December 2018 E-News
Giving
~ Celebrating 100 Years of Education Worldwide ~
Don’t Forget you can Shop and Support the
Waldorf School of Garden City with the
following
organizations!
Happy New Year!
I hope you are having a wonderful winter holiday and enjoying the presence of family and friends while the faculty and staff (and students) take a restorative break. In the days leading up to the break some exciting activities were planned for our January 7th return.
We have fabulous after school club offerings including Robotics with programing (Gr. 6-8), a Literary Magazine (Gr. 6-8), Robotics with remote control (Gr. 4-5), Fencing (Gr. 5-8), Chess (Gr. 4-8) and SAT Prep in the High School. Many of our High School students are deep in rehearsals for The Drowsy Chaperone. Our sophomore class is working on their class play, The Inspector by Nicolai Gogol to be performed February 1st. Our coaches are building strong relationships with our athletes. (Have you gone to a game lately?) It’s sure to be an interesting and enriching winter term.
As you probably know, I hold monthly Conversations with the Faculty Chair. Please join us on January 15th in the Miller Library from 9:00 – 10:00 am on the topic of adolescence and how our Waldorf curriculum meets the needs of the adolescent. If this topic interests you, you may want to sign up for this online class. I have taken this class and highly recommend the teacher and the content. Click here for a flyer on the online course offered by Lisa Wiener. Click here to RSVP to Conversations with the Faculty Chair. I’m always looking for more topics for my monthly gathering. Please contact me with ideas that interest you.
Enjoy the rest of the break and I look forward to seeing you in the new year.
Sincerely,
Kelly O’Halogan
Faculty Chair
Athletics
Basketball Season Continues!
Waldorf’s winter sports are well underway with both varsity basketball teams battling it out in the PSAA conference. They have met fierce competition over the past month, but are staying positive and improving with every game.
Middle School sports are also in full swing, with both teams gearing up for their seasons to build momentum in the New Year. Coaches and players are looking forward to putting all their hard work into play when they come back from the winter break.
Please check the Waldorf athletics calendar for updates and to make your plans to attend and cheer on our teams!
Announcements
You have five days left to make your 2018 gift to
The Waldorf School Annual Fund
During this season of light, good will and service it is our hope you will consider a gift to the Annual Fund. This past year has been filled with many gestures of kindness, support and overall generosity that have made a tremendous impact on the vitality of our School Community. Thank you to all of the parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty and friends that have contributed this year and if you have not there is still time.
Please see below for a number of ways you can make a contribution of any size to the Annual Fund by Monday, December 31st:
- Send a check to The Waldorf School of Garden City Development Office at 225 Cambridge Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
- A one-time or recurring monthly gift via credit or debit card.
- A gift of appreciated stock that has been owned for more than a year.
- Give through a donor advised fund if your total charitable giving will total $10,000 or more.
- Make a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA if you can and you are older than 70½.
- Does your company match? If so, enroll The Waldorf School of Garden City in your corporate program and double your impact.
Wishing you and your family all the best for the New Year.
With Gratitude,
Nicole Littrean
Director of Development
Alumni Basketball Games & Community Three-Point Contest
Please join us on Saturday, January 12th for the Alumni Basketball Games and Community Three-Point Contest beginning at 11:00 am with the Men’s Alumni game.
There is a $10 entry fee for the Community Three-Point Contest with all proceeds benefiting The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network). The contest is open to all community members including students grades 7 and up. Prizes include:
- Four (4) tickets to a Brooklyn Nets Game at Barclays Center
- Two (2) tickets to the St. Johns vs. Providence game at Madison Square Garden on Saturday 2/9 at 12:00 pm
- $50 credit towards Waldorf merchandise
For more details and to RSVP CLICK HERE
Enrollment for Early Childhood
Parents who wish to enroll younger siblings in the Nursery and Mixed-Age Kindergarten for September 2019 are encouraged to submit an Admissions Application now.
Enrollment in these classes is currently underway. While priority is given to families who have siblings in the school, spaces are limited and fill up quickly. Please contact Carol Proctor at (516) 742-3434 ext. 301 or via email at proctorc@waldorfgarden.org with questions.
Register Today for Winter Parent & Child Classes!
Registration for the Winter 2018 Parent Child classes are filling up! Register Now. Classes begin on Monday, January 7th.
Please contact Suellen Gentile if you have any questions at gentiles@waldorfgarden.org
Explore the extraordinary power of LESS to raise calmer, happier and more secure children. Parents in all grades are invited to take part in this series of workshops!
Join Stephanie Cleary for a series of parent workshops on “Simplicity Parenting,” at the Waldorf School of Garden City located in our NEW Parent Child Classroom.
News
Jeannine Davis Featured at Sunbridge Institute Conference
Gardening and Horticulture Teacher Jeannine Davis was featured in the Waldorf Education and the Lifelong Cultivation of Ecological Identity Conference at the Sunbridge Institute. The conference ran from Friday, November 30th through Saturday, December 1st and featured educators from various Waldorf Schools who help nurture healthy relationships between people and the natural world around them.
Senior Speech Recaps
Every Friday the High School gathers in the student room for the weekly Student Assembly that consists of an extended speech by a senior on a topic of particular interest to them. The Senior Speeches are a rite of passage for Waldorf students and are a required part of the High School curriculum. Click below to read recaps of the speeches from the first quarter of the High School Year!
Congratulations Early Decision Applicants
As the Class of 2019 is deep into the college application process, we would like to congratulate the following seniors on their Early Decision acceptances to their top choice colleges.
- Kayla Bayardelle, Marist College
- Claire Hou, Brandeis University
- Hannah Behar, University of Richmond
- Mike Meng, NYU Stern School of Business
- Ella Siff Scherr, Skidmore College
We look forward to sharing more good news in the months to come! Click here to see recent college acceptances from past years.
Kwanzaa in the Early Childhood
Last week, our Early Childhood experienced the African-American celebration of Kwanzaa as performers shared a number of customs, lively dances, and taught the children about the significance of the candles and other traditional Kwanzaa symbols. Celebrated from December 26th through January 1st each year, Kwanzaa reinforces a set of seven community building ideals (Nguzo Saba). Thank you to the Daniels family for coming to share their culture with the children.
CRESLI Speaker Prepares Middle School Students for Upcoming Research
As part of the Middle School Environmental Science curriculum, on December 19th Dr. Arthur Kopelman, SUNY professor and president of the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island (CRESLI), joined our 7th & 8th graders to present his research on the seals who live in the harbors of Long Island. The presentation serves as preparation for an upcoming research trip that the classes will be taking in the early 2019.
Alumni
2018 Carol Sing and Alumni Reception
Last Friday, December 21st, our community came together for our Annual Carol Sing and Alumni/Faculty Reception. It was a beautiful evening which brought peace to the hectic Holiday Season. We thank everyone who joined us.
Alumni Notes
Sarah Keane ’18 enjoyed her Alumni Care Package which she received earlier this month. Thank you to the Class of 2019 who helped assemble these packages for our alums from 2015-2018.
Congratulations to Keith X. Worthy ’82 and his school, The Springfield Central High School Golden Eagles who earlier this month became the first Western Massachusetts team to ever win a Massachusetts State Championship in Football. They had over 500 hundred fans travel to Gillette stadium, home of the New England Patriots, including the Mayor Domenic Sarno. Mayor Sarno presented all of the students, coaches, and Worthy citations and the Key to the City. The team became the first sports team to ever be awarded this honor.
Will Strauss ’16 made Dean’s List for the Fall Semester 2018. He continues his rehab on his shoulder injury and anticipates returning to the baseball field for McDaniel College this spring. Will has also signed a contract to play for the Sag Harbor Whalers in the elite Hampton Collegiate Baseball League this summer.
Michael Reed ’18, forward for the Vaugh College Warriors, was named the HVIAC rookie of the week on Tuesday, December 18th. During the week of December 10th, Reed averaged 16.5 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game with the highlight of the week being a career night win vs. Culinary where he had 19 points and 16 boards.
Last week, members of the class of 1965 and 1970 including Marilynn Carstensen ’70, Paula Valentine Gonthier ’70, Penny Haft ’65, Patty Haft ’70, Laurence Himelfarb ’70, and Alison Klein ’70 gathered from all over the country using online video conferencing and their Waldorf Christmas Carol Books to conduct their own impromptu Carol Sing. Roxanne Murphy ’70 accompanied the songs on piano.
Congratulations to Tarik Carney ’02 on his new position as Political Affairs Officer, Protection of Civilians at United Nations. Tarik will be working closely with teams based in the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Darfur to build protection of civilians strategies curtailed to the specific contexts present in each conflict zone. Advocating for the inclusion of protectioning mainstreaming in training for UN troops and providing field operations with policy support, including guidance handbooks and standard operating procedures on how to protect the most vulnerable in armed conflict.
Visit or Join our Alumni Facebook Group:
We are proud of our Alumni! Please tell us what’s new:
Camp Glen Brook
Happy New Year from all of us at Glen Brook!
We anticipate seeing many of the Waldorf School of Garden City students and families at Glen Brook in 2019.
We still have room for you to register for Winter Camp (February 18 – 23), our February Winter Family Weekend (February 8 – 10) and our new Adult Weekends: Make Things & Sing (March 15 – 17) and Women’s Retreat Weekend (March 22 – 24) and of course Summer Camp (early bird discount ends on January 31st!)
News from AWSNA
Keep up with all the news from the Association of Independent Waldorf Schools in North America by subscribing to their monthly E-News. Learn more by clicking the button below!
Making Sense of Adolescence
Online course for Parents & Teachers at Waldorf School of Garden City.
Created by The Neufeld Institute Facilitated by Lisa Weiner, MSN.
For an overview of the curriculum and to learn more, visit handmadeparenting.com.
Save these Dates
Classes Resume
Monday, January 7th
Alumni Basketball Games & Community Three-Point Contest
Saturday, January 12th. Check-in begins at 10:30 am
Conversations with the Faculty Chair – The Purpose of Adolescence – How Waldorf Education Sets Students Up for Success
Tuesday, January 15th at 9:00 am
Solo Concert (Grades 4-12)
Wednesday, January 16th at 7:00 pm – All are welcome!
Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day (In School Service: Grades 1-8; Outside Projects: Grades 9,11,12)
Thursday, January 17th
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – SCHOOL CLOSED
Monday, January 21st
12th Grade Glen Brook Trip
Monday, January 28th – Friday, February 1st
Sophomore Play – The Inspector by Nicolai Gogol
Thursday, January 31st – Saturday, February 2nd – Recommended Ages to be Determined
Early Childhood Parent-Teacher Conferences – Nursery and Mixed-Age Kindergarten Closed (Grades 1-12 Open)
Monday, February 4th
Lunar New Year – SCHOOL CLOSED
Tuesday, February 5th
Kimberton Basketball Tournament (Varsity Basketball Teams)
Friday, February 8th – Sunday, February 10th
Waldorf Gala – Celebrating 100 Years of Waldorf Education Worldwide
Friday, May 31st – Heritage Club at Bethpage
