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EVENTS
Michaelmas
On Friday, September 30, the elementary school will be celebrating Michaelmas with a variety of service projects. A few will be in and around the school and others will be at neighboring farms and out into the wider community. Clothes that can get dirty are recommended. Afterward we will have an in-house assembly with a brief sharing of the service projects.
Parent Conferences
After careful deliberations, parent conferences will be scheduled three months earlier than in the past. This year’s conferences will take place on October 27 in the evening and all day on October 28. There will be no school that Friday. Teachers are looking forward to meeting with all of you to communicate about the challenges your children face, as well as how to encourage their strengths; and to continue to develop plans on how they can best work together to help your children reach their full potential. Parents have a chance to meet with subject teachers as well as class teachers.
The office will send an email to parents when on-line sign up is ready around mid-October. Online schedules will be available for one week, then posted in the Administrator’s Hallway for one week for folks who prefer the paper system.
Paul Margulies Study Group
You are welcome to join the Thursday night study group starting September 22. Study Group meets every second and fourth Thursday from 7:30 – 9 pm. This year’s study will work with Rudolf Steiner’s “How to Know Higher Worlds”. This book is a wonderful introduction to Steiner’s philosophy and offers many living ideas capable of transforming lives.
AISNE /AWSNA Re-accreditation Site Visit
The re-accreditation site visit by the Association of Independent Schools in New England and the Association of Waldorf Schools in North America, is just around the corner! On Sunday October 23, the school will host a reception for the re-accreditation team. On Monday and Tuesday, they will be visiting classes and meeting with Students, Board Members, Faculty and various constituents from our school community.
This celebratory event happens once every 10 years, so it’s worth embracing as a special event. We will send the site visit schedule out to the school community on October 21 via the Friday “Week at a Glance”.
FAIR
It is that time of year again, just weeks until our 39th Annual Holiday Handcraft Fair on November 12. Remember, this is the school’s largest fundraising event. Last year we made over $40,000. We ask that everyone-students, teachers, staff, parents, grandparents and friends- join together to create this festive day of family activities, entertainment and refreshments. We need an array of beautiful handcrafts, delectable home-baked goods, and a huge supply of enthusiasm and person power to make it all happen. Please remember that many hands make light work, so be prepared to contribute to the Fair preparation in a variety of ways. Leslie Bissaillon has graciously stepped forward to be a Fair Chairperson again. Be sure to read your weekly edition of FAIRLY INTERESTING NEWS
EARLY CHILDHOOD
In their husks, their shells and clusters,
In their pods, the seeds on high,
Wait to hear the Autumn whisper,
“Little seeds, it’s time to fly!”
Then they lightly leave their branches,
Pop and burst and tumble down.
Hasten, hurry, rush and scurry!
Hide in Mother Earth’s warm gown.
We are certainly popping and bursting over in the Early Childhood this October! We’re singing in the Autumn, making colored leaves into crowns and awaiting the arrival of our friend, Jackie Frost. Our teachers’ calendars are bursting as well. We begin the month by joining the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Harvest festival with our Puppet Wagon and performances of “Huggin and the Turnip,” both Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 and 2.
On Monday, Oct. 17, we begin our first Parent-Toddler session. There are still openings in this weekly, eight-week class for parents and their young children, ages 1-3, to join teacher Jo Valens for mornings of bread baking, handcraft projects, circle and story, along with conversation on parenting and child development.
The Early Childhood Michaelmas celebration has been rescheduled to Wednesday, October 19 from 9a.m. - 12 noon. Details available from EC class teachers.
This year we are highly fortunate to have Louise de Forest, a wise and experienced Waldorf Kindergarten teacher and WECAN Board member, offering a course for parents: “Bringing Waldorf Home: A Parenting Course for Parents of Young Children.” This course will be held one Saturday morning a month, from 8:30-11:45, in the EC building. The first class will be on Oct. 22. Flyers to be coming out soon!
And finally, we end the month with a puppet show at Matrushka on Saturday, Oct. 29. The EC faculty will be performing four puppet shows at Matrushka over the course of the year. This first one is “Winifred the Witch and Her Golden Cat,” written and presented by Nursery teacher Jo Valens.
So off we go, to harvest and gather and to wrap ourselves all warm. —JV
Rhyme Time @ Matrushka (309 Main St., GB)
Rhyme Time is held every Tuesday at 10:30 am. This is a weekly collection of rhymes, finger plays, circle games and simple puppetry designed to delight and engage infants, crawlers, toddlers and young children. It is led by two moms in the community who have experience in early childhood education and who share our desire to create free community events for families. It is a free, drop-in weekly event for young children with their care giver and all are welcome.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Scheduled Class nights:
Note: All class nights will begin at 7 pm.
1st grade class nights: October 4, December 6, February 7, April 3
2nd grade class nights: September 27, January 31, April 24
3rd grade class nights: September 12, November 21, April 30
4th grade class nights: October 4, January 17, April 3
5th grade class nights: October 5, January 18, April 4
6th grade class nights: October 19, January 12, March 13
7th grade class nights: October 11, others tba
8th grade class nights: October 19, January 25, April 10
Music
Mrs. Mitchell, our music teacher, highly recommends that “Concert – the Dialog of the Birds” be attended by any who can. Ensemble Les Inegales(Tricia Van Oers, recorders and Christine Gevert, harpsichord and organ) will be performing. It will take place at the Spectrum Playhouse (former St. George Church), 20 Franklin St., Lee MA on Saturday, October1 at 5 pm.
Bus
It was brought to our attention that some students were using or passing around their iPods while on the school bus. We are asking parents of children who own such a device, to speak with them directly about refraining from using it while on the bus. We appreciate your active participation in supporting this policy.
Policy from handbook:
PDAs or Personal Audio or Video Devices (such as iPods, iPads, MP3 players, etc)
We require that children in Early Childhood through grade 4 not be provided with such devices. These devices are not allowed on GBRSS’s campus, on the school buses or on any school trips. We strongly recommend that children in grades 5 through 8 not be provided with such devices.
Halloween
On Monday, Oct. 31 we’ll be celebrating Halloween. Children in grades 1-8 should bring costumes to school. They will change into them in the afternoon and then parade into the auditorium for songs and a story.
In the tradition of our school, we request that the children have hand-made costumes (not too elaborate and no store-bought masks, please).
We will also have a pumpkin carving contest for all the children in the school. Please bring your pumpkins on Monday, Oct. 31. Make sure that you have your name on the back on masking tape. There will be three pumpkin categories: original, scary and funny. Students and parents will be informed regarding times later in the month.
Early Childhood students will have their own festival, without costumes. Your child’s teacher will be contacting you about how we will celebrate Halloween with the young children.
8th Grade Halloween Tricks & Treats
All families and all ages are welcome to join in games and festivities. Tickets are $1 each or 15 tickets for $10, 30 tickets for $20. Tickets include treats and tricks, cider and donuts. Monday, October 31, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
8th Grade Fundraising
“once-a-month Friday lunches”… chili, baked potato, etc. Your children will receive sign-up forms as lunches are planned. Look for the order forms. They were a big hit last year and sold fast! This year’s first lunch of the year will be on Friday, October 14.
Sports
The Soccer Sports Schedule is available on our website.
Catamount
Ski Forms are due November 9 to the school office. After November 11, families will have to pay a $10.00 late fee and send the application to Catamount themselves.
What is the Ski Program?
For six Fridays in January and February students go to Catamount, take a lesson (optional) and ski from 4-8 p.m. They are bussed there at 3 p.m. from school. Parents pick up their children at 8:00 p.m. at Catamount. Teachers and parents are chaperones. Rentals for skis or snowboards are available as well.
Who can participate?
Students in grades 3-8, parents and teachers. Students below third grade may participate, but a parent must accompany the child.
How do I sign up?
Simply get an application from the Sports bulletin board in the front foyer, fill it out and return with check or credit card to the office. If renting equipment, a rental form must be fully filled out.
Students who have a season pass may ride the bus for a $25 fee if space is available. For more information see Mrs. Krista Palmer.
HIGH SCHOOL
Sat., October 1—Waldorf High School Bake Sale, 10 a.m. to 12 noon in front of Carr Hardware, Main St., Gt. Barrington, to benefit the foreign language programs.
Sun., October 9, 9 am – 4 pm, Tag Sale Fundraiser to support the high school, at: 2 Pine Street, Stockbridge, MA. Rain date: Monday, October 10, same time & place.
For any questions, please contact: seltzer1@verizon.net
OFFICE
Parent Handbooks
The 2011-2012 Parent Handbook and Directories are being distributed at class nights. If you wish to pick them up sooner, please stop by the front desk.
Health – The Buzz on Bugs
When it comes to the West Nile virus, it’s smart to be cautious
Coat Drive
It is that time of year again when the leaves are starting to change their colors and it is almost time for our Annual Winter Outerwear Drive. This will be our 18th year for this event! Our south county community has been so generous through the years, contributing many articles of warm clothing for this drive. I am so very grateful for your willing participation and I know the families, who benefit from these donations, are, as well! We will be collecting winter clothing during the month of October at the Rudolf Steiner School. A box will be located in the front of your school. We will be collecting COATS, HATS, MITTENS, GLOVES, SNOW PANTS, SCARVES, BOOTS, etc. Please be sure the clothing is clean, not torn, not mildewed and has working zippers. We would like items to be in “wearable condition”! We will distribute the collected clothing at Berkshire South Community Center (Crissey Rd.) in GB on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9am to 6pm and on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 9am to 2pm. Please mark your calendars! Our goal continues to be, “Every person in Southern Berkshire County will have a warm winter coat!” We hope to collect more than 1100 coats this year!
Thank you for your generous and ongoing support! If you have any questions, please contact Susan Happ at Undermountain, 229-8754, Ext. 387 or email to: shapp@sbrsd.org Sincerely, Susan Happ
ALUMNI NEWS
Trevor McFarland (’11) and Sam Jones (’11) competed in the Josh Billings Runaground on Sunday, September 18, 2011 coming away with a third place finish in the 20 & Under category with a total team time of 3:41:20. Both alum were very active in the sports programs at GBRSS in soccer, basketball, and baseball as well as the circus program. Sam started the triathalon on Sunday with a 27 mile bike ride (1:47:18) , followed by a joint paddle in the kayak with Trevor for 5 miles around the Stockbridge Bowl (1:10:34), where Trevor exited the kayak to then run his first 10K ever (43:28). In addition to their participation in sports at GBRSS, Trevor and Sam train at CrossFit Great Barrington with coach Mike Bissaillon. They are currently Freshmen attending Monument Mountain Regional High School.
Yes, I am a proud parent tooting the horn for these kids because I’m so pleased with the solid foundation they have received at GBRSS. 
Rebecca