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AWS Awareness 2012-13, No. 5

AWS Awareness

Alabama Waldorf School1220 50th Street SouthBirmingham, AL 35222

On the web at AlabamaWaldorf.orgBlog: AlabamaWaldorf.wordpress.com

The Adaptibility of AWS...by AWS Administrator, Lisa Grupe, Ph.D.

What does AWS have in common with bac-teria? Adaptability! Bacteria continue to proliferate, adapt and morph even in the face of modern medi-cine. They are amazing microorganisms, adapting to almost any threat and emerging stronger as a result. In its almost 30 year history, AWS has met many challenges and, as a result, it has become more streamlined, more nimble, and more efficient. Our story of adaptability reminds me of the Battle of Salamis (480 BC) when a fleet of highly maneuverable, small and fast Greek triremes, beat the heretofore indomitable massive Persian navy ships because the latter were too slow to effectively fight with the swift Greek fleet. In its biography, AWS has adapted to changing economic climates, to new locations, and to changes in leadership. To increase enroll-ment, we adopted a tuition adjustment policy that allowed more people to afford our school. To grow, we moved from a residential basement to a church classroom to the current location at the former Comer School. To become accredited by our gov-erning bodies (the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America and Waldorf Early Childhood As-sociation Network), we elected to train our teachers and staff at accredited Waldorf training centers. Surprisingly low Nursery or middle school enrollment may represent unexpected curve balls, but AWS will do what it always does and take a step back, adjust its batting stance, and come back to the plate wiser and more prepared than before. Our recent streamlining of the Grades school is an example of how we chose to adapt to our circumstances instead of letting them master us. Combined classrooms are a trend in independent schools and may become more common in the fu-ture. Fewer classes that are larger in number make for a healthier social environment for the students. In fact, that is the main reason veteran many AWS

parents choose to leave the school in the middle school years (6/7/8th) -- because they wish for a larger social pool for their children. Fewer classes impact us positively because they require fewer classrooms (smaller site) and fewer trained teachers (expensive!). Our next step is to review the low preschool enrollment and adjust accordingly. Knowing that Waldorf schools arise to meet the needs of the community, we are taking a step back, assessing the situation, and getting ready to approach the plate wiser and more prepared with a combined 162 years of Waldorf teaching experience as our guide. This may mean lowering the entrance age of the nursery student, or it may mean re-configuring the multi-age classes to ensure enrollment meets budgetary needs without sacrificing the integrity of the award-winning Waldorf preschool. Fiscal health has become a priority for us as we have matured. We took out a large loan to begin the Grades School in 2000 and have since paid that back and remained out of debt. Sacrifices have been made by the whole AWS community to ensure the truth of that statement, and our goal in 2013 is to remove both the tone and monetary sting of those sacrifices and work towards a model that is sustainable over the years to come. Knowing that a smaller, more efficient and effective, nimble boat with a crew that knows and understand the terrain can succeed helps us adapt to changing circumstances that come our way, to keep meeting the needs of the community that we have arisen to serve. Thank you for abiding transformational change along with us. While it is human nature to resist change, meeting it with positivity makes us stronger and more enlightened.***

2012-2013, No. 5 May 1st, 2013


We’re counting down the miles till May 1st for our Movin’ and Groovin’ Marathon! This is the first year we’ve taken on our own walkathon-style fundraiser, it remains to be seen how successful it will be, but we’ll find out for sure on May 1st when students turn in their pledge forms.

Parent Mary Ann Saylor stopped by the office last week to say that it’s been her favorite fundraiser so far because it’s so easy. Her son Jack has written letters to family members and friends requesting pledges for each mile he runs, walks, hula hoops, rollers skates, or rakes leaves. Mary Ann likes that he’s not only help-ing raise money for the school, but he doesn’t mind helping out because certain chores and activities count as miles. He also gets to practice his letter-writing skills each night. Jack has raised over $500 so far!

It’s not too late to paricipate and collect pledges to support AWS. Come to the ballfields on May 1st at 1pm to find out more!***

Congratulations to the 2013 Gala Committee!Congratulations to the Gala Committee who put on an elegant Spring Soiree at The Clubhouse on Highland, a Craftsman-style Highland Ave. mansion donated by Bob McKenna for the event. The April 7th silent & live auction (sponsored by Signature Health) grossed over $20,000, securing enough funds to close out the fiscal year with-out debt!***

Movin’ and Groovin’The Final Mile is May 1st!


2012-2013 CALENDAR

August 15: First Day of School

for grades students (FULL DAY) ———

August 20: First Day of School for Early Childhood Education students

———For the complete calendar, please visit

www.lindenwaldorf.org/calendar

Somewhere in the early grades, the word

“Pentathlon” begins cropping up in Waldorf conversations. What? Another ceremonial event? Well, yes, but the Pentathlon is—in my view—unsurpassed in scope, spectacle and its resonance with the participants. Indeed, it has become a highly anticipated tradition at Waldorf schools across America and a fifth-grade rite of passage.

Essentially the Pentathlon is the culmination of the study of ancient civilizations, in particular Greece during its golden age. The students’ imaginative immersion in this culture, with its emphasis on grace and beauty and the ideal form, is made real by their earnest re-enactment of the original Olympic experience.

So, in late April our own fifth-graders, ably prepared by Ms. Johnson and Ms. Roff, joined their counterparts from other southeastern Waldorf schools at Camp Twin Lakes near Atlanta for the 2012 Pentathlon. A crucial fact is that students do not compete as schools, but rather are individually sorted into ancient Greek city-states.

The highlight of the opening ceremonies is the moment when each student learns whether he or she will wear the colors of Athens, Sparta, Corinth, or Thebes. For the next two days the students will practice, play and bunk together in these groupings.

Parents are wisely urged to let most of this event unfold without their presence. Fifth- graders are on the cusp of adolescence, and this is a perfect opportunity for each of them to become more confident, disciplined and respectful. Arriving at the actual “competition” on the final day, we parents were struck by the atmosphere of hushed reverence (well, okay … hushed until the final

relay race). Equally stunning were the faces of intense focus as each child sought a personal best in long jump, discus, javelin, wrestling and running.

Most amazing of all, perhaps, was the total absence of preteen self-consciousness.

Picture it: over a hundred fifth-graders wearing Greek chitons (tunics), throwing javelins, and not a whiff of embarrassment, awkwardness or indifference. I call that a miracle!

For the rest of their lives these children will carry with them some knowledge of classical ideals (and human fallibility). In a sense, they became ancient Greeks— intellectually, emotionally and physically. Such lessons are not forgotten, and that, more than laurel wreaths or even new friendships, is the real beauty of the Pentathlon.

Waldorf Pentathlon: A Rite of PassageCongratulations to the Class of 2012

Ryan BeahmHillsboro High School

———Rebecca Beazley

Big Picture High School ———

Mac BentleyNashville School of the Arts

———Emily Bridgers

University School of Nashville ———

Clara DeHartHarpeth High School

———Corbitt Dicker

Montgomery Bell Academy ———

Josef DoyleHillsboro High School

———Andrew Forbes

Hume-Fogg Academic MagnetVanderbilt School for

Science and Math ———

Eliza FrensleySt. Cecilia Academy

———Katherine FrensleySt. Cecilia Academy

———Brenner Jennings

Nashville School of the Arts ———

Carter MaggipintoHillsboro High School

———Haley Morrill


Will Mason MosesUniversity School of Nashville

———Daisy Rudin


Rachel Van ZenHillwood High School

sFor the rest of their lives these children will carry with them some knowledge of classical ideals (and human fallibility).

Linden Waldorf School will host the 2013 Pentathlon in Nashville! More details available in the Fall.

On April 17th, Alabama Waldorf School’s 5th grade class traveled to Nashville for an important rite of passage in Waldorf Schools. The article below, reprinted with permission from the Linden Waldorf School, explains that the Pentathlon isn’t just “the culmination of the study of ancient civilizations,” but a perfect opportunity for these pre-adolescents “to become confident, disciplined and respectful.”


Thanks to Dave Hall for allowing us to re-print excerpts of his blog article, Waldorf Pentathlon, 2013, below! You can read the full entry here: http://agogefit.com/waldorf-pentathlon-2013/Thank you, as well, to AWS parents Chris Terrell, Branden Saccomani, and Chris Prichard for pass-ing along the photos from this year’s pentathlon.

...At present I’m enjoying a well earned break, sitting in my well padded “Papa’s chair” in the corner of my office. I’ve just returned, like a veteran off campaign, from participating in a unique rite of pas-sage, particular to Waldorf Education that helps bridge the transition from childhood to adolescence, the Waldorf Pentathlon.

I’ve attended two prior to this one. Each time showing up to fulfill my fatherly duty of cheering on each daughter in her champion year. This time, however, I took a deeper involvement and served as chaperone, offering to help shepherd a group of students. I honestly had no idea what I was signing up for.

I knew the basics. I knew the Pentathlon was based on the original Greek games of Javelin, Discus, Long Jump, Wrestling and a Foot Race, run as a relay. I knew that on arrival each student was grouped ac-cording to temperament (more on this later) into the city-states of Corinth, Sparta, Athens and Thebes. I knew that parental involvement was minimal save for observation the final day of the event and that many adult volunteers were needed to make the event successful. Birmingham had played host in the years of my first two daughter’s and this year we were in Nashville.

What I didn’t know was how drawn in I would become, how in two short days I would come to care for and take a special interest in kids I’ll probably never see again, or how vital I would come to see this experience and how awesome it is I have a wife who’d be so insis-tent that this is the way our children would be educated.

Part of Steiner’s kookiness is that he grouped people into one of four personality types. This isn’t anything new, but anytime someone tries to put out an idea like this, unless it’s couched in Myers-Briggs-science-y-mumbo-jumbo it’s pretty much poo-poo-ed.

Steiner really needed a good PR gal. He took names like melancholic, choleric, sanguine and phlegmatic to denote the four types. Actually he was Austrian, so he probably had even more undecipherable names that English and American Waldorf scholars translated into the ones we’re stuck with now.

Honestly, it doesn’t really matter. The concept gets even more complicated when you consider we’re not all one type or another, but actually a blend of all four attributes. We just tend to gravitate toward one end of the spectrum more than the others...So, when the various schools get together for this annual event the children are all grouped according to similar temperaments. Each of the four city states corresponds with one of the four temperaments.

The 2013 Southeastern Waldorf Olympicsby AWS Parent, Dave Hall

Part of the festivities at the 2013 Waldorf Pentathlon is the coming together of the 4 city-states. Above: The red flag is for Sparta (the house of the choleric temperament); yellow is for Athens (the sanguine house); green is for Thebes (the phlegmatic house); and blue is for the melancholic Corin-thians. Read on to learn more about these different tem-peraments from a parent’s perspective.***


Waldorf Olympics, 2013 (cont’d from p.5)

...Now I’m the least qualified guy to give you a full on discussion of the types and temperaments, but this is what I observed....

The Spartan kids, despite coming from places as far away as New Orleans and Miami all looked like they belonged together. This is the choleric group, natural athletes, the gifted ones who have to try really hard to understand why others don’t always get things as easily as they do. Ruddy complexions, with compact, capable bodies, they are natu-ral predators, who need lots of of direction and activity to keep their easily bored minds from preying on the weaker ones for sport.

Corinthians are melancholic. They’re the artists, the exact opposite of Sparta, sensitive types, not necessarily any less physically, but completely devoid of a killer instinct. Many of the Corinthian boys wished

to be Spartans, they fantasized over the stories and histories, seeing themselves in the lead, brave victorious and strong, not realizing that their capacity to dream is what makes them so solidly Corinthian.

Athenians’ feet don’t quite touch the ground. These are the sanguine kids. They’re very much in their heads, slighter of

build and as focused as a room full of but-terflies. These are the ones I know the least, mainly be-cause this lack of focus drives me crazy. As

such it’d probably be good for me to get to know these kids. There’s not much sanguine in me and a better understanding would probably be good for my soul. That said I think I’ll wait until I’m certain enough of my-self that I won’t squish ‘em until their eyeballs bulge out of my own frustration. Jail, I’m pretty certain, would not be good for my soul.

Thebans are the salt of the earth. Heck, they are the earth.

These are the phlegmatics. Yeah, that word makes me think of phlegm, too, but these kids are solid. They are rooted to the earth. Remember the Campbell’s kids? The ones used to sell the soup? Those kids were plegmatic. Solid, well built, strong kids with full faces and hearty constitutions. They’re easy going and follow directions. Of all the kids on the field this was the group that when you asked them to form a straight line, knew how to form a line.

I discov-ered this weekend that my own ten-dencies fell toward the Corin-thian and Theban camps. As a child I squarely belonged among the Corinthians. Watching one of our Corinthian girls, at the close of the final ceremony, crying with her parents, I totally un-derstood. The sadness that it was all over was too much to contain. Luckily I also know that type of thing isn’t permanent and before she’s home she’ll be on to something new.

As an adult, I’ve become more Theban. Watching my own The-ban daughter and her fellows as they competed in the long jump, I reminded another spectator, “We’re heavy. We don’t fly.”

Except when we excel. Watch-ing my daughter and her fellow Thebans throwing the discus and wrestling, you could see their strength put to it’s proper use — and there they soared.

Which is what’s so cool about this event. Each event is a strength for a different tempera-ment. Each kid stands alone and here on the precipice of mini-adulthood learns that she can stand alone and per-form ad-mira-bly.***


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4Marketing Committee Meeting, 11:30-12:30pm

3rd Grade play, Moses. 10am, all invited!

Assembly Auditorium 2:30pm "Art Expo"

5 6 7 8 9 10 11Family Association Meeting, 11:30-12:30 with Russian Performances from 1st, 2nd, 5th grades! LAST ONE!!!

MotherWalk Expo, Crestline Village 4 to 7:30pm. Come and visit our booth!

MotherWalk 5k, Crestline Village 7:30am to Noon - Come and visit our booth!

12 13 14 15 16 17 18AWS Board of Trustees Meeting, 5:30-7pm

19 20 21 22 23 24 25Closing Ceremony (Rehearsal) - We need drivers at 8:45am and 11:30pm! Let your child's teacher know if you can help.

*Last Day of School! Graduation 5-7pm

26 27 28 29 30 31NO SCHOOL MEMORIAL DAY

NO SCHOOL Summer Program Begins, featuring Stories from India.

May 2013

Notes:

*The last day of school is Friday, May 24th. Nursery Program: 8:30-10am. Kindergarten 8:30-10:30am. Grades Day at end at 12:30pm. NO EXTENDED CARE PROGRAMS. WHOLE SCHOOL CLOSING CEREMONY & GRADUATION at East Lake United Methodist Church, 5-7pm.

Movin & Groovin Walkathon Last Mile!!

1pm

AWS Calendar of Events - May & June 2013

3rd grade play about Moses! 10am

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8Summer Program (stories from India cont'd)

Water Wednesday

9 10 11 12 13 14 15Summer Program (stories from India cont'd)

Water Wednesday

16 17 18 19 20 21 22Father's Day Summer Program

(Stories from Russia)

Water Wednesday

23 24 25 26 27 28 29Summer Program (Stories from Russia cont'd)

Water Wednesday

30

June 2013

Notes:

2013 AWSNA Conference, Austin, TX, June 24th-27th


This summer, AWS offers an 11-week preschool and early grades program be-

ginning Wed., May 29th, and ending Tue., Aug. 13th. Open to children ages 2 1/2 to 6, as well as rising 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders, activities will rotate in two-week cycles for Fairy Tales Around

the World! See below for an updated schedule. Each cycle will feature a story with puppet play, crafts, and cooking, in ad-dition to free play, circle, and snack.And the popular Water Day Wednes-day is back, too! Registration for Waldorf and non-Waldorf families is now open!

May 29th - June 14th, INDIAStory: Mouse Maid, Made Mouse

Cooking: Indian rice with veggies, In-dian potatoes

Craft: felted mice with fingerknitted tail

June 17th-28th, RUSSIAStory: Baba YagaCooking: Latkes

Craft: Kitchen witches

July 1st-12th, U.S.A.Story: Uncle Wiggly

Cooking: Fried corn pone, okra, corn on the cob, non-dairy ice cream

July 15th-26th, CHINAStory: Ming Lo Moves the MountainCooking: Rice noodles and veggies

Craft: Kitchen witches

July 29th-August 13th, AFRICACooking: Coconut, sweet potatoes,

rice pudding

Check out alabamawaldorf.org or email [email protected] for details and a registration packet. New families will need to sign a form that acknowledges their acceptance of the low-media and healthy foods poli-cies while at AWS.

Did you know that childcare ex-penses during the summer are tax deductible? If you are a working parent and send your child to summer camp, you can claim the expense on your tax return! Contact your accountant to find out if your family is eligible.***

Waldorf Summer Camp 2013!!


INSTAGRAM AWeSome

Chalkboard drawings cre-ated by the grades teachers set the tone and expecta-tions for the academic block. Top: Mr. Lucas’ camel for a 2nd grade story; Top right: Regional study of the Atlantic North-east and Mid-Atlantic states.Above: 5th grade teacher Ms. Lucas, maps North America for the Geography block. Above Far right: 1st graders learn stories about each of the letters. Q is for the Queen! At right: 4th grade teacher Ms. Self, maps out local rivers for Geog-raphy. Far right, a 2nd grade multiplica-tion wheel. Bottom: Colorful beeswax is used for modeling animals for blocks about fables, habitats, and shelters. ***

Photos courtesy of AWS Extend-ed Care Teacher,

Brad Daly. www.flickr.

com/bradbrad


Spring Congratulations abound! First, AWS received a 5-year renewal of its full-member Waldorf Early Childhood Association (WECAN) status; this is important because it is a requirement for full-member AWSNA status and ac-creditation which we hope to pursue within the next three years. Thanks to all who helped with the WECAN site visit - from those who attended the potluck and panel Q&A, to those who made lunch and dinner and housed our evaluators. We couldn’t have succeeded without you!***

Congratulations to the 55 Kindergarten-7th grade Movin’ & Groovin’ registrants - it’s not too late to participate! All K-7th grade students will walk the final mile of the 26.2 mile Walk-athon next Wed., May 1st at 1pm. Those who’ve collected pledges can pay them on May 1st if they are already col-

lected (or by May 8th, if some follow-up time is needed).*** Congratulations to Grade 5 who participated with distinction at the annual regional 5th Grade Waldorf Pentathlon in Nashville, TN. Ms. Lucas and her students wrote an original sa-tirical poem about 14 of the main Greek gods and goddesses. Each student presented a portion of the poem aloud at the Pentathlon to many laughs and much applause. While witty and festive, it also showed these students really “know their stuff” when it comes to Greek history and mythology!*** Congratulations to Grade 4 who was invited to participate in the parade at the Imagination Festival of Magic City Art Connection. They will carry a banner that honors African American scientists but does so in the style of a different African American artist (picture, for example, a Graffiti honoring of George Washington Carver!).***

Celebrating our Spring Accomplishments!From Lisa Grupe, AWS Administrator


Summer 2013 Morning Garden! AWS’ Award-winning Parent-Toddler Program continues to re-ceive accolades. The Runner-up for Best Parent-Toddler Program in Birmingham Magazine’s 2013 Parent Choice Awards returns for the summer se-mester. The 7-class session will be led by veteran Early Childhood teachers Holly Thompson and Samantha Hall, and classes will be held in the AWS nursery classroom. Enrollment is limited to 10 par-ent-toddler pairs, so register today! Details below.

Thursdays, 9-10:30amCost: $70

7 sessions,June 6th through July 25th (no class July 4th)

Email Opal South at [email protected], or call 205-592-0541.***

Foreign Language Assembly for the May Family As-sociation Meeting The final F.A. Meeting for the 2012-13 school year is a big one you won’t want to miss! In addition to voting for officers for the 2013-14 school year, 1st, 2nd, and 5th grade classes will be performing Rus-sian poems and plays for the parents. We hope there’s a good crowd of support for these students! Thursday, May 9th from 11:30-12:30 (bring your lunch!) in the Auditorium.

Below... More fun from the 2013 Pentathlon! From left: Rosalyn participates in the relay race for her house; a close-up of the discus used in the events; city states marching with flags proudly on display.


If you would like a sponsorship

in the Awareness, call

205-592-0541 or email

[email protected]

The AWS Awareness is brought to you by these proud sponsors...


c o l l a b o r at i o n o f a rt i sts : k at r i n a t u r n b ac h | s h e l l e i g h b u c k i n g h a m | l es l i e h i c k e r s o n

Paintings & art collages, up-cycled fabric purses & sachets, handmade soap, teacup bird feeders, silver & glass jewelry, and much more!

Visit the Artsy Chicks booth in the pavilion atArt On r MOuntAin

at ruffner Mountain nature Preserveon Saturday, April 6, 9am – 5pm

~ NEW LOOK, SAME CHICKS...AS SEEN AT AWS HOLIDAY FAIRE ~

www.facebook.com/BhamArtsyChicks

The AWS Awareness is brought to you by these proud sponsors...

Specializing in Craniosacral Therapy and

Pediatric Physical Therapy

yerbytherapyllc.wordpress.com

[email protected]

Susie Strauss, co-ownerNancee Neel, co-owner

Keri Lane HontzasBackyard Movie Parties

FLIX, Inc.Keri Lane PromotionsPh: 205-595-3549Cell: 205-223-3549Email:[email protected]


...with Special Thanks to our Title sponsor...

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