May 2015 - Summerfield Waldorf School

Messenger
May 28, 2015
Volume 27, Issue 9
Congratulations to the Class of 2015!
Senior Class, with advisors Kyle Collins and Isabel Wundsam.
Top Row (L-R): Lucina Strandjord, Bryce Silver-Bates, Kyle Collins,
Alexander Rossin, Jenner Glessner, Elliot Behling,
Drew Bulloch, Eric Marquette, Miles Stapp
Middle Row: Kiya Polo-Schlosberg, Rose Lee, Cage Claypool,
Mercedes Bähr, Kayla Wooldridge, Tom Daligault, Zoe Hunt, Salma Qazi
Bottom Row: Isabelle Wundsam, Alexa Criste, Ashlyn Dean,
Sassicaia Dolan, Eliana Lanphar, Yulan Raineri Holtz,
Sabrina Mann, Madeline Gibson, Siena Shepard
Absent: Delek Miller
Congratulations to our Seniors. We applaud them on the completion
of their high school years. They have worked hard and given much
to Summerfield, each having come to know and understand their special gifts.
Below is a list of their destinations next year. We wish
them all the best in their future endeavors and adventures in the world!
~ The Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm Community
senior graduation
Sun, Jun 7 • 10am • Circus Tent
Mercedes Bähr
Gap Year with Kroka & Travel
Sabrina Mann
UC Berkeley
Elliot Behling
Claremont McKenna College
Eric Marquette
Western Washington University
Drew Bulloch
Willamette College
Delek Miller
UC Santa Cruz
Cage Claypool
Laguna School of Art and Design
Kiya Polo-Schlosberg Santa Rosa Junior College
Alexa Criste
Humboldt State University
Salma Qazi
Santa Rosa Junior College
Tom Daligault
University of Puget Sound
Yulan Raineri Holtz
Fashion Inst. of Design & Merchandising
Ashlyn Dean
American University
Al Rossin
University of St Andrews, Scotland
Caia Dolan
CU Boulder
Siena Shepard
University of Victoria, Canada
Maddy Gibson
Quest University Canada
Bryce Silver-Bates
University of Puget Sound
Jenner Glessner
CSU Monterey Bay
Miles Stapp
Circus Training
Zoe Hunt Pitzer College
Lucina Strandjord
University of Puget Sound
Eliana Lanphar Seattle University
Kayla Wooldridge
Linfield College
Rose Lee
Santa Rosa Junior College
Letter from the Board
Farewell to
Departing Staff
By Jefferson Buller, on behalf of the Board of Directors
Although from a distance the school may look dormant during summertime,
it is nevertheless a place filled with quiet excitement and energy. Faculty and
staff are bustling softly behind the scenes all through the warmest months,
as curriculums are studied, playgrounds and classrooms are organized, and
preparations are made for the year to come. The work of the Board is very
similar. We use the time over the next few months to come together and set
the strategic vision for the following year. Our Executive and Site committees
will continue to meet and maintain forward progress on our large infrastructure
projects; namely the septic system renewal and the Art-Tech building that you
have heard so much about. Our Development, Tuition Assistance, and Finance
committees will focus on financial and budget related items as we finish up our
fiscal preparations and fine tune projections for the 2015-2016 school year. The
board will also conduct a retreat where we meet and discuss the vision for the
short and long-term future of the school. Summer is truly a productive time, as
we gather the vigor necessary to spring into action when we all come back in
August, bursting with anticipation for a new year.
2014-2015 has been fruitful for the school from a financial perspective, as we
have maintained our projected small surplus and retained a stable financial picture
for the year. We’ve made significant progress on our Site Development projects,
with septic well under way, and Art-Tech beginning to blossom in the planning
stages. From a Development perspective, Annual Giving was a resounding
success with 100% participation from board, faculty, staff, and families, and Farm
to Feast was widely considered to be our most successful yet. We were honored
to have many founders in attendance, and were graced with the eloquence of
two notable Alumni parents (and founders themselves,) Philip and Mary Beard.
We also had the great privilege of hearing the thoughts of recent graduate Dawn
Barlow and senior Elliot Behling, who brought an articulate picture of their
experiences at Summerfield, and what they feel their relationship to the school
will mean for them in “the real world.”
As we move into next year, special attention will continue to be paid to improving
staff salaries, while at the same time fine tuning our expenses and keeping a close
eye on enrollment, fundraising, development, and income opportunities.
As I’ve said a few times before, we are committed to the long-term
sustainability and fiscal resilience of this institution, but we never lose sight of
the trust you place in us, and recognize that we are so fortunate to be serving in
our capacity of volunteer stewards of this school. We strive every day to make
sure the legacy that has been built here at SWSF continues indefinitely.
Have a great break, and we’ll see you in the fall!
We have
been blessed
to have such
light and
talent in our
strings and
ensemble
teacher
Abigail Summers. She introduced
violin to our lower grades,
and brought rigorous and
entertaining selections for
our middle and high school
ensembles to wrestle with on
stage. She and her family are
returning to England after being
away a few years.
Farewell,
too, to Kris
Boshell, who
brought her
keen eye
for noticing
where
support
is needed. Over these past
six years Kris has helped us
attend to children in need of
developmental support through
her extra lesson work. Kris also
helped support our vocalists in
the high school musical. Kris and
her husband Alex are returning to
their home town, to work for the
Chicago Waldorf School next year.
~ Jamie Lloyd, LS Coordinator,
for Governance Council
____________________________
In our March issue we bade
farewell to departing White
Rose Kindergarten teacher
Thalia Baril, and welcomed her
successor Ms. Cynthia Vargas.
Please see right for news from
Yellow Rose Kindergarten,
and from America Worden,
Counselor for Sixth-Tenth Grade.
Eighth Grade vs Faculty &
Staff Softball Game
Come cheer on teachers and students
in our annual softball game on
Wednesday, June 3, from 11am-12:45pm.
Everyone is welcome! ~ Don Basmajian
2
Our beloved
Yellow Rose
Kindergarten
teaching
assistant, Fawn
Bassett (Miss
Fawn) is finishing
her last year at
Summerfield. She
will be missed very much! We
were very fortunate to have her
gentle, capable presence in the
kinder village for six jolly years.
Happily, Miss Fawn is leaving to
join her fiancé in Mendocino.
She promises to come back
for visits and has accepted our
impractical request to remain
on our substitute teachers list.
Schools in Mendocino are eager
to scoop her up, and she will
be teaching some very lucky
children come fall. Our love,
gratitude and best wishes will
follow her north.
Thank goodness
for Miss Erin! Erin
Hallinan, who has
been assisting
and teaching our
very youngest
children in the
early years classes, like Blossoms
and Roots and Shoots, will step
into the Yellow Rose classroom
as the new teaching assistant.
She is already a known and
loved kindergarten substitute.
The children and teachers are
delighted to have her join the
crew. Miss Sarah, especially, looks
forward to welcoming such a fine
new teacher, and getting to know
Cecilia (Miss Erin’s daughter)
who is in the upcoming fourth
grade, as well. We are blessed at
Summerfield.
~ Sarah Whitmore, YRK Teacher
may faire photos by cynthia raiser jeavons
A Bittersweet
Announcement
May Faire Appreciations
By Andrea Jolicoeur, Lower School Secretary
How wonderful it is to come together and create a day filled with flowers
everywhere, sweet music in the air, and our children dancing around the May
Pole. There was good food, great people and of course, lots of fun being had
at the Faire. It was an amazing day!
A big, warm thank you is due to our amazing May Faire Committee of first and
second grade parents: Julie Milcoff, Michelle Bovard, Merlin Bloom, Heidi
Ostroff, Michelle Saxton, Patty Enochian, Stephanie Everage and Elizabeth
Kaiser—your care and hard work made our Faire shine! Thank you to all
the faculty and staff who played a part—especially Skeydrit Bähr, Deborah
Friedman, and Craig Silva—we couldn’t have done it without you! And thank
you to the cooks and bakers, musicians and
decorators, heavy lifters, tractor drivers, parking
attendants, activity organizers and helpers, and
countless others who made this event happen—
too many to name, but we know who you are, and
I hope you know how much we appreciate your
part in creating this year’s May Faire.
May Faire photographs were taken by Cynthia Raiser
Jeavons: View pictures here :
cynthiaraiserjeavons.shootproof.com/event/1469692
Gallery Password: Flowers!
Letter from America
After much heart-searching, I have decided to leave
my position as counselor for sixth-tenth grades and
make space for someone who can really give their
all to the work in a way I can’t with a new baby.
I will dearly miss being part of our dedicated and
inspiring faculty, and the privilege of working with
each unique student and class. I will be opening a small private practice in
the fall, and I do hope to return to Summerfield if that becomes possible
in the future—we’ll see! Thank you for enriching my life so much these
past three years! ~ America Worden, Sixth-Tenth Grade Counselor
3
My Waldorf Experience
By Max Lee, Eighth Grade Student
The first time I was introduced to
Waldorf schools and teaching was
through my two cousins. Whenever
they came to visit my family they
were always wanting to climb a
tree or push each other on wheeled
objects. My family is what you could
call “weird”. We were usually the
odd ones out, what with the entire
family being able to play more than
one instrument and because we
incorporated German and Swiss
customs into our social lives. We
would use German terms to describe
things which made people look at
us strangely. Public school kids in
my experience, seem connected to
technology in a bad way. They are
always talking about it, constantly
playing with cellphones, and never
seeming to hold a conversation
without saying the word “like” an
obscene amount of times. With my
cousins, it was different. We just
clicked in a certain way. We all
knew how to communicate in our
strange manner and liked to do all
the same things together. Henceforth,
I was introduced into what is called
Waldorf.
When my parents died, I moved
to my aunt and uncle’s house
in Northern
California. Here,
I was accepted
at Summerfield
Waldorf School
and Farm to the
eighth grade
class and teacher
Tricia Walker.
My cousins are in
first and fifth grade
with Mr. Smout
and Ms. Pothof.
My first day at
Summerfield, I was introduced to
my class. To my astonishment, the
entire class of students personally
introduced themselves with a
handshake and pleasant smile. Since
“normal” people seem to have
forgotten to be human and greet each
other, you could call Waldorfians
“weird”. Later in the day I discovered
that when a Waldorf teacher starts
out, she gets a group of students in
first grade. Then, she progresses
through the grades with the same
group of students with the occasional
dropout or add-on. This way of
teaching was new to me, and I think
it is quite an interesting perspective.
As I was getting used to the new
ways of teaching, I began to be more
of a social person, forming better and
closer friendships and relationships
with my family. The first close friend
that I made in the class is probably
Harry. We clicked because of our
European backgrounds through
parents and because of our love
of music. We began talking about
different bands we liked and decided
to spend some time together outside
of school. This led to me going
over to his house on Mondays to
do homework together. Harry and
I also started a tradition we call
“Game Night” which is basically
a boardgame-rampage-paloozasleepover-potluck every month on the
first Saturday. This was the beginning
of my social life as a Waldorf student.
4
photo by angela pryor-garat
Mrs. Walker’s Eighth Grade class were asked to write an
essay reflecting on their Waldorf experience. Here is one
student’s essay.
Mrs. Walker was the first teacher
that I really connected with and
respected. The other staff members
at Summerfield that I met later
included Frau Bähr and the practical
art teachers, with a smattering of
high school teachers. The schedules
of the school week were fairly easy
to get used to and made sense to me,
mixing challenging subjects and
less challenging subjects equally.
Public school schedules seemed
boring to me as well as monotonous.
Compared to making your own
textbook like real students should!
Summerfield has changed my
career as a student in many ways,
including making me more
interested in a subject just by the
way it was introduced and organized.
My relationship with organized
sports became less boring. The
Waldorf kids just respected each
other and competed appropriately.
Therefore, I joined the soccer team at
Summerfield.
One moment that really changed my
life as a person was Biography Night.
I had always been timid in front of an
audience until I saw the community
of parents and teachers here at
school. Mrs. Walker really helped
me become comfortable with my
classmates through our rehearsals in
class; enough so that I thought of the
class as a united whole that worked
together instead of each person alone
with their own role in life.
We Proudly Announce the Commencement of the 2015 Eighth
Grade Class on Saturday, June 6 at 11am, in Sophia Hall
Samantha Allen • Dillon Behling
• Whitney Block • Ula Camastro •
Blake Coffman • Jonathan Crutcher
• Lucinda DeNatale • Henry Eitel
• Sophia Feinstein • Zachary FeltonPriestner • Michael Franceschi • Grace Henry
• Maya Humphreys • Julia Jones • Max Lee •
Morgaine Leopard • Christopher Lockwood •
Kobain Radzat Lockwood • Chloe McCormick •
Fiona McKenzie • Symon Myers • Tessa Oliver •
Claude Pepe • Harry Rochford • Urean Saldana •
Amelie Schlager • Oliver Simmons • Aminata Slanina •
Brydie Stewart • Finnlay Stopeck • Neo Wagner •
Sequoia Wattles • Nevin Wolfe-Sallouti
2015 Parent Survey Results!
Thank you for participating in the Parent Survey in March and April of
this year. 114 Parents responded. We appreciate your feedback, and will
incorporate your ideas and comments into our upcoming AWSNA/WASC
accreditation process in our quest to continue to improve Summerfield.
The responses show a very high degree of parent appreciation for a
majority of the topic areas. Here is the data broken down by category.
The table shows the average, combining responses for all categories,
each in answer to How well the parental expectations are being met.
excellent very
well/
needs v. poor
(5) well (4) neutral (3) imp (4)
(5)
admissions process
69%
helpful in 1st year
42%
quality of communication
65%
parent education/outreach
63%
satisfying volunteer experience49%
educational communication
46%
early childhood program
66%
lower sch program: gr 1-4
57%
lower sch program: gr 5-8
50%
high school program
53%
quality/safety of facilities
57%
quality of grounds/farm
66%
quality of play areas
49%
24%
28%
23%
18%
36%
29%
22%
31%
25%
22%
30%
25%
33%
3%
17%
6%
10%
10%
17%
8%
9%
14%
15%
9%
6%
12%
2%
5%
2%
4%
2%
6%
4%
2%
8%
6%
4%
3%
4%
2%
8%
4%
5%
2%
2%
1%
1%
3%
4%
1%
0%
2%
total scores: all categories
26%
10%
4%
3%
57%
In addition to responding to the questions, 439 written comments on the
rated areas, as well as narrative responses, gave the survey depth and
allowed for shared insights and priorities. Your participation means a lot to
us, and we thank you for your feedback!
~ Heather Concoff, HS Counselor
5
Third Grade in Need
of Flatbed Trailer
Next year’s third grade
(Don Basmajian’s class), in
collaboration
with the
Summerfield
Costume
Guild, is
looking for a
flatbed trailer
in order to
build a “Tiny
House.”
Building this structure will
be part of the shelter project
curriculum for the third grade,
slated for next fall. We hope
to use the house for storage,
but it could also be sold as a
fundraising project.
Therefore, we hope that parents
from all grades will help us
find this key component of the
structure. Please contribute with
leads, advice for finding one and
what to look for, or an actual
trailer! Cash donations are also
most welcome. The length of the
trailer cannot exceed 40 feet, but
the longer the better.
Please contact Don Basmajian at
don.waldorfcircus@gmail.com.
The Era of Media: Children on the Difficult Path to Freedom of Mind
By Adam MacKinnon, Editor
A regular visitor to Summerfield, anthroposophical doctor Johanna Steegmans is a
highly respected and much-loved lecturer both nationally and internationally, and
a founding member of Sound Circle Center for Arts and Anthroposophy in Seattle.
This is an account of the parent education talk she gave last month at Sophia Hall
exploring the healthiest way for our children to grow up in this new era of media.
No part of me wants to bedevil media. It
is a wonderful tool, but like everything
in life, it has two sides. As an M.D. who
tries to understand children, I myself
tried out computer games this last year,
in an attempt to see for myself what
media does. I exposed myself to an
addiction: computer solitaire!
I am a child of a non-media era, born in
Germany in 1947, in the aftermath of
the war. I grew up in a village of 2,000
people, and our family had the first blackand-white television set but I remember
my father was horrified by the sight of
five children glued to the screen.
Today I’m not going to go into the
horrendous content issues associated with
media, but want to go even deeper, to
understand how truly dangerous screens
are to your child and to consider when is
the right time for their introduction.
I’m not going to be guided by your school
handbook: creating your own guidelines
is your process, a social process that
needs to happen. We need to be part of
a community that embraces the school’s
policies and where social change takes
place. If we understand, and our hearts
our touched, then we will do what’s right.
But I will say that there are certain things
about which there is no compromise.
How does the human will develop?
We are connected to the whole world;
we are kindred to nature. Animals,
plants and stones all show us something
of ourselves: that’s how we can heal
with those things (herbs, minerals, etc.).
When we take something into ourselves
that is not from nature but that is manmade, we are introducing foreign bodies
into our system. And that will affect our
health at some point later in life.
Our will is not just fit to do things, it is
many-fold. In the physical body the will
first manifests as instinct (something
developed most strongly in the animal
world). What is instinct? It’s “You
Cannot But” do something. Animals
follow their instincts to do whatever it is
they came to do.
To be able to be human we have to
hold our instinctual nature back. The
first “gift” to be able to do this, is to be
upright. The second “gift” is to be able
to speak, to have the spoken word to
communicate. The third “gift” is the
ability to form thoughts. Each of these
endowments is given at the right time.
When we are born, our brain is like a
clean slate in many ways: luckily we do
not have to be mature right away. In the
beginning, in fact, the human being is
quite helpless and utterly powerless. Yet
in this selflessness we become open and
impressionable to the world around, the
world we have entered in the moment of
birth. Like a sense organ itself, the child
will subtly move and imitate what is
perceived and the brain will be “wired”
accordingly.
Father and mother have provided the
“form to be able to be human”. The
“content” for this new earthly life will be
created fresh. Partially out of the central
impulse to incarnate, partially out of the
world itself.
One hundred years ago, isolated cases
of children raised by wolves showed
they had imitated their movement and
posture. Those children could not reach
uprightness, and because of this, could
not attain speech. Children will imitate
whatever is around them. So parents have
to ask the question, “Is the world I put
around the child worth imitating?”
Out of uprightness, and free hands, and
being free of reflexes, the child learns
to compare things, make associations. It
happens so fast, and is so surprising to us
that sometimes we think we have borne
a genius! But children are just naturally
able to think out of the box.
Here’s an anecdote from my practice:
6
a family
comes into
my office,
and while
the parents
speak, the
toddler is
given an
iPad, which
he can operate easily. He slips into this
thing and imitates the qualities and
behavior that he’s seen from adults. If this
happens often, you wire that open brain
differently to how it needs to be wired to
be part of the world around us.
If instead, children watch nature … the
leaves on a tree, the bees buzzing …
they will form a rich, inner world. This
is ancient wisdom. They are taking into
themselves pictures worthy of imitation.
But the media-influenced childhood is
the beginning of a wired brain that is
something new, and different. It shows
up already in difficulties in the classroom,
appearing at an alarming rate, and it’s
very serious. What we are doing is like
slipping a foreign body into our system:
and it will manifest fully later on in life.
In my opinion, there is no compromise
about health. The child builds the physical
body for the foundation of a healthy, and
happy, life. The body is the means to do
deeds. And if allowed to develop properly,
we make children who can think.
However, now we have reached the point
where high school teachers are saying half
the class is different, and they don’t know
how to teach them. As a doctor, I now see
many students with anxiety, restlessness
and random thinking. The computer is a
source of illness: mental illness in young
people, and physical illness in older
people. There are more and more young
people with an “I don’t care” attitude, who
don’t believe in anything, and who cannot
determine what is and isn’t reality. Reality
comes from your body… it is anchored in
the physical body.
What can we do?
First of all, if you have media in your
children’s lives, it’s not too late to change.
Human beings are resilient, and we are
able to overcome past exposure. Constant
exposure is the problem. If you as parents
find you have too much media in your
own lives, you can start by making small
changes: going for a walk after dinner,
singing with your child, telling stories,
taking a drawing or painting class. Do
something active that feeds your soul.
There may well be families in your class
that are not quite there yet. As parents
though, you can’t become moralizing
or belligerent. It is the school’s job to
help educate families, in a creative
way, and with the aid of all the parent
education Summerfield offers. Parents
and teachers together must engage in the
social process of becoming a community
with shared ideals: overcoming fear and
being willing to change, but not making
compromises about this. If some families
cannot embrace the school’s policy,
they can arrive at the decision to leave
themselves, but must not be forced out.
Pictures vs. Concepts
What we see in the medical community
with children exposed to media at a
young age is that they come to grade
school, and they cannot hold a thought.
I know it in myself—when I haven’t
slept well or eaten properly—I can’t
hold a thought or go from one thought to
another. Exposure to media damages our
ability to ponder, to engage, to wonder.
The young child lives in the spiritual
world and sees through pictures. The
younger they are, the more the pictures
are still alive for them. When they are
older, these pictures will be the basis for
them to form concepts. Stories they hear,
the humanity they see, and the love they
feel all form living pictures for them.
When you pull in concepts too soon,
they become the dead end of pictures.
They are barren. It brings in the idea of
time too soon, and that damages their
creativity. Children are much happier in
timelessness. The false pictures of TV/
screens don’t help. In fact, they actively
hurt—they make it harder for children
to create their own pictures. TV is all
fake—it’s not even two-dimensional—
all it really is is a series of running dots.
These are pictures with no life to them.
Freedom of the Mind
The Waldorf approach is designed
to create adults who can think for
themselves! In kindergarten, this process
begins through imitation; in grade school,
through feeling; and in high school we
are able to bring concepts to the students.
(Continued on Page Fifteen)
This year, a major focus for the Governance Council, in conjunction with the
Early Childhood, Lower School, and High School Core Groups, the College of
Teachers, and the Faculty, has been the discussion, consideration, and updating
of the SWSF media policy. In time for the summer and the opportunity for new
beginnings in the coming school year, here is the revised version:
Summerfield Media Policy
Modern science is validating what Waldorf teachers have known for a long
time: the consumption of media by infants, children and young people inhibits
their healthy development.
In today’s world, phones, movies, games, music, podcasts, texts, social media,
calculator, calendar, word processor, research library and other technological
and educational tools are contained in the same apparatus and are often
operating at the same time. It is easy and convenient for adults and children
to be consumers of media, and we acknowledge there are positive uses
of electronic devices and social media for adults. As Waldorf parents and
teachers we must embrace the world of technology, and many of us choose
to use electronic media ourselves. However, early media consumption by
children hinders the educational foundation of inner picture building and
transformation, and the strengthening of the will that are essential to Waldorf
education. It is therefore critical that parents make careful and conscious
decisions about when and how media is introduced to their children.
As Waldorf educators, Summerfield teachers are actively guiding the students
to build inner imaginations based on true stories and real world sense
experiences. These are the foundation of our children’s education—they are
moral, beautiful and true. Students take these images into their sleep and come
back the next day ready to build the concepts of their education from these
pictures, which they have transformed and made their own. Media and virtual
images take away from or damage these pictures. The media images consumed
by children are not necessarily good, beautiful or true. These images are not
chosen by a loving parent or teacher for the educational, moral and spiritual
development of the child or young person consuming them.
As a school, we place an emphasis on direct human interaction and authentic
experience. Studies show that a direct experience, as opposed to a virtual one,
has a measurable positive impact on brain development throughout childhood
and adolescence. Further issues associated with media that are adversely
impacting child development are well documented, including Continuous Partial
Attention, early consumerism, and the premature sexualization of children.
In this light, the faculty of Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm have
formulated a media guideline that reflects the culture of our school community.
Media Guideline for Parents
The Summerfield community works hard to foster authentic human experiences
each day. We feel strongly that a screen and electronic media-free childhood is
a significant factor in creating a nourishing environment at school and at home.
We maintain and strengthen this by engaging in conversation within our class
communities, to gain perspective on how media exposure relates to each age
and stage of development. From this understanding, we forge our agreements
each year to renew our commitment to the healthiest possible childhood.
Families joining our community should understand that we hold an ideal
and expect that all of our students are screen and electronic media-free until
at least sixth grade, and further, that it is beneficial to keep them screen
and electronic media-free well beyond this age. In grade six and up, teachers
and class communities will discuss, craft and update agreements to shape the
measured introduction of media when developmentally appropriate.
7
Farm to Fiesta 2015
By Cyndi Yoxall and Caryn Stone, Development Office
Guests were welcomed with music
by Wine Country Brass, featuring
music teacher Nathan Riebli and
school founder Philip Beard, a
walnut tree decked in lanterns and
colorful handmade pom poms, long
tables in white linen adorned in paper
and spring flowers. The festive theme
was apparent, with splashes of color
throughout the farm. Summerfield
vintners Claypool Cellars, Coturri
Winery, Davis Family Vineyard,
Littorai Wines, Martinelli Vineyards,
Porter-Bass Vineyard, Small Vines
Wines, Truett-Hurst Winery and
VML all shared their unique wines,
with smiles and unsurpassed
knowledge and generosity.
Guests also enjoyed FoxCraft Hard
Cider, Revive Kombucha,Taylor
Maid Farms iced-tea, The Kefiry
Enlightened beverages and Redwood
Hill Farm goat cheeses, while
browsing silent auction tables laden
with fabulous items to bid on and
help raise money for the school—
including class projects made with
students, unique trips, stunning
artwork, and more. An inspiring
student art gallery was also enjoyed,
thanks to the volunteer help of our
artwork teachers.
At dinner, guests ate mouth-watering
Latin cuisine made by our dedicated
and extraordinary (and volunteer!)
chefs Traci Des Jardins, Duskie Estes
and John Stewart, Lowell Sheldon,
Jorge Saldana, Evelyn Cheatham
and Dana Revallo, and orchestrated
by Bryan Myers and Nick Peyton.
While enjoying the plentiful food and
wine, guests were treated to Spanish
guitar by John Metras.
During the dinner hour, founders
Philip and Mary Beard shared their
history and personal journey of
establishing the school, purchasing
the land and building the buildings,
as well as the stories of their
three boys, who are all successful
Summerfield alumni. Alumna Dawn
Barlow and graduating high school
senior Elliot Behling shared what
Summerfield has meant to them, how
they have been prepared, and what
they will carry with them as they
move on to the next phase of their
lives, ready to change the world. The
students drew tears from audience
members with their soulful, honest
and passionate perspectives.
Board member Jefferson Buller
spoke from the heart about his
commitment and what it means to
continue the legacy. Board President
Jeffrey Westman compelled us with
warmth and humor to dig deep and
reminded guests of the importance
of supporting the next phase of our
development, supporting the next
phases of building, and continuing
the legacy for students and families
for the next forty years. Our own
Eddie Gelsman was also called up on
stage, and spoke passionately to the
crowd about doing what it takes.
After dinner, guests adjourned to
the circus tent for delicious coffee
by Taylor Maid Farms, and dessert
by Worth Our Weight. Dessert was
8
photos by miguel salmerón
Farm to Fiesta was awesome!
Summerfield’s Biodynamic farm was
full of celebration and heart, where
we gathered in festivity to share a
meal, while celebrating 40 years and
raising a glass to our past, present and
future. The day carried a theme of
gratitude for our history, our stability
and our future that was moving. The
day was beautiful, mild and warm,
the farm was in bloom, and, in the
days leading up, volunteers, students,
staff and faculty all pitched in to
create a special gathering place.
enjoyed on hay bale couches around
a bonfire, and in the circus tent we
started with a salsa dance lesson,
followed by Latin dance music by
Orquesta Batacha! The celebratory,
fiesta feel of the event continued until
late into the night.
A huge thank you to all the sponsors,
volunteers, staff, faculty and guests
who helped make the afternoon and
evening so wonderful. Thanks to this
generous community, Farm to Fiesta
raised $195,000, all for our children!
* This event could not have happened
without our lead volunteers: Kosima
Grundy, Sarah Brinkman & Kristen
Humphreys, Beth Gallatin, Nicole Perullo,
Jeffrey Westman & Jefferson Buller, Bryan
& Lyza Myers, Charmaine Stainbrook,
Deborah Simmons, Luke & Elena Bass,
Judy Reid, Andrea Trinei, Andrea Jolicoeur,
Miguel Salmeron, Dan Westphal, Meri
Storino, and Kim Shepard.
photo by miguel salmerón
Wonder
By Dawn Barlow
Summerfield graduate Dawn Barlow
(Class of 2012) gave this address at Farm
to Fiesta on her experience at Summerfield:
I’d like to start by talking about
the feeling that we call wonder. In
kindergarten, we marveled at how a
caterpillar becomes a butterfly, at how
a flaky brown bulb somehow holds a
daffodil within it, at how our sandbox
became a tremendous lake when it
rained… In first grade, we wondered
at the fact that a blade of grass, when
touched by the wind, goes from being
a straight line to a curved line… In
third grade we were filled with awe
when bread emerged from the oven,
since earlier we had threshed wheat
and ground it into the flour used in that
very bread, and before that we had seen
that bread in the form of wheat heads
growing in a plot on this farm… In
high school, we were guided to wonder
what happens to a geometric figure
when a point, a line, or a plane lies at
infinity, and how we might represent an
element at infinity in two-dimensional
space. In twelfth grade, we wondered
what it would be like to leave this place
that had taught us to wonder.
I hope that all of you have, at some
point, experienced a feeling of wonder.
Wonder provokes a sense of awe,
maybe at times overwhelming. Wonder,
then, drives inquiry. And when a person
is genuinely interested in something,
fascinated by it, they truly care about it
and want to learn more.
When you study conservation and
spend the majority of your academic
energy thinking about how the world
works, how badly we often seem to
be messing up, and how we might
possibly create positive change, it is
exhausting, overwhelming, and often
disheartening. I have been asked
numerous times, how do I maintain
any sort of hope? It is a tricky thing.
I don’t claim to have the answer.
Through conversations with teachers,
professors, friends, etc., I’ve spent a
fair amount of time thinking about it,
though, and I’d like to share with you
where I stand at this particular point.
On the one hand, we have the option
to be completely optimistic, however
this usually means just being naïve.
On the other end of the spectrum, it is
very easy to get bogged down in all of
the bad news that seems to bombard
us all the time. Both of these states are
stagnant, inactive. Somewhere between
these two polarities, transcending them
perhaps, there is a delicate and dynamic
place that we call hope. Those who
make positive change in this world
have found a way, at least most of the
time, to thrive in that place called hope.
Summerfield is a place that cultivates
hope. Students here are first taught to
love the world. The teachers provide
the students with an opportunity to
experience wonder, and then when that
wonder turns to inquiry, the students
are guided in such a way that asking
and answering questions doesn’t take
away from or replace that initial sense
of wonder, but fuels it and allows them
to dig even deeper. Integrating elements
from both ends of that spectrum I
described just now, students are taught
to recognize the beauty that exists here
as well as the multitude of challenges we
face, and rather than being driven into
a place of inaction, they are compelled
to put their knowledge into action.
By cultivating hope, Summerfield is
growing capable leaders.
Summerfield students are sent into the
world with a remarkable toolkit. The
emphasis on interdisciplinary learning
that is so alive at Summerfield is a huge
part of this. Through painting history,
acting out mechanical concepts in
physics, singing about seasonal changes,
students learn to see concepts in dynamic
ways. Having multiple perspectives on
an issue is so important in this day and
9
age, and with young people like those
that come out of this place, we can be
more hopeful that collaboration will be
possible and will lead to movement and
change for the better.
All that I have said up until this point
is my attempt to express my gratitude
for my education here at Summerfield.
Though I came away from this place
having absorbed all sorts of information,
that is not the point I am trying to
emphasize. I entered the world beyond
Summerfield with a love for learning,
an appetite for knowledge, and a
willingness to learn from and collaborate
with others. I am hopeful because of
what was instilled in me during my
development as a person while I was a
student at Summerfield. And it gives me
hope that there are people graduating
from this place, who will continue to
infuse the world with hope.
Thank you!
Alumni News
Almuna Chamisa Kellogg,
class of ’07, presents her latest
illustration work in a show
at the Wine Emporium in
Sebastopol. Chamisa graduated
from RISD (Rhode Island School
of Design) in 2011 and has since
been working as a freelance
designer and illustrator, and
part-time fine art teacher for
children. The show, featuring
reimagined scenes from myth
and fairytale, runs from May
Day to Labor Day, 2015.
Opening Party: June 12, 5-9pm.
Chamisa hopes to see you
there!
Summer Fields
By Farmer Dan
photos by miguel salmerón
At the recent senior thesis
presentations one of our students, a
creative young woman, presented
her experience of working at an area
home for patients with dementia. She
told the audience, mostly younger
with their thoughts far away from
old age, how she was uneasy as
she first set foot into such an alien
environment, so far away from
her comfort zone of peers, studies,
clothes, entertainment, good food—
all the things she was typically
immersed in. Her challenge was how
to reach these people that nurses and
therapists and drugs seemed to have
had very limited success with, so
she chose music to help her out. By
finding out how old a patient was she
was able to go back to the time when
the person was between fifteen- and
twenty-five-years-old, to find the
top one hundred songs in several
genres that would have been popular
in the person’s earlier life, put them
on an iPod, and bring them into the
home. She then sat down with the
individual and put the headphones on
them to see what kind of a response
she got. One thing was quite clear,
that the songs and music cut through
the fog of dementia and touched the
deepest core of the patients, bringing
back some of the richest and most
meaningful memories of their lives.
Without exception, each person lit
up and, when several students from
the class came with more music to
share, quite a dance ensued, barriers
fell away, and for a time life was
remembered with warmth, grace,
humor and
dignity.
One of the
many things
that is unique
about Waldorf
education is
the emphasis
that is put into
developing
the powers of inspiration, intuition
and imagination. How can the
same situation that people have
been looking at and wrestling with
for years be seen with a new set of
youthful eyes so that consciousness
actually does evolve when students
are inspired and able to bring forth
fresh intuitions that propel, via strong
and enlivened will forces, their fertile
imaginations to flow into the world.
Our graduates often become the
“leaven in the loaf,” so to speak, that
makes the bread of innovation rise in
a world that can seem unleavened and
flat in these transitional times when
truly innovative and creative thinking
is rare and yet so crucial.
When the students work on the
farm and in the gardens, how is
it that they can develop the inner
eye, so when they look out into the
world, they do not merely “look,”
but they actually see? Seeing takes
in the whole picture, the delicate
web of interrelatedness that is easily
overlooked or taken for granted. How
does a lesson gracefully enable the
student, like a silken thread, to enter
the complex weaving of the natural
world? What might be the difference
between a carefully tended garden
and one that is poorly looked after?
Or a tool shed that is a mess of rusted
tools instead of orderly, clean, and
well oiled? What do animals feel like
sleeping in their own manure and fed
at any time that is convenient versus
clean stalls, fresh hay and water,
and some summer greenery from
the summer fields? How does the
outer order the student experiences
around her or him assist them with
the formative inner ordering that
they are formulating within as they
grow? How might an inundation
of media be similar, inwardly, to a
garden overgrown with weeds that
stunt and choke out the nutritious
plants we would like to have on our
dinner tables? The gardening and
class teacher, farmer, and parent as
a team, can gradually help foster
intuitive capacities to see the outer,
physical world as a metaphor for
10
what the children are taking into their
precious little beings and, through that
awareness, help the children grow in
special and transformative ways.
Just recently the LS students did a
monumental job helping to get our
farmyard ready for the end of the
year Farm to Fiesta celebration.
Kindergardeners helped shake out a
golden blanket of straw from fresh
straw bales in front of the farm kitchen
while the first and second graders
spread a huge mountain of fresh bark
mulch under the walnut, where most
of the guests would be seated. Third
graders prepared eighty jars of “cream
fresh” from organic cream, buttermilk,
lime and salt. Fourth graders did an
extra thorough job of cleaning the
duck pond which was in full view of
the festivities, and the sixth graders
worked all spring planting beds
and rows of sunflowers, zinneas,
marigolds and new raspberries in the
student gardens. A fourth grade girl
encouraged Farmer Dan to attend
the event after slowly and carefully
looking him up and down and
deciding out loud that, “Farmer Dan,
you wouldn’t look too bad in a suit.
I think it could work.” (To which a
thought from one of Rilke’s poems
arose within, how “the drifting mist
that brings forth the morning needs
not necessarily be portrayed in king’s
robes,” in tribute to my grandpa, a
kind and humble farmer, buried in his
coveralls in the rural midwest).
Rudolf Steiner was a special person
who was able to stay open to the great
matters that shape authentic living
Before getting too carried away, the school year is once again coming to a close,
and so must this final article. In conclusion, whoever you might be, taking the
time to read this—a colleague, parent or grandparent, or even a student—here
is an exercise a wise old friend took me through during one of my life’s most
profound transitions. Try not to skip ahead, and after reading each one of the
following statements, close your eyes and reflect on it for a bit. In a sense, it will
be a mini-graduation for you to ponder, as perhaps your, or all of our students,
cross the threshold of commencement into high school or graduation into college.
This is a precious time and opportunity for us to look back, as well as ahead, in
our own lives and reflect inwardly. And have a safe and productive summer.
New Farm Apprentice
The newest
addition to
the farm is
Robyn Kick,
who looks
forward to
learning
more about
biodynamics,
and Waldorf in general. A fourmonth stint volunteering on a
large family farm in Sweden and
years of working with children
made the opportunity to be
at Summerfield an excellent
next step on her path. She
loves cooking, playing string
instruments and poetry, as well
as working outdoors, and is
enthusiastic to be part of the
community.
photo by dana revallo
and to help educators shake off stale patterns of teaching that seem to cling like
burrs and brambles; stale patterns that tend, like water in an old well, to reflect in
fragments and to distort the essence of who and what we truly are. We all enjoy
seeing our children “sprout, and bloom, and ripen”—as a sixth grade gardening
verse by Rudolf Steiner puts it—as together we prepare and guide them for the
future that seems to ever so quickly step towards them. The Waldorf curriculum,
embracing farming and gardening, music and the arts, offers so many
opportunities for children to experience beauty. What is beauty? When does
a child feel/say “that is beautiful”? When the conscious and the unconscious
come into harmony there is beauty, when the whole human being is perceiving
something, sort of like when music makes/creates something that wasn’t there
in the first place. Or, as Steiner put it, “In the pictoral and sculptural realms, we
look at beauty; in the musical realm, we ourselves become beauty.” What a goal
for educators! To foster the becoming of beauty for their students!
Warmly from Summerfield Farm, Farmer Dan
Farm Guild will continue to meet in the summer.
Please join us for our Tuesday volunteer days. We
work from about 9am–noon, breaking halfway for
a potluck snack and food. We’re happy to help with
your gardening questions, and you also get to leave
with a basket full of produce. RSVP and questions to
Farmer Dana at dana@summerfieldwaldorf.org.
11
Farm Stand
We have begun our first large
harvest of 2015. Currently in
the farm stand we have our
first spring carrots and beets,
as well as a selection of kale,
cilantro, lettuce, raspberries and
strawberries. Our new chickens
are laying lots of eggs (8-10 dozen
a day). We have begun making
yogurt as well. Next week, be sure
to check the freezer for limited
quantities of Summerfield Lamb
Sausage! We will be harvesting
every morning to refresh the
stand. If we are sold out of
anything, look for one of the
farmers and we will be happy to
harvest it for you.
photos by miguel salmerón
Center yourself, then reflect:
1) These things I have loved in my life
2) These experiences I cherish
3) These convictions I live by
4) These sufferings have seasoned me
5) These lessons life has taught me
6) These influences have shaped my life (a person/ an event/ a book)
7) These things I regret about my life
8) This is one of my life’s greatest achievements
9) These persons are enshrined within my heart
10) When have you been the most happy? When have you been the least
happy? What has surprised you today? What has moved or touched you
today? and What has inspired you today?
And finally, Who can claim the credit of having taught you how to love?
Blessings on the rest of your life!
Transitions in Dornach
“swsf trio visit the mother ship!”
By Sarah Whitmore, Yellow Rose Kindergarten Teacher
Along with Summerfield colleagues
Jamie Lloyd and Line Westman, I
attended the International Waldorf
Conference on Transitions in
Childhood, hosted by the Pedagocical
Section at the Goetheanum in
Dornach, Switzerland, this April.
Writing about this conference is
daunting. I don’t know where to start.
The week was filled with inspiring,
relevant and engaging lectures,
classes, workshops, pedagogical
discussions and performances—from
morning until night. Plus, the whole
world was there! Over fifty different
countries from all continents
were represented: India, China,
Australia, Ukraine, Zimbabwe,
Ireland, Norway, Turkey, Thailand,
Peru, Romania, Nepal… to name
a handful. It was a big rainbow of
Waldorf teachers, who are already
very rainbow-y. Imagine what a
colorful group we were!
photo by sarah whitmore
Each day began with an enriching
morning lecture held in the beautiful
hall at the Goetheanum. This
space is filled with colored light
which streams from tall stained
glass windows designed by Rudolf
Steiner. These windows and their
unique pictorial stories are so
meaningful and interesting, at times
they competed with
the lecturers for the
audience’s attention.
Say, for example, when
a storm cloud passed by
the goetheanum at dornach by wladyslaw—wikimedia commons
and suddenly the sun
immensely informative and full of
filled the room with brilliant emerald
beauty. We examined the properties,
green, purple, gold or rosey red.
temperaments and qualities of many
One gem from the lectures, a
of the plants and elements that urge
statement, repeated by many of
human beings toward artistic activity
the lecturers and often punctuated
by offering up color. Madder root,
by brilliantly colored light, was
dandelions, hollyhock, cochineal,
the following: A child must be
yarrow and marigold to name a
surrounded by an attitude and
few. The group created four shared
ambience of gratitude from the
paintings to which each member of
earliest moments. This experience
the class contributed.
of gratitude will grow to support the
child through various life transitions
both wonderful and painful.
After the lectures, I attended a
Painting class which focused on
Goethean Method using plant- and
naturally-derived paints. The shy,
soft-spoken teacher was German
but also spoke Spanish. The class
was made up of members of twelve
different countries and spoke seven
different languages. All understood
either English or Spanish. So, the
teacher thought in German, spoke
in Spanish, while I translated into
English. Each class and workshop
after the lectures (which were
translated into a zillion
languages via headsets)
required a reaching
out toward the others.
We had to collaborate
to translate for each
group. We all listened
so attentively to one
another. We strived
and helped in such an
engaged way.
The painting class was
stained glass window at the goetheanum
12
The most meaningful and moving
class for me was one I thought would
just be a time-filler, a little one-day
conversation group about handwork.
I even forgot to write down the name
of the facilitator. Again, the room
was filled with thirty-three teachers
from across the globe. We each
shared our questions. The elderly
woman who led the group shared
stories from her work as a handwork
teacher for over fifty years. I think
Handwork Activist or Handwork
Healer are more apt titles for her.
Most recently she had been in
Syrian refugee camps working with
children. She told us, “Children will
come to the activity more easily than
adults, but it is all open to everyone.
The children want to heal so badly.”
She brought undyed wool and yarn
and demonstrated simple crafts using
only her hands.
“Winding yarn is the most
therapeutic thing.” She described
sharing the activity of winding yarn
with the children. “They were too
traumatized to engage in play.”
After that two-hour class, there was
much hugging and sharing of ideas.
This is how the whole week went.
Numerous classes, many gems and
wonderful gifts. After experiencing
this conference, I am overwhelmed
with gratitude… for children,
parents, my life’s path, Summerfield
and Waldorf education. We are
blessed.
senior play:
“Our Town”
Come one, come all,
to Our Town, Thornton
Wilder’s simple,
beautiful, and beguiling
evocation of the year
1900 in Grover’s Corners,
New Hampshire.
The Pulitzer PrizePERFORMANCES IN SOPHIA HALL:
winning play artfully sets
Wednesday, June 3, at 7:30pm
the everyday concerns of the
Thursday, June 4, at 7:30pm
characters of a small-town,
Suitable for sixth grade and up.
bygone age amongst the eternal,
endless universe and its enduring mysteries. It is philosophical, funny,
touching, and preceded by a period-music jam session led entirely by your
Summerfield twelfth grade. ~ Kevin Simmons, for the Twelfth Grade Class
Earth Day
By Ronni Sands, HS Farming & Gardening teacher
Humanities and gardening met in the permaculture garden, collaborating to
bring an Earth Day activity to the ninth graders. After working in the garden, we
gathered in a circle to talk about the earth, the planet that we live upon. What do
we love about it? What imbalances does the earth suffer from? We explored our
“sense relationship” to the earth, going through all the different senses. Next we
read out loud The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry, and we were inspired.
Then we all went to a quiet place to write our own poem to the earth—a gesture
of prayer, something we could do to help. When we came back together, we
each chose our favorite line in our poem and wrote it on a card. We hung each
line on a string across the fence along the garden. With grace, we had created a
new poem; one that came together from unique individuals finding their way in
becoming a class. In a similar way, our individual lines became a poem. Here is
the poem which they created:
I wish to tell you of a world full of people who cared for and loved our Mother Earth.
The Earth speaks to me of a peaceful time; a thousand songs held in harmony for
losses that miracles abandoned.
Imagine if Nature was not held down by the need for oil or gas;
A world filled with golden sunsets and everlasting light.
I am lost in its presence, and laughter rolls on the waves.
photo by sarah whitmore
A garden is a universe and in this garden the earth speaks to me.
Pollen is given, and when it meets the soil it creates new life, magic life.
Underneath there is more;
Smell the sunshower air from underneath.
Nobody appreciates you enough.
To respect the earth is to respect yourself.
view of goetheanum from the grounds
13
artwork by miles stapp
She told how one little girl just
watched, from the corner of her eye,
back turned, over several days, as
the others worked with the yarn and
wool. The little girl’s shoulders were
held very high and tense, her back
was always turned. Her breathing
was shallow and rapid. Finally, after
days, she stepped closer, backward
and eventually began to work with
the yarn, eventually in the lap of our
kind instructor, a great grandmother.
Our teacher described the descent of
the little shoulders, the slowing and
deepening of the child’s breath as she
wound the yarn for what would be
hours and days. The story gave me
chills… made all of us weep. The
accounts of this woman’s work were
a deep reminder for most of us in
the room that we desperately need to
keep our perspective, recognize our
first-world problems, and bring love
and healing into everything we do.
To Have Courage to Already Be
how the waldorf wonderland conference shows us who our students are
by Leslie Loy, Summerfield Alumna (Class of 2001)
On April 17-19, Waldorf School
juniors gathered together at
Summerfield in a self-designed
weekend workshop. The Waldorf
Wonderland conference was molded
and shaped by Savannah Gallatin,
Jessie Brandt, and LiaSofia Tropeano
in an extraordinary response to the
cancellation of the 2015 Future
Conference. The Future Conference,
which took place in 2013 and
2014, was created to bring together
Waldorf juniors and seniors with
interested faculty, mentors, and
researchers in order to explore hot
topics that were identified as essential
influencers in and on the future. The
Future Conference is a very unique
experience that invites teens to speak
up and be treated as the global citizens
we within Waldorf education recognize
them to be. The buzz was very much
alive for many of this year’s juniors
who were anticipating having their
own turn to experience the conference,
and who were disappointed to discover
that it wouldn’t be happening.
These three students did something
few of us would consider possible: in
six weeks (including spring break!)
they came up with an idea for a
conference, invited a support circle
to hold them, reached out to other
schools, and came up with a viable
game plan. They knew the odds and
challenges they faced, because we
vetted them as thoroughly as we could.
They took all of our questions in stride,
and they came up with this vision:
A conference for Waldorf juniors
organized by Waldorf juniors meant
to celebrate, highlight, and reflect on
their journey as students on a shared
educational path. They wanted to take
the time to pause and be aware of the
threshold experience of entering their
final year as Waldorf students. Just
what, they asked, were they about to
embark on, and how could they be
conscious of it as it was taking place?
This is, in my mind, remarkable—not
just the logistical and practical aspects
of organizing a full-fledged two-anda-half day conference complete with
meals, sleepovers, guest speakers,
workshops, and more—but also how
profound the intention behind this
conference is. Think on this: 17-yearolds who stand on the cusp of entering
the final stage of an experience, who
recognize that there is a shift that is
about to occur from childhood to
adulthood and who say, “Wait, we
want to be conscious of this, together,
and to honor this experience, together.
Can we do that?” The support circle
members said, “Yes.”
Our students are facing an unusual
reality, a time when what is true is
more difficult to discern, and yet
where more discernment is needed.
They will need to know themselves.
They will need to be able to work
with others. They will need to be able
to be simultaneously independent
and collaborative; they will need to
demonstrate capacities beyond our
imagination in order to tackle the
challenges that are emerging.
What I glimpsed in the students I
worked with in preparation for the
conference gives me extraordinary
hope. Our young people do not just
have capacity, but they have also
capability. They bridge gracefully their
vulnerability and their resilience—and
when given the opportunity and real
support to lead— they can and do.
14
Jessie Brandt gives voice to her own
experiences as an organizer below
and there we see already an emerging
voice of what it means to step up and
take on a task—a vision—that is a gift
to oneself, to one’s peers, and to the
future. Can we listen to the question
the students asked at the Waldorf
Wonderland conference and respond
with the depth that that question is
actually asking: “What does this mean,
and how can I do it in such a way as
to truly serve my fellow humanity,
the world, and myself? Where have I
come from, and where am I going?”
Are we ready to provide the kind of
education that sees these students not
just for who they might become and
instead for who they have already
become? It was, and continues to be,
an inspiration to be both a witness and
a supporting community member in
this process. Here is to seeing what
will become of the next year, and of
these delightful individuals.
The Waldorf Wonderland conference
weekend was more then we ever
expected, in the most wonderful ways.
We had participants from Summerfield,
Marin, Credo, and Drake. A drum
circle opened the conference, and we
continued to find our rhythm each
morning in this medium. Through art,
collaborative writing, giant parachute
games, delicious meals, bonfires with
singing, and discussion, we explored the
following question together: How can
this journey through Waldorf education
inspire us to creatively take initiative and
find our roles as citizens of the world?
Our contributors shared tools developed
from their Waldorf education: trust,
composure, sit-spots and play. At night
we watched the night sky, then slept in
sleeping bags in the circus tent decked out
with string lights. We organizers had such
a rich adventure in planning this gathering
at the last minute, and want to give a
hearty thanks to everyone else in this
fantastic community who supported us.
Throughout, we use the time after school
and the night to digest what we have
learned.
But if a child “chills” after school in
front of a screen, it is difficult to anchor
what has been learned.
Until the 12-year-change, a child
connects to the world by breathing.
If a child does not breathe in and out
while learning, recreating it, then the
knowledge doesn’t stay in. We know
the story of Galileo, who watched
a stone fall, and then a feather. In
contemplating this picture later he was
able to arrive at the concept of mass
just by observing and comparing. We
must give our children time to do this,
to wonder, to breathe. When watching
screens, we often actually hold our
breath! The internet leads us along from
one thought to the next, but the next day
nothing or next-to-nothing is still there.
But to learn, to truly learn, you have to
DO, to ingest it, to be active rather than
passive.
The ‘Right’ Time…
So, when can parents introduce media?
Certainly not before the 12-year-change.
That is when children show they are
truly here on earth. They can discern
(but still with parent help). Twelveyear-olds are physiologically able to
be exposed, but desire comes in … and
it’s hard to stop. Parents should still
watch what their children are watching
at this age, and set limits on content
and duration. And there’s no need to
introduce media into your child’s life at
all. There are many parents here without
media in their families’ lives even after
12-years-old.
But won’t my child be an outcast? No! I
heard one child in the high school, when
asked about the social stigma of not
having media, reply, “It’s not a problem:
I just pretend!”
Children have an enormous effect on us.
They wake us up. We cannot but give of
our best when we are with them, facing
up to the responsibility of raising them.
Making this choice is not easy. Our will
is already weakened, and we don’t have
the strength our grandfathers had. We
must work together as a community
and help each other to be strong and
creative.
PARENT EDUCATION
Imagine: The Role
of Storytelling
Kate Hammond is a Waldorf adult
educator and early childhood teacher
with a special interest in how parents
can support their children’s natural
development through the insights of Rudolf Steiner. She is offering various parent
education opportunities, including a series of articles for parents of young children.
In this article, she looks at how imagination can be fostered in childhood.
The young infant is born into a mysterious and complex world, where sensory
experiences and many relationships lead the child into understanding life. But
how does the young child begin to “make sense” of these experiences? When
the young child begins to play, she begins to explore and make connections with
the experiences that have touched her soul. In play, children uncover myriad
possibilities—what would the world be like if…? What would I be like if I were a
princess? A firefighter? A father? Alison Gopnik, in her book The Philosophical Baby
writes that “children learn the truth by imagining all the ways the world could
be.” As a parent it is a wonderful revelation when your child begins to articulate
his thoughts and feelings—suddenly you have a glimpse into his soul in a new
way. And this continues as your child’s inner life develops and grows—suddenly
your twelve-year-old is philosophizing over dinner!
So it is through the spoken word that we can share our soul impressions, our
inner lives. In storytelling, the storyteller uses words to paint a word-picture
so that the listener can enter this imaginative world. Just as the storyteller
builds imaginative pictures before speaking, so the listener builds his/her own
pictures in response to the language heard. When we create an imagination,
what are we doing? We are using our active will to construct pictures, to
make them alive, perhaps even to wipe them away and start again. There
is a plasticity to this process—unlike drawing a picture on paper, in our
imaginations anything is possible… In Waldorf education the children are
led through this inner practice over and over again through the stories they
hear—from the cat with a face like three rainy days (Musicians of Bremen) to
the biography of a modern day hero like Mahatma Gandhi.
Rudolf Steiner encouraged teachers to bring “vivid, living pictures” in this
way to the children—and, when our imaginations are nourished and active,
this keeps the etheric body, our life forces, “supple and plastic.” Rudolf Steiner
wrote “this work of the imagination moulds and builds the forms of the brain.
The brain unfolds as the muscles of the hand unfold when they do the work for
which they are fitted. Give the child the so-called ‘pretty’ doll, and the brain has
nothing more to do. Instead of unfolding, it becomes stunted and dried up. If
people could look into the brain as the spiritual investigator can, and see how
it builds its forms, they would assuredly give their children only such toys as
are fitted to stimulate and vivify its formative activity.” (Education of the Child
in the Light of Anthroposophy).
This is one way that Waldorf education is educating our children. However, in
this day and age where visual media has so permeated our lives, this ability to
create “vivid, living pictures” is not only crucial but endangered. So by telling
stories, painting word pictures and sharing imaginations, we can work towards
protecting the sanctity of our own inner selves and that of our growing
children. For if they are able to think clearly, to imagine many possibilities, and
to remain free in their inner lives, they will be able to creatively meet the future.
~ by Kate Hammond
15
artwork by willsy mackinnon
(Continued from Page Seven)
An Open Letter to the
Summerfield Waldorf
Community
Recently, I attended our last
high school parent meeting
for our oldest daughter, Kayla.
As I sat and listened to parents
describing their journey with
their children at Summerfield,
I, again, was astonished. Every
parent meeting, ceremony,
presentation, performance or
event that I attend leaves me
grateful. Along with assurance
this school is an immeasurable
gift to all our children.
To the faculty and staff, I hope
not one moment goes by where
you feel unappreciated because
it could not be further from
the truth. You dedicate your
lives to giving our children an
unshakable foundation and an
elevated launching pad. For that
I am beyond grateful.
I hope you were fortunate
enough to attend some or all
of the Senior Presentations in
April. You would be in agreement
that the work our faculty and
staff undertook along with the
process they supported over
four years has shaped the lives of
these soon-to-be-graduates, our
future.
To the parents of our Class of
2015, I commend you on your
hard work and bravery to make
the choice that is Summerfield
Waldorf High School. I am
honored to have had Kayla with
your children for four years.
To the Class of 2015 you are the
epitome of a bright future and
the icing on our gluten-free,
sugar-free, dairy-free cake. May
you always find comfort in the
trails you blaze.
Sincerely,
Carrie Wooldridge,
Twelfth Grade Parent
The Rich Blessings of Summerfield
By Valerie Raineri, Twelfth Grade Parent
Our beloved senior class will soon
leave the beautiful and nurturing
environment of Summerfield. They
will go their separate ways, on their
individual adventures, taking with them
all of the blessings they have received
during their time here. For some, their
journey began as Kindergarteners,
the rest following, from first through
ninth grades, each bringing their
special gifts to create this class of
artistic, fun loving, intelligent, strong
willed, sensitive, and caring young
adults. Because of the richness of
Summerfield’s curriculum and extra
curricular activities, each student has
had many opportunities to shine as
an individual and in group activities,
including the opportunity to learn how
to function and thrive in community
with their classmates.
The twelfth grade students have
been nurtured by their education in
a way that is rare in our world today.
They leave Summerfield filled with
confidence, hope, enthusiasm, inner
strength, and aware that they are
unique individuals who also have the
capacity to work and create as a team
for the greater good of all. They value
themselves, and others, they know
they have special gifts to share with the
world, and the ability to share them.
They have this knowledge because of
everything they have so lovingly been
taught at Summerfield.
school are many, but we all have one
common intention, that the children
will receive an education that will serve
them well for the rest of their lives. I am
extremely grateful that my daughter has
been at Summerfield since kindergarten.
I would like to express my appreciation
to all of the people who have made her
time here so enriching.
Thank you for the magical
Kindergarten Village, and the people,
past and present, who bring such
reverence to our children.
Thank you to Mr. Topham, the class
teacher for many of the seniors. You
played an important role in their lives,
and you will always hold a special
place in their hearts.
Thank you to all of the specialty
teachers for the the handwork, arts and
crafts, farming, music, P.E. eurythmy,
Spanish, wood-working, cooking,
sewing, and more. Thanks, too, for the
gift of after-care.
Thank you to all of the High School
teachers, who not only teach, but
are also mentors, class advisors,
and hold these young adults with so
much compassion. Thanks to the HS
counselors for their caring guidance. A
special thanks to Isabel and Kyle, the
twelfth grade advisors; Beth and Jason,
who mentored the students for the
Senior Presentations; and Kevin, who is
directing the senior play.
Thank you to Don and Sieglinde
who have brought the joy of circus
performing to our children.
The student’s journey through the
grades, which is bountiful in myriad
Thank you to everyone involved in
ways, is made possible by hundreds
making the festivals joyous celebrations
of people, past and present who have
committed their
talents, time,
energy, and
devotion to making
Summerfield a
reality, and to
allow it to grow
into the school
it has become
today. The roles
people play in the
functioning of the
the senior class back in first grade with teacher mr. topham
16
for us all.
Thank you to the class parents, from kindergarten on,
for the planning and emails, cajoling us parents to come
forward yet again in service to our children. Thanks to the
parents for making the class trips possible from fourth grade
on, by driving all over Northern California and beyond, and
going camping, sometimes in the pouring rain.
Thank you to all of the administrative staff who keep
the school running. Thanks to the board and committee
members who work tirelessly on behalf of Summerfield.
Thank you to everyone who makes our farm so beautiful and
bountiful, and to the people who quietly and efficiently keep
our campus clean, beautiful, and safe.
Thank you for tuition assistance.
Many joyful blessings on everyone who has been involved
with Summerfield past and present, and for those yet to
come. I have a lot more appreciation to express, but I have
already gone over my allotted word count, so… enough, no
more… except for one final huge thank you!
With a heart full of love and gratitude, Valerie Raineri
SENIOR GRADUATION
The Twelfth Grade graduation is in the Circus Tent
on Sunday, June 7 at 10am. The keynote speaker will
be our own Bob Flagg. Each graduate will also have
the opportunity to speak, and they will sing together.
Refreshments will follow. Please join us in celebrating
the accomplishments of the Class of 2015!
17
The Messenger Marketplace The Messenger Marketplace Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, any of the individual initiatives or services advertised in this classified section.
Advertisements
are screened for appropriateness and made available
community
to use
at theirtoown
discretion
Services
Offered/Needed
SpiraltoCoop,
a Newmembers
Food Coop
Coming
West
Sonoma
County, www.Spiralfoods.coop
Sidereal Astrology Birth Chart Readings
th
Visit our virtual farmers market open now until December 20 at
Classes at Circle of Hands
Pre-register:
634-6140
http://spiralfoods.coop/node/57.
Here you
can order wonderful,
local
Spiral
Coop, a New Food
Coop
Coming to West
Sonoma
or at circleofhandswaldorfshop.com/events
produce
and skin care products. Consider joining this local initiative by
County,
www.Spiralfoods.coop
opening a store front, cafe, or commercial kitchen—you can have a
Felted Mermaid Doll Class with Monica Ashley: Felt a
share
ofour
the market
forfarmers
a $25 payment
andnow
a promise
to
pay a
Visit
virtual
open
until
December
20 th at
whimsical
mermaid
to takemarket
hometoday,
and
enjoy
a fun
crafting
total of $300 in the following years after the store is open. No need to
http://spiralfoods.coop/node/57.
Here
you Monica.
can order
wonderful, local
time with Summerfield parent & local
artisan,
Sat.,
be a member to try the on-line purchasing program.
Bring harmony and balance to your life through self-knowledge. Chart
Classes/Camps
Services Offered/Needed
plus reading $150. Contact Ann Wiant-Lyon by email:
stellaflora@mac.com, or phone: 707-486-9285
Sidereal Astrology
Birth
Chart
Readings
Awakening
Arts Summer
Course
– Artists
of the 20th Century
Waldorf Mother Looking for Part-time Work
Bring
harmonygroup
and
balance
to
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life
through
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Chart
An
enthusiastic
of
participants
wants
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working
through
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I would love to offer my services in
childcare,
personal
assistance,
summer
with Mary
Bowen.
Would
like
toPlease
joinbythem
formeyour
own arts
plus reading
$150.
Contact
Ann you
Wiant-Lyon
email:
domestic
or administrative
work.
contact
for further
experience?
Workinformation
with paint,
clay, chalk,
charcoal,
music and story as we
415.533.3627
or drawingyouastory@gmail.com.
stellaflora@mac.com,
or atphone:
707-486-9285
look at the life and work of 20th century artists. Seven classes on Weds
Looking
for Nanny
WaldorfJun
Mother
Looking
for Part-time
Workwill be a field trip to
mornings,
10-Jul
22,
9:15am-12:15pm.
One week
Nanny
needed
to entertain
my
7class).
month old
while I work
at home
the
art
museum
in
SF.
Cost
is
$175
($25
per
Feeson
is flexible,
so speak
I would love to offeratmy
in childcare,
personal
my services
office on Tomales
Bay. $10-15/hr,
20 assistance,
hr/week to start
with Mary if youand/or
need other
arrangements. To
register, contact
Carol-Jean
domestic or administrative
work. work
Please
contact me
further
with possible full-time
in the
Callfor
or email
Emiko
Boevers jcjb221@gmail.com
or call Mary
withfuture.
questions:
540-4254.
Condeso 707-364-3274,
tracyemiko@gmail.com.
information at 415.533.3627
or drawingyouastory@gmail.com.
1Revolution’s Summer Camps have something for everyone!
Looking for Doggy Care
Lookingforfor
Nanny
Programs
children
and youth
3-18
yearsforofaage
include:
wilderness
Wonderful
small dog
looking
part-time
care-take
in exhnage for
adventure,
connection
in nature,
theater
camp,
training,
and
Nanny needed
to entertain
my
7 month
oldleadership
son while
I work
at
home
companionship.
Handsome
one-year-old
boy, Coton
de Tulear
bree,
family
visit
our website,
www.1rev.org,
email
17lbs.
Excellent
disposition,
loving and fairly
wellpaul@1rev.
trained
voice
and/orcamp.
at myPlease
office
on
Tomales
Bay.
$10-15/hr,
20
hr/week
totostart
org, or call 338-6501
for more
information.
commands.
Potty
for a litter box. Call Lance @ 323.639.0531
with possible full-time
work
intrained
the future.
Call or email Emiko
For Sale, tracyemiko@gmail.com.
Rent, Needed
Condeso 707-364-3274,
6/13, noon-3pm,
adults.
$60, allConsider
materials provided.
produce
and skinfor
care
products.
joining this local initiative by
opening
a store Workshop
front, cafe,
or Madeline
commercial
kitchen—you
can have
a
Herbal Remedy
with
McCann:
Discover herbs
that help
with distress
and promote
time for
thea busy
summer
months;
share
of the market
for arelaxation—just
$25 payment in
today,
and
promise
to pay
a
also make
a remedy
take home.years
Madeline
an herbal
practitioner,
total
of $300
in thetofollowing
afteristhe
store is
open. Nofarmer
need and
to
founder of Full Moon Folk Medicine. Thurs. 6/18, 4:30-6pm, for adults. $25.
be a member to try the on-line purchasing program.
Innerweaving Summer Camps with Silva Schroeder: these 5-day craft
camps, in which children spend a week creating woven treasures from nature
with Silvia, will utilize the beautiful Circle of Hands classroom, as well as the
sheltered Barlow lawn area under the giant oak tree for daily lunch & outdoor
activity. Three Mon.-Fri. sessions on 6/22-26, 7/6-10, 8/3-7, 10am-3pm.
Accepting ages 5 and up. $265.00. Second year of this popular camp!
Boo-Boo Balm Herbal Remedy Workshop with Madeline McCann:
A day for kids to learn about herbs and make a simple take-home salve for
injuries. Sat. 7/18, 11am-2pm, for ages 6-10. $30.
Summer Art Camps with SWSF Alum Jennifer Laurel: these 5-day craft
camps, in which children spend time walking in nature and creating magical
treasures & art projects with Jennifer, will utilize the beautiful Circle of Hands
classroom, as well as the sheltered Barlow lawn area under the giant oak tree
for daily lunch & outdoor activity. Two Mon.-Fri. sessions on 7/13-17 and
8/10-14, 9am-1pm, for ages 6-12. $225.
Czech out My Kraut!!!
Looking for Doggy Care
Would you like to try some delicious sauerkraut? Made with love by a
Wonderful small
looking
forupafor
part-time
care-take
in exhnage
for
truedog
Bohemian!
Sign
a weekly or
monthly CSK
(Community
Kraut)
Pick up here onboy,
campus.
I have
making
a wide
companionship.Sponsored
Handsome
one-year-old
Coton
debeen
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bree,
of styles and
also take
Sometrained
examplestoofvoice
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made recently: Plain Red or Green Cabbage; Dill; Garlic; Beet and
commands. Potty
trained
for
a
litter
box.
Call
Lance
@
323.639.0531
Carrot; Kimchi with Daikon, Ginger, Carrot, and Spices; Cumin and
Cilantro; Kosher Salt; Sea Salts and more. I currently have some
Art Camp at Summerfield
For Sale, Rent,
Needed
sauerkraut made from the biodynamic cabbage I purchased from the
Children ages 6-12. Explore and create with a variety of art forms:
drawing, painting, sculpting and print-making, walks in nature. Dates:
weekly, starting Jun 15; Jun 22; and Jun 29. Sign up at artcampkuprian.
weebly.com or contact: Renate, (707) 495-7543 or kuprian@sonic.net.
It goes quickly, so call soon. The price is $9/Quart $6/Pint. I will
Czech out MyFarm.
Kraut!!!
take off $1 for returned jars. Coming Soon: as per the request of many
community
I will be hosting
a SauerKraut
Would you likeintoourtry
some delicious
sauerkraut?
Mademaking
with class.
love Please
by a
withaany
questions
to sign up!
228-0118
or
true Bohemian!contact
Sign Sita
up for
weekly
or or
monthly
CSK
(Community
sitaprem@gmail.com (I check my email a couple times a week.)
Sponsored Kraut) Pick up here on campus. I have been making a wide
Holiday
in Mount
Nest, Art
variety of stylesWinter
and also
takeRental
requests.
SomeShasta—Empty
examples of Styles
I've
Optional
made recently: Studio
Plain Red
or Green Cabbage; Dill; Garlic; Beet and
bdrm., 1 bath furnished home, sleeps up to 6. Full
Carrot; KimchiFamily-friendly
with Daikon,2 Ginger,
Carrot, and Spices; Cumin and
kitchen, W/D, wireless, hot tub. Quiet neighborhood in town; walk to
Cilantro; Kosher
Seaand
Salts
and15
more.
some
iceSalt;
rink, park
library.
minuteI currently
drive to Ski have
Park and
Nordic
sauerkraut made
fromArt
theStudio
biodynamic
cabbage
I purchased
from
Center.
optional: with
sink, cement
floor, large
workthe
table,
heat. NO so
SMOKING,
pet The
negotiable.
(+ $50
for studio),
Farm. It goes quickly,
call soon.
price $600/wk.
is $9/Quart
$6/Pint.
I will
4. For more info/photos contact: Jill Gardner
take off $1 for Available
returnedDec.
jars.20-Jan.
Coming
Soon: as per the request of many
530/926-3189, bear@finestplanet.com or Karen Cabron, 707/569-4105,
in our community
I
will
be
hosting
a
SauerKraut
making class. Please
karencabron@gmail.com.
contact Sita with any questions or to sign up! 228-0118 or
Quality Wind Instruments for Purchase, Rent, Rent-to-Own
sitaprem@gmail.com (I check my email a couple times a week.)
Private instruction, winds, piano, guitar. Jonathan Marmelzat, 824-1784
or 575-7194,
jonathanmarmelzat@hotmail.com.
Winter Holiday
Rentalx324,
in Mount
Shasta—Empty Nest, Art
Rick Concoff Violins
Studio Optional
string1instruments
for renthome,
or sale atsleeps
below-market
best
prices.
Family-friendlyQuality
2 bdrm.,
bath furnished
up to 6.
Full
Rent to own as well. Accessories available too! Call Rick at 823-3916
kitchen, W/D, wireless,
hot tub. Quiet neighborhood in town; walk to
for an appointment.
ice rink, park and library. 15 minute drive to Ski Park and Nordic
Center. Art Studio optional: with sink, cement floor, large work table,
heat. NO SMOKING, pet negotiable. $600/wk. (+ $50 for studio),
Available Dec. 20-Jan. 4. For more info/photos contact: Jill Gardner
530/926-3189, bear@finestplanet.com or Karen Cabron, 707/569-4105,
karencabron@gmail.com.
Quality Wind Instruments for Purchase, Rent, Rent-to-Own
Private instruction, winds, piano, guitar. Jonathan Marmelzat, 824-1784
or 575-7194, x324, jonathanmarmelzat@hotmail.com.
Rick Concoff Violins
Quality string instruments for rent or sale at below-market best prices.
Rent to own as well. Accessories available too! Call Rick at 823-3916
for an appointment.
18
Household Items Needed for new Farm Apprentice
Robyn, one of the apprentices at SWSF farm, seeks a few things to better settle
in: a not-too-large table or desk, chair, and a functional typewriter (hers couldn’t
make the move). Any help with these items greatly appreciated. robynrkick@
gmail.com, 404-759-4043.
Services
Always Wanted to Learn to Play the Cello?
Summer adult cello class for beginners is being offered at the Sebastopol
Community Center. Learn to: read bass clef, play simple scales and
songs. Monday evenings 6pm-7:30pm, starting Jun 15 for 6 weeks.
Space is limited. Cost: $150. Contact Maureen Caisse, mocaisse1@
gmail.com, or (707) 206-1566.
Salmon for Sale at the Farm
Beautiful, high quality, frozen Alaskan Sockeye Salmon for sale at wholesale
price. $12/lb for 12 lbs or more. Whole filets or portions available. Both are
vacuum packed. Call or text Alyssum @ (707) 480-0655 if you’re interested.
Singing and Piano Instruction with Mary Beard
I am an experienced teacher, a Summerfield Waldorf founding parent and
original creator of the school’s instrument music program. My studio is
located in Santa Rosa. Please visit my website marybeardmusicstudio.com.
Contact me at marymezzo@sonic.net or (707) 546-8782.
Trampoline for Sale
Jump Sport Staged Bounce Rectangular Trampoline 10x17. This is excellent
for students in circus arts and/or gymnastics training due to the length and
bounce. Our trampoline is about 3 years old and in very good condition. New
is $1,700, will sell for $1,000 or best offer. There is no safety net but you can
purchase it online. See this trampoline online at jumpsport.com. If interested,
call Sally 824-1193.
Now Accepting New Clients in Sebastopol
Allie A. McCann, MFT, ATR-BC, Phone: (707) 219-8484, email:
mccannmft@gmail.com. Allie is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
and Art Therapist. She is a Waldorf-inspired mother of two and is sympathetic
and supportive of Waldorf-inspired values and lifestyle choices. She supports
children, adolescents, parents and adults, specializing in anxiety, mood,
behavioral and relational issues, life transitions, and grief and loss. Allie has a
holistic view of health, tending to mind, body, and spirit. She incorporates both
art and a connection with the natural world into her healing practices.
London Vacation Home Rental
Refurbished luxury home situated in NW London. Ideally located to
enjoy the hustle and bustle of London and then return to a comfortable,
tranquil home away from home. Close to shops and restaurants with
excellent public and private transportation links. Sleeps 5. For more
information contact isabellacaloia@hotmail.com.
Farmer Dan Available For Summer Projects
Do you need a chicken coop, fencing, deck refinishing or repair,
shelving, painting, sheet rock repairs, book cases, walls removed,
window/door add or removal,etc? Many favorable SWS family
references, child friendly, reasonable rates. Call Farmer Dan at 5263917 to inquire or schedule a summer date.
Farm Stay
Enjoy Farm Experience while visiting beautiful Mt Shasta Area. Cosy 2bdrm
home. Quiet surroundings... trees, pastures, organic vegetable garden with
chickens, dog, two cats. Trade for feeding animals, watering garden. Middle
May—approximately 2 weeks. Some summer visits available also. Email
jam@cot.net or call Tana Macy at 530-938-4089.
Childcare and/or Gardening Help Available
Anyone in need of extra family help with childcare or gardening on
weekends or evenings feel free to contact Robyn from the farm at 404-7594043. I am hoping to meet and help SWSF families and get to know the
local community! Have years of experience, especially with early years,
plus great references. robynrkick@gmail.com.
Cottage for Rent
1BR / 1Ba 500ft2 cottage/cabin. This 1960’s cedar cabin has old world charm,
great views, set on a hill, surrounded by trees and nature. It is only 5 minutes
to the town of Forestville and 10 minutes to Hwy101 but feels secluded and
is very quiet. It’s the perfect place for a remote respite. No pets; no smokers.
$1,400 a month. Contact Regina, regina@martinelliwinery.com.
Family Assistant Wanted
We are looking for a family assistant. The job would include helping to
care for our four-year-old twin girls, healthy/organic cooking and light
housekeeping. We live 15 minutes outside of Healdsburg and are looking
for someone that is spiritually aware and health conscious. We use nontoxic, natural products in our home as we have a sensitivity to chemicals
that are used in most commercial products; someone that has a similar
lifestyle is appreciated. This position is for Monday-Wednesday in the
afternoons but the hours shift weekly. Someone with child development
skills for this age group is preferred. If interested, please contact Patricia at
pjmstone@gmail.com.
New Summerfield Family needing a House Rental
Where: Sebastopol or Santa Rosa near trees or open space. When:
Beginning on June 15th or as late as August 1st. Needed: Spacious 3
bedroom or larger. (1700sq ft and up). Preferred: good lighting, quiet
area, open floor plan, well maintained. Dr Noah and Nadia Wolf, (808)
280-1032, sacredsupport@olympus.net.
Rick Concoff Violins
Quality string instruments for rent or sale at below-market best prices.
Rent to own as well. Accessories available too! Call Rick at 823-3916
for an appointment.
For Sale/Rent/Needed
Studio or One Bedroom Apartment Wanted
New Summerfield Grandma relocating to the area seeking a sunny and bright
studio or 1 bedroom rental starting on June 15. Walking distance to grocery
stores is a huge plus. czjn@comcast.net.
Looking for Rental Home
New Summerfield family from DC (mom, dad, 4- and 2-yr-olds and grandma)
seeking a sunny and bright property to rent or buy within reasonable commute
to school on June 15. Ideally it has a granny with a separate kitchen and an
office. czjn@comcast.net.
On-trend Micro-grocery Store with Potential for Expansion, Seeks
Business Partner
Has approved market garden and certified Cottage Kitchen. Inexpensive buy-in
considering potential. New mercantile building is owned by LLC on rented lot.
Equity offered with this fun creative career. For more information please email:
susuru@locastore.net.
19
Messenger 655 Willowside Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Visit us online at www.summerfieldwaldorf.org Botanical Gift Cards for Sale
These beautiful, original oil pastel drawings by Ms. Pothof, created as part
of the Fifth Grade Botany studies, are perfect for thank you cards, or as gifts
Proceeds from card sales will be donated to SWSF Tuition Assistance
Package of 8 large cards and envelopes $20 • Package of 3 small notecards and envelopes $6
Available in the office Jun 1