sign in sign up
<<
Home , Austin College, Davidson College

Inspire, Experience, Grow, Create

T HE M ESSENGER June 2012

S TARTING OFF THE S UMMER WITH S ERVICE INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Submitted by Jennifer Gongaware and Susan Martinez Class of 2012 Post– Grad 2 Generosity flows from nesses, individuals, com- Plans the boardwalk of the Aus- munity groups, churches, tin Waldorf School! Our and schools for financial The Board Corner 3 school is being recog- and volunteer support. Next Year’s Important nized by the larger com- Helping Hands mission is Dates 3 munity, not just for our to “provide the communi- nurturing educational ty of Dripping Springs Summer Hours 3 style, but also for our with a framework of com- The Sport Report 4 servants’ hearts. Through passionate care designed our collective efforts, we to assist neighbors in Library News 4 are making a significant time of need, regardless difference in our larger of their age, creed, or eth- Summer Poem 5 community. pounds of food, as of May nic origin.” It is only with Dr. Maxwell Visit Recap 6 “We appreciate and are 1, 2012, to the Dripping the help of caring organi- so grateful for the effort Springs Helping Hands zations, like the Austin Alumni Language 7 and hard work that the Community Food Bank. Waldorf School, that the- AWSNA News 8 Austin Waldorf School Thank you to the Seventh se goals can be main- has put forth in these Grade for capping off the tained. most generous dona- school year with an end of Summer months are a tions. We sincerely thank May delivery which will time of great need at you!” -Dripping Springs push this number well over Helping Hands. Families Helping Hands 1700 lbs. in need are no longer The Austin Waldorf Helping Hands is an all able to count on school volunteer nonprofit organi- School has generously lunches to help stretch May everyone have contributed nearly 1,500 zation that relies on the the food dollars. Please generosity of local busi- a happy, healthy, consider giving through- out the summer. For invigorating more information, please Summer! click here. Thank you all for receiv- ing this wonderful activity with such generous ener- gy. The classroom collec- tions will continue when the boardwalk is flowing with our happy, energetic, giving children.

Happy Summer All!!

6th Grader Lucas Glass Dropping Off Donations at Helping Hands Page 2 Back to Table of Contents June 2012

Class of 2012 Matriculation and Post High School Plans

Benjamin Alexander: Austin Community College (TX)

Ariel Axelrod: St. Olaf’s College (MN)

Elizabeth Beilharz: Sewanee-University of the South (TN)

Cassandra Broeker: (TX)

Joshua Brandt: (NC)

Hannah Clark: Trinity University (TX)

Joseph DiLeo: (NC)

Grant Edwards: Evergreen State University (WA)

Savannah Finger: Franciscan University of Steubenville (OH)

Gavin Fraser: (CT)

Liam Hall: (NC)

Ford Holland: Davidson College (NC)

Cooper Karisch: Davidson College (NC)

John “Jack” Karisch: (TX)

Brandon Kent:

Anna Lane Evans: State University (TX)

Adam Mueller: Trinity University (TX)

Hannah Parker: University of Tampa (FL)

Zachary Rosanova: Trinity University (TX)

Lana Sabb: (IA)

Evan St. Angelo: Gap Year: Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange with deferment at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY)

Emma VanDelinder: University of Missouri (MO)

Amelia “Emmie” Wagner: Naval Academy (MD)

Katharine “Kaki” White: Franklin & Marshall College (PA)

Walter “Buddy” Wilkes: Drexel University (PA)

Madeleine Wilson: University of Texas-Austin School of Communications (TX)

Ariana Zaia: (MN)

The Messenger Back to Table of Contents Page 3

THE BOARD CORNER Important Dates On our Board of Trustees webpage, Administrator, Susan Darcy. For available through the Parent Portal We are always looking for more matters related to student/ teacher Next Year: committee or Board volunteers. If Login, you will find: interactions or any matters of peda- you are interested in contributing to gogy, it is generally best to contact • August 20—First Day of High  A listing of the current mem- one of the Board committees or to the relevant teacher, but you may bers of the Board the Board itself, then please email also contact the relevant section School Don Becker, Board President.  A listing of the standing com- chair or Betsy Hanelius, Chair of the Please identify your skills and/or College of Teachers. To address • August 22—First Day of mittees and their members experience that will help you to issues related to the Board’s re- Grades 1-8  The charters of each of the contribute to the governance of the sponsibilities—the Mission, Vision • standing committees Austin Waldorf School. and Strategic Plan and the fulfill- August 23—First Day of Kin- ment of fiduciary responsibilities to dergarten  Additional documents related For any matter of concern related to the Austin Waldorf School, you the Austin Waldorf School—contact to Austin Waldorf School gov- Don Becker, Board President. • September 3—Labor Day ernance may always contact the school’s • October 8—Columbus Day and BOARD MEETING NOTES Yom Kippur Submitted by Brittain Pasloske, Austin Waldorf School Board Secretary • November 16—Grades K-8 Next Board meeting: Friday, June The Board is always in search 12:30 Dismissal for Parent 8, 8:30am in the High School of new potential members to Math Room have in reserves. If you have a Teacher Conferences desire to serve on the Board, • November 19-20—Parent then please contact Jenni Ev- May 16 Report Teacher Conferences, No School ans, who is chair of the search In with the New and Out with the committee. Grades K-8 Old Board Members • November 21-23— Budget Passed The Board approved two new their terms as non-teacher Thanksgiving Holidays non-teacher Trustees: Luis Felipe Board members, serving four The Board passed the 2012- • December 7—K-8 Early Dis- Rego and Clint Bledsoe. Please and three years, respectively. 2013 Budget for the school. The welcome and thank them for Randy served two years as financial health of the school missal for Grandparent’s Day volunteering to this three year President and Brittan served remains robust. Key points of • December 14—12:30 Dismissal commitment! the budget include a 3.0% tui- two years as Secretary. for Winter Break Every year, new Board members Additionally, Bill Toole will be tion increase and a 2.0% salary are recruited as others complete replacing Betsy Hanelius as a increase for faculty and staff. • December 15– January 7— their terms. At the end of this teacher Trustee. Betsy has Winter Break year, Randy Henderson and Brit- served for three years on the • January 21—Martin Luther tan Pasloske will be completing Board. King Day The Austin Waldorf School will be observing summer • February 18—President’s Day hours from Monday, June 4 to Friday, Aug. 3. • March 11-15—Spring Break • March 28-29—Easter Holidays Main Office: • April 1—Easter Holiday for office open 9:00am-12:00pm Grades K-8 • May 27—Memorial Day 288-5942 ext. 100 [email protected] • May 29—Last Day of Kinder- garten The Library • May 31—Last Day Grades 1- Wednesdays from 12:00 to 4:00pm on all but July 25 and 12 August 1. 288-5942 ext. 111 [email protected]

Juniper Tree Store: Wednesday: 11:00am -4:00pm, Thursday and Friday: 12:00-4:00pm, Closed June 27 - July 6

512-288-5106 [email protected] Page 4 Back to Table of Contents June 2012 ROADRUNNERS FINISH STRONG! Submitted by Corey Horton, Roadrunner Sport Reporter “The Roadrunner The school year is over, and Sanchez claimed sixth place in of Liam Hall, Ford Holland, Mat- with it ends an exhilarating the 3200M run. And our fresh- thew Marek, Daniel Habenicht, girls track team fin- year of Roadrunner sports. The men dominated the field events Miles Hoisington, Cole Holland, season-ending track and field with Emma Graves finishing se- and Victor Franco. They all com- ished the best season meets happened in May, and cond in both the high jump and peted in the District Seeding Tour- the school also competed for triple jump, and Alexa Richard- nament in Marble Falls and the in school history!” tennis and golf titles. son scoring third in the discus TAPPS District Tournament in San throw, fourth in the triple jump Antonio in April. Daniel finished TAPPS 2A State Track Meet at and seventh in the shot fourth in singles so he qualified for put. With these youths on their the TAPPS 2A State Tournament in The Roadrunner girls track side, the Roadrunners have set Waco.

team finished the best season the bar high for 2013 and be- in school history! A second- yond! AIPL Track Meet place finish in district showed The boys finished fourteenth in The season ending track meet their promise, and then they state on the legs of two runners, for the middle school was held in flexed their depth of talent by as the relay team just barely fell beautiful weather in early May as following that up with a second short of qualifying. Senior Gavin Austin Waldorf School sent four place finish in Regionals and Fraser hurdled to fourth place in teams to compete with twenty capped it with a second place the 300M and fifth place in the other schools. All the athletes finish in state! 110M, and sophomore Levar enjoyed the experience of cheering In the state meet, the girls fell Winford earned a fourth place in on their schoolmates, making new just two points short of Muen- the 400M and fifth place in the friends, and even winning a few ster Sacred Heart and our first- 800M. You can find the full re- ribbons along the way. ever state track title. In the sults of the track meet online by The middle school boys finished process, they overcame district clicking here. in tenth place on the strength of rival and regional champion Ryan Mata's third place finish in Marble Falls Faith Acade- High School Golf and Tennis my. Our young relay team of The boys golf team (Josh the 1600M and a pair of fifth place freshman Emma Graves and Frankel, Ben Alexander, Joe finishes in the 200M and 400M DiLeo) competed in the TAPPS from Peter Dyson. sophomores Meaghan Hender- son, Pearl Kwilosz-Turner and District tournament in Marble The middle school girls team Jessica L'Hoste came in second Falls in late March. Ben finished (Samantha Horton, Abbie Stone, place in both the 4x100 and in the top ten to qualify for the Emma Ingier, Elizabeth Carrasco, 4x200M relays. Pearl also TAPPS 2A South Regional Tour- Soren Kernan, Alexa Kichuk, So- finished in fourth place in the nament in Houston. phie Laird, Colista Nemec, Dulce

200M dash. Junior Niquey The boys tennis team consisted Rivera Osorio) showed off their

LIBRARY NEWS Submitted by Linda Burke, Librarian, Ext. 111 Hello, everyone. The summer discounts for multiple purchas- The reading lists follow the is here and I hope that it will es. award reviews on the website. be fun and restorative for all Although I speak about it on Please note: At the bottom of all of you. the award page, please note the lists are two extended lists, As a reminder, the that the Read Aloud for the one alphabetized by authors, the library will be open on The award finalists for this year is Wind in the Willows. If other by titles. If a book is on the Wednesday after- year are posted on the web- your family hasn’t read it yet, primary list for your child’s site (go to the Parents tab, try it. grade, we have a copy in the noons (12:00- 4:00) then click on Library). They library. I know it is increasingly this summer are listed by grade and in- difficult to find some of them in EXCEPT for July 25th clude summaries. I have add- the public libraries. You may and August 1st, when ed the number of copies we always call me to confirm availa- have in our library as well as bility. Leave a message and I will Mrs. Burke will take her holdings for the Austin Public get back with you. vacation. Library and Dripping Springs Community Library. Click Happy summer reading! here to check it out. The Juni- per Tree carries all the titles Linda Burke and are once again offering The Messenger Back to Table of Contents Page 5 SPORT REPORT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Continued on Page 5 jump , fourth and sixth in the soft- as School for the Deaf, and three of depth in the relay races to finish ball throw, and fourth place 4x100 the four won medals! “Each and every sixth overall. They won second and 4x400 relay teams. Summer Sports Camp in the 4x100, 4th in the 4x400, The 6th grade girls (Lily Bisantz, So that wraps up a fantastic year member of the team and 6th in the 4x200. Katherine Dyson, Olivia Marek, of Roadrunner Sports! Get a head placed very well” The sixth grade boys also Emma Olson, Sandra Jewel start on the fun and learning in earned sixth place overall. Each Pomeleo-Fowler, Maya Shamir, June as Roadrunner Sports Camps and every member of the team Hannah Wright-Burdick) finished open under the watchful eyes of (Goodwin Bell, Aidan Cormier, just out of the points in several our high school head coaches For Jaxon Cady, Sebastian Gonzalez events highlighted by a close sev- more information, please click -Bauer, Sam Hewitt, Connor enth place finish in the 4x400. here! Horton, and John Schneider) AIPL Tennis Tournament placed very well, including a win In mid-April, the Roadrunners the high jump, a fourth in the sent a four-person team to the 800M, second in the high AIPL tennis tournament at the Tex-

We sing you a story, a wonderful story, We sing you a story of Midsummer Night, For all who would know of the dance of the fairies, For all who would seek for the rose of the light. We gather the blossom, to twine in our hair, We sip of the honey, the golden honey, We sip of the honey, so sweet and so rare. We go to the fountain, the sparking fountain, We go to the fountain for water fair. The wind in the fountain, the sparkling fountain, Has stirred the water that floweth fair. We taste of the water, the sparkling water, The living water, that floweth fair, And there in the twilight the fairies are dancing, The fairies are dancing as light as air. They lead to the garden, the Midsummer Garden, They lead to the garden, where roses bloom. The flowers are singing, are swaying and singing, The flowers are singing with stars and with moon. And there is the Mother, the white robed Mother, The Mother of all who shines in light. She gives us a rosebud so pure and so white. Oh, guard it forever the beautiful blossom, Oh, guard it forever the rose of light. -E. Hutchim, found in the book Summer by Wynstones Press Page 6 Back to Table of Contents June 2012 A FOLLOWUP TO DR. SHARON MAXWELL’S VISIT: A PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE From time to time the Parent Society community/social circle that would be  helping your kids decide when and how has an opportunity to present a topic available for our children to ask questions to release their sexual energy and with that brings in lively discussion and inter- of or guidance from if they were uncomfort- whom est. The visit from Dr. Sharon Maxwell is able coming to either me or their father. the power of sexy and how to use that one of those topics. Included here is one That is a scenario we are most comfortable  power responsibly (loved the Cinnabon parent’s perspective on the visit from with. analogy and the “sexuality quotient”) Dr. Maxwell. Parent Society views this as a continued conversation about a topic Sex education is a hot-button topic. It’s  don’t get derailed by attitude and stop that is important to the development quite difficult to find a large majority of trying to convince [your kids] to agree – and further education of our children. parents who would agree on when, what, they’re not supposed to and how this topic should be addressed  The Star-the five points of change-“who with our children. I felt that Sharon Max- am I” “who decides” (very powerful) A few years ago, perusing the sex- well offered a unique approach, in that she education section at the bookstore for was able to find common ground in which  developing guidelines for sexual some inspiration, I happened to pick up we as a school community could begin dis- behavior that reflect your values – Sharon Maxwell’s book The Talk, What cussions around this topic. She offered a ways to talk about the meaning and Your Kids Need to Hear From You About framework that empowered parents to value of sexuality Sex. As I reached to return it to the seek their own answers to what their family  the eleven principles for sexual bookshelf I caught a glimpse of the values are, what moral and/or ethical be- behavior book’s back cover. “The Talk,” I read, liefs we hold, and how to begin that dia- “is an innovative resource for parents logue with our children. She addressed  what’s happening in the online world and educators that prepares kids for a human sexuality in such a way that seemed and how parenting just got a lot harder hyper sexualized world that lays the to be compatible with a Waldorf school’s  the difference between happiness and foundation for ethical sexual behavior. approach to discussing human sexuality, in joy Focusing on the importance of love and which sex was not compartmentalized into the importance of community intimacy, Dr. Maxwell helps parents de- a biological box, but rather the dimensions  fine their values about sex and gives of reproduction, the power of sexiness, Thanks for giving me this opportunity to concrete ways to share those values sexual desire, the freedom of self- with teens. Offering an innovative discipline, emotional intimacy, and the spir- share my perspective with you. framework for looking at human sexuali- itual dimension of sexuality were explored. ty, this book has the potential to change She also did this in a way that was respect- With gratitude, the national conversation on sex educa- ful to all sexual orientations, as she ad- Mary Moore tion.” dresses human sexuality as a whole, not th th categorically. Parent to Aaron, Alyza-9 , Noah-7

Without really knowing what I was searching for, I had stumbled upon a I felt inspired to share the book with a few book that articulated exactly what I felt parents and faculty at the Austin Waldorf was missing in all the other parent work- School. After much discussion, the faculty Mary has offered to start a book group shops, conversations, and curriculums agreed that we should arrange a visit. Dr. based on The Talk for parents of middle around human sexuality that I had en- Maxwell arrived in Austin on a Thursday school children. Please contact her directly countered. Up until that point, what was afternoon in April, and spent the next three if you are interested in joining or in forming most clear to me was what I did NOT days at AWS, meeting faculty, students, a group in the high school or lower grades. want sex education to look like for my and parents, and facilitating four presenta- children. My husband and I had agreed tions/workshops for our community. For those who do not have a copy of The that handing our children over to anoth- Talk: What Your Kids Need to Hear From er adult or a professional in the role of Some golden nuggets that I came away YOU About Sex you can find it at the school “expert,” was a risky proposition. A with: store, the school library, or at most professional sex educator might be high- bookstores.  media manipulation, and how to talk to ly knowledgeable in their field, but we were the experts when it came to defin- your kids about it Handouts that some found extremely ing and sharing our own family values  explaining the biology of sex to your helpful were provided during the work- around human sexuality. While I do kids is only the beginning, but start shops. If you would like copies, expect and hope that my children will there please contact parentsocie- [email protected] one day form their own opinions, I also  desire, and using self-discipline to con- feel that it is extremely important to first trol it, is to find freedom in choosing lay a foundation for them, a reference how and when to act on it point. We decided that if we were to invite another adult into our children’s  sexual desire is an energy that can be lives, that adult would be someone who transformed into something else – art, would honor and respect our family’s literature, music values, someone within our family/ The Messenger Back to Table of Contents Page 7 ALUMNI LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE, CHAPTER 2 Recently, a group of former were much more accustomed to Austin Waldorf School stu- listening to and imitating fo- dents were asked to speak reign sounds, giving me an ad- about their experiences with other languages after gradua- vantage in pronunciation. ting or leaving the Austin Wal- When learning a language dorf School. The first two res- such as Russian, pronunciation ponses were published in last is one of the biggest challenges month’s Messenger. Here are because the patterns of sounds the latter two. within words and sentences are If you have any questions so different from what the Ame- about the Waldorf approach rican tongue is used to. It requi- with world languages, or res a lot of flexibility and a good questions about second lan- ear for sounds and tones. I di- guage classes in the grade rectly attribute my abilities in school, please call me this area to the way in which languages are taught at Wal- (512) 767-2109 or email me Señora Vela Sachs and students. dorf. When I first began at [email protected] studying Russian I became ac- didn't realize until then how signifi- I studied Russian beginning customed to the sounds and my first year of college. I did my Enjoy. cantly our language colors the way pronunciation of the language that we think and feel about life. It beginning and intermediate very quickly, leaving me more Rosa Vela Sachs frames our everyday activities and study of Russian at Wellesley time and energy to direct to- the expectations we have for our- College in my first two years wards other aspects of the lan- I studied Spanish in high selves and for others. there, then had my advanced guage than my classmates who school, so when I went to co- When I returned from Ecuador I study while studying abroad in were struggling to force their llege I decided to continue was determined to keep my Spa- Russia. I was fluent in Russian tongues into the right shapes. nish, so I took an upper level Spa- when I returned for my senior studying it. My school, Kala- I spent my junior year of nish Lit class. After I graduated, year of college when I did an in- mazoo College, required that college in Russia. By that time I my ability to speak Spanish is depth independent research you take at least 3 foreign was fairly proficient in the lan- what earned me my first two jobs. project involving both English- language courses, and with guage, but when I left I was not The first was working in the Family and Russian-language sources. my experience from AWS I only able to converse and write Services department at Austin My major was Russian Langua- tested out of the first level. I comfortably in Russian, I also Habitat for Humanity, and the ge and Literature so language found that I had a good un- had adapted my pronunciation second was working as a bilingual study was a very important part derstanding of the basic gram- to fit that of the native speakers teacher's assistant at Austin Mon- of achieving my degree require- mar structure of Spanish, but around me. This happened tessori School. Since then I have ments. the most significant thing that through a process of listening to not been in jobs that have utilized I was a student at the Waldorf taking Spanish from such a native speakers daily and gra- my Spanish, but since I am school from Kindergarten all the young age gave to me was a dually adapting the sounds and studying for my Master's in Occu- way through high school. I stu- very good accent. This was speech patterns I was making pational Therapy, I know that I will died German and Spanish 1st confirmed when as a Junior. I to match theirs. Other students use it in the future. It was also one through 8th grades, and Spa- went on study abroad to Quito, studying abroad with me had of the key things that earned me a nish in high school. I believe Ecuador, and people commen- more trouble with this. For me it paid fieldwork position that I will that my language study at Wal- ted frequently about my ac- was an unconscious process do in summer 2013. dorf put me in an advantaged cent. In Quito I lived with a which had become instinct for So, as far as the way that AWS position when studying langua- Spanish-speaking family for 6 me through years of Waldorf specifically prepared me in Spa- ge in college. months while attending La language study. For them it nish, I feel that it was very impor- Universidad San Francisco de First of all, the way languages would have had to be a cons- tant to have it from such a young Quito and while taking classes are taught at Waldorf, as well as cious choice to listen and imita- age. It allowed me to really get the in Spanish (both language and many of the exercises done in te, which isn't always an emp- feeling of the language, even regular subject classes). This the grade school with the class hasized part of language study though I did not necessarily know is where I truly learned how to teachers, develops the capacity in college, although it makes a what was being said all the time. speak Spanish. All my years of for memorization to a degree huge difference in your overall I also think that it was incredible studying, both at AWS and at that most programs do not. This abilities. I did not continue to to be taught both Spanish and K, only gave me an understan- was very obvious to me when I study Spanish or German after I German in the grades. Since both ding of the grammar. It was got to college and was studying left Waldorf, but I attribute a languages have contributed to not until I was forced to speak with students from different large part of my success in Rus- English, it gave me a base of un- and think in Spanish on a daily backgrounds. In terms of lan- sian studies to the skills I lear- derstanding about language in basis that I really GOT it. And it guage study this was a huge ned there. was amazing! Realizing that general that I think helped me to advantage. In addition to simply ~Christi Burke Class of 2009 you have an entirely different grasp English grammar and writing being able to memorize vocabu- language through which you in a way that many people do not lary and conjugations faster can experience and view life is in this day and age. ~Kate Swope than my fellow students, I found quite an incredible feeling. I Class of 2003 that my ear and my tongue The Messenger Back to Table of Contents Page 8 Austin Waldorf School AWSNA NEWS 8700 South View Road Austin, TX 78737 Many thanks to all met in the midst the Board Members of the swirling ac- Main Office: 512-288-5942 Fax: 512-301-8997 at all our Waldorf tivity! High School: 512-301-9550 schools and insti- Kindergarten: 512-288-5120 A new media blitz tutes! Because of Aftercare Emergency: 512-767-5707 followed the Juniper Tree : 512-288-5106 your generous Washington hours of volunteer E-mail: Post’s recent arti- [email protected] service, our schools have health in the cle comparing the Association of Waldorf Schools of Washington Wal- present and hope North America dorf School with a for the future. more technologi- AWSNA's Board www.austinwaldorf.org cally-inclined counterpart. On our meets each month by phone and website you can see some of the face-to-face four times a year, and the members’ dedication articles, including a good letter from the parent of a teenager who and generosity of spirit shows in To unsubscribe to the attended the Washington Waldorf how they care for AWSNA and the Messenger, click here. School. The Atlantic features an ar- continental community of Wal- ticle called “Do Cell Phones Belong Questions or comments? dorf schools and teacher educa- in the Classroom,” which refer- Click here. tion institutes. This picture is from the recent service weekend ences the Washington Post article and Waldorf Education. Read more at the Lakota Waldorf School, S.D., where the AWSNA Board at WhyWaldorfWorks.org

Celebrating 31 years of educational excellence in Austin. The Austin Waldorf School is a non-profit Our Mission: educational institution, “Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who, of themselves, are able to give purpose 501(c)3, that welcomes and direction to their lives.” ~Rudolf Steiner students of any religion, race, gender identity, sex- By creating a school environment that balances academic, artistic and practical disciplines, the Austin ual orientation, national Waldorf School cultivates a love of learning, creative thinking, a sympathetic interest in the world, self- or ethnic origin. confidence and an abiding moral purpose.