photo of it because Lori wouldn't let me walk on it in my flip-flops, but take a sneak peek here:

Isn't that cool?! I love it. Good color choice, too.

True confessions. If I could have my own show on HGTV, I would do it in a heartbeat. Yes, I would miss all of you at the Waldorf school, but my first love is actually decorating, designing, remodeling, shopping, and creating pretty, whimsical spaces. But on MY show, the first guests I'd showcase are all the people who have put in all the hard work right here on the Olympia Waldorf School campus. Thanks to everyone for making our "home" so beautiful.

Waldorf Teacher Training

2010-07-20T17:36:00.000-07:00

Waldorf teachers are remarkable people. I just spent two weeks working at Sound Circle Center--the Waldorf teacher training program in Seattle. What a great group of people to spend time with! I took my two weeks of vacation to serve as their Food Coordinator, so I spent all day, every day, offering up nourishment to keep the teachers going. I enjoyed it because they are a gracious, loving group. As a hostess, that makes all the difference. They received their food with such gratitude and joy. It made it all worthwhile.

When I could get away from the kitchen I liked to take a sneak peek at what they were doing. While some of the headier classroom study didn't make for fabulous photos, take a look at the chalk art projects I captured. Waldorf teachers are amazing chalk artists! Can you imagine having teachers who are able to create images like this on the classroom blackboard?

Even with the same subject, each teacher had their own fresh viewpoint.

Chalk art is messy work...hence, the black work cloth and the colorful smudges on this student's notes.

Here's another that wasn't quite finished but is still so sweet.

Even this simple landscape invites me to dip my toes in the stream.

Since I was peeking in at break time, I only captured one artist at work. Meet Jennifer. She conducted an internship in Ms. Kolea's second grade classroom at Olympia Waldorf School in early spring. As you can see here, Jennifer really seems to have a talent for chalk art. We wish her well on her journey to become a fully-trained Waldorf teacher!

"Team OWS" Getting Ready to Compete!

2010-07-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

If you're not from these parts, you might not be familiar with Olympia's annual sand sculpting competition known as "Sand in the City." Yep, that's right. A sand sculpting competition. While we have a gorgeous saltwater waterfront downtown, it's mostly rocky shore. So, the good people at Hands On Children's Museum bring loads and loads (and loads) of sand for teams to sculpt. And while the official competition and public viewing isn't until the end of August, there's a lot to be done to prepare.

The photo above shows several (not all) members of "Team OWS" at the practice session known as "Hands in the Sand" at Miles Sand & Gravel in Lacey. The week prior to "Hands in the Sand" we attended a training evening at the Phoenix Inn in downtown Olympia and met the Sand Coach, got the scoop on what is expected of us, absorbed lots of new information from a Power Point presentation, figured out our deadlines, and did a little team brainstorming on our design. It is all really quite an involved process and I'm grateful to every team member for giving of their time this summer. They are definitely going above and beyond for the school, as this is a huge undertaking. We are especially grateful to our architect and team leader, Thomas Rieger, for his guidance, design expertise, and engineering. Tom is an amazing guy and this project requires lots of work.

Our team has another major practice session coming up on July 28. On that day, our technical drawings will have been submitted for approval , and we'll have to prove ourselves to the Sand Coach that we can actually build our design!

Since this is a community competition and--I must say--some teams are pretty, um, competitive...I'm not going to offer any details of our design at this time. However, I do warmly invite you to come and appreciate the hard work and creativity of "Team OWS" during the public viewings during the Community Beach Party on Saturday, August 28, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., or on Sunday, August 29, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. which happens to also be free Grandparents' Day! (No, you don't get a free grandparent.) Bring the entire family and come down to the waterfront to support Team OWS!

One final note: It's true. Money CAN buy votes. Vote for our sand sculpture by putting one dollar in our sand pail to help us win the "People's Choice Award!" Right now, the pail is in the school office. You KNOW it's going to be great, so go ahead and vote for it sight-unseen. The more dollars, the more votes. Help Olympia Waldorf School win fame (and hopefully, fortune) with the coveted People's Choice Award!

Go, team!

Drum Roll, Please

2010-06-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

In the land of fourth grade, Waldorf students study native people and animals. This year, Mr. Glidden's fourth graders merged these subjects by creating their own drum--as well as learning to play it. The class also experienced an overnight field trip and powwow on Cowlitz Tribal land. Each student chose an animal they identified with, stretched deer hide on a wooden frame, and later drew and painted the animal in native Northwest style.

It was revealing to see the animals each child chose. For example, the hummingbird was chosen by a child with levity, fine features, and beauty. The bear was chosen by a child possessing a deep place of power, determination, and steadfastness. A squirrel was selected by the child of quickness, protectiveness, and agility. In general, Mr. Glidden suggested the four temperaments could be assigned as follows: a boar for the choleric, an eagle for the melancholic, an ox for the phlegmatic, and a deer for the sanguine.

We love these fourth graders in part because they march to the beat of a different drummer--as all Waldorf students do.

"Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." -Henry David Thoreau

Third Grade is a Picnic!

2010-06-08T11:37:00.000-07:00

At Olympia Waldorf School, a typical third grade endeavor is a construction project. Today, Mr. Steffen's third grade built this fabulous picnic table! Mr. Glidden and a few second, third, and fourth graders fully enjoyed the new structure during snack recess. Good work, third grade! It is a beautiful and functional addition to the campus. Let the sun shine so we can eat outside more often. Next on the agenda: benches.

A Real Life Superhero

2010-06-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

Erin Jones is inspiring, upbeat, direct, passionate, positive, focused, articulate, funny, powerful, and fearless. As one of our teachers said, "She's a real life superhero!"

She is all this and more.

Ms. Jones spoke this morning in Olympia Waldorf School's Middle School to our fifth through eighth graders about her life story. Her experiences are so atypical of what our students have seen, heard, and felt. It's safe to say that her talk was eye-opening--sometimes shocking--and above all, heartfelt. See for yourself her amazing story, "Creating and Supporting Hope," by clicking here.

As the top-ranking African American woman in Washington state government, we know she is a busy individual. We deeply thank Ms. Jones for coming to our school, sharing her experiences and wisdom gained, and especially for her parting advice: Find what you love to do...and enrich the world by doing it! Thank you, also, to Mr. Hand, sixth grade teacher, for reaching out and inviting her on our behalf.

As I looked around the room at our audience of students this morning, I thought to myself, "These children are really hearing her! I wonder how they will use this message." Ms. Jones noted that as the children had entered the room, she saw something special in them. She didn't try to name it, but it's true. They are remarkable students who are so talented, smart, and "free" that I simply can't wait to see how their futures unfold.

Team OWS to Compete in "Sand in the City"

2010-06-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

Olympia Waldorf School is delighted to participate in Olympia’s second largest community event this summer…Sand in the City! About 43,000 visitors attend the festivities that benefit the Hands On Childrens’ Museum on the fourth weekend in August. Each team works with a professional architect—ours is the fabulous Tom Rieger, OWS kindergarten and second grade parent--to compete in a sand-sculpting competition.

As a designated “Community Team,” OWS will be matched up with a $2500 donor/sponsor from the greater community. For our efforts, the school will get logo recognition on a sign posted at our sculpture site, logo and name recognition in a special Sand in the City insert plus a post-event ad in The Olympian newspaper, name recognition on the Sand in the City website, name recognition in two HOCM Applause! Newsletters, our OWS logo and name on all advertising, signage, and marketing materials, logo on the HOCM lobby Recognition Wall, and our very own team t-shirts…featuring our logo! Tons of great exposure and lots of fun! Be sure to put Sand in the City on your family’s summer calendar, August 27-29. See you on the waterfront!

Click here to view the 2009 Sand in the City sculptures!

"We thank you very sweetly!"

2010-06-03T14:53:00.000-07:00

That's what the munchkins said to Dorothy for dispensing with the wicked witch. All of us at OWS thank YOU and all who donated, volunteered, and/or attended our wickedly successful "Wizard of OWS" Auction fundraiser on May 15. With your help, we made a profit of more than $40,000! We are so grateful.

The Fund-A-Need bidding alone brought in approximately $12,500 for a new roof for Prairie Hall, our historic school building. Click here to see the fabulous "Wizard of OWS" video created by Aaron Ziegler of Whitecap Media to introduce the Fund-a-Need item! Just scroll down to the "Wizard of OWS" video to play.

Waldorf and Auctions and Art...oh, my!

2010-05-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

Our "Wizard of OWS" Auction fundraiser is just around the corner! We're meeting with our extraordinary auctioneer, Laura Michalek, today to wrap up some loose ends and finalize our Live Item offerings.

For me, the joy is in the details. Our 2010 auction will be held in the South Puget Sound Community College Student Center. In some of our past venues, we've been somewhat crunched for space. But this year we'll have so much space that it poses a challenge, as well. The scale of the room is so large that small decorations will simply get lost. We're going to have to be strategic, using lots of black and green on the tables. Cynthia of Capitol Florist has agreed to design a "wicked" floral arrangement to greet our guests as they register. She always impresses me with her floral art. Kamuela Klemmer made a delightful "Yellow Brick Road" wall-hanging to highlight our sponsors--complete with Olympia Waldorf logo.

The witches hat pictured here (obviously for a "good" witch) was created by Bethany Crowell. Bethany is an amazing papercraft designer and an all-around talented gal who happens to be a Waldorf "auntie" and supporter of OWS. She made another hat, too. Check this one out that says, "Put on your party hat, my pretty." Perfection!
We're especially tickled to have Vince Brown playing music during our Silent Auction portion. Vince is an all-around great guy, incredibly talented musician, and he's a very good sport. He's hoping to come in costume as "Professor Marvel," the traveling salesman (played by actor Frank Morgan) who Dorothy encounters in the "Wizard of Oz" film. Later in the film, he plays...remember? The Wizard! As well as...a doorman, an Emerald City soldier, the doctor in the the final scene, and more! If you haven't watched the film in a while, you should!

Just thought I'd share these fun little details in hopes that your anticipation is building for the event. If you haven't bought your tickets yet, just call the main office at 360-493-0906 and we'll get you all set up, my pretty!

To Think That I Saw It On Normandy Street

2010-04-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

If you drove by Olympia Waldorf School on Sunday, you might have been rubbernecking it a bit. Or you might have wondered if you needed new prescription glasses. Or you might have just said, "What are those wacky Waldorf folks up to now?" To be honest, there's not usually this much excitement in East Olympia.

What we were up to was a twelve-hour day of digital filmmaking to introduce our "Fund-A-Need" item during the upcoming "Wizard of OWS" Auction fundraiser on Saturday, May 15! And what a fun time we had doing it. Take a look at these wicked images:
Meet our videographer and editor, Aaron Zeigler, of Whitecap Media. He volunteered his time, equipment, and creativity to help our cause. By the time he has edited the entire piece, he'll have invested many, many hours. Alan Lee Baker deserves our thanks, as well. He teaches digital film cinematography, has several film credits to his name, and served as our director. We also want to thank Greg Lukens, owner of Lukens Tree Preservation. He donated the use of his bucket truck and his time to the project. Thank you to these men for their generosity, flexibility, and positive approach to the project! And a hearty thank you to our entire cast and crew for being so helpful and cheerful and willing to work hard.
This year, our Fund-A-Need item is a new roof for our historic Prairie Hall. The short film will lead into the live auction fundraising effort for this project. We hope that our work will inspire auction guests to give generously! It was fun creatively connecting the roof project to the auction theme this year, "The Wizard of OWS." Exactly how did we tie those together? Well, we've kept the script under wraps and our actors have already forgotten their lines, so you'll just have to buy a ticket and come and see the premiere on May 15. We'll roll out the red carpet--scratch that--the Yellow Brick Road for you if you say you'll join us! Tickets available by calling 360-493-0906. We're off to see the Wizard!
Cue music...fade to black.

Arts Walk Features Seventh Grade Paintings

2010-04-23T21:21:00.001-07:00

A heartfelt "thank you" to our friends at Canvas Works, 525 Columbia Street, in downtown Olympia, for hosting our Spring Arts Walk display. This season we proudly displayed our seventh graders' renditions of Renaissance period paintings. The students each chose a Renaissance painting, sketched it, and painted it in acrylics. Their work is gorgeous.
You'll also notice one painting that is not in the Renaissance-style, but it is so mesmerizing we wanted to include it in the display. The painting of the boy with the snake is translated from a "National Geographic" image.
The portrait featured below was created by the students' teacher, Mr. Lee. He captured the image of each child and compiled them in one wonderful painting to be auctioned off on May 15 at our school's auction fundraiser. Since I took these photos earlier in the day, I want to also acknowledge our strings students who performed in the "OWS Chamber Orchestra" during the evening. Beautiful music, fantastic student artists. Thank you for your time and gifts. You are all remarkable students!
Do have any suggestions or special requests for our display at Spring Arts Walk? What would you like to see displayed by the students of OWS? See you at Canvas Works in the fall!

An Olympia Artist Who SHINES

2010-04-23T20:54:00.001-07:00

Meet Teresa Seelig, Olympia artist, stylist, and philanthropist. Take a good look...because she is one amazing woman! Teresa invited a few of us from Olympia Waldorf School to an Arts Walk ceremony at her salon, "The Statement," to receive two paintings for our upcoming "Wizard of OWS" Auction on May 15. The two paintings were community art pieces created collaboratively during last fall's Arts Walk celebration. How fabulous it is to have these paintings that represent so many individuals making something beautiful together! The two paintings are pictured below. (Sorry, Teresa forced us to stand in front of this gorgeous art!)
Thank you, Teresa, for your generous gifts and for recognizing the good works of folks in our community. We are so grateful. It was also inspiring to witness the presentation of her annual SHINE awards granted to individuals serving above and beyond in the Olympia community. Both the grantor and recipients are an inspiration to us all.

Thank you, too, to the children, parents, teachers, staff, and community, of Olympia Waldorf School. Our school is somewhat like those collaborative pieces of art. We're a "work of art" made possible by many, many individuals!

What I Did Over Spring Break

2010-04-12T18:42:00.000-07:00

Okay. So my title is deceiving. What I should have written is, "What My Daughter Did Over Spring Break." I was just an innocent bystander. I watched her disappear down the basement steps, working until late at night. I'd hear banging and clanging. I'd hear the band saw and the electric drill running intermittently. Sometimes I didn't hear a thing.

She is a seventh grader at Olympia Waldorf School, and her assignment over the break was to make substantial progress on a Rube Goldberg project. You've heard of Rube Goldberg? He made outrageous inventions designed to perform a simple task.

Early on--in the design phase of the project--I told my husband flat out, "This one's yours to supervise. This is way out of my league." He can fix, build, remodel anything. (But he hates plumbing.) So, our daughter jumped feet first into the assignment those many weeks ago. She designed a fun way to get cereal in a bowl. She had ideas. Lots of ideas. She tossed those ideas around with her dad and together they found the weak links, the foibles, the problem areas. It was fun to listen to her vision and interesting to watch her recognize and resolve the kinks in her plan.

During spring break, I only had to take her to Home Depot once to get three 45-degree elbows because she realized the 90-degree pieces wouldn't help something achieve the right momentum. At 86 cents per elbow, I considered it a cheap date. She knew exactly what size pipe she was using, so I just had to hand over the cash. (We also had to make one trip to the craft store for black paint, but I was still comfortable with my level of involvement.)

Throughout this process, I was amazed at her obvious independence and intelligence. After several unsupervised construction sessions, I said to my husband, "I never could have done that project at her age." And he--my husband, the superhero smart guy who can seemingly do anything--said, "I couldn't either." And I think he meant it. (Truth be told, I still couldn't do that project at my age now.)

So, it got me thinking about our daughter and how she can do this kind of thing. Not that it's effortless because she works really hard at it. The trouble-shooting, the constructing, the perseverance. It's really amazing. Given the task at hand, most people (of any age) might be reduced to tears or, at the very least, become quite frustrated. But she's a Waldorf kid. She has been taught to think creatively, to be limitless, to apply her will forces, to solve problems, to enjoy the journey. What a gift! Isn't this what all parents would hope for their child? It's so beautiful to see Waldorf education in action.

Along those lines, I'm reminded of one of my favorite Waldorf quotes. It sure does fit this situation: "If you've had the experience of binding a book, knitting a sock, playing a recorder, then you feel that you can build a rocket ship--or learn a software program you've never touched. It's not bravado, just a quiet confidence. There is nothing you can't do. Why couldn't you? Why couldn't anybody?" -Peter Nitze, Waldorf and Harvard graduate, and Director of an aerospace company

I'll be sure to take some photos of my daughter's completed project, as well as those of her classmates, at the end of the month when they bring them to the classroom for demonstrations. In the meantime, what kind of Rube Goldberg machine would you make?

Alice in the Land of Mathematica?

2010-03-13T09:32:00.001-08:00

Alice in Wonderland is being made popular again by the handsome Johnny Depp and clever director Tim Burton. At Olympia Waldorf School--for the sake of imaginative development--we would be more likely to encourage children to read the book and make their own "mental movie." Alice in Wonderland is a quirky story with a strange recipe of colorful characters and unexpected situations. It doesn't take much effort for the characters to leap from the pages on their own! But here's a new angle I never "got" from reading Lewis Carroll's tome. Alice in Wonderland is all about mathematics! Aha! (No wonder I never quite understood it.) I was intrigued to hear a story on NPR this morning about how this familiar story is based on numbers--even algebra!

At first glance...or second or however many times we've read this story in our lifetime...the math theme isn't apparent. For example, can you find any math in this excerpt?

"'Your hair wants cutting,' said the Hatter. He had been looking at Alice for some time with great curiosity, and this was his first speech.
'You should learn not to make personal remarks,' Alice said with some severity, it's very rude.'
The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this; but all he said was, 'Why is a raven like a writing-desk?'
'Come, we shall have some fun now!' thought Alice. 'I'm glad they've begun asking riddles. I believe I can guess that,' she added aloud.
'Do you mean that you think you can find out the answer to it?' said the March Hare.
'Exactly so,' said Alice.
'Then you should say what you mean,' the March Hare went on.
'I do,' Alice hastily replied; 'at least I mean what I say--that's the same thing, you know.'
'Not the same thing a bit!' said the Hatter. 'You might just as well say that "I see what I eat" is the same thing as "I eat what I see!"'

NPR's Keith Devlin can. But from that passage I'd assume that the story is making more of a point about grammar or context or point of view, but apparently Carroll was taking a bit of a stab at the "new math" of his time. How so? Follow this link to read or hear the interview on NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124632317

Time for tea!

Handmade Hats!

2010-03-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

I can make a basic knit and purl stocking cap, but that's about the extent of it (besides little square washcloths). Take a look at the hats these sixth grade girls made! Check out the impressive cable stitch, sporty bills, and adorable band with buttons. All of our students learn to knit--beginning in first grade. We are so proud of our talented, creative students! Any adult who knits (or has tried to knit) knows the perseverance and concentration it takes to create this kind of project. Beautiful!

I Got "Blogged" Down

2010-03-03T09:32:00.000-08:00

No, I have not been hiding like this little gnome in the entry of Prairie Hall! We're all working very hard at Olympia Waldorf School. So much happens in late winter and spring! Here are a few things we've had in the works: re-enrollment, new enrollment, marketing, outreach, a puppet play at the library, class plays, Mini-Mornings, faculty continuing education, Parent-Teacher conferences, auction planning, Curriculum Fair, hiring, meetings and more meetings, annual fund, annual report, summer camp planning, budget-setting, first-grade-readiness assessments, site maintenance, Olympiad training, internships and practicums, and the list goes on. And this all happens as we tenderly care for and teach our wonderful students. All in a day's work!

The Momentum of Love

2010-02-01T12:44:00.000-08:00

The following piece was submitted by Keenan Hand, sixth grade teacher at Olympia Waldorf School:

A forwarded email can open up worlds of connection through a chain of events. The culmination of which is my friend, Peter Martinez, covering up his gang tattoos with a Santa suit and beard in Botswana, Africa, to give needy children clothes collected by a sixth grade class in Olympia, Washington. He said, "The kids ran wild when they saw me on a donkey cart wearing the red suit. Some had fun pulling my beard." Peter brings the feeling of that wonderful moment and touches upon an emerging reality for today. This emerging truth is that these are times when twelve-year-old children in the U.S.A. can have a tangible connection to orphans in Africa. No man is an island.

The joy of that day for the children in Africa and the kindness shown by the OWS community may be temporary, but it is possible that when we build connections of kindness throughout the world, a permanent spiritual reality can be initiated. Maybe this small event will set another chain of unlikely events into motion. This can be thought of as the momentum of love. This motion can change the world so that our hearts can be set free as our brothers and sisters around the world become free. When we commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we can hear the words he spoke, "Through our scientific genius, we have made the world a neighborhood and through moral and ethical commitment, we must make it a brotherhood. We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

To see more photos of the children's Christmas party or to read more about the Nata Village Orphanage in Botswana, Africa, visit http://natavillage.typepad.com/.

OWS Shares with Food Bank

2010-01-14T13:21:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all Olympia Waldorf School families who brought food donations for the Thurston County Food Bank. When Olympia High School students called to ask us to participate in their holiday food drive, we didn't hesitate. We contributed numerous boxes and bags of food and were happy to make a difference in the community. Thank you for your generosity!

Third Grade Begins Study of Shelters

2010-01-11T14:19:00.000-08:00

Immediately following Winter Break, Mr. Lee's third graders embarked on the ever-popular Main Lesson block exploring shelters. According to Mr. Lee, the children were so inspired by their studies that they went outside and built this temporary shelter known as a "Beehive" in less than 45 minutes! Very clever! He said they worked as a cohesive group. And by the looks of their faces in this photo, they were obviously proud of their work.

In the Shelter block, each student chooses a type of structure and compiles a report in their own handwriting. They are also required to build a model of a shelter with as little help as possible from adults. Because Waldorf education is masterfully designed to deliver what's needed most at each developmental stage, the shelter study helps third graders build an appreciation for basic needs. Third graders also study the grains, gardening, and food supply. Those of us in the office --very near the third grade classroom--simply love it when they cook and bake in their classroom, too! (Third graders are quite generous, you know.) We are proud of our third graders and look forward to their "Open House" in spring when they unveil their own model homes.

The Pony Express

2009-12-04T19:17:00.000-08:00

Take a look at the "Wanted" posters hanging outside the fifth grade classrooms this week. No, no one's in trouble. (Although I am still looking for the student who put the full roll of toilet paper in the toilet. If you have any leads, there is a reward.) The posters were made by Miss Melcher's fifth grade class in a recent Geography block. They burned the edges, tea-stained the paper, carefully hand-lettered the text, and heard stories of the grueling terrain the Pony Express riders had to endure. I interviewed a couple of fifth graders about what they learned in this Main Lesson block, and several things about the story made quite an impression on them. Interestingly, there are a lot of "horse crazy" kids in that class, but these students didn't seem open to riding with the Pony Express. They solemnly informed me that orphans were preferred because "their parents would be sad if they died." The girls also told me that "young, skinny, wiry fellows" were the best candidates because they could travel long distances and didn't eat much. And, they shook their heads in disbelief as they told me the weekly wage was a mere $25. While the adventure might appeal to them, the risks and drawbacks made these students happy to be fifth graders who get to go to Pony Club and riding lessons after school.

Second Annual Prairie Restoration Day Fundraiser

2009-11-23T15:26:00.000-08:00

The following is a reflection written by Erica Merrill, Prairie Restoration Day Coordinator and OWS parent:

On Saturday morning, October 24, the rain and winds that had pummeled our rooftops for several days ceased, and with moments of occasional sunshine we met on the beautiful Tenalquot Prairie and set to work. Grace Diehl, of The Nature Conservancy, had spent the week preparing new areas for planting young native seedlings in former burn pile footprints. Olympia Waldorf School volunteers planted more than 1400 plants, such as blooming blue violet, Oregon sunshine, and native Roemer's fescue. Families donated time and energy to benefit our gorgeous, local prairie while gaining new appreciation for this unique and vanishing natural resource. Children--young and old--worked beside their family and friends, planting and playing. Of course, they took well-needed breaks; lying down among the tall grasses and exploring the vast open spaces. Some of the children exclaimed excitedly that they even "got lost!" The Nature Conservancy and the rare and fragile species at Tenalquot Prairie enjoy the fruits of our labor. One parent wrote about her experience:

"The Prairie itself is beautiful, but also our work efforts were well-supported, interesting, and hands on. I was inspired by this new idea of collaborative non-materialistic fundraising. I was grounded and rejuvenated by the delicate beauty of the prairie ecosystem reclaiming itself, and I was reminded of how important it is to show our kids that coming together and doing together is powerful. Many hands have worked towards the restoration of the Tenalquot Prairie, and as it sits adjacent to similar habitat that has not received the same effort--you can see the goal, you can see how far you have to go. It feels possible, and it is great to be part of it."

We are very grateful for the monetary support of our donors. We have once again raised nearly $5000! Thank you to all of our donors and volunteers who made this fantastic day possible!

Fox (Not in Socks)

2009-11-17T15:08:00.000-08:00

From as far as the stars,
To here, where I stand,
I have come to use my
right and left hand.

To knit and to sew
With heart so light,
Left hand working together
with right.

Here's a riddle for you: A farmer was going to town with a fox, a goose, and a sack of corn. When he came to a stream, he had to cross in a tiny boat, and could only take across one thing at a time. However, if he left the fox alone with the goose, the fox would eat the goose, and if he left the goose alone with the corn, the goose would eat the corn. How does he get them all safely over the stream?

I'll tell you in a future post. Leave your guesses in the comment section! In the meantime, I want you to take a good look at these adorable foxes handmade by two of our talented second graders! I just love their fuzzy white tails and pointy noses. How cute are these?! What talented children we have at Olympia Waldorf School.

Did you know that all of our students learn to knit in first grade? (Well, technically, they learn to finger-knit in kindergarten, but they begin to use knitting needles in first grade!) Knitting offers the children such a sense of accomplishment. They take great satisfaction in creating something useful and beautiful with their own two hands. There's a lovely rhythm to it, as well. And knitting calls upon both hemispheres of the brain so that both left and right sides are called upon to work together. We're "knitting together" the functions of the brain, so to speak! From those first knitting projects, the handwork curriculum builds into more challenging, developmentally appropriate tasks. In third grade, the children learn to crochet. In fifth grade, they knit socks. By eighth grade, they learn to sew garments on a sewing machine. It's an exciting progression of skill and so fun to see what the children create along the way!

As Peter Nitze, Waldorf and Harvard graduate, and Director of an aerospace company, once said, "If you've had the experience of binding a book, knitting a sock, playing a recorder, then you feel that you can build a rocket ship--or learn a software program you've never touched. It's not bravado, just a quiet confidence. There is nothing you can't do. Why couldn't you? Why couldn't anybody?"

Be sure to post your answer to the riddle. I'll reveal the answer in a few days!

First Grade "Witch Craft"

2009-10-28T11:55:00.001-07:00

One, two, three little witches,
Fly over haystacks, fly over ditches,
Slide down moonbeams without any hitches!

Our first graders made these adorable, little witches before they went to the pumpkin patch this morning. Look at their little felt cloaks and hats, wool hair flying behind them, and their little straw brooms. "Boo"tiful handwork by Miss Brie and her first grade students. Happy Halloween!

Happy birthday, dear Waldorf...

2009-10-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

...happy birthday to you! Now, this is definitely cause for celebration. Just imagine how many lives have been enriched by Waldorf education in the last 90 years. It is our hope that all of the students in all of those 90 years are somehow making a difference in society. And believe me, social renewal is what it's all about. Given their ability to think clearly, feel deeply and live a pursposeful life, Waldorf students are amazing citizens of the world. We are grateful to our founders--both internationally and locally--for all they have done. At Olympia Waldorf School--this year alone--we are blessed to have 140 students enjoying this holistic, artistic, life-changing education. Have you heard the story of the founding of Waldorf education? It's interesting. Here's an excerpt from the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America website (http://www.whywaldorfworks.org/) describing that time in history:

"In April of 1919, Rudolf Steiner visited the Waldorf Astoria cigarette factory in Stuttgart, Germany. The German nation, defeated in war, was teetering on the brink of economic, social, and political chaos. Steiner spoke to the workers about the need for social renewal, for a new way of organizing society and its political and cultural life. Emil Molt, the owner of the factory, asked Steiner if he would undertake to establish and lead a school for the children of the employees of the company. Steiner agreed but set four conditions, each of which went against common practice of the day: 1) that the school be open to all children; 2) that it be coeducational; 3) that it be a unified twelve-year school; 4) that the teachers, those individuals actually in contact with the children, have primary control of the school, with minimum interference from the state or from economic sources. Steiner's conditions were radical for the day, but Molt gladly agreed to them. On September 7, 1919, the independent Waldorf School (Die Freie Waldorfschule) opened its doors."

In 2010, Olympia Waldorf School will celebrate 25 years of educating children. If you promise to come and celebrate with us, we'll be sure to bake a cake.

What's green and round and hangs on your door?

2009-10-19T15:17:00.001-07:00

Awwww. You've heard this one before. Just wanted you to know we're selling gorgeous evergreen wreaths again this year at OWS! Call the school at 360-493-0906 to pre-order yours today. Wreaths will be ready for pick-up during the OWS Winter Faire on December 5. Just $25 for either a wreath or swag! I love these wreaths because they arrive fresh and last a long time!

Personally, I like to make different bows based on my holiday decorating scheme, but there’s nothing wrong with the pretty red one that comes with it. I'll make you a deal, though. If you buy wired ribbon you like…I can make you a bow in seconds. I'll need about three yards. Just stop by the office. Bring your ribbon.

All of you Martha Stewart types: Send me a photo of your wreath and I might post it on the blog.

Run, Run, As Fast As You Can

2009-10-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

Sometime this summer, as the gorgeous, warm days were hurtling by at break-neck speed, I said to our Business Manager, Aurora, “Christmas will be here before you know it.” She shot me a dirty look so I didn’t continue the conversation. And now, here we are. We just had our second Winter Faire meeting last week and the details are all falling into place. As trite as it sounds, we want this to be… (say it with me now) “our BEST Winter Faire ever!” (It helps if you say it wide-eyed and in the speaking voice of a third grader. It’s cuter that way.) Thanks to our Development Committee Chair, Ellen, we are employing a fabulously adorable gingerbread theme. Too cute! (Again, you’ll learn quickly that I love a great theme!) The gingerbread theme, combined with some very clear-headed planning of logistics, and the help of a great number of enthusiastic volunteers, will certainly make for a magical day. Tell everyone you know to be at Olympia Waldorf School on Saturday, December 5, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year! Super cute posters and invites will follow.

What is your favorite part of Winter Faire?

Michaelmas Time

2009-10-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

We kicked off the month of October with a delightful Michaelmas festival. The dragon was tamed again! Every year our grades children present an outdoor play based on the story, “St. George and the Dragon.” It’s always a colorful mix of verse, song, costumes, pageantry…well, that might be going too far, but it’s quite a show. And this year didn’t disappoint. Our eighth graders played the key roles (some of the noblest filled in at the last minute for sick friends—true bravery!), one eighth grade student even rode her horse and played the part of St. George! The younger children were in awe. And my favorite part is always the first grade class--wearing red, felted gnome hats--marching and shouting, “We will work. With our will. With our strength. With our skill. ‘Til the armor shines bright!” What a lovely show of cooperation, unity, and strength, from first to eighth grade. Thanks to all of our grades students for performing the Michaelmas play!

What is your favorite part of our Michaelmas festival?

The Beginning

2009-10-13T11:21:00.001-07:00

Plato said, "the beginning is the most important part of the work." I have wanted to start a blog for Olympia Waldorf School for quite a while now. Anyone who knows me also knows that I love the school and have many stories to tell. The problem is—there’s so much to share. Where do I begin? I'm definitely not internet savvy, so this is a big step for me. So, I guess I’ll just take it one day at a time and hope you’ll be there with me...every step of the way.

I also invite you to share with me your comments, thoughts and feedback, too. That’s what will make this journey so worthwhile! I hope you’ll enjoy this blog as much as I know I’ll enjoy creating it for you.