Tuesday News - May 3, 2011

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

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Upcoming Events

May Celebration and Medieval Faire

Saturday, May 7, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

57 Desert Road, Freeport

A family day of festive activities: Maypole dancing, games, delicious food & drink.

     Hear ye all good folk of Merrye Conneague! The Faire approacheth with all haste! Don yer tunic and hosen, yer gown and festive kirtle and be prepared for a wondrous day of may dancing and singing, of stamping the earth, and a fair sight of the fancy footwork of the Irish Step Dancers.
      Savories and fresh roasted meats there'll be, with mead or a cup of ale to wash it down. Then look about for a cake or biscuit to satisfy yer sweet tooth. And have no fears about the refuse, for the Knights and Lady knights of New Gloucester will be selling wee clay pots to hold whatever libation suits yer fancy.

     Then with hunger satisfied and thirst slaked, notice the wares made by Classfive and Classix : Fine marbled papers, handmade journals, herbed oils and vinegars, bath infusions, walking sticks, juggling sticks, and chopsticks. Visit the booth that offers the chance to make a rubbing from brasses brought straight from England. And did ye remember that the day next is Mothering Sunday and will ye be needing an original hand illuminated card to show proper gratitude for all yer Mum does for ye? Or would she be after needing her own gargoyle to ward off all manner of beasties from manor house and garden? Ye'll want to wander and sample, but be most wary of roving minstrels, jugglers, and all manner of shananigans as ye go.

     Surely ye won't want to miss a moment of this rare event, so come by forty-five minutes past the hour of nine (9:45) dressed in yer Medieval best, or visit the castle clothiers for assistance with yer costume the morning of the faire.

     Come greet the spring and chase old winter away. Halantow!

Perennials Needed: The 6th grade will be having a plant sale at the May Faire on Saturday. Are you separating plants in your garden? Please consider putting your extra plants into pots and bringing them to school by Friday for the 6th grade to sell. They can be left outside of the Community Hall under the windows. Thanks so much!

Re-use, recycle at the Faire: Our high school students have made a variety of white clay vessels for use at the May Faire and re-use following the faire. Buy them or borrow them - use them for your mead, savory or gingerbread!

From the Facilities Planning Committee

Knitting Together a Community:

     In Fall 1993, in search of classroom space for our inaugural first grade, we purchased a “temporary” portable. A year later, we purchased a second portable to accommodate our growing school. Two years later, in Fall 1996, having just completed the upper grades building, we moved the two portables to this campus. And here they have stayed, much more than temporarily. For the past 18 years, the handwork portable has served as classroom, parent meeting space, theatre for class plays, aftercare room, remedial area, fall fair crafts room, and handwork classroom.

     This well loved and well-used temporary building has far exceeded its life expectancy, and can no longer be patched together. An extreme makeover is out of the question. The roof leaks, the doors stick, it is poorly insulated and difficult to heat, and the whole portable shifts in response to freeze-thaw. As sad as it is to say goodbye…it is time for a new building! Beginning in less than one month, we will be starting the process of removing the handwork portable and, with the help and support of this community, build a new handcraft building, which will also continue to house the remedial program.

     This handcraft building will finally provide a permanent home for our handwork classes, and it will also be used outside of school hours, for handcraft workshops, classes and other community outreach opportunities. The building has been designed to be cost-efficient, functional, green, sustainably built, and beautiful. Wherever possible, we will involve the community, including high school students, alumni families, and parents, in the building’s design and construction. This will help defray costs and, just as important, it will “knit our community together”.

     The board has approved a funding plan for the handcraft building, involving financing through a loan, foundation gifts, directed gifts from donors, and a community fundraiser next fall. We invite you to join us as we “cast on” in this endeavor to build a permanent home for our handcrafts program.

     Architectural plans, photos, and details about how you can find out more and get involved will be at our display at the Mayfaire!
      What will happen next? Here are some things to look forward to:

• The handwork / remedial portable will be removed Saturday May 21st!
• The new handcraft building will be built just behind the current handwork / remedial building
• Construction on the new handcraft building starts mid-June
• Scheduled completion date is Jan 1st, 2012
• Interested volunteers welcome to sign up at the Mayfaire
• Come visit our table at the Mayfaire for all the latest information!

Submitted by Sarah Pierce and Jason Donahue (co-chairs) for the Facilities Planning Committee: Adrian Bossi, Jason Donahue, Keston Geistwalker (alumni), Roger Hassol, Will Hight, Steve Konstantino, Sandy Pearson, Sarah Pierce, and David Sloan.

From the Administrator

Faculty Changes for next year…
In the Grades:
      Cristina Post, our gifted upper grades math teacher and Irish step dancing instructor, has recently shared with colleagues and students that she and her husband are expecting their first child! We have all enjoyed sharing their excitement, and I’m sure that Ms. Post will have many offers for babysitting in the years ahead from her current students.

     Ms. Post has requested to work next year as a private tutor and consultant to our faculty, as she is able. She will continue to work out of her current office/tutoring space next year, but will not be available for skills classes. We are very grateful for her wonderful work this year in sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Her teaching and connection to the students has greatly supported the academic work of the class teachers.

     We are pleased to announce that Hugh Renwick has agreed to continue his work at Merriconeag next year in a half time capacity. Because of his many years of class teaching experience, he will teach a variety of classes in sixth, seventh and eighth grades. These may include art, history, and english and math skills, as well as a morning lesson block in the high school and mentoring support for our newer teachers. The faculty share the sentiments of parents and students of the eighth grade, that two years was simply not enough time with Mr. Renwick! We all look forward to continuing the support of the sixth, seventh and eighth grades and high school with Mr. Renwick’s wide range of expertise.

   We will continue to keep you posted as we have news.  Christine Sloan, administrator@merriconeag.org

From the Circus Coordinator

Step Right Up: With summer just around the corner, we're busy planning for the Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour. Frontpage Follies - Big Top Big News will return to Merriconeag on Thursday, August 11th & Friday, August 12th. Tickets are already on sale at http://www.circussmirkus.org/htm/tour/index.html and we'll have Royal River Natural Foods selling tickets after July 1st. Don't delay too long...we've already sold over 700 tickets!

     It takes a lot of roustabouts to pull off our circus presentation. You'll soon have a chance to sign up online for a shift under the big top. We also have about three slots left for people interested in hosting two Smirkus troupers during their 3-night stay in Freeport. This is a fun, engaging way for your family to feel a part of the action. Please contact Drew Tieman, weiman@maine.rr.com, to join the circus family.                                                         

     Our Smirkus shows attract over 3,000 people to our campus every summer. This is a wonderful chance to partner with Merriconeag to shine the spotlight on a local business. Please think about how you can support both the school and Circus Smirkus by advertising in our Playbill (Playbill Ad Rates 2011) or getting even more exposure by becoming a Sponsor (Benefit levels 2011). If you have friends or colleagues who would be interested in these opportunities, please pass their names along to me and I'll be happy to follow up.

     Many thanks for your help in making our presentation of the 25th Anniversary Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour a Frontpage Success! Trace Salter, circus@merriconeag.org, 207.756.9212.

News From the High School

Merriconeag Poets Honored at 2011 Poetry Festival

     Maine’s newest Poet Laureate, Wes McNair, visited Merriconeag on Sunday, May 1, to pay tribute to the twenty student finalists he selected for Merriconeag’s Fourth Annual Poetry Festival. Students from ten different schools received recognition, but only perennial “poetry powerhouse” Scarborough and North Yarmouth Academy fielded more multiple honorees than Merriconeag’s three finalists. Seniors Leif Anderson and Jeremy Colson were joined by freshman Emma Rhodes-Armstrong in yet another strong, host school showing. In fact, since the Festival began, only Scarborough and Merriconeag have had multiple finalists every year! Leif was a repeat finalist; he was awarded second place two years ago.
      Many thanks to Deeda Burgess, Gina Sawin and Johanna Flath for organizing the elegant reception after the program, to Christine Sloan, Lyn Baird and Greta Parsons for their invaluable assistance, to Jack Pierce, Skyler Samuelson and Ben Tindall for providing music both to begin and end the program, to alumnus Jake Lyscars for taking photographs, and to Matt Rawdon for once again volunteering his time to create the festival booklet and poster.
      To read Leif’s, Jeremy’s and Emma’s winning poems click here.

Submitted by David Sloan

High School Coffee House Soars on the Wings of “Merriconeag Air”
      At the Friday night Coffee House, a large and enthusiastic audience was treated to a delightful evening of entertainments aboard Merriconeag Air. The introduction by flight attendants, Liza Simmons and Tyler O’Brien primed us with its ingenuity and humor. Their recommendation to buckle up, partake of the savories and enjoy the performances to come was eagerly accepted.
      What followed was a truly inspiring illustration of the talent that fills the high school. In the tradition of a true variety show, there was poetry, prose, song, dance and eurythmy. Group poems were presented in German by students studying that language and in French by ninth graders. It was impressive that so many students in all grades had individual offerings with many sharing their talent on more than one occasion. Brian Watko’s Interviews With Brian scored a much sought after interview with Rudolf and Marie Steiner (channeled by Liza and Tyler), had the audience in stitches and has Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien concerned about their job security.
      There is a wealth of talent in this small school and it was evident Friday night. What we heard and saw (and ate) were a treat to mind, body and spirit. If this unfortunately brief summary of the evening’s events does not stimulate a measure of regret in the minds of those who did not attend, well, it should. Thanks are extended to all the faculty and parents who organized the event and especially to the students that created a memorable evening. Book your seats early for the next flight on Merriconeag Air.  Submitted by Jeff Tindall

Athletic News - Sports Updates

High School Ultimate Frisbee:

The High School Frisbee Season is well underway. Merriconeag's games take place on Wednesdays at 3:30 at the Cumberland Fair Grounds. (Please note: The games are weather dependent) Come out and support the team. It's loads of fun and if you stay until the end, you'll get to see each team perform their creative cheers!

Go for Baroque....out and Bach Road Race on Saturday, April 30th:

     Merriconeag Waldorf School was well represented at Saturday's 1st ever Coastal Youth Orchestra 5K and Fun Run~"Go for Baroque....out and Bach." It was a beautiful day for a run to support classical music. Seventy-eight runners completed the 5K course. MWS's Jack Pierce was the overall winner of the race with a time of 18:24.06. Jack also organized MWS runners to support race director & MWS strings teacher Nancy Roderick as well as the Coastal Youth Orchestra.
      Other MWS Male finishers were 5th place Phineas Samuelson, 7th place Tyler O'Brien, 19th place Ben Tindall and 26th place Lincoln Samuelson.
      MWS Female runners were also well represented with a 6th place finish by Carlin Tindall, 7th Teagan Wu, 8th Samantha Pierce and 10th Skyler Samuelson.
      A highlight of the day was Kipling Samuelson's come from behind 2nd place finish in the one mile Fun Run!!!

Submitted by Nancy Roderick

School Community Updates

2011 Summer Camps at Merriconeag: There is still time to register for one of our seven summer camps listed below. For more information about each camp follow this link and click on the name of each camp. To download registration forms, click here: Camp Registration Forms     Medical Release Form

For more information contact Kathy Watko, bookkeeper@merriconeag.org 207.865.3900, ext 151.

Ticks Have Returned:

Unfortunately, ticks are back. Please remember to check your children daily.

Read (Listen to or Watch) This

The Case for Cursive
By Katie Zezima, New York Times, April 27, 2011

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