Tuesday News - November 6, 2012

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

Fall Festival and Open House 2012

      This year’s Fall Festival was both a tremendous outreach event and a very fun celebration of our wonderful community and school. Each year we try to listen to your feedback and make appropriate changes, while giving the team leaders creative license to keep it fresh. This year, with the Handcraft Building completed, we finally had a Center Green around which we could highlight all aspects of our school and Waldorf education that we hold so dear: handcrafts, games, puppetry, music, recycling outerwear and books, and nourishing food! The day’s offerings were designed for both the youngest children as well as teens and adults, and we were thrilled by this year’s attendance of well over 500 people, including alumni students, former families, and many first time visitors. While there is always room for improvement, and we do encourage you to send us feedback, we are so proud of the way in which our parents, faculty and students ALL helped make this year’s Fall Festival so fresh, fun, and still reasonably lucrative. As always, there are so many of you who contributed to the success of this event. We thank our talented activity coordinators for their courage to take a leadership role and their devotion and willingness to lead all of us as we created the Fall Festival:

Signs, Posters, Postcards       Lisa Bossi
Community Made Crafts          Sandy Pearson and Julie Pennington
Merriconeag Marketplace        Susan Caron and Regina Kusche
Children’s Crafts                       Victoria Stefanakos and Melisa Walker
Older Kids’ Crafts                      Priscilla Nicholson and Julie Yeo
Waldorf School Supplies         Mandy Andreson, Julia Dodge, and Mary Martin
Café                                             Carina Wishman Freedner, Melissa Hoy, Carol Wishman,

                                                      Sarah Barmby and Amy Kessler
Outdoor Games                        Adrian Bossi, Drew Tieman, Michael Stefanakos

                                                     and Thomas Henninger
New Gnomeville                        Rebekah Hopkinson and Michael Fenderson
Pocket People                           Tami Goodrich and Katie West
Squirrel’s Attic                            Aly Fullagar and Vanessa Farr
German Currywurst                  Oliver Kinzer
French Crepes                          Regine Whittlesey
Rudolf’s Diner                           Hans Gundersen
Outerwear                                  Joanna Bay Lavan, Lois Beardsley, Diane Campos
Gently Used Books                  Heather Aguiar
Blacksmithing                           Scott Libby and Will Hight
Foot-powered Lathes              Bob Thurrell and Yunus Lowenthal
Weaving                                     Julie Pennington, Sandy Pearson, and Deirdre Barton
Printmaking                               Rose Mary Burwell
Felting                                         Lisa Edge and Anna Deutsch
Puppet Shows                           ECC Faculty and Assistants
Musicians                                   Nancy Roderick, Richard Francis
                                                     and many students, parents and faculty
School Information                   Phyllis Hill and Lyn Baird
Alumni Outreach                       Deeda Burgess and Gina Sawin
Volunteer Staffing                     Lisa Mainella
Compost                                    Lucy Ahearne

     Our gratitude extends to all of you - parents, students, faculty, even grandparents who ended up working some shifts! - who, in the midst of your extremely busy lives, signed up to work shifts, baked food, donated goods, and helped out in any way needed to contribute to the success of this year’s Fall Festival and Open House.
     Just when we start feeling like our lives are too hectic, and we don’t have time for one more event, we are reminded of all that we have here. There were many wonderful images from the day – crowds of kids cheering on their friends at the new popular ring game, a visiting family contentedly having lunch in the teepee, the Community Hall filled to the brim with students and guests deeply immersed in handcraft projects while their parents were sipping coffee and chatting with friends. I hope you will carry all the warmth and goodwill of the day, and remember how grateful we are that you are part of this wonderful, creative, and generous community.
With gratitude, for the Fall Festival Committtee:

Lynne Espy, Lisa Mainella and Christine Sloan

Feedback: What did you think of the new Festival? Send us feedback or come share your thoughts at our last meeting, Wednesday November 14th at drop-off, in the Farmhouse.
Lost and Found: if you brought food for the café or lunch, and left the container or utensils, please retrieve it in the Community Hall.

Squirrel's Attic Purchase: A bag of Squirrel's Attic goodies was found in the book sale area at the Fall Festival. If your child misplaced their purchase, have them check with Lisa in the Grade School office.

Upcoming Events

Observe High School Classes
Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 7,

10:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Pineland Campus, Gray Hall

83 Pineland Drive, New Gloucester
A great opportunity for parents to observe a variety of high school subject classes: Math (Equation/Expressions) with Jeff O’Brien; Humanities (Faust) with David Barham; French with Regine Whittlesey; Art (Bookbinding) with Rose Mary Burwell; Science (Evolution) with Ellen Labbe. If you can stay longer, join the teachers for further conversation over lunch in the Café at Pineland. Please call 207-865-3900, ext.103 or email, admissionsdirector@merriconeag.org to register.

Wednesday is Handcraft Day at Merriconeag!     

Wednesday Handcraft Classes for Ages 9 to 99: Now that our very successful fair craft making is past (Thank you all!), Wednesday crafting will take on a slightly different form. The Dress-up and Heavy Baby doll workshops will take place in the mornings and evenings up to the winter holidays. The after-school sessions will continue from 3:00 - 4:30 in the Handwork Room on the Grade School Campus for age 9 to 99. Projects will vary from 1 week to 5 weeks so keep reading the Tuesday News to see what's coming up. A $5.00 materials fee will be charged for each class payable to Lisa in the grade school office or to Sandy in class. Pre-registration is helpful but walk-ins are welcome. Bring a friend and I'll see you there! spearson@merriconeag.org

Knitted doll, November 7, 14, 28, and December 5: With gift giving or a personal treasure in mind, create an adorable knitted doll made with a Maine wool/alpaca blend yarn. Beginners welcome.

Doll Workshop

Wednesday, November 7, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.

(and continuing for 5 Wednesday mornings)

Handcraft Building

Julie Pennington will host a Heavy (millet) Baby Workshop

This doll is the 12", 3 lb baby in a bunting and is suitable for a young kindergarten child. The cost of the workshop is $45.00 with all materials and instruction provided. Limited to 10 participants. Contact Julie with questions or to register at jpennington@merriconeag.org

Note: Some donated materials have made it possible for us to offer a few materials scholarships ($15.00)

to help defray the cost of the workshops. Please let us know if this would be help you attend.

Movie Night at the High School
Monday, November 12, 3:15 - 7:00 p.m.

83 Pineland Drive, New Gloucester

In celebration of National French Week, two of France's most celebrated films will be shown. Jean de Florette with Yves Montand, Gerard Depardieu & Daniel Auteuil, and its sequel Manon of the Spring with Emmanuelle Beart.  Both are rated PG. These very famous French movies are based on Marcel Pagnol's books of the same name, part of France's literary treasure. The action is situated in Provence, France. This event will be, Monday, November 12th, at the High School at Pineland and will go from 3:15 to about 7pm. Students may come to one or both of the movies. Dinner will be provided. Middle school students welcome! Suggested donation: $2. Please RSVP to Madame Whittlesey, rwhittlesey@merriconeag.org if you plan to attend or call Susan at the high school. A bientot!

Postponed - Therapeutic Eurythmy: Movement for Life

Originally scheduled for 11/8, Stay tuned for a new date

An evening session about Therapeutic Eurythmy with Barbara Richardson and David Beringer. Please join us for movement, a talk, and questions and answers. This will be held in the Music and Movement Room of the Handcraft building. Sponsored by Athea, Association for Therapeutic Eurythmy in North America. This will be held in the Handcraft Building. For Info: 865-6482

Student - Faculty Soccer Game
Postponed until next week, Thurs. Nov. 15!
Hunter Road Fields, Freeport
Following a rousing game last fall, the faculty will again take on the high school soccer club in the 2nd Annual Student-Faculty Soccer Game! The game will be held after school at either the Desert Road campus or the fields on Hunter Road. The final location will be announced in the Tuesday News next week. We hope to see lots of spectators at the game!

Save the Dates!

Kneading Passion: Cultivating a Life with Bread

A public talk by Ciril Hitz

Friday, December 7, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
$10 Suggested donation.
What do you get when you combine a Waldorf education and an art degree? A trip to the World Cup of Baking in Paris, of course! When you follow your passion, life has a way of shepherding you along on unexpected and serendipitous journeys, and this couldn't be more true for Ciril Hitz. At this evening talk, he will speak about how his life experiences and personal creative explorations have informed and contributed to his professional career as a bread baker, author, and educator.

Decorative Holiday Dough Ornaments

A worksop with Ciril Hitz

Saturday, December 8, 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon

Community Hall

$35 per person. Workshop is limited to 20 participants.

To register and hold your place, email publicrelations@merriconeag.org and drop your check off at either office.
Are you looking for a new and creative outlet that combines craft and kitchen? Come learn about ornamental decorative breads! The techniques utilized produce stunning results, and even complicated effects can be surprisingly easy to learn. Chef Ciril Hitz will guide you through the steps in making fun and festive decorative ornaments for the winter and holiday season, and you'll have the opportunity to work hands-on with the doughs and create your own ornaments. Participants should bring their own apron, a rolling pin, and a cookie tray to the workshop. Cookie cutters will be available to share, but feel free to bring your own along.

Ciril Hitz teaches full-time at the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island and offers Breadhitz Rehoboth Workshops at his private baking facility in Rehoboth, MA.  A native of Switzerland, Ciril attended the Rudolf Steiner Schule in St. Gallen until the age of 10. His family then moved Chestnut Ridge, NY where he completed his 12-year Waldorf education at Green Meadow Waldorf School. Ciril graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and completed a three-year Swiss apprenticeship as a pastry chef/chocolatier. He is a passionate baker, author, and educator with an international reputation and over 20 years of professional baking and pastry experience. Ciril is a guest instructor/expert at many national and international culinary events and schools and is an active member of the Bread Bakers Guild of America. He has been featured on the NBC Today Show, The Food Network, The Learning Channel, and Ciao Italia. His baking philosophy embraces both the artistic and technical aspects of bread. More information about his work, books, videos, and workshops can be viewed on his beautiful web site: www.breadhitz.com.

Athletic News - Sports Updates

78th Council of New England Secondary School Principals’ Association

Boys’ and Girls’ Cross-Country Championships
Saturday, November 10, 2012 ,Twin Brook in Cumberland

(The meet will be held regardless of weather conditions)

Merriconeag senior Jack Pierce will run in the boys race at 11:30 a.m.. The girls race is at 12:30. Come on out and support our Class C State Cross Country Champion! Go Jack!

For more information about the New England Championships, please click here.

School Community Updates

School Photos are due tomorrow, Wednesday, November 7th: If you would like to order pictures, please have your order in by tomorrow Wednesday, November 7th. On Friday, November 9th, Robyn Ivy will take photos of any child who was absent on photo day at no charge and re-take photos of any child for a $10 fee.
Please Note: There is a $15 fee for each late order.

Seeking Carbon Sources for School Compost. Do you have an over-abundance of raked leaves or grass clippings? The grade school compost pile needs a large supply of chopped leaves and dried grass clippings (carbon), which we mix in with our food scraps (nitrogen) throughout the school year to create nutritious compost for our trees, shrubs, and gardens on campus. We find that the the more carbon we mix in the better- it helps to build the pile, balance the chemical ratio, keep the pile warm through winter, speed up the process, and prevent stinkiness! Chopped leave preferred but whole leaves gratefully accepted as well, any variety except oak (which are slow to break down). Bags can be delivered directly to the compost area (behind the community hall) but please let me know when you are delivering them. On behalf of the 7th Grade Compost Keepers, thank you! - Submitted by Lucy Birkett Ahearne (865-9063 or limnjucy@gmail.com).

Please make note the following corrections to the current Parent Handbook and Community Directory:
Susan Stoddard's correct email address is susanbstoddard@gmail
Carol Wu's correct email address is caroljwu@gmail.com
Melissa Roberts-Fishman's correct phone number is 207.409.8713

Snow Days and Unexpected School Closures: We are well into the season where snow is possible, and inching towards the season where is it likely, and for many, wanted in very large amounts! The inside cover of your school directory details our snow and unexpected closing policy.Click here to review it.

Early Childhood Parent Chat Room

Wednesday mornings, 8:45 to 9:30 a.m.

Early Childhood Center, Bluebell Room

Join host Michael Fenderson, French Teacher for EC through Grade 8, and long-time Merriconeag parent, for a chat - share questions, get to know each other, and sip a warm cup of coffee or tea.

Willow Pond Farm Apples Last Delivery, Friday November 16: Friday, November 16 will be the last Willow Pond delivery of the season. Apples aredelivered to Merriconeag's Early Childhood Center on Fridays before 11:30am. Orders must be placed with Willow Pond Farm (willowpf@aol.com) by Thursday at noon. Please leave payment in envelope in Early Childhood Office PRIOR to delivery.
McIntosh and Cortland Fancy: peck $11, half bushel $18
McIntosh Utility: half bushel $10.50, bushel $18
Cider- no preservatives, not pasteurized - Gallon $5.95, half gallon $3.75
Northern Spy apples available in October.
Jill Agnew, Willow Pond Farm, 395 Middle Road, Sabattus, Maine 04280, 207-375-6662

Read (Listen to or Watch) This

Technology Changing How Students Learn, Teachers Say
By Matt Richtel, The New York Times, Published: November 1, 2012

(Click blue to link through)

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