August 15, 2008
Dear Parents & Guardians,
Each August, I write to parents with information about the upcoming school year. This year, I am particularly excited to update you on details of our ongoing renovation work, along with some important additions to our school personnel.
On July 21st, our new Faculty Chair, Ms. Sabine Kully, arrived at school with energy and enthusiasm! As many of you may already know, the process for hiring the Faculty Chair was an extensive one, involving all major constituencies of the school. After a successful introductory visit last January, Ms. Kully had another, intensive, 4-day visit in early April. Meeting with numerous faculty members, attending meetings of the College of Teachers, the Board of Trustees, and the full faculty – and even joining a reception with members of the Parent’s Association – Ms. Kully had numerous opportunities to meet our community, and vice versa. Based upon the enormously positive feedback received from all these groups, an offer was extended to Ms. Kully and we are truly pleased she has agreed to join our school community. Born and raised in Switzerland, Ms. Kully attended a Waldorf school for her high school years. After earning her Eurythmy diploma from the Eurythmeum in Stuttgart, Germany, Ms. Kully completed her artistic education at the Eurythmy School in Spring Valley, and began teaching eurythmy at the Rudolf Steiner School in Manhattan. Ms. Kully also directed the school’s remedial program, guided the physical education and movement departments, and was the Dean of Faculty for a number of years before moving to California to lead the East Bay Waldorf School. After four years at East Bay, we are delighted to welcome Ms. Kully back to the east coast, and most especially to the Waldorf School of Garden City.
The other exciting news is the ongoing improvement to our buildings and grounds – most notably, the complete renovation of our library. While the majority of library construction will be completed prior to the beginning of classes, the space is not expected to be usable by students until early October. At that time, the seasonal gardens (located between the library and high school wings) will be replanted and fully landscaped, including creation of a new goldfish pond. Over the summer months, several other improvements were made to our premises:
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The new entrance lobby is almost completed, with appropriate exterior signage, lighting, and installation of a reception desk which will be staffed throughout the day. New furniture and rugs are on order – a wonderful gift from the Parent’s Association – and should be in place by late September. This lobby is now the only open entrance for visitors during the school day, limiting access and increasing overall safety in our school buildings. |
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Energy-efficient windows were installed in the first through third grade classrooms and the cafeteria, and new gutters surround the roofline in the front of our school. |
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The lower school boys and girls bathrooms were fully renovated, and three “single person” adult bathrooms (one with handicap access) have been created to replace the existing men’s and women’s facilities. |
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A new lighting system was installed in the gymnasium and the floor sanded and resurfaced. The stage curtains have been cleaned and look as good as the day they were first hung. |
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Sleek, spacious student lockers have been added to the high school hallway. |
While “finishing work” – including furnishings and landscaping – will continue well into the fall, the list of projects actually completed this summer is quite remarkable. Every one of these improvements was made possible through the generosity of Board members, parents, alumni, alumni parents, faculty, staff, and friends who contributed to the school’s Capital Campaign. Every gift made a difference!
Now, on to the more “typical” details of the August letter. School begins for students in the first through twelfth grades on Wednesday, September 3rd, and parents are cordially invited to attend the Opening Assembly, beginning at 8:30 am. The Early Childhood programs begin the following Wednesday, September 10th, with modified hours as outlined in the school calendar.
I am also pleased to announce the arrival of our new Development Director, Mrs. Marjorie P. Jean-Paul, who began work in July. After three remarkable years of service, Ms. Jennifer Dorman ’95 is leaving our school to pursue a graduate degree. With experience as a member of the consulting team which guided our Capital Campaign, Ms. Jean-Paul is familiar with both Waldorf education and our school community. As a result of the sabbaticals being taken by preschool teachers Mrs. Pamela Carlson and Mrs. Rosemary Butigian, there are also some personnel changes in the Early Childhood program. Mrs. Keelah Helwig ’89 will now be a lead kindergarten teacher, assisted by fellow alumna, Mrs. Bobby Lyons ’76. Mrs. Stephanie Cleary is assisting Mrs. Patricia Foster in one of the other kindergarten class, and recent Sunbridge Early Childhood graduate, Ms. Surabhi Splain, will assist Mrs. Janet Kane in the Nursery. Our school is truly fortunate to have so many talented and experienced professionals in the Early Childhood Program.
Finally, a couple of reminders to help ensure a smooth start to the school year for everyone:
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Space is limited in many of our Afternoon Programs. The enclosed brochure outlines the available programs, and I encourage families interested in the 12-3 pm Afternoon Care for their preschooler to enroll immediately. This program is often overenrolled and “drop in” service is no longer available. |
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Student lunch cards and bookstore accounts can be replenished by sending a check to the Business Office. We suggest a starting balance of $100 for students using the cafeteria daily in the fourth grade and above, with $50 for first through third grades who have soup, bread and milk delivered to their classrooms daily. Please note that high school students will no longer be able to “charge” lunch in the cafeteria, so it is important that they have cash or a lunchcard if they are planning on using the cafeteria. Returning students in the fifth through twelfth grades should begin the year with a $150 balance in the bookstore, while $200 is appropriate for new students. While extra help will be on hand in the Business Office during the first week of school, parents can complete these transactions before school begins by sending their checks directly to the attention of the Business Office. |
Our school campus begins this year wonderfully renewed and refreshed; I hope the summer months have worked similar magic upon both you and your children. As always, we look forward to greeting you in September; please don’t hesitate to call us should you have any questions prior to that time.
With Warm Regards,
Susan Braun
School Administrator