January 2022 E-News
| January 2022 |
A Message from the Faculty Chair
Dear Community,
Happy New Year!
Over the past couple of years, we have heard and experienced the word “polarization.” We see it in the world, our country, and sometimes in our own WSGC community. Long-time Waldorf teachers now speak about having to teach in a different way as classes present themselves more often as a group of individuals rather than a whole class. This trend toward the individual over the community can make us feel at odds with one another. Jack Petrash, a master teacher who recently visited our School, put it in these words: “We get a sense that we are not breathing together.” This arhythmical atmosphere affects us–whether or not we are aware of it.
I can’t help but think that in the wisdom of the spiritual world, there must be a reason for us to experience this. Perhaps by exploring and discovering a stronger sense of individualism the pendulum will swing back to create a new form of community that will bring humanity further along its journey.
With that possibility in mind, I wish each and every one of you a new year that brings peace of mind, self-discovery, curiosity, and purpose. May we take the challenges the last couple of years have brought us, learn from them, and then use them to the benefit of our highest selves so that we may, in turn, bring those gifts to others.
In peace,
Announcements
Hybrid* Winter Parent & Child and Online Expectant/New Parent Classes begin January 3rd !
Join us for one of our well-loved Parent & Child Classes or our new online expectant/new parent classes – formerly known as Parent & Infant classes – and build community with other parents as well as guidance from one of our Waldorf Early Childhood faculty members. We will discuss and implement self-care for new parents while discovering balanced approaches to meeting the growing demands of parenthood. Enroll now as groups fill up quickly.
*Testing for parents and caregivers attending the in-person portion of our Parent & Child classes will be required until such safety measures are no longer deemed necessary. Parents and caregivers are welcome to take a rapid test at our school at no cost. Testing will be administered daily between 7:30 am and 9:30 am. (a one-time registration is required, click this link). A picture of a rapid test taken at home on the morning of class will also be accepted by the School Nurse. Families who attend classes on Saturdays may bring a copy or picture of their negative rapid test results taken that morning
Please contact Deanna Guzman with questions.
Save the Date for our Spring Benefit!
Save the Date! Our Spring Benefit will take place Thursday, May 19th, at The Royalton Mansion in Roslyn. We look forward to sharing more information soon, including announcing our esteemed honorees! The event will feature a silent auction. Have connections or are interested in donating an auction item? Contact Bianca at lerouxb@waldorfgarden.org regarding how you can support and other volunteer opportunities.
We look forward to celebrating together.
Alumni Basketball Games – Cancelled
In the interest of safety, we are, unfortunately, unable to gather for our Alumni Basketball games this year. We look forward to getting back on the court together again in 2023!
School News
Happy New Year!
Please enjoy these scenes from the first half of the school year. Wishing everyone a wonderful 2022!
Current Senior, Joshua Wang, was awarded the Peter A. Zimmerman M.D., J.D., Award for Academic and Intellectual Excellence following his senior speech this morning, where he gave a touching, funny, and well-thought-out presentation about being a Waldorf lifer who has never owned a cell phone.
Joshua, an all-round high achieving student, came to The Waldorf School of Garden City in 2007 when he was in the Nursery. Waldorf is his second home, and he is known around the School to have a calm and relaxed presence as he quietly generates ideas that always add positively to class debates and discussions.
Over the course of his high school years, Joshua has participated on the soccer, basketball, baseball, and cross-country teams, and was named co-captain of the varsity soccer team this fall. An accomplished musician, composer, and music producer, Joshua plays violin, viola, mandolin, and guitar. Last June, at the High School Commencement, he played his original composition for mandolin entitled, Reel in D Major. He is also a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and has participated in the high school musicals. Outside of school, Joshua is a member of the New York Youth Symphony in Manhattan and the Children’s Orchestra Society in Syosset.
Glen Brook
UPCOMING EVENTS at Camp Glen Brook!
Winter Camp For 3rd – 10th grade. February 21st – February 26th.
Winter Family Weekends Weekend 1: February 4th – 6th. Weekend 2 : March 11th – 13th (Full, but you can sign up to join the waiting list.)
Winter Gap Semester For 18 – 21-year-olds. January 9th – February 23rd.
For more information and to register, go to: Dates & Rates – Camp Glen Brook
What’s Happening in Athletics?
Dear Waldorf Sports Fans,
December concluded the second month of basketball at The Waldorf School of Garden City, and it is hard to believe that we are already halfway through the season! Our varsity girls basketball team got off to a wonderful start this winter when they beat the ever-strong LWA 37-21. Since then, they have been training and practicing hard with Coach Shawna and Coach Kay. Unfortunately, they lost their next two games to Portledge, and the Schechter school. Before the end of term, the girls had two games rescheduled to later in the season, games that Coach Shawna is eager to play and use to improve their overall season record.
The varsity boys basketball team is currently sitting in 3rd place in the PSAA West Division with their 1-1 record. They narrowly lost to a strong Martin Luther team but won when they traveled to The Lexington School. They return to action the first week after the break, and we are all hopeful that there won’t be any further interruption to our winter season. Keep an eye out on our social media pages for links to the live streaming of almost all varsity basketball games!
Our 7th & 8th-grade teams are getting better with every practice. Both teams officially begin their season the week that we return from break as they take on Buckley Country Day School. All student-athletes are excited to apply what they have been working on in practice to a competitive LIAAIS interscholastic game.
Go, Waldorf Wolves!
I hope you all had a very happy holiday season, and I wish you a healthy and safe New Year,
Shane Flanagan
Director of Athletics
Alumni
Alumni Notes
Class of 1972
Calling all Class of 1972 alums! It’s been 50 years since graduating from The Waldorf School of Garden City, congratulations! Reunion plans are underway for June 2022. If you’re interested in taking part in your class reunion, contact Gary Simpson at gary@windmillcapital.com. Remember this photo from 50 years ago? We look forward to you all getting back together to re-connect and make new memories as well as reliving past ones.
Class of 1971
Earlier in November, the class of 1971 gathered virtually for their 50-year reunion. Karen Tomlinson ’71 said, “the event was a big success,” with 21 classmates on the call. Karen also said, “We all shared lots of laughs and good memories and were amazed at how quickly the comfortable banter and familiarity with each other came back!” Other classmates including Tina Bodtke Carlson said, “Fifty years seemed both long and yet strangely brief!” We are so happy you all were able to connect and celebrate 50 years, congratulations!
Ana Allen ‘18
Congratulations to Ana Allen ’18 who will be working for the Office Attorney General of Connecticut under Attorney General William Tong for part of her spring semester. Ana will be working in refugee resettlement initiatives, policy drafting and research, and other community outreach efforts. Ana is a senior at Quinnipiac University.
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News from AWSNA
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Save These Dates
Student and Employee Covid Testing, 7 am – 11 am
SCHOOL CLOSED
Monday, January 3rd
Classes Resume
Tuesday, January 4th
Alumni Basketball Games – Cancelled
Saturday, January 8th
All School Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day
Thursday, January 13th
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – SCHOOL CLOSED
Monday, January 17th
End of 1st Semester (LS) & End of 2nd Quarter (HS)
Friday, January 28th
EARLY CHILDHOOD CLOSED – PARENT CONFERENCES
Monday, January 31st
Lunar New Year – SCHOOL CLOSED
Tuesday, February 1st
Don’t Forget you can Shop and Support The Waldorf School of Garden City with the following organizations!
