Messenger
january 25, 2020 volume 32, issue 5
Experiencing the First Inside this Issue: Waldorf Teachers Course The First Teachers Course 1 As we enter 2020 and the second 100 years of Waldorf Education, we look back on an exceptional conference that took The Value of Form Drawing 4 place last summer in celebration of the Waldorf centenary. Held at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland, the conference Waldorf Teacher Conferences 6 attracted teachers from all over the world, coming together to re- imagine and re-experience the series of lectures given by Rudolf Steiner to those brave Farm News 8 teachers about to open the doors at the first Waldorf School in Stuttgart in September 2019. Many of these would-be teachers had given up careers for the chance to work on Winter Faire Thanks! 10 this initiative, and didn’t even know if they would ‘make the cut’ to teach at the school. Here is our High School Math & Science Teacher, Beth Weisburn, writing about the Apprenticeship Week 11 significance and experience of the conference… Development Corner 12 Ninety-nine years ago, on December From later in the same lecture: 24, 1921, Rudolf Steiner spoke to an “We can educate to satisfy the necessities Parent Education Events 13 international group of teachers, as part of outer life, but such an education hinders of an educational conference organized man from becoming a free individuality.” Marketplace 14 by Profesor Millicent MacKenzie from England and held in Dornach. He said: And he finishes the lecture with: “Although one can see that mankind “Since teaching involves a relation has made tremendous strides between human beings, namely the Important Dates: forward through the development relation between teacher and pupil, Waldorf at Weill of intellectuality, when looking at it must be based on human nature. Wednesday, January 29, 6:30pm, contemporary education, one can also This can only be done out of a real at SSU Green Music Center find that if children are being educated knowledge of human nature.” only intellectually, their inborn PARENT EDUCATION EVENT True to his words, when preparing teachers capacities and their human potentials Crayon & Drawing Workshop for the opening of the first Waldorf school, become seriously impaired and wither Saturday, Feb 1, 10am-2pm Steiner had lectured each morning for 14 away.” days on the body, soul and spirit nature of Financial Assistance Deadlines the human being, today entitled The Study January 31: prospective 9th graders of Man. In the late mornings he gave a February 13: all other grades series of lectures called Practical Advice to switzerland , Teachers, and each afternoon he answered FEBRUARY BREAK: NO SCHOOL questions, which are recorded in a President’s Day AND goetheanum collection, Discussions with Teachers. The the Waldorf Teacher Conferences of lectures ended on a Saturday. Teachers Monday 17–Friday 21 February were assigned to classes on Sunday and courtesy
school began on Monday. Eighth Grade Biography Night photos the great hall, goetheanum (Continued on Page Two) Wednesday, February 5, 6-7:30pm (Continued from Page One) colleen o’conners, a colleague from high mowing school in vermont, who also attended the Imagine the intensity of working three conference, has graciously shared her description of the gathering. sessions a day, for two weeks straight, to gain insight into the body, soul and The First Teachers Course spiritual nature of the human being knowing that you would have as many as The conference 60 children in front of you on Monday! is over… [but the] human What about curriculum and lesson plans? spiritual As a teacher, you would be standing activity, the up with only your life experience, your human feeling presence, and your understanding of the life, and the human being to undertake the task at human deeds hand. It must have been quite a moment. still resonate in the halls of the When I heard that the Pedagogical Section Goetheanum, members at the Goetheanum were planning and will radiate to revisit these 14 days in July 2019, in from there out honor of the 100th anniversary of Waldorf into the world (and not ‘just’ Education—I made it a priority to attend. the Waldorf- This possibility of deepening my perspective, the first and the last day, four days world) long after the summer sun were half-days allowing for rest, some together with other Waldorf teachers, descends from its zenith, through sightseeing, and much networking. seemed the best way to celebrate the the fiery justice of Michaelmas, to centennial. My enthusiasm grew as Kibby illuminate from within ‘the turning Each lecturer was tasked with MacKinnon mentioned that she was going. point of time’ at the nadir of the bringing a day of the first teachers northern hemisphere’s solar calendar. course alive: Foundations of Human Together we experienced this event with old What will reawaken come spring Experience, Practical Advice to friends and new teachers from around the depends on each and every one of us. Teachers, and Discussions with world. I am grateful for the wisdom of the Teachers once again presented as Approximately 300 participants from the original chronological unit. This plenary speakers, inspired by the courage of roughly 40 nations brought their intentionality has also resulted in a the teachers from countries such as India, languages, their cultures, their gifts, new, rather chunky, printed edition Peru, and China who are founding schools and their questions to Dornach. of all fourteen days that includes often with few resources, and encouraged From kindergarten teachers to the a large appendix with additional by the openness and warmth from young European Council lobbyist for Waldorf study material and facsimiles. At colleagues sharing their projects—such as a Education, an eclectic, vivacious, and the moment this is only available in striving group of individuals streamed peace song from a young man from Detroit. German, but the English translation into the Foundation Stone auditorium is nearly complete, and funds for a One hundred years later, Waldorf each morning to experience music Spanish translation are being sought. and/or eurythmy to begin our day. This education is still unique in its approach was followed by the morning lecture, The workgroups, loosely structured to working with the soul a coffee break, according to language (German, development, the thinking, the workgroups, English, Spanish), served to ‘digest’ the feeling and willing of the and the plenum. content of the most recently delivered children. We, as teachers, After a delicious lecture in a very free, interactive have the conceptual lunch courtesy of way. As one of our group’s three foundations to orient the ‘Speisehaus’ leaders, our challenge was, having just ‘received’ the lecture of the day our observations and our and a wonderfully long midday break, (or half-day), to quite spontaneously experiences of students. the pattern was create the vessel in such a way that Out of these relationships, repeated on five of best served the content of the lecture our own inner work and the nine days again and the group. With a lively mix of our collaboration with in the afternoon. artistic activities, partner and small- colleagues, we have the The ‘Brazilians’ group conversations, walks, quiet possibility to recognize enlivened the start reflective moments, and full group and practice new forms of of the afternoon by discussions we grew successively together as we strove to expand our Waldorf education. What a teaching us various cirandas. Including understanding of the human. challenge!
2 • messenger • jan 2020 • In the first half of the plenum, two groups were pre-selected to AWSNA Visits Summerfield ‘present’ something out of their workgroups. These presentations Last week Summerfield hosted the curriculum and programs we offer. also ‘grew’ in the course of the nine Association of Waldorf Schools of Summerfield is a school well known days, becoming a key part of the North America (AWSNA) for 5 days and respected around the country collegial digestion and integration during the annual meetings of their as an established and deep Waldorf processes. The second half of Executive Team, Leadership Council school, and we were proud to be able the plenum was held as a space and Board. While the small Executive to host these meetings here. for individual contributions and Team is based out of Longmont, CO, The Summerfield College of Teachers, questions, often gently directed by the Leadership Council and Board along with other Summerfield faculty an impulse idea or inquiry by Claus- members hail from Waldorf schools and admin staff, met with AWSNA, Peter Röh or Florian Osswald. all over the US, Mexico and Canada. In addition to the meetings within the Alliance and other Northern This ‘free-form’ conference was AWSNA, the organization also met California schools to discuss the work an experiment for all of us, and with their two sister organizations - of all Waldorf and Waldorf-inspired the Pedagogical Section and Waldorf Early Childhood Association schools to support each other and to conference planners demonstrated of North America, or WECAN, and the strengthen the Waldorf Education much needed courage of our Alliance for Public Waldorf Education, movement here in North America. times to allow space for collegial known as the Alliance. They discussed ways to clearly exchange within the framework of articulate the different strengths that the conference. Much in keeping For many of the 40 Waldorf teachers, an independent school or a charter with Steiner’s 1919 example, we admin, parents and former parents school has to offer students and didn’t just listen. We worked, spoke, who bring the work of the movement families. Stay tuned for the AWSNA moved, created, and attempted to out of the individual schools and newsletter in early Spring describing penetrate the indications given. into this larger continental platform their work during these meetings, With a finger on the pulse of today, this was a first visit to Summerfield. particularly the work that AWSNA and we approached the question, “What Participants enjoyed a tour of the the Alliance are doing together. is the next one hundred years of campus with Tracy Saucier, and we Waldorf education asking of us?” received many compliments on our ~Andrea Jolicoeur, Lower School beautiful campus and farm, the rich Secretary and AWSNA Delegate I feel blessed to have attended this conference, and to have met so many sincere and dedicated educators; teachers full of love and AWSNA is the non-profit organization that accredits independent creative energies; teachers carrying Waldorf schools in North America and is the steward of the concerns for the children in their Waldorf trademark in North America. AWSNA’s mission is “to care, and for the world we all share. support schools through collaborative regional work, professional I have often heard the question, and resource development, accreditation, community outreach, and advocacy.’’ The “What is Waldorf?” This conference organization is made up of a Board of Trustees, an Executive Committee of three was Waldorf at its best—a Directors, and of Regional Leadership Council members from member schools. movement, in the truest sense There are eight regions across the continent, with our Northern California region containing one of the highest concentrations of Waldorf schools. Each school has of the word, spanning the globe, two AWSNA delegates who work regionally exploring the information and school increasingly aware of itself and the opinions around current topics, some being a proposal that will get decided on tasks that require the continued in the yearly continental meetings. For example, last year ASWNA proposed a cultivation of the senses, of statement on a member commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion that was common sense, of consciousness, developed throughout the year and voted in to place by delegates at the yearly not only of the expressions, but continental meetings. In addition, the delegate circle is responsible for supporting also of the underpinnings of our the local schools and is a major part of AWSNA’s accreditation process. common human experience. wecan is the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America, As we continue to celebrate and accredits our Early Childhood programs. Waldorf 100, let us deeply feel awe, gratitude, and our collective and the alliance for public waldorf education is beginning individual responsibility—the the work of accrediting Waldorf charter schools, with the local ‘ability to respond’—for cultivating Sebastopol Charter being the first in the U.S. to complete this. the teachers, growing the children, supporting the parents and healing This summer, all three organizations will hold their annual conferences together the world in which we wish to for the first time at the2020 Education Innovation Summit & Waldorf100 celebrate Waldorf 200. Celebration hosted by the Chicago Waldorf School in June. See details here: waldorfeducation.org/awsna/summer-conference.
• messenger • jan 2020 • 3 understanding a subject unique to waldorf education
Form Drawing cultivating harmony, balance, and beauty—on the paper and in the soul
Waldorf parents are often delighted when penmanship can be considered first cousins. is a major factor in the burgeoning problem their child comes home from school with a However, form drawing does more than of learning disabilities in children. main-lesson book filled with the child’s own promote beautiful handwriting. It helps the Even a brief experience of form drawing can drawings and writings, many of its pages child in the development of what Steiner convey how this activity awakens certain framed by beautiful running patterns drawn termed the “lower senses.” sensing capacities. Take a crayon and a freehand. These continuous, rhythmical Rudolf Steiner held that, in addition to the large piece of paper—a piece of chalk and patterns are one product of the subject five commonly recognized senses of sight, blackboard will also do—and render one of called form drawing, which is taught in hearing, taste, smell, and touch (including the forms that Waldorf students do in form Waldorf schools from first through fifth sensitivity to temperature/warmth), there drawing. As you draw one of the continuous, grade. More than just the making of pretty are seven other important human senses. undulating forms of waves, be aware of what designs, form drawing is an important These include four that he referred to as you are experiencing. At first, you may feel subject, unique to Waldorf Education, one “lower” or “physical” senses: touch (having a cramping anxiety, a feeling of inadequacy, that contributes to the healthy development to do with pressure and texture); balance; perhaps, and the thought—“This is more of the child. self-movement (experiencing our bodies in difficult than it looks.” On the very first day of first grade, the movement); and the “life sense” (by which But with a bit of practice you will be able to Waldorf class teacher asks each child in turn we discern if something we encounter in our draw a balanced, harmonious to come to the blackboard line. Creating a balanced, and draw a straight line regular form requires an and a curved line. This is awareness and control of body an archetypal moment for position and arm and hand the child: she stands alone movements. It also requires before the new teacher and just the right amount of hand the new class, and creates pressure on the chalk and and experiences first the on the paper. The crayon straight line and then the curved. These environment has life, flexibility, and energy). acts as an extension of the hand, allowing two manifestations of line, which together The lower senses relate to our feeling alive you to feel the surface of the paper as you are the source of all the shapes and forms and comfortable in our bodies and in each “massage” the form-creating line onto it. The that exist in the world, are polar opposites. of our physical activities, be it running, activity elicits also a rhythmic “breathing” so The first requires of the child a thoughtful drawing, throwing a ball, or dancing. that the movement is neither too fast nor too concentration so that she can move her The lower senses should all develop slow. When the initial shock of performance hand in a very precise manner. The other naturally through the child’s playful anxiety is past, form drawing can bring a asks for an act of will to allow the chalk to interaction with and activity in the new, revelatory experience of the body, its move freely in an arc. During the next years, environment. However, even ninety years movements, and its interaction with the the child will continue to explore his polarity ago when Steiner was creating the Waldorf environment. between thoughtful consideration and active curriculum, the lives of children were volition, between thinking and doing, and integrating head and hand such that this natural development did will develop, it is hoped, facility in each and not always occur. Today, our way of life When the young child renders a flowing flexibility in moving sensitively between the inhibits the unfolding of these capacities line in a form drawing—and later in cursive two. even more. Children spend many hours in writing—he is required to work with his will Form drawing thus is one of the elements front of television and computer screens, in a sensitive as well as a precise way. He in the Waldorf curriculum that seeks to almost without moving their bodies. At the must translate an intention develop the child’s capacity to think and, same time, their physical senses are being into controlled then, to do. This dual goal is, however, only overstimulated by the rush of powerful physical one reason why Rudolf Steiner added this visual images and sounds. Many children movement. new subject to the curriculum. do not fully develop a healthy sense of Other balance, movement, touch, or life. They do subjects Form drawing help helps the child to not acquire a healthy experience of being at in the develop fine motor coordination, to gain home and comfortable in the physical body Waldorf better control of the movements of the hand. or the feeling of self-confidence and well- school also This makes it an ideal means for aiding being that accompanies it. The impairment demand writing readiness. In fact, form drawing and of the healthy unfolding of the lower senses this artistic liam gannon, fourth grade 4 • messenger • jan 2020 • self-direction of will. In eurythmy, for dimensional forms prepares the child for students with example, the children must move in lines the abstract world of geometry, with its good cursive of symmetrical patterns, and in handwork, mathematical laws and formulae. The handwriting they manipulate yarn or thread in knitting, child is able to experience that world produce written crocheting, and weaving. This “will-work” intellectually and abstractly but also assignments in the elementary school years in one of emotionally and aesthetically. Each mode superior in quality Waldorf Education’s unique, significant of knowing enhances the others. and quantity aspects, seldom found in the wider and thus receive form drawing and the study of educational world. higher grades. history fÄewyn whealdon, This idea seems fourth grade Another special characteristic of Waldorf Form drawing also makes an important confirmed by the results of the new [in Education is the integration of “doing” contribution to the child’s study of history. 2008] SAT handwritten essay. Only 15 or will-based activities and academic or Many cultures of the world use the patterns percent of the 1.5 million students who took “thinking” subjects. For example, while of form drawing in their pottery, jewelry, the exam wrote in cursive handwriting. The studying arithmetic in the main lesson, clothing, and architecture. As the children others printed or wrote in capital letters. the children bring number into immediate learn about past and distant civilizations, The cursive writers were better at expressing physical experience through walking to they study and replicate the cultural their thoughts, did so more quickly, and spoken or musical rhythms. This direct variants of the spiral, the circle, and other got higher scores. Graham’s work has experience of number occurs in eurythmy archetypal forms. They master the “key” shown that from kindergarten to fourth class as well, when the children clap and pattern of ancient Greek pottery and the grade, children think and write at the same also gently toss copper rods to each other Celtic and Scandinavian knotwork patterns. time. Form drawing is a natural aid toward in intricate rhythmic patterns. Handwork These ancient forms hold a religious or attaining a facility in cursive writing during class requires counting stitches, both in the spiritual meaning, and working with them these formative years. design patterns and in the actual work, and supplements the stories of each culture also involves working rhythmically with form drawing and the soul told by the teacher with an immediate and fingers, hands, and arms. Form drawing living experience. Our handwriting is a reflection of ourselves too involves rhythmical working, which as human beings. A perceptive and intuitive helps mathematical principles to become the art of penmanship handwriting analyst can, using only a experienced truths, not merely abstractions Form drawing has a practical cousin in handwriting sample, accurately describe that need to be memorized. the art of penmanship. In our keyboard- our personality and character. But, the Form drawing is especially helpful in dominated era, though, some educators relationship between handwriting and awakening an enthusiasm for the study believe that cursive writing may be headed personality is reciprocal. Changing one’s of geometry. In the early grades, the toward extinction, and they question the handwriting can bring about changes in drawings consist mainly of running line importance of more than cursory attention personality and behavior. The habitual patterns, but later on, closed patterns to the subject. patterns manifest in a person’s handwriting are enmeshed with emotional habits. Thus, and forms are introduced. These forms In the 1960s and 1970s, the Zauer-Brock positive characteristics can be cultivated include mirror images in two and four Company, a publisher of penmanship and undesirable traits can be eliminated parts. In one standard exercise, a child curricula, recommended forty-five minutes by altering the way in which a person comes to the blackboard and takes a piece a day of instruction in cursive writing. writes. “Handwriting therapy,” focusing of chalk in each hand. She is then directed Today the actual average instruction time on having a person consciously change to draw a large circle, drawing half with has dwindled to ten minutes, and very few his handwriting and thereby change his each hand. Next, the child copies a more teachers have had any coursework on how personality, is well-known and widely complicated mirror-image figure that the to go about teaching the subject. It is no practiced in Europe and increasingly in teacher has demonstrated, again drawing wonder that educators have noted a general North America. As an archetypal precursor simultaneously with her two hands. decline in the quality of student handwriting of handwriting, form drawing also works Lastly, she creates a symmetrical mirror- and an increase in the number of letter upon the personality and soul life. By image figure of her own design. Later, the reversals—not minding one’s p’s and q’s. giving the child an experience of harmony, students replicate this exercise at their According to Emily Knapton, director balance, and beauty, it encourages the desks, drawing with one hand and using of program development of the popular development of positive characteristics. crayon and paper. In time, the children “Handwriting without Tears” curriculum, graduate to doing the more complex, four- if a child struggles with handwriting, the Thomas Poplawski, staff writer for Renewal, part mirrored reflections. difficulty permeates all his academic work. is a psychotherapist, trained eurythmist and Through such exercises, the child He has difficulty in spelling, and in math he father of two sons. Thomas is the author experiences not only straight and curved is likely to reverse numbers. of Eurythmy, Rhythm, Dance and Soul and Completing the Circle, a collection of articles lines but many of the myriad forms A recent study by Vanderbilt University on parenting and education. these lines engender, including angles, professor Steve Graham indicates that triangles, squares, ellipses, and circles. most primary school teachers believe that this is an edited version of an article which first This familiarity with a variety of two- appeared in renewal magazine, fall/winter 2008. • messenger • jan 2020 • 5 Being on Earth: Waldorf Education Today february waldorf teacher conferences at summerfield
By Beth Weisburn, High School Math & Science Teacher, and Jon McAlice, of the Center for Contextual Studies
At a time when our students’ lives are being increasingly influenced by the virtual, the question of the nature of embodied consciousness takes on new significance in education. How can we better integrate students’ full-body experiences into the way we approach teaching? Is it time to focus more consciously on bringing students to experiences rich with meaning and help them school their thinking on what has touched and moved them?
Although explicitly the theme of the upcoming collaborative HS teachers conference, the importance of learning through full-bodied experience provides a thread weaving through each of the four workshops in February this year, two focused on teaching adolescents, one on teacher development, and the final gathering of colleagues to consider the future of Waldorf education.
Collaborative High School Conference: Doing Math with a Purpose Being on Earth in Adolescence sunday-tuesday, february 16-18 saturday, february 15
Colleagues from Bay Area high schools (San Francisco, Waldorf After hosting five School of the Peninsula, and Summerfield), the Bay Area Center years of Math for Waldorf Teacher Training and the Center for Contextual teacher working Studies are joining forces to form this three-day, collaborative weekends in workshop for Upper Grades and High School teachers. New York, we are gathering Wilfried Sommer from the High School Teachers Seminar in California in Kassel, Germany, will bring demonstrations from science for the 2019/20 lessons for different age students, as he did in the Phenomena school year. In to Insight series of conferences. Jon McAlice, Joan Caldarera, this collaborative Ken Smith and other colleagues will lead interdisciplinary group working day, explorations of fully-embodied learning activities. colleagues will Participants will have the opportunity to be a beginner, to share lessons experience learning something new such as basketweaving, which require outdoor trip skills, drama, embodied math, etc. Attendee student intention questions gathered in a World Café, led by Lisa Babinet, will lay and creativity. We are asking teachers to bring experiences the foundation for our group work. Finally, there will be ample in response to these questions: When does student action time for initiative take the lead? Can we set the stage for this? How does groups to form and purposeful exploration change as the student matures? How meet over lunch. can we recognize when students experience meaning in their mathematical encounters? We will be exploring aspects of inner agency, Awakening the Powers of Imagination individuality, thursday, february 19 and presence in adolescents. It is not getting any easier to be a teacher. The challenges we face in Afternoons will education grow more difficult each year. The world in which children be focused on are growing up today demands responses from teachers that often practices for run counter to what we have learned to think of as education. It is increasing self- important to keep this in mind when we speak of inner work. What directed activity a teacher has to do today to open the inner source of pedagogical details and registration for these conferences in the various creativity, the capacity of soul that allows us to enter into a space of can be found at findingcontext.org. disciplines. authentic relationship with children, is unique to our time.
6 • messenger • jan 2020 • Meeting this challenge hinges on the question of imagination. In a world that is increasingly being former summerfield teacher defined by algorithms, the challenge of developing the imagination takes on a new urgency. Rudolf Steiner saw Anne Sandkuhler the lively imaginative work of the teacher as the source september 26, 1927– of pedagogical creativity. During this workshop, together december 26, 2019 with Jon McAlice, we will explore ways of developing our imaginative capacities, of moving beyond the limits of pragmatic thinking towards the qualities of warmth and life that emerge when our thinking approaches the imagination. This will be a day of work on the inner life of the teacher, focused on developing enlivened, imaginative thinking and its relation to the sense world.
Waldorf for the Future: Thinking Waldorf New friday, february 20
Just over a year ago, a group of colleagues met in Ann Arbor, Michigan to consider the Anne Sandkuhler came to implications of the changes in the experienced life-world for education. One aspect of Summerfield from Toronto with her husband Christof, who was these changes is the ubiquitous presence of digital technology in the lives of children and hired to teach German. Anne had young people, as well as in those of their teachers and parents. How can education work been a banker and was an active to balance the impact of this technology on the emerging self of the growing child? What parent in the Toronto Waldorf kinds of challenges, what qualities of experience, do children need today? Is school, as School where her two daughters we have grown accustomed to think of it, able to meet this new developmental challenge? attended. When Anne arrived in In this day-long exploration, we want to take a closer look at the realities of today’s Santa Rosa, Summerfield was in desperate need of a Second Grade experienced life-world and work with the question: How can we better meet the teacher, and Anne was asked to developmental needs of today’s children? take this large class. She rose to the challenge even though she had never taught before. The children and parents loved her and she carried the class for a year until a teacher was found. Anne then went on to work in our business office for many years. conference organizers/co-presenters: (l-r) wilfried sommer, jon mcalice, joan caldarera, ken smith, lisa babinet, beth weisburn Christof Sandkuhler attended the first Waldorf School in Stuttgart, Germany, until WWII broke out and the school was closed. His father was the first foreign language teacher there and Spring Circus Club... translated The King of Ireland’s Son into German. Anne’s daughter, … is now open and it’s not too late to Andrea, started the AfterCare join in! We have an exciting spring program at Summerfield. session line-up featuring new classes and extra offerings of beloved classes to keep the student-to-teacher Anne and her family touched the ration down. hearts of everyone who knew and worked with them while they Club participants will also perform in the big Spring Circus Show on were at Summerfield. Anne was March 21 & 22. Please visit summerfieldwaldorf.org/curriculum/circus- a kind and deeply caring person. waldissima to register online. She will be missed. Questions? Please contact Lisa Hensley, Circus Club Registrar, at ~ Don Basmajian, [email protected] or 707-575-7194, ext. 103. Seventh Grade Teacher
• messenger • jan 2020 • 7 New Beginnings... 2020 on Summerfield Farm
By Farmer Dan
As the wildfires continue to spread across Australia, one cannot help but pause to mourn the tremendous loss of wildlife and habitat, in addition to human lives and dwellings lost. Lots of ranch land, farms, wildlife habitat and croplands have been altered for perhaps a generation or more. We are so blessed here on Summerfield farm that October’s recent nearby fires spared our lovely land and animals and wildlife!
While spending a lot of time on our farm, often observing and care-taking lots of various animals, trying to second guess their spring lamb by morgan texel, second grade, 2018 various needs, I recently came across these lines in a poem by After our peaceful winter holiday break, while the chicken house Mary Oliver that offered her perspective on one animal’s possible was filling up with precious nitrogen-rich droppings from our take on life with humans. In her poem “Almost A Conversation”, enlarged flock of chickens, and the thirteen new ducklings grew to she writes about her friend the otter: almost a foot tall and joined the outdoor ducks in the pond, right I have not really, not yet, talked with otter about his life. on schedule, the first day back, two of the tiniest new spotted lambs He has so many teeth, he has trouble with vowels. were born, a black-and-white little girl and a brown-and-white Wherefore our understanding is all body expression— little boy. Besides nursing and frolicking, their main job appears He swims like the sleekest fish, to be delighting the children with their shy, curious, quizzical little faces and the tiniest of hooves and their corkscrew tails, as well he dives and exhales and lifts a trail of bubbles. as to soften adult human hearts. They seem to love all visitors Little by little he trusts my eyes equally and to find their muddy little world a delightful place to and my curious body sitting on the shore. explore, and often welcome an armload of golden straw to take Sometimes he comes close. their frequent naps on as long as they are nestled close to mama, I admire his whiskers perhaps dreaming of their new little cousins soon to be born. And his dark fur which I would rather die than wear. He has no words, still what he tells about his life is clear. The annual pruning of the fruit trees is also now under way in the He does not own a computer. farmyard and, soon, along our apple row, as the recent cool and clear weather has given the farmers space to tend to additional He imagines the river will last forever. maintenance tasks on the farm that get set aside during the He does not envy the dry house I live in. planting, weeding, and harvesting seasons. Also underway is He does not wonder who or what it is that I worship. planning for housing and fencing for two pigs that we hope to He wonders, morning after morning, that the river welcome to the farm soon, to eat the food scraps coming from Is so cold and fresh and alive, and still the lunch program and from the compost buckets in the student I don’t jump in. classrooms. Instead of a compost bin near the farm kitchen that —mary oliver, from her poem ‘almost a conversation’ attracts rodents, we are hoping everything gets eaten and recycled in a more timely and ecological way that feeds into our continual replanting cycle. Finally, another new calf is due come late May, so life and rebirth continue to refresh us year in and year out.
Also, many of you will have heard about the new “Farm School” classroom that began the first day back after winter break. With six dedicated youngsters to assist us on a regular basis and their veteran teacher Ms. Potof, yet another dream has been realized to expand the farm’s teaching capacity to students in need of a little less classroom time and a little more hands-on work directly on the farm. Ms. Potof is a master compost pile builder and shaper so it has been wonderful to have the class really pull our compost pile near the duck pond into perfect order. They have also undertaken a new bark mulch path running along the hoop house next to the school playing fields which will offer a much more aesthetically 8 • messenger • jan 2020 • pleasing walking space for the Kindergardeners, as well as other more for the students to help us do. classes visiting the farm. Their classroom home is in the Eurythmy As a subject teacher at Summerfield who teaches most of the barn where the Handwork room has been, so it has backdoor classes on the farm, it is important that I take this little moment access right onto the farm and, on some days, the children are able in closing to thank all the families in our lovely school who gave to pitch in and harvest, chop, cook and eat their lunches together. me, and all the specialty teachers, so many cards, gifts and good So far it has been going very well, and their rosy cheeks and big wishes over the recent holidays. I was, and am, overwhelmed with smiles are a pleasure to behold. gratitude for all the work, creativity, and tender loving care and Winter’s Black-Capped Chickadees are abundant throughout generosity that the parents and students in each class put into the farm-yard and even the occasional clump of early daffodils each class’s gift. I am very, very fortunate, indeed richly blessed, to has sprung up here and there. The raspberries are in desperate know what it feels like to be deeply appreciated and so well loved need of weeding, caning (cutting back to one foot), mulching by so many people. Working at Summerfield, one learns what it and some replacing. The Hard Red Winter Wheat planted by the means when you touch people’s hearts, and they touch yours, and third graders has come up through the straw mulch, and even bonds are formed that will never be broken. I have become older, though the birds got some, there should be a nice crop to hang and yet in cherishing what I have experienced in the Summerfield and dry come harvest time in May so it can dry in the shed over community, I have become younger. So thank you all so very much. the summer. And we also have a rather large garlic crop planted in Warmly, October and nicely mulched that should be ready for harvesting to Farmer Dan dry come late spring. So much has been done, and always so much
Welcome to Kristen! Our newest addition to the Farm recently took up residence. We asked farm apprentice Kristen Bartels to introduce herself…
My favorite pastime as a child was to dig my hands into my passion of growing the earth and dig for worms and grubs and creatures. edible plants as well, My skin was always dark from sun and dirt. I would which exposed me to the quietly pocket the seeds of jack o’lanterns and plant concept of permaculture. them in my mother’s flower beds, puzzling her as This led me to focus my to how zinnias turned to magic pumpkins. As I grew thoughts, understanding older this fascination faded away, but such a deep our presence as humans connection to tending and being tended by the natural cultivating food into a world would always pull me back. I first studied to be deeper sense of place an artist, but soon realized that was not my end place: I and relationship with needed the earth, and it seemed as if perhaps it needed nature. I began seeking me too. out opportunities to open up this notion a I went off to Unity College, a small small school in rural bit farther and landed at Maine, to study sustainable agriculture. There I was Durga Farm on the island asked to let go of the culture that was destroying our of Kauai, a biodynamic farm serving an Ayurveda and environment and find my place in the movement of yoga center. I was given the knowledge I had longed reciprocity. I quickly became immersed in the world of for, receiving a powerful understanding and gratitude organic farming through classes and connections and towards the relationship of human and earth. then completed my first apprenticeship in 2016 at Blue Zee Farm in Penobscot, Maine. I continued to study and I then moved from chilly Pennsylvania to sunny Napa began to incorporate my creative mind into my work California to work at the French Laundry. I wanted with plants, shifting focus to nature based writing. The to feed people but perhaps in a more involved way next summer I got hired by Johnny’s Selected Seeds as than even a top chef could do. I dream of full bellies a squash pollinator. I continued to write and farm and and full souls. Now I am a step closer to that dream at explore what exactly I was being led towards. After Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm: a place where I working on several other farms in Maine, I moved back can share the ways and wisdom of earthwork, with the to my hometown of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I joined intention of spreading the abundance I have received a native plant company where I was involved in many since my first pondering of farming and expanding exciting projects but was given freedom to connect that even more.
• messenger • jan 2020 • 9 Appreciations for a Wonderful Winter Faire! While Winter Faire may be far from our minds now that the holidays have passed and a new year and new decade has begun, we still want to take a moment to acknowledge all the love and hard work put forward to bring this year’s Winter Faire into existence!
For the first time in many years, it rained… and at times absolutely poured. We made many last-minute changes to try to keep fair-goers out of the weather and still be able to enjoy the activities of the day. At times we wondered if anyone would even come… but you did, and it was marvelous! Throughout the gray, wet day, the faire was alight with families laughing, shopping, making holiday crafts to take home, running in and out of the rain, and enjoying a warm meal and sweet treats while listening to our string trio and simply being together. It is always incredibly heartwarming to see. Then, to round off our festive day, we were treated to a spectacular circus performance under our big red and blue tent!
But, of course, a day like this takes many people working together—all of whom deserve the utmost gratitude! First and foremost, a special thank you to our wonderful, positive and energetic Winter Faire planning team who met weekly to make sure every detail was just right: Megan of such a sweet and special Puppet Show that delighted Canova, Torey Halim, Cristina Hobbs, Kimberly Stammer, children of all ages. The angelic voices of our Winter Faire Kevin Zeng, Kindli Carothers, Katrina Suprise, Tim Hedges, Carolers were heard throughout the faire—thank you Elena Bass, Rachel Hazlett, Julie Hodge and Daisy Hu—we to Mrs. MacKinnon, Mrs. Pothof, Mrs. Vander Pluym, Ms. couldn’t have done it without you and thoroughly enjoyed Sternik and Mrs. Sparks! Our high school seniors offered working with you all. Generous deliveries of greens were a warm and delicious meal and our high school juniors quietly deposited to be used for festive decorations. We satisfied every sweet tooth! were able to get the campus set up with the help of Lance Hensley, Dave Traver (chalk board scrubber extraordinaire!), Of course, once the faire is over, the campus must be Holly Trivan, Addie Mullenix, Kindli Carothers, Ed Fletcher, restored to its former self, and we are so grateful to those Janet Rae Jorgensen (congrats on decorating your first of you who stayed late after the faire and showed up early tree!), Liza Fox, Angie Yates, Dana Dragonetti and Aaron Sunday morning to get the job done (thankfully the clouds Kahlow—you guys ROCK! parted and gave us some reprieve from the rain)—Brian Adam, Justin Pool, John, Heather and Ian Mutz, Elena Bass, Thank you to Mr. Nash who supported us by delivering heat Greg and Stella Summers, Mike McCracken, Vipassana lamps, canopies, ladders and other needed supplies. Thank Esbjorn-Hargens, Shea Wells and Nathanial Vose —you you to everyone who put in extra effort to host a craft or all are troopers and made everything go so smoothly. activity, be our King and Queen Winter, and especially to If I forgot to mention anyone, please know that you are our amazing Snowflake Shoppe Fairies, Holly Trivan and deeply appreciated! Kristi Hruzewicz, with the Tenth Grade students led by Mary Leveque, Daisy Hu and Skeydrit Bähr. Every corner of our school community was represented and celebrated. We came together and created a magical A special round of applause goes to our Parking Fairies who event that the children adored, despite the wet and donned full rain gear and braved the (at times) torrential gloomy weather. We truly feel blessed with downpours to ensure everyone got parked safely with all the support and help from everyone! a smile: Kyle Mack, Ingrid Rider, Jim MacKillop, Kristen McKenna, Fred Johnson, Deb Derrig, Kristi Strammler, Tim With warmth and gratitude, Hedges, Mike McCracken and Nidhi Singh. Lisa Hensley, Kristi Hruzewicz & Andrea Jolicouer Winter Faire Coordinators Thank you to our dear Early Childhood teachers for the gift
10 • messenger • jan 2020 • Senior Apprenticeship Week our twelfth graders get a taste of life in the workplace...
By Colin Williams, Twelfth Grade Student
During my senior make the design process faster and more apprenticeship effective. I was able to constantly get week, feedback from other people in the office I worked at a about what they liked and what they didn’t, company based in and then would revise the design based on Summerfield’s Sebastopol called their feedback. 2020-21 Calendar Ochs Labs that makes medical By collaborating on the project with Still Available another person, it also meant that I only devices. My We have now sent out into the apprenticeship needed to do the design work for the case while he would do the design for all of the world over 1400 copies of our week was a beautiful 2020 Summerfield fine continuation of electronics. I didn’t learn a great deal in terms of the actual engineering I was doing, arts Waldorf Wall Calendar… and my senior project orders are still coming in! where I am helping redesign an Ochs Labs but I did learn how to work with others and design with the needs of others in mind. product. It’s not too late to get your copy Most of the actual engineering work was or gift one to a friend or work The device I am working on is called a applying skills I had learned previously. I colleague. As the calendar lasts photonic stimulator. It uses infrared light believe my experiences and the new skills for 15 months, there are still to heal cuts, wounds, bruises, and bodily I learned in relation to collaboration on many beautiful images to enjoy. trauma. The device is handheld and is design will help me to navigate similar work made up of a plastic injection-molded case environments in the future. Purchase calendars from that houses the infrared LED array and I chose to work at Ochs Labs because I was the school office, or online: electronics. It was created in the 90’s and, as summerfieldwaldorf.org/ a result, the design is a bit outdated. The case already working with them for my senior 2020wallcalendar is very blocky and hard to hold, especially for project. It allowed me to do some very those with small hands, and the electronics productive work in a short time-frame with it houses also need to be updated. I am the added bonus of experience working 9-5 working on designing and prototyping a new in a small business. I thoroughly enjoyed case that is more ergonomic, user friendly, getting to incorporate my apprenticeship and aesthetically pleasing. into my senior project because it allowed me to work more with others instead of In my apprenticeship week, I worked working on my project alone at home. I alongside another employee who helped would highly recommend that students do redesign the electronics of the photonic a similar apprenticeship in the future. For stimulator while I worked on redesigning students who have a skill they can put to the case. We started with discussion of use in a workplace, I think it is a wonderful different aspects of the case to improve, experience. It gave me a taste of the type of 2020-21 Financial made sketches of our ideas, and then job I could have after school and made me Assistance started designing. feel excited about potential future work. Applications for rising 9th graders Overall, it was a very rich learning are due Friday, January 31; all From my week of working at Ochs Labs, experience. others due by February 13. I learned that collaboration is extremely valuable when trying to design a product. Don’t forget to upload last year’s Being able to brainstorm ideas tax return before applying for the with another new school year! person Learn more on our website: was www.summerfieldwaldorf.org/ very admissions/financial-assistance. useful Questions? please contact Andrea and Trinei: [email protected]. helped final iteration of the photonic stimulator colin worked on
• messenger • jan 2020 • 11 development corner By Caryn Stone & Sarah MacPhail $hop $avvy Support Summerfield while you SAVE THE DATE ~ saturday, may 16 shop! Questions? Ask Sarah at [email protected]. Farm to Feast 2020 Oliver’s Community Card: We are thrilled to announce that this year’s Farm to There are four Oliver’s Markets in Feast will be at The Barlow Event Venue! We can’t the greater Summerfield area for wait to take all that is special about SWSF and, not all of your grocery only share it with you, but also include the greater needs. community of Sonoma County Simply sign up for that we call home. a Community Card We anticipate another spectacular in either the Development Office celebration featuring all that our at school or at one of the Oliver’s stores. At checkout, your card community has to offer, including will be swiped and 3% of your delicious and local food, wine and purchase total will be given back entertainment. Guests will also to Summerfield. It’s that easy! enjoy a magnificent silent auction with beloved class projects. Benefit Mobile has over 150 retailers We are currently looking for to choose from, such as Airbnb, additions to our energetic and fun team of lead event volunteers Amazon, Dell, Gymboree, LL Bean, and auction team volunteers. Lowe’s, Old Navy, Overstock, To volunteer or discuss ways Pottery Barn, REI, Safeway, to help, contact caryn@ Staples, Target, Home Depot, summerfieldwaldorf.org. Whole Foods, and Zappos, to name a few. And if you’re ~ Caryn Stone, making travel plans for the Development Director holidays, consider purchasing airline tickets (Delta, American & Southwest) using Benefit. Annual Alumni Event: Thank You! Find the easy steps to sign up at This year’s Alumni Bash was benefit-mobile.com. a sunny, joyful reunion in a festive and twinkly-lit Sophia AmazonSmile Hall. Our alumni guests really is a website with enjoyed being together, seeing exactly the same old friends and teachers on the products, prices, and shopping SWSF campus. features as Amazon.com. The difference is that, when you shop A big thank you to Ginny there instead, the AmazonSmile Wooldridge, Javy Ramos, Marshall Foundation will donate 0.5% of Behling, Dan Westphal, Deborah the purchase price of eligible Pulido, Don Eggers and Fred products to Summerfield. To sign Bassett for helping to make this year’s Alumni Bash so warm and up, go to smile.amazon.com. fun. Sports Basement Please let us know if you would Become a like to be involved in creating Basementeer Member special events such as this one at Sports Basement! You’ll for Summerfield Alumni! receive 10% off your purchase, and a portion will be donated to ~ Caryn Stone and Sarah Summerfield. MacPhail, Development Office
12 • messenger • jan 2020 • Summerfield’s Solar Brunch PARENT EDUCATION INITIATIVE green team’s efforts lead to a sold-out event Bee’ing Creative ... By Ronni Sands, HS Farming & Gardening Teacher, and Caryn Stone, Development Director Join us for these two upcoming Parent Education events.
Why is the Green Team’s Solar Brunch And, of course, they’ll have saturday, february 1 :: 10am–2pm :: this Sunday such a big deal? Well, the fun! farm school classroom building impetus and energy to put on the event Beeswax Crayon and has come directly from the students, What if you didn’t get a members of the Green Team of both the ticket in time? We’re Pencil Drawing with Saskia Pothof high school and the seventh and eighth sorry there’s limited grades. That’s special in itself! But what capacity... but you can still support the cause. In this experiential will attendees get out of the event? workshop, grab We now have an anonymous donor who hold of beeswax crayons and 1. They’ll support and learn about is matching every gift made to the solar pencils and get a glimpse of a community endeavor to make campaign. Participate today, and your drawing through the grades Summerfield a greener school. donation doubles! Make your gift online guided by Saskia Pothof. Make here: summerfieldwaldorf.org/giving. connections with other adults in 2. They’ll support and hear from students, grades 7-12, who are living the Summerfield community and with concerns about the future and those interested in deepening want to be involved and make a understanding of Waldorf difference. Education.
3. They’ll enjoy a delicious breakfast, Cost is $45 and includes all supplies. prepared and served by the students. Bring a sack lunch. Register and pay in the Main Office prior to the class, 4. They’ll socialize with other community as space is limited. members and share ideas for a better Questions: (707) 575-7194 or future, ideas for hope, and the future [email protected]. of our planet. saturday, march 7 :: 10am–3pm :: 5. They’ll hear about the scope of the suggestion donation $10-$20 Solar Project from Summerfield parent Brian Gannon, who was able to Summerfield Bee Fest secure the grant for our school. An All-Family Celebration of Waldorf 100 Bee-ing & Living in the Canopy of Community Join us to celebrate 100 years of Waldorf Education while Bee- ing and Living in the Canopy of Community. Author and apiculture expert Michael Thiele will give a keynote lecture, and alumnus Cameron Nielsen will give a sneak preview of his new video For the Good of the Hive and introduce the Bee Fest activities: Community Carving of a Log Hive, Puppet show for the children; Bee Mural creation; showings of “Waldorf 100” films by Paul Zehrer; Pinecone Bird Feeder Making; Wet Felting of Bees; Tree Planting; Lunch& Refreshments, plus Honey Cake Closing Ceremony!
• messenger • jan 2020 • 13 The Messenger Marketplace Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, any of the individual initiatives or services advertised in this classified section. Advertisements are screened for appropriateness and made available to community members to use at their own discretion
Community Events/Classes Services Needed/Offered
The Christian Community House Available for Rent Holds monthly services in Santa Rosa services in the Eurythmy Barn Short term house rental at Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm. Upcoming dates are February two miles from school, 14/15 and March 13/14. Regular timetable on those dates is as follows: available March-July. Friday afternoon: Gospel Study (at private home). Friday night,: study Lovingly furnished cozy or talk( in the barn), Saturday services: 9:15 am children’s story and 3br/2ba home, $3000/ song (1st-6th grades), 10 am children’s service, 10:30 am The Act of month includes utilities. Consecration of Man (service is for adults-childcare available) followed House backs onto by an optional potluck lunch afterwards. beautiful walking/biking For confirmation classes for children 7th grade and up or for baptisms, trail leading right to contact Rev. Sanford Miller at (916) 548-4224 or sanfordmiller@ school. Photos/details: sbcglobal.net. sabbaticalhomes.com/OfferedDetails.aspx?id=137420 For further information or to be put on our email list, contact Elinor Biller at 696-4731 or [email protected]. All are welcome. Your extra room/guesthouse/whole house is needed July 30- Aug. 2nd! Parent Workshop The Anthroposophic Health Association is holding our biennial conference January 10th, 17th, 24th, and February 7th 7:00pm-9:00pm. There are at Summerfield from July 30-Aug 2. We’re looking for housing for Anthro- no manuals for the hardest job in the world. In this 4-week workshop posophic doctors and therapists. If you’d like to earn money while you’re parents will learn proven skills, such as how to set limits, cope with their on vacation or support the work by offering a space, please email soon. child’s feelings, and engage their child’s cooperation. Parents have found Thank you! Please contact Leila Allen: [email protected]. that these new-found skills work well with children of all ages. Sign up at: radzatconsulting.com/courses Singing and Piano Instruction with Mary Beard An experienced teacher, a Summerfield Waldorf School founding parent and original creator of the school’s instrumental music program. My studio is located in Santa Rosa. Please visit my website marybeardmusicstudio.com or contact me at [email protected] or 707-546-8782.
Rick Concoff Violins Quality string instruments for rent or sale at below-market prices. Rent to own as well. Accessories available too! Call Rick at 707-477-9196 for an appointment.
Sebastopol Strings Academy Classes for Kids and Adults: Beginning Violin, Beginning Cello, Intermediate Cello, Music Theory, Piano, Adult Cello Ensemble. Maureen Caisse. 707-206-1566. sebastopolstringsacademy.com.
Full-Size Viola for Sale We purchased this viola from Rick Concoff and it was played for 2.5 years. Measures 24.5 inches top to bottom. It’s in beautiful condition and comes with a case (although the handle broke). Rick suggested selling for $200 but will take $175 since case handle is broken. Contact Lisa Hensley at 707-486-7859.
Discover why Pickleball is the Fastest-Growing Sport in America!
Advance with Adam! iptpa-certified instructor Advertise in the Messenger Summerfield’sMessenger newsletter is published once a month during the school year, and has a distribution list of 1,000 people! Pickleball Coaching If you are interested in advertising in the Messenger, please visit for players of all levels our website at summerfieldwaldorf.org/newsletter, or email [email protected] for more information. [email protected] MacKillop Construction Jim MacKillop offers complete building & remodeling services for Sonoma County homeowners. Specializing in major remodels, renovations, kitchens, baths and decks, with over 30 years experience. The MacKillops are a Summerfield family (parents of a 2nd Grader and Kindergartner)! mackillopconstruction.com • (707) 205-7260 Messenger 655 Willowside Road Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Editor/Designer: Adam MacKinnon
visit us online at www.summerfieldwaldorf.org