Michaelmas

Below is the class three newsletter that we just got.  I think that the message is applicable to everyone at this time of year.  Attached is a photo of Calen's class at the apple picking day that they just did.

The play was great as always.  This year was special because it is Calen's second year acting in it and third year seeing it.  I asked him what the play meant (because I was still not too sure myself) and he told the story of St. Michael being called upon to bring to submission the dragon.  This year, Calen's part was as a group of shooting stars that bring to earth a metal strong enough to make a sword for St Michael to use against the dragon.  This annual play that all students act in is one of the many parts of the Waldorf curriculum that make it unique.

Here is the news letter.

Bright gliding meteors
Curve through the night.
Michael's messengers,
Silent our flight.
Scatter we stars,
far down below,
that a sword may be forged
and the dragon laid low!

Dear Families,

What a rich and full week we have had!  Looking back on it with the children, we were surprised to realize that we had done so much in just one week - from our wonderful trip apple-picking, to building our sukkah, to sharing music and food together at our potluck.  Our field trip was magical - the children had a wonderful time climbing trees, picking and shaking down apples and shining them up to sparkle in the sun.  We drank fresh-pressed apple cider and played in the orchard.  And Farmer Dan led us on a beautiful walk through the woods, sunlight glinting through the tall, silent trees and gnomes seemingly around every corner.  I have attached a photo of us there in the woods, and one of the children playing in the orchard.  A very big thank you goes out to the parents who came along and helped us on this trip.

The next day, we got right to work, building our class sukkah.  Mr. Lloyd helped the children learn to use a post-hole digger, which insured that the four corners would be strong, and then the children worked together to figure out how to build the walls.  Then Todd McCoy (Tucker's dad) helped us with the roof, and they set to work decorating, proudly hanging the fruits of their harvest from the roof, weaving willow branches into the walls and standing cornstalks and sunflowers up against them.  We were surprised and delighted to find that we could fit the whole class inside at lunchtime!  And more than one child has spoken about how good it feels to sit inside their sukkah.  As the children find their way to an awareness of their own "inside" as separate from the rest of the world outside, building and inhabiting a structure they have made gives them a tangible experience of the soul-work they are doing throughout this time of the 9-year-change.

It was also very sweet to share our sukkah, songs and verses with you at the potluck on Thursday.  I so appreciated this chance for families to reconnect, and I thank you all for bringing your help, your wonderful dishes and your spirit of community to our gathering!

This weekend's rain has made it clear that we all need our BOOTS at school.  If you haven't already, please have your child bring in rain boots by Tuesday, so we have them for farm class.  Please make sure that your children wear other shoes to school, so they can leave their boots outside the classroom.

This week, we gather up our courage and our strong wills, and take up the work of Michaelmas.   On Friday's workday we will work with and alongside the other classes to take responsibility for the care and beauty of our campus.   (Stay tuned for another note about any tools or help we may need for our workday.)  Then we will enjoy a snack together, and prepare to present our Michaelmas pageant at 4:00, with our class of "bright, gliding meteors" ready to glide through their eurythmy form for you.   Please arrive early, with picnic blankets, dishes and utensils in hand.  After the pageant, the children will return to our classroom to change out of their costumes, and you can pick them up there.  Once they are dismissed, I turn them over to your hands.  I ask that you supervise them during the potluck, whether it is in our playground or another, as there will be many families and children sharing the space, without the teacher supervision the children are used to during recess.

Finally, I want to draw your attention to a series of classes on Waldorf Education and a workshop on the temperaments, all being held by my colleague Don Basmajian in the upcoming months.  Don brings years of experience and a deep, gentle wisdom to his understanding of the children and the Waldorf classroom, and his classes are sure to be inspiring to all.  See below for more information.

Warmly,
~Annemarie