Tuesday News - October 26, 2010

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All submissions for the Tuesday News should be sent to publicrelations@merriconeag.org by Friday at 3:00 pm.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: School  is closed for parent-teacher conferences Thursday & Friday of this week!

From the Development Office

- Grandparents & Friends Day Hugely Successful

     We hosted 150 grandparents and friends for Grandparents and Friends Day last Friday, with a reception, a slide show, a talk by David Sloan*, class presentations by grades 2-12, and a visit to the classrooms.  It was wonderful to be able to express our gratitude for all that this generation does for our school, and their feedback was overwhelmingly positive.  I heard multiple times that David Sloan’s talk, summarizing “The Wisdom of Waldorf” was an articulate, engaging, and convincing case for Waldorf education.  Several grandparents who have been coming for 10 years said this year’s class presentations had the best variety. Everyone who came felt welcomed and appreciated, and the campus and classrooms looked beautiful.  Most important, we heard from our parents that this event deepened the grandparent’s understanding and appreciation of Waldorf education.

     An event like this does not happen this seamlessly without a lot of background work, and I want to express special thanks to the dozen volunteers who helped pull together the many pieces Friday morning, to David Sloan for his inspiring talk (which we hope to record and post on the website), to the class teachers and special subject teachers who took a lead role in the terrific class presentations, and to the students for offering their very best work to these wonderful grandparents and friends. 

*To read a transcript of David Sloan's Grandparents Day Address, click here.

Lynne Espy, Development Coordinator, 865-3900 Ext. 116, developmentcoordinator@merriconeag.org

Fall Fair and Open House Updates

Fair: Saturday, November 6, 10 am - 3 pm /

 Craft Preview Sale for Adults:

Friday, November 5, 6 - 9 pm

Changes to the Fair this Year: We are going back to having the crafters in the Community Hall and The Falling Leaves Cafe in the Gallery. Ticket Bracelet Sales and School Information will return to the 3rd grade classroom.

     A significant change is that  both the Puppet Shows and Squirrel’s Attic will be in the Lower Grades Building in the 1st and 2nd grade classrooms. This means the whole Fair will be consolidated on the Grade School Campus.   

    It is our pleasure to introduce two new food items this year. The French Department will sell fresh crepes near the “keyhole” in front of the Middle Grades Building and the German Department will be selling delicious German sausages near the bell tower.

Fall Fair Craft Preview Sale for Adults: Friday, November 5, 6 - 9 pm, Community Hall: Come out with friends and get the jump on a little shopping before the hubbub on Saturday. This adult shopping evening is a warm and welcoming tradition topped off with refreshments provided by the 7th grade families. We have 18 fabulous crafters who will be displaying their wares. This adult event is open to the public and we encourage you to help us spread the word by inviting your friends and neighbors. We will include a complete list of our crafters in next week's news.

Fall Fair Staffing:  (Coordinators should have had their events staffed and lists sent to Pat by the end of the day on Friday, October 22nd.) Our 2010 Fall Fair and Open House is a little over a week away and for it to run smoothly, all shifts need to be filled. Check the staffing list by following this link. If your class activity is fully staffed, please sign up for a different activity. Our Fair is special because of how our parents and teachers work together on Fair day, so don’t miss out. Please make Pat Sanford's job easier by contacting her today with your desired shift. 207.730.1750 or pbsanford@gmail.com

Squirrels need your goods:

There are two weeks left and we still need volunteers to help supply the "Squirrel's Attic" with goods for the Fall Fair (small, natural/handmade items that are sold for $1.00 or less).  Please leave your treasures in the basket for donated craft items in the ECC.  Questions: contact Aly Fullagar, Maleah Webb, or Sarah Currie (846-7818).  Thank you!

Don't Forget to Recycle Those Old Pocket People Presents: Please deliver any appropriate pocket people presents from previous years (that your child can stand to part with) to the boxes in either office. If you have new trinkets of natural materials you'd like to donate, we'd like those too.

Decorations for the Fall Fair Wanted: Do you have any mums, corstalks, hay bales, etc. that you would be willing to donate/lend as outdoor decorations for the Fall Fair & Open House? We also need donations of felting wool, yarn and large pieces of fabric in a neutral palette.

The Falling Leaves Cafe needs the Whole School Community: We are calling on your inner chef or baker to lend a hand in the creation of both savory and sweet delectables to be sold in individual servings at the Fall Fair.  Dig deep into your recipe index and share to the benefit and appreciation of us all!  Please contact Carina Wishman Freedner at 725-7507 or epicurious.crow@gmail.com.  Thank you so very much for your time!  

From the Board

Snapshot of the Merriconeag Community: We need the next 60 sec of your day (then you're free): Last week we sent out our first (EVER!) Snapshot of the Merriconeag Community census. To date, we have received survey responses from just about 30 percent of our families. Before the results can be useful for longterm school planning, we need responses from at least 60 more families.  If you have already sent yours in, pat yourself on the back. If not, please click the following link: www.surveymonkey.com/s/YD9ZMYF. The survey is completely anonymous and takes just 60 seconds to complete. If you're reading this, seize the moment! (Then, pat yourself on the back.) Alternatively, paper copies are available in the school office. Just fill one out and drop it in the sealed box. If you have any questions at all, please call Michael Stefanakos at 917-279-4646. Thanks so much for your help and participation.

School Community Updates

An Important Message from Robin Ivy Photography: School Portrait Orders due by Friday, Oct. 29th!

     Your child's proof envelope has been delivered to the school.  If you are interested in placing an order, simply choose the package(s) on the insert inside the proof envelope.  Circle the package(s) you would like below the proof on the outside of the envelope.  Please write any checks to Robyn Ivy Photography.  We offer credit card payment as well, just fill out the information at the bottom of the insert.

Return the envelope with payment to the school on or before Friday, October  29th.   Any orders placed after that date will have a $15.00 late fee applied and will  need to be ordered directly through Robyn Ivy. 

     We hope you are happy with the proof of your child.  If you would like a re-take for any reason, please return your proof envelope with a $10 re-take fee.  Robyn will be at Merriconeag Waldorf School on Monday, November 1st to pick up the orders and to take photographs of children that were absent (you do not need to pay for re-takes if your child was absent) and any re-takes.

     Thank you so much for the opportunity to photograph your child! 

Please contact us directly with any questions or comments: robyn@robynivy.com, 401.527.9453 or check us out on the web, www.robynivy.com

High School Theme Days, Ethnic Diversity in Maine: The high school students are enjoying a 3 day week of theme days entitled, Ethnic Diversity in Maine. The eighth graders joined the high school for this session which began on Monday and will end at 12:30 on Wednesday.

     The keynote speaker for the Theme Days is Adelaide Manirakiza. Mrs. Manirakiza is a war widow from Burundi. She works for an organization called Living with Peace. Living With Peace addresses issues and concerns that affect the ability of immigrants to acculturate to their new lives in Maine and to successfully orient to the social, economic and cultural aspects of life in Portland and Lewiston. Living with Peace is a dynamic, community organization that seeks to invest in the future of our immigrants by building and sharing resources with a coalition of support providers. Living with Peace is a network of resources to ease and smooth the way in this new world for all newly immigrated people to Maine from any country.

     In addition to the keynote speaker there are eight workshops with an international theme (each student will be taking two). The workshops are:

• Carving Totems with Eric Ritter (Art Room)
• Improvisational Drumming with Rick Cormier (French Room)
• Shibori, Japanese stitching and dyeing, with Kelley Barham (Science Room)
• African Dance with Regina Kusche and AnneGret Baier (Sage Room)
• The Effects of the Drug Trade on Columbian Families with Adelaida Gaviria (Science Room)
• Capoeira (Brazilian Martial Art) with Joao Carlos Bordallo (Sage Room)
• World Drumming with Shamou (French Room)
• Wall Murals with Johanna Flath and Rosemary Burwell (Art Room)

Seniors Study Transcendentalists: As part of their study of the American Transcendentalists, the senior class sauntered down to Concord, Massachusetts on Sunday, October 17 through Tuesday, October 19. Meeting up with their senior compatriots at the Waldorf High School of Mass Bay, the students explored the haunts and homes of two of the more famous of the nineteenth century writers, Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

              Stepping into the recreated cabin in the parking lot of Walden Woods on Monday morning, the students were instantly transported back to the year 1846 and a young Henry David, one year into what would become his two year, two month and two day sojourn at the pond, met them and engaged them in discussion and question answering. We followed Mr. Thoreau into the woods and to the actual sight where his cabin had been built 165 years ago. At that point the historian playing Henry broke character and answered a wider range of questions about Thoreau and his times. This was followed by the reading of a children's book at the actual cabin sight (Henry Builds a Cabin by DB Johnson) and a period of quiet contemplation and journal writing. Few things in life are as pleasant as a walk along the shores of Walden Pond on an autumn afternoon... To read the whole article & see more photos, please follow this link.

Passamaquody Lives:  In our first high school forum of the year, students had the great honor to welcome Passamaquody Storyteller, Allen J. Sockabasin, author of An Upriver Passamaquody  and of the delightful children’s book Thanks to the Animals.  Mr. Sockabasin started by showing our high schoolers a 30-minute film on the history of Native Americans, particularly of the Passamaquody people of Maine, stressing the importance of language preservation. The Native Americans for centuries lived in villages that depended on subsistence living through gathering, hunting, fishing and working in the woods, with an emphasis on sharing and helping one another. They met many hardships through racism and dubious “progress” that brought an end to their traditional way of life, especially their language, their religion and their self-governance.

       Mr. Sockabasin’s spoke with great sadness as he talked to a subdued audience about his life-long struggle to try to preserve the traditional language and cultural way of life of his Passamaquody ancestors.

     After an hour of reflecting and answering numerous questions asked by the high school students, who seemed

very moved and keen to understand his struggles, Mr.Sockabasin grabbed his mandolin and invited our students to join in an impromptu musical fest... To read the whole article & see more photos, please follow this link.

In the News

Intelligence and Rhythmic Accuracy Go Hand in Hand

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416100459.htm

ScienceDaily (Apr. 21, 2008) — People who score high on intelligence tests are also good at keeping time, new Swedish research shows. The team that carried out the study also suspect that accuracy in timing is important to the brain processes responsible for problem solving and reasoning.

For links to recent articles about technology and brain development click here

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