October 2019 E-News
~ Celebrating 100 Years of Education Worldwide ~
A Note from the Faculty Chair
Dear Community,
The word Community is used often these days to refer to a variety of situations, and sometimes I wonder if it is over-used and its definition stretched and varied. If you attended Fall Fair this year, I wonder if you experienced the connections of our diverse community like I did.
I saw alums and their families greeting other alums and teachers. I saw alums connecting to HS students. There were former families who attended the fair to re-join our community, to remind us all that they are still present in our lives and have a desire to connect. There were teachers who gave of themselves the full day so the students could have an enchanted experience. PTA members who spent many hours creating and pulling off the large event. Board members came with their children and grandchildren. Folks from Glen Brook were present. The LeSueur family and friends were present to remember Paul LeSueur and announce the kickoff of the rejuvenation of the gym in Paul’s honor. I was part of the clean-up crew, and I can tell you that the sense of community kept going past closing time. I came away feeling the richness and abundance of our Community. As we head into the Thanksgiving mood of the year, we have much for which to be grateful.
Looking ahead, there are a couple of other types of connection opportunities just around the corner. Our Parent/Teacher Conferences are an important touchpoint in the year for parents and teachers to create a shared image of and create support for each child in our School. These take place officially on November 1st, but you can ask for a meeting at any time with any of your child’s teachers.
You are also warmly invited to attend our Thanksgiving Assembly, Wednesday, November 27th at 10:30 am where our full school will be in attendance to enjoy presentations from many grades.
Kelly O’Halogan
Faculty Chair
What’s Happening in Athletics?
The soccer season was an exciting one at Waldorf for all of our varsity and middle school teams. Both varsity teams had a wonderful regular season with the boys finishing with a record of 4 wins, 2 losses, and 2 ties, while our girls finished with 3 wins and 5 losses. Both teams made the semi-final round of the playoffs, where they, unfortunately, were eliminated by strong opponents. Both teams however, fought valiantly to the very final whistle, and all players should be proud of their accomplishments.
Our middle school teams finished their season with a league Soccer Play Day tournament. The boys Play Day was held here at The Waldorf School and the girls were hosted by Green Vale School. It was a fun event that included four teams per tournament: Waldorf, Portledge, LuHi, and Buckely. The girls had a tremendous day,m making it to the final round and placing 2nd overall, while the boys finished 3rd after defeating LuHi.
Varsity Cross Country had another wonderful year at Waldorf. Coach Shawna Thornton took over the team, bringing with her a lot of experience from her time running Track and Field in college. Over the course of the season, the boys and girls teams competed in a number of meets at locations such as Eisenhower Park, Portledge, Stony Brook, and LuHi. Our athletes trained hard and ran fast at every meet, all in preparation for the Championship meet at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. On Monday, October 28th, sixteen Waldorf student-athletes took part in the event. We are proud to announce that the Girls team took home 2nd place overall. Congrats Girls!!
We now turn our attention indoors to basketball season, with practice for both Varsity Teams beginning on Monday, November 4th and practice for the 7th & 8th grade teams beginning on Tuesday, December 3rd.
Announcements
Introducing the WSGC Giving Gnome…
On Tuesday, December 3rd for the 5th consecutive year, The Waldorf School of Garden City community will come together and participate in #GivingTuesday, the global day for charitable giving.
This year our Gnome will be sharing the gift of education with The Lakota Waldorf School. 10% of all gifts received on #GivingTuesday to the Annual Fund will be donated back to The Lakota Waldorf School in support of educational programs and the WSGC Scholarship & Endowment fund.
Please give to the Annual Fund on December 3rd by visiting: www.waldorfgarden.org/donate. Every gift made on December 3rd gives a child the special opportunity for a Waldorf Education. Let’s pay it forward and show our #WaldorfPride.
For more information on the Lakota Waldorf School please visit:
https://lakotawaldorfschool.org/
Lisa Weiner, west coast Waldorf parent, is offering an online course called The Alpha Child, based on Dr. Neufeld’s work. It is well-suited for parents who have bossy, anxious or demanding kids and it is also really amazing for teachers or support staff who are dealing with bullying issues. Learn a new perspective in working with these children in today’s world. You may direct questions directly to Lisa@handmadeparenting.com or click the button for more details and for registration information.
You’re Invited to the Next PTA Meeting
Come join us on Friday, November 15 at 7:00 pm! We invite you to our first evening meeting of the Parent-Teacher Association. Your thoughtful participation would be a welcome addition to the proceedings. We hope to see you all at the meeting!
-The PTA Co-Chairs
High School Fall Concert – Wednesday, November 13th
The High School Music Department will hold the first concert of the 2019-2020 school year on Wednesday, November 13th at 7:00 pm in the Auditorium.
All are encouraged to attend and support our student-musicians.
Enrollment for Early Childhood
Parents who wish to enroll younger siblings in the Nursery and Mixed-Age Kindergarten for September 2020 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.
Holiday Artisan Fair
Come together with members of the Waldorf Community, extended family, and friends to kick off the holiday season at the 2nd Annual Holiday Artisan Gift Fair on Saturday, November 16th, 2019 from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Vendors will provide quality, handmade, natural and Waldorf-friendly goods. Start your holiday shopping while supporting local artisans and The Waldorf School of Garden City at the same time!! The fair is sponsored by the Parent-Teacher Association.
School News
Fall Fair 2019
Gorgeous weather welcomed the 40th annual Fall Fair at the School on Saturday, October 19th. The entire community and beyond spent a day filled with friends, food, and fun. Across the grounds, children were seen playing, crafting, singing, and dancing. Young children were able to enjoy carnival games, jump-rope making, arts & crafts, as well as the annual puppet play featuring a presentation of “Pico the Gnome” performed by the Early Childhood Faculty. For the older children, there were games and music, and for the adults, there were plenty of craft vendors and class fundraisers to explore.
Overall, the Fall Fair once again proved to be a huge success as an important fundraiser for the Parent-Teacher Association.
Thank you to all those who participated in our Alumni Weekend and Fall Fair 2019, and a special thank you to all of the volunteers who took the time to make the event a memorable one.
Red & Blue Day
Last week, Grades 1-4 celebrated Red & Blue Day, an annual event that provides the opportunity to have a mixed-age event with team-building exercises and games. It was also a chance for the 8th graders to take a leadership role and set the tone of the day with fun and sportsmanship. This year activities included a scavenger hunt, tug of war, and capture the flag.
Halloween
Today our School celebrated Halloween. From the Early Childhood to the High School, students and faculty alike participated in a variety of festive holiday activities including the annual Early Childhood Parade and fun parties for the Middle and High School Students.
Sixth Grade Engages in Hands-On Learning at Garvies Point
The sixth grade, under the guidance of Anthony Yaeger and Jeannine Davis, recently took a field trip to Garvies Point Museum and Preserve in Glen Cove, where they spent the day engaging in hands-on learning as part of their Geology Main Lesson Block.
Alumni
Alumni Weekend & Fall Fair
October 18th & October 19th
Alumni Weekend brought so much joy to our School this month!
We are so grateful to our alumni panelists who participated in The Waldorf Symposium – An Alumni Introspection: Experience the Journey after Waldorf. On Friday, graduates from the years 1978 – 2013 represented various career fields sharing their wisdom with our 8th – 12th-grade students as well as faculty, staff, and current and prospective families. The celebrations continued into the evening with an Alumni Welcome Reception at Prost Grill in Garden City. Alumni of all ages had a chance to kick back and reconnect.
The beautiful weather on Saturday made a perfect day for our annual alumni soccer games and a remarkable ceremony honoring the late Paul LeSueur as we announced the plan to rename the School Gymnasium to Paul LeSueur Hall. The official naming of Paul LeSueur Hall will take place during Summer/Fall 2020 after renovations are completed utilizing donations from a special fundraising initiative.
Our sincerest gratitude to every member of our community who helped make this event possible, the LeSueur family, and to our amazing alumni who continue to support us in so many ways. We look forward to seeing everyone at Carol Sing on Friday, December 20th.
Alumni Notes
Kieran Kerekes ’07
Good things can come to those who wait, and for Kieran Kerekes ’07, having an opportunity to experience the premiere of the short film thriller, After Downfall, at the IFP Center in Brooklyn, in which he played the lead role of “Nick,” was truly satisfying. The film tells the story of two young men, Nick and Isaac, trying to survive in their apartment, surrounded by a post-apocalyptic New York, acutely aware of their need to find food, but also ever wary of the threats from the mutated humans known as Savs (also known as savages) and the external radiation that could end their lives if they are not careful. A wonderful time was had that night by cast, crew, and audience. The plans for the film include upcoming film festival submissions, as well as distribution via platforms such as Vimeo and YouTube. Stay tuned!
Rebecca Cooperstein ’16
Rebecca Cooperstein ’16 is the Secretary and Social Media Coordinator for WMUH, the radio station at Muhlenberg College where she is a senior. She was also recently featured in their DJ spotlight and is the co-director of their very first Riff-Off (battle of the bands). Rebecca’s show can be streamed Thursday nights from 8-10 pm by visiting www.muhlenberg.edu/WMUH or on the local radio in Lehigh Valley. Keep up the great work, Rebecca!
Anne M. Murray ’85
Anne M. Murray ’85, moderator of our recent Waldorf Symposium, has been selected as a member of the Class of 2019 for the Long Island Business News Top 50 Most Influential Women in Business awards. The awards honor Long Island’s top women in business, education, government, and the nonprofit sector for their business savvy, influential work, mentoring, and community involvement. Congratulations, Anne!
Luna Splendori ’17
After working at an Italian school (Collina Italiana in Manhattan, NY) over the summer, Luna Splendori ’17 became the president of the Italian Cultural Organization on her campus called CIAO. Luna is an active Italian tutor for both adults and children. For more information on tutoring, please contact Luna at lunasplendori@uchicago.edu.
Hon. Linda K. Mejias ’97 and Dorian R. Glover ’84
Congratulations to Hon. Linda K. Mejias ‘97 and Dorian R. Glover ‘84 who became engaged to be married this past spring in Paris. The happy couple will exchange their vows this coming Valentine’s Day. Linda, who is a Judge in the Nassau County Family Court, was also recently inducted as President of the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association. Dorian is currently the President-Elect of the Nassau County Bar Association and will be sworn in as President in June.
Bob Gold ’73
Bob Gold ‘73, President and CEO of Bob Gold & Associates, a Southern California boutique public relations and marketing agency, was honored as the 2019 Communications Professional of the Year at the Los Angeles PRism Awards celebration on October 15 at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood. Bob Gold was selected for the program’s most distinguished individual accolade, Communications Professional of the Year, for his outstanding leadership and management skills, innovation and creativity, and unparalleled impact and outcomes for clients, as well as his commitment to important causes, charities and mentorship of young professionals. Congratulations, Bob!
Josh Blumenthal ’99
Josh Blumenthal ’99 just welcomed his daughter, Harper Savanna Blumenthal into the world on Saturday, October 26th. Harper’s name has a few unique significances to them. Her initials contain the same ones as her grandmother (SHB), just in a different order, and thus honoring her grandmother in a very deserving and connecting way, and yet allowing Harper her own identity as well. Congratulations to the entire family!
Visit or Join our Alumni Facebook Group:
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Camp Glen Brook
Fall School Trips to Glen Brook
This fall we enjoyed wonderful weeks full of outdoor activities and learning with the 4th, 5th, 8th and 10th grades, and we look forward to welcoming the 6th grade next week. Additionally, we have had classes from Monadnock Waldorf School, Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School, and Deerfield Academy here.
Our work with students is always impactful as these young people get to step out of the business of their lives and settle into life at Glen Brook. Here, myriad opportunities to learn, work, and play together, surround them whether they be on our farm or in our forest or climbing a nearby mountain.
Registration for Glen Brook 2020 Programs Opens on November 4th
Visit our new website where you can register for these Glen Brook Programs:
- Winter Family Weekends (for all ages) – February 7 – 9 & March 13 – 15
- Winter Camp (for grades 3 – 9) – February 17 – 22
- Summer Camp (for grades 3 – 10) – June 28 – August 9 (various sessions)
- Family Camp (for all ages) – August 12 – 16
- 75th Anniversary Celebration (for all ages) – August 29 -30
Call for Cafeteria Volunteers!
Volunteers for the cafeteria are needed on Thursdays, between 11:30 am – 1:30 pm to operate the cash register during lunchtime. Free nutritious lunch included! Contact Aviva Gill at cafeteria@waldorfgarden.org or ext. 308 or Ramona Owens at owensr@waldorfgarden.org or ext. 306 to apply or learn more.
Your assistance will be greatly appreciated!
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!
SAVE THESE DATES
Parent-Teacher Conferences Grades 1-12 – SCHOOL CLOSED FOR ALL GRADES
Friday, November 1st
6th Grade Departs for Glen Brook
Monday, November 4th
Ms. Kata’s Mixed-Age Kindergarten Parent Meeting
Monday, November 4th at 7:00 pm
Ms. Helwig’s Mixed-Age Kindergarten Parent Meeting
Monday, November 4th at 7:00 pm
Ms. Miccio’s Mixed-Age Kindergarten Parent Meeting
Tuesday, November 5th at 6:45 pm
End of 1st Quarter HS
Friday, November 8th
6th Grade Returns from Glen Brook
Friday, November 8th
Lantern Walk (Nursery & Mixed-Age Kindergarten)
Friday, November 8th
Veterans Day – SCHOOL CLOSED
Monday, November 11th
High School Fall Concert ***NEW DATE***
Wednesday, November 13th at 7:00 pm
8th Grade Class Meeting
Wednesday, November 13th at 7:00 pm
Lantern Walk (Grades 1 & 2)
Friday, November 15th at 5:30 pm
PTA Meeting
Friday, November 15th at 7:00 pm
PTA Sponsored Holiday Fair
Saturday, November 16th – 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Lantern Walk (Grade 3)
Saturday, November 16th at 4:00 pm
7th Grade Class Meeting
Wednesday, November 20th at 7:00 pm
5th Grade Class Meeting
Thursday, November 21st at 7:00 pm
Thanksgiving Assembly – 12 noon Dismissal – *No Afternoon Programs*
Wednesday, November 27th at 10:00 am
THANKSGIVING RECESS – SCHOOL CLOSED
Thursday, November 28th – Friday, November 29th
Classes Resume
Monday, December 2nd
Giving Tuesday
Tuesday, December 3rd
Photo Make-Up Day
Wednesday, December 4th
Nursery and Mixed-Age Kindergarten Winter Spiral
Sunday, December 8th
Winter Spiral
Monday, December 9th
Lower/Middle School Winter Concert (Grades 5-8)
Wednesday, December 11th
High School Holiday Dinner
Saturday, December 14th
Don’t Forget you can Shop and Support The Waldorf School of Garden City with the following organizations!
