~ Celebrating Over 70 Years of Education in Garden City ~

---

---

Announcements

Giving Season is Upon Us!

Our Annual Fund Appeal went out in the mail last week and we are now prepping for #GivingTuesday, the global day of giving. How can you get involved? Support our School by making a gift of any size on Tuesday, November 30^th.

Making a gift to the Annual Fund offsets costs that are not covered by tuition.  What are some of these costs?

• Professional Diversity Equity Inclusion Justice Development
• Facility upgrades and ongoing COVID-19 protocols
• Ongoing sustainability projects and initiatives both at Glen Brook & WSGC

During this wonderful season of gratitude, let’s take a moment to honor those who have and continue to make a tremendous impact on our lives. Is there a teacher past or present that has made a difference? If so, honor them with a gift!

Visit www.waldorfgarden.org/donate to make a donation today. Stay tuned for more #GivingTuesday details coming soon, including meeting our 2021 Gnome!

Questions? Contact Samantha at daleos@waldorfgarden.org or call 516-742-3434 ext. 313.

Thank you for your support!

---

Deepening our Work: Supporting Children in Times of Uncertainty

On November 17th at 7:30 pm, we will welcome back seasoned Waldorf educator and founder of Nova Institute, Jack Petrash for the second installment of our Waldorf Education Speaker Series. Save the date! An e-mail will follow with details. Watch Mr. Petrash’s last talk at The Waldorf School of Garden City, click here.

---

Parenting Support Classes!

Implementing the values of Simplicity Parenting and Discipline & Guidance Programs

Designed for parents/guardians of children aged 2 to 12.

Join our community of parents as we discuss the gifts and struggles of parenting, child development, and raising healthy children in these challenging times. This class will open with a discussion, which will include topics such as rhythm, self-care, environment, developmental milestones, balancing and understanding family values, and more.

Go deeper into understanding the benefits of discipline and the developing will of children. Learn to discover new and unique ways to work with your child which will bring more peace and joy to the child and yourself. Whether you zoom in to listen and learn or you share your obstacles in order to learn ways to navigate the sometimes bumpy road of discipline, this class will help build your confidence as a parent and create a new joy as you find common threads with the participating community members, and new inspirations while raising your child.

For more information and registration please visit: https://www.waldorfgarden.org/parenting-support/

---

Photo by Iwonka Piotrowska

Free Tea & Play Sessions

If you or someone you know has a young child who might benefit from our Parent & Child classes, rsvp now for a FREE 45-minute, outdoor (weather dependent), engaging info-session with Waldorf-trained teacher, Stephanie Cleary. Families are invited to attend with their child(ren) ages 1-3 years old. Bring your own hot beverage to learn and experience Parent & Child while your child(ren) enjoys playtime!

---

The Magic Closet is Back!

The Magic Closet will continue to be open BY APPOINTMENT ONLY through the holiday season.

The hours will be:

• Tuesdays – 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Wednesdays – 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Thursdays – 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Please contact Maryjane Dougherty (mjanedougherty@aol.com) to arrange an appointment.  We ask that you limit your visit to the store to a maximum of 15 minutes and have only 1 adult present at a time. For the health and safety of our community, we ask that there is no lingering in the lobby or hallways and dismissal will still happen outside.

Looking forward to seeing you! See a gallery of some of the Magic Closet offerings in the gallery below!

---

Interested in Crafting?

Join the Parent Craft Circle with handwork teacher Karen Talluto on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 8:15 am – 10:15 am outside in the U. Drop-ins welcome. Contact Karen at tallutok@waldorfgarden.org with questions and information about inclement weather contingency plans.

---

Parent/Teacher Association

PTA meeting originally scheduled for 11/3 is cancelled. A new date will be determined soon.

---

School News

Nature and Healthy Human Development

Congratulations to Gardening Teacher Glenn Tippy on a very well-researched article that was published online for the Waldorf teacher community by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North American (AWSNA).

The article is titled, The Importance of Nature as it Relates to Healthy Human Development. Here is an excerpt: “The words, “healthy child & adult development” should be at the forefront of every conversation and decision-making process that occurs in the world of education. However, it sadly seems that our society and school systems are heading in the opposite direction. In my research, I have discovered that this divide between children and the outdoors is the result of a shift in values and understanding of healthy child development. This divide is perpetuated by parents and caregivers, as well as the major institutions of our technological age.

---

Enthusiasm Abounds during Fall Fair Weekend and Waldorf Symposium

We kicked off an exciting Alumni and Fall Fair Weekend on Friday, October 15th when ten alumni from across the country joined us virtually for our annual Waldorf Symposium. They shared their unique journeys after leaving The Waldorf School of Garden City and how the School helped shape their career paths. Josh Blumenthal ’99, Amir Diop ’17, Danielle Gill ’05, Dorian Glover ’84, Rachael Holder ’01, Karnika Kisnadwala ’12, Ken Marissael ’71, Hon. Linda K. Mejias-Glover ’97, Sim Singh ’07, and Elana Temple ’07 answered a number of questions about how their experiences at The WSGC differentiated them from their peers in college and in their careers, and how they define success. Resilience, staying curious, and the ability to pivot to make things work in any situation were some repeated themes.

“My Waldorf education instilled in me, grit, the tools to learn, and collegiality–a particularly important skill to take with you into the world.” Hon. Linda K. Mejias-Glover ’97

 

To read more and see a full gallery of all the events that took place during Alumni Weekend and Fall Fair click the “Read more” button below. 

 

---

The Roots of Waldorf Education

On October 20th, we presented the first installment of a new Waldorf Education Speaker Series designed to provide background and education for families about what, why, and how students are educated at The Waldorf School of Garden City.

Please click this link to watch the full presentation of “The Roots of Waldorf Education and The Waldorf School of Garden City with Roland Rothenbucher.”

Glen Brook 

The fall season has been underway with a flourish of bounty, beauty, and gratitude.  Here’s an example of  a fairly typical fall day here at Glen Brook:

• 5th graders enjoy a snack and free time between their work in Gabriel’s Field harvesting potatoes and kale for the night’s supper. Playing in the meadow with the trees ablaze with the peaking fall foliage, they laugh and run in their last few minutes before they begin cooking, stacking firewood, and pressing cider.  They’ll eat well tonight before their big mountain climb tomorrow!
• Meanwhile, the Gappers are engaging with their chosen apprenticeships. A small group with an instructor is backpacking in the White Mountains, amazed at the views for hundreds of miles, and the surprisingly warm nights for camping. They will return in a few days glowing, energized, and with stories to share! Other gappers are learning to be outdoor educators and working with the 5th grade, and even more, are learning and helping in the kitchen and on the farm, learning about how and why we source our food with so much work, love, and care
• In the forest, a group of toddlers in the Wild Hearts program on our land explores trails, streams, and begins work on a dam in Glen Brook, a dam that will grow in the coming weeks to be quite formidable!

All year round, people of all ages come to Glen Brook to meet their best selves through connection with each other and the outdoor world. They experience a model community that is founded on sustainability and care.

We’re already planning for all the programs in the coming year, and while we have more applicants than ever, we still have space available for Summer Camp, Our new Winter Gap Semester, Winter Camp, Winter Family Weekend 1, August Family Camp, and we’ll soon open sign-ups for our 76th-anniversary celebration this August.

We hope to welcome you or your child here this year!

Mark Stehlik
Glen Brook Executive Director

Keep up with all that’s happening at Camp Glen Brook on Facebook, Instagram, and their new website here!

What’s Happening in Athletics?

And just like that, our first athletic season for the 2021-2022 school year comes to an end but not without amazing achievements, and wonderful demonstrations of teamwork and sportsmanship from your Waldorf student-athletes.

Our Varsity Cross Country team had a memorable season. With only three runners, Coach Shawna focused on their individual development and supported their ability to improve and accomplish their goals.

• 9th grader Aahna Krish accomplished a lot in her first season running. Not only did she beat the personal goal she set for herself at the beginning of the season, but she also showed wonderful sportsmanship and comradery at every meet she attended.
• 11th grader Cameron Seviroli was a wonderfully positive influence on the team. His leadership and hard work were felt at every meet, culminating with him achieving his best run time at the Championship meet.
• 10th grader Silas Carter showed wonderful dedication to the team all season long. He achieved his best run time in the championship meet, and he was awarded an achievement medal as a memento to his placing and his placing hard work.

Our 7th & 8th-grade boys and girls teams finished their seasons with home games against Buckley on Thursday, October 28th. Both teams overcame some very difficult adversity throughout the season. The girls’ numbers have been limited all season, but Coach Alexa was able to bring out the best in the 11 girls she had, and they finished the season with an encouraging win over Buckley. The boys team faced very stiff competition against some very well-organized and experienced teams. Under Coach Steve’s guidance, they improved week to week and learned from every game they played. They finished the season with a narrow loss against Buckley, but Coach Steve was encouraged by their performance and sees a lot of potential going forward.

 At the Varsity level, the Varsity Girls Soccer Team had to face their fair share of adversity, considering they are in a league with recent state championship representatives. This reality didn’t sway our girls, and they competed hard in every game they played. Coach Alexa and I were incredibly proud of how they carried themselves and represented our School. It was a tough and trying season, but with the support, positivity, and encouragement from our captains, 12th grader Jordan Henry, and 10th grader Alex Burtis-Wyant, we left every game with our heads held high and hopeful for how the team will come together over the next few years.

THE VARSITY BOYS ARE PSAA METRO CONFERENCE SOCCER

CHAMPIONS! After an impressive regular season campaign that finished with a 6-0 record, they entered playoffs focused, determined, silently confident that they would bring home the Championship to Waldorf. They blew past Lawrence Woodmere Academy in the semi-finals, beating them 6-1, and took command of the Championship final early in the second half against The Schechter School of Long Island. They would continue to dominate the game and go on to win 5-2, bringing the PSAA Metro Conference Soccer Championship title home to Waldorf for the first time since 2015! Coach Roberto and Coach Steve did an amazing job keeping the team grounded and focused on the task at hand, one day and one game at a time. Some amazing performances were displayed throughout the game, most notably by 12th graders Joshua Wang, Colin Li, and Florent Rhuma. Two goals apiece were scored by 11^th grader Jasper Weinberger and 10th grader Orates Blades, and rising star, Olivier Rhuma netted one goal. Congratulations to the team and all they have accomplished in honor of our School.

 A link for both playoff games can be found here: https://www.waldorfgarden.org/athletics-video-archive/

GO WALDORF!!

Shane Flanagan
Director of Athletics

Alumni

Alumni Notes

The Class of 2011

The Class of 2011 celebrated their 10-year reunion during Alumni Weekend/Fall Fair 10/15-10/16. The class gathered at Platdeautch Friday night (see picture below). The next day, most of the class was also able to make it to our Annual Fall Fair, many playing in the Alumni Soccer Games, and then recapped at Black Sheep and PS Burgers for dinner that night. Congratulations on 10 years!

Pictured left to right:
Costa Trikas, Olivia Paone, Jordan Carmon, Sam Iaccarino-Faye, Cris Longoria, Sean Proctor, Jimmy Zeph, Landon Twine, Seaton White.

---

Sarah Chimino ’11 and Jordan Dejongh ‘11

Sarah Chimino ‘11 and Jordan Dejongh ’11 couldn’t make their class’s 10-year reunion, so they decided to have their own mini-reunion to celebrate 10 years since graduating from Waldorf. The two live down in Texas and spent the day with Sarah’s son, Shaafi.

---

Meagan Gallagher ’09 and James Sievert ‘09

On 10/16/2021, on the same day as our Annual Fall Fair, James Sievert ’09 and Meagan Gallagher ’09 got married at the Hedges Inn in East Hampton, NY. They were fortunate enough to have great weather and to be surrounded by family and friends, many of which are connected to the Waldorf community. Meagan says, “We feel blessed to have met each other through Waldorf and to have such a strong sense of community within our Waldorf family. It was truly such a special weekend.” Congratulations to you both!

---

Christianna (Giordano) Pally ’06

Congratulations to Christianna (Giordano) Pally ’06 and her husband, Brian Pally, who welcomed their first child, William Mason, on August 11th, 2021. His arrival into this world landed on Brian’s birthday, making the day even more special!

---

William Scott Galasso ‘70

William Scott Galasso, Poet, Writer, Author, Self-Publisher, and Owner of Galvin Press has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Artists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in poetry.

Mr. Galasso is the author of 17 poetry books that have been translated and published into more than 15 languages, most recently “Legacy: Thirty Years of Haiku,” 2020, and “Rough Cut: Thirty Years of Senryu,” 2019.

He is currently an editor for The California Quarterly, In addition, his poem, The Year We Never Saw Coming, was chosen first out of 295 poems for the San Diego Poetry Anthology and in June he was featured haiku poet of the month at the Mann Library at Cornell University.

---

 

Visit or Join our Alumni Facebook Group:

We are proud of our Alumni! Please tell us what’s new:

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!

Daylight Savings Ends
Saturday, November 7th