My journey as a parent in the Seattle Waldorf Community, over the past decade, has been much like yours.  Parents, grandparents, teachers, we have walked side by side, hand in hand, with the same hopes and dreams for these 8^th grade students (now 9^th graders).  We have asked the same questions, abated the same doubts, and basked in the same pride and joy over the fruits of their labors.

Today, we celebrate the wonderful journey these children have been on, and the successes they have experienced along the way.  Congratulations, class of 2014, on this incredible milestone.

While we all know today is all for our children, I want to remind us that it is also our day.  I’d like to take these next few minutes to focus on “us”, the parents.

When we first signed on the dotted line, we didn’t realize that we, the parents, were really signing up for the education of a lifetime.  We would be learning, right alongside our children.     For many of us, we committed our children and our families to a different way of life.  We trusted that this school, this curriculum, these teachers were just what our children needed, and deserved; and just what we deserved.  I don’t have enough fingers to count how often I heard a parent say, “I wish I’d gone to a school like this”.

• Early on, we checked out “Waldorf” on the web (kind of ironic that the first thing you do as a Waldorf parent is surf the web).
• We read magazine articles and books, and we dutifully attended parent education evenings.
• Many of us explored anthroposophy. I recall many long winded discussions on the playground about what anthroposophy was and how that all tied into the education, and who this Rudolf Steiner guy was.  You know, the person that our children would, several years later, affectionately name their soccer team after? (Go, Rudies!)

Our main role as parents, was to do our part to make sure our children were getting the full benefit of the Waldorf curriculum and programs.  We didn’t know exactly how to do this, so we took the lead from our kindergarten and early grade teachers.

• Step 1, move the television to the basement, or closet
• We flipped over magazines with violent images on the cover
• We stopped listening to the news (at least during breakfast and school carpools)
• We stretched our brains to create the all-inclusive Waldorf-appropriate birthday parties, searching out fairies and gem stone treasures, rather than the ready-made Cinderella and Batman motifs.
• We bought rain boots, and raincoats, and hats, and gloves and snugglies.
• We joined hands and sang “For the golden corn” or “Johnny Appleseed” before every meal.   (At least, until our teens started rolling their eyes).

The curriculum in the grade school really piqued our interest.  The more we learned, the more “simple” and brilliant it seemed.  Do, feel, think.  Then sleep on it.

Though we weren’t in the classroom day in and day out, we received the benefit of the lessons, vicariously.

• We assisted with times tables to the point of being able to say them forwards, backwards and sideways, while tossing bean bags to the person on our left (skills we parents never dreamed we would ever learn, or need to learn)
• Our children came home and told us about Odin, Hercules, Galileo, Michelangelo, with wonder in their eyes; We’d watch over them as they drew amazing sketches of these gods, scientists and artists.
• We found ourselves reading every book our children were reading.  Percy Jackson, Inkheart, Peter & the Star Catchers, all 12 of the Cat books.  Harry Potter was a treat. And then there was the Twilight series;  and you know, where that led.  (I think that’s when most of us decided we didn’t have to read every book our children were reading.)
• This past month we welcomed the short story block.  It was like going back in time.  I always love short stories.  To Build a Fire, Jack London.  The Lottery Ticket by Anton Chekhov, House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe.

But as we all know, Waldorf education is so much more than what happens in the classroom.  We joined in celebration with our children in a rich Festival of Life.  Together we walked with our lanterns (up and down and thru the town).  We walked the advent spiral.  We sang and danced around the May Pole.  We triumphed over the dragon of winter darkness.

And if we were really lucky, (really, really lucky), we had the privilege of joining with our children on their special ceremonies and outings like: the Potlatch, the Olympiad, biking Lopez Island, hiking the lava caves of Mt St Helens, the annual class camping trips; or standing on the sidelines at an Ultimate Frisbee game.    These are our most treasured moments. Not only did they mark certain observable milestones in our children’s development, but they allowed us a window into just who each of these individuals was becoming, and what power there was in this constellation of children.

It was here that we learned that:

• The music of the 60s & 70s is not dead.
• Just being together with friends is enough to keep a person entertained for hours on end.
• Working through a challenge together, brings trust and respect for one another.

We learned that,

• the weather has absolutely no bearing on the amount of fun one can have outdoors, (especially if there are lots of tarps and rope at hand)
• We learned that there is a place for everyone in the circle, always.

For the past 8 years, every encounter with every teacher, every fellow parent, and every child in this class has brought us a new understanding of the value of relationship and community.  Each “good morning”, each “thank you”, each knowing look shared along the back wall of Huckleberry Hall has breathed life into Steiner’s verse.

The healthy social life is found,

When, in the mirror of each human soul,

the whole community finds its reflection;

And when, in the community,

The virtue of each one is living.

Thank you, everyone who has been a part of our children’s education, our family’s education, our education.  It is with joy, and sadness, and a whole lot of gratitude, that today we say “farewell” to the red school house in the valley; and walk hand in hand with our 8^th grade graduates, with one heck of an education in our pocket and the virtue of a whole community in our souls.  We’re ready for the sequel.

Nancy Gilbert

On behalf of the Parents of the Class of 2014

“Can you move the curtain?”  I slowly became aware that the question had been directed at me. “No!”

What I meant was that I had never done it, and I didn’t know how.  A little more of my consciousness returned to me, and I realized that I was asked to help, to be the person who pulls on the rope…. aha!

My first thought was “I don’t want to not be able to see the performance!!”, my second “What if I mess up??”

Well, I am a bit of a pushover and I quickly agreed anyway.  Linda Povinelli (during the week she teaches Euryhtmy at the high school) acted as the stage manager for the concert, and she marked up a program for me with ‘curtain open’ and ‘curtain closed’, and we worked out a simple ‘thumbs up’ communications system which we planned use to make sure I would get it right.

Linda was positioned all the way across, on the other side of the stage, and also behind the curtain.  We waved and smiled at each other as we waited to for the first time I would have to pull the curtain.  Of course, Linda had a couple of other things on her mind, such as shepherding large groups of students to the right place at the right time very quickly, but MY whole world consisted of the the two fat ropes in front of me, one of which I would have to pull on, hard, in a moment.  Which one was it again?  No, not this one…., oops, yes, the first one, I just didn’t pull hard enough on the first go.  Pull pull pull, watching the curtain move across the stage is not what we are here for, pull faster…

It was enough to work up a sweat.  Gratefully, I sat down next to the rope, relieved I had done it, for a short rest.

Then, the most wonderful thing happened.

From my spot behind the curtain, I could not only see the students on stage (what a pleasant surprise!), I could also see Patricia Kim, as she faced the students to conduct them.

Patricia did, of course, use her hands to indicate tempo and dynamics etc. for our student musicians, but I quickly became mesmerized by Patricia’s eloquent face.  I watched Patricia speak, whisper, shout to the students with her facial expressions, encouraging them, urging them on, congratulating them. The sight and sound of music became my new world.

I had the best seat in the house.

If you missed your chance to participate in the Art & Experience Auction on May 7, or even if you attended but came away wanting more, now is your chance to support SWS! Partnering with Missionfish, eBay’s charity portal, SWS is holding an online auction. The last bids close nine days from now, visit the site, bookmark it and let the bidding begin! 100% of the proceeds benefit SWS.

Visit the online auction here.

Spread the word to family and friends

SEATTLE FILM FESTIVAL

Don’t miss out on our extraordinary auction offerings!  Proxy bidding is available. Purchase a ticket at the regular price and let me know you want to proxy bid.

For any of you at the event, you might remember a certain redheaded girl refusing to dance. This certain girl, a first grader, happens to be my girl. For the record, she said I was allowed to take this picture of her recovering from “the worst May Faire dance. Ever.”  Rest assured, she recovered in time to win plenty of prizes and enjoy the fantastic festival.

May Faire

Saturday, May 1, 2010  •  9 am to 3 pm
Grade School Campus

May Faire is an ancient festival welcoming spring. We raise the maypole, bedecked with fresh flowers and ribbons. The children make and wear floral wreaths and celebrate the arrival of spring with dancing and singing. Traditional maypole dances and other offerings are presented by each class. Children’s activities follow – cake walk, fish pond, buried treasure, carnival games, zucchini races and more, while a barbeque and live music add to the gaiety of the day.

From Wayne:

The Garden Company is a nationally known personal development company that has been inspiring lasting, profound change in human beings since 1987. Based in Sandpoint Idaho many Sandpoint WS teachers and parents have attended our events. We are hosting our cornerstone workshop called the Mountain Experience at the Talaris Conference Center in Seattle from 5:00 PM April 22nd through Sunday April 25th and are offering a scholarship to the first person from the Seattle WS community (teacher or parent) who applies. Anyone else interested can attend at a significantly reduced cost.

At the Mountain Experience you will learn to lower your stress levels around money, relationships, career or health. You will identify what you want to change in your life, what blocks you from making the changes you want and how to live with more energy, creativity, and abundance.

“The Mountain Experience has had a lasting and significant positive impact on my ability to work with my students and parents, in fact in all of my relationships.” Thomas Jenkins 8th Grade Waldorf Teacher Sandpoint, Idaho

Visit www.thegardencompany.com or contact the grade school office at 206.524.5320 for more information!

We are super lucky to have iconic radio personalities Marty Riemer and Jodi Brothers host our upcoming Art & Experience Gala on May 7. The duo had a successful morning radio show on KMTT (The Mountain) until last September when their contracts were not renewed. The uproar in the Seattle community was quick and intense. The “Bring Back Marty and Jodi” Facebook page quickly grew to more fans than The Mountain’s page.  Local press and their devoted fans (myself included) were stunned. Thankfully, the pair has entered into the indie radio scene and host a 30-minute podcast each weekday morning at 9:30 a.m. (check out MartyRiemer.com).

The Seattle Times recently covered their podcast debut here.

The event is open to the public – word is that we’ll be auctioning off an exclusive seat on the podcast couch during an upcoming show during the event.  Whoo-hoo!  Tickets here…