Newsletter - Anneliese Schools

October
Newsletter
Kleine Kinder Schule // Kinder Schule // Kindergarten // Grade School
Contents
Liesa's Shop by Anneliese Schools�����������������������������������������������������������2
Punishment By Rewards; Talk by Alfie Kohn��������������������������������������3
Enrichment Teachers at Back-to-School Night���������������������������������� 4
Oktoberfest 2016�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5
Kindergarten 1, Kleine Kinder and Kinder Schules ������������������������ 6
Grade School News�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������7
October�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������12
Activities Calendar ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������12
Liesa's Shop by
Anneliese Schools
Year after year, we receive inquiries from our school community asking, ‘Where can we find the
beautiful bowls you displayed at the Winter Show?, Can we purchase the German paints my child
uses in art class, or the scissors and paint brushes that he loves so much?,’ ‘Do you have any
recommendations for sourcing books, garden supplies, or holiday gifts?’ Our students, families, and
community are inspired by the Anneliese Schools philosophy and strive to replicate our culture
and aesthetic in their homes, as well as share it with others. Anneliese Schools prides itself on not
only providing exceptional educational curriculum, but doing so in a carefully curated and unique
educational environment. Our vision continues to grow; and this year, we are excited to announce the opening of the
Anneliese Schools’ store LIESAS!
Opening September 2016, LIESAS is a lifestyle shop inspired by worldly shopkeepers, artists, writers, and educators,
whose heirloom craftsmanship and remarkable vision curates our collection of goods. Frau Anneliese’s daughter, Liesa
Schimmelpfennig, an artist, true visionary, and Director of Research and Programming for Anneliese Schools, is the
inspiration for the shop’s name and our muse. A natural collaboration with Anneliese Schools, LIESAS nurtures and reflects
the beauty and values of our school. We are dedicated to offering you, your children, family, and friends products, resources,
and treasures to support your élan vital. Proceeds from the shop directly support the Anneliese Schools' mission of
cultivating intelligent, compassionate and creative thinkers, in a vibrant and colorful environment.
LIESAS will be your go-to for Apothecary & Art,
Adornment & Apparel, Crafts & Play, Maison et Jardin,
Biblioteca, as well as a unique opportunity to shop directly
from ‘Anneliese’s Trunk.’ All products are carefully chosen for
their alignment with the Anneliese Schools philosophy and
compliment our special school community. All proceeds will
directly benefit our school.
Please bookmark www.liesas.com on your favorite
browser!
PUNISHED BY REWARDS
Why Positive Reinforcement Isn’t So Positive
T
he most popular American strategy for raising children and teaching students can be
summarized in six words: “Do this and you’ll get that.” Unfortunately, rewards -- like
punishments -- are a way of doing things TO people rather than working WITH them, and
they can never produce anything more than temporary obedience. In fact, as Alfie Kohn will
explain, the use of incentives reflects a misunderstanding of motivation and makes it more
difficult for kids to grow into generous, responsible people, or for students to think deeply and
love learning.
Guest Speaker Author Alfie Kohn
October 27, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Hotel Laguna, 425 S Coast Hwy
$10 Friends of SEEDS
$20 General Public
Register at www.seedsed.org
Enrichment
Teachers at Backto-School Night
At Anneliese Schools, we not only have stellar core teachers,
who hold at least a Bachelor of Arts/Science degree, many
have Master's degrees, but we also have talented teachers
who teach our enrichment classes. These classes include
Foreign Languages (including American Sign Language),
Visual Arts, Music, Gardening, Handcrafts, and Athletics.
From Kindergarten 2 through 6th grade, the students all
receive lessons in these six disciplines from talented teachers
with incredible credentials and experience. For example, Mr.
Joseph Gerges, who teaches 6th Grade art holds a bachelor's
degree from the Art Center College of Design and a Master
of Fine Arts degree in drawing and painting from California
State University at Fullerton. His work has been exhibited
throughout the states of California, Georgia, New Mexico,
Vermont, Arizona, and Juarez, Mexico. Learn more about
Mr. Joe at www.josephgerges.com.
We will feature other teachers in future issues of our
Newsletter and the new campus Weekly newsletters!
Grade School News
Oktober f est
Spon sored by SEEDS Ar ts and Education
Willowbrook Campus
20062 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach, CA
Thank you to ou r s pon sors
Kindergarten 1,
Kleine Kinder and
Kinder Schules
Monthly Art Theme
Our September monthly art theme was the Abstract Artist.
We studied artists such as Jackson Pollock for inspiration.
This theme provided our four year olds the opportunity to
be creative, free, and uninhibited. They built on their fine
motor skills to creative these beautiful pieces.
October's Art Theme: This month we will be studying
impressionists like the French artist, Claude Monet. We are
sure to see beautiful creations from our young artists.
In September, we studied Me, My Family, My Teacher, My
School, and My Environment. These themes were a great
way to get to know each other and our environment. As you
can see from some of our photos, several classes created
beautiful self-portraits.
For the month of October, we will be focusing on My Heart,
My Body, My Brain: Understanding and Caring for Them. We
will be introducing the "Red Light-Green Light Traffic
Control Nutritional Program. This program includes basic
body awareness, brain-heart-body connections, simple
biological systems (e.g. digestion), and diaphragmatic
breathing.
Community Value of the Month: I have love and respect for
myself and my physical being.
Grade School News
Introducing our Anneliese Eagles
Flag Football 2016
Coach: Spencer Kirksey
Spencer Schlaich
Katie Tsuma
Cole Bresnahan
Misha Franc
Myles Freeman
Michael Fuscaldo
Skylar Iller
Luca Luhan
Donavan Vasquez
Max Schlaich
Weston Long
Alex Silyaev
JR Cascone
Nathan Jackson
Trey Davis
Volleyball 2016
Coaches: Roberta Haines & Serena Mauratelli
Zophia Wallace
Macy Draper
Alana Keithley
Charla Hutton-Hagmier
Savannah Sayer
Madeline Dorman
Annaliz Desalles-Yazici
Everly Best
Francesca O’Kula
Angelina O’Kula
Kaila Coleman
Lily Fetyko
Sienna Herdman
Lucca Creighton
October Games
Support the Eagles at a Game in October!
Tuesday, October 4th
Eagles vs. McDowell - Volleyball Only @ 3:30
Volleyball - 29028 Aloma Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Wednesday, October 5th
Eagles vs. Heritage Oak - Football and Volleyball @ 3:15
Football - 17510 Lakeview Ave. Yorba Linda, CA
Volleyball - 16971 Imperial Hwy Yorba Linda, CA
Tuesday, October 11th
Eagles vs. New Horizon - Football Only @ 3:00
19692 Lexington Lane Huntington Beach, CA 92646
Tuesday, October 18th
Eagles vs. North Tustin - Football @ 2:45 - Volleyball @ 3:00
Katherine Ferris
Zabelle Martin
Isabella Longrie
Chloe Dorman
Mila Franc
Annalyse Vasquez
Football - 14712 Prospect Ave. Tustin, CA
Volleyball - 19111 Villa Park Orange, CA
Thursday, October 20th
Eagles vs. Heritage Christian - Football @ 3:30 - Volleyball @ 3:00
Football – 5 Federation Way Irvine, CA 92612
Volleyball - 25871 Atlantic Ocean Dr. Lake Forest, CA
Special Reminder:
October 14 is our first In-Service Half Day
The Grade School (K2 through 6th Grade) at all campuses will close at
noon.
Grade School News
Upcoming Winter Athletics
Program
To help us determine if there is sufficient interest to offer
basketball this winter, please email me at your earliest
convenience and let me know if we can expect your child to
participate: s.kirksey@annelieseschools.com.
We are looking forward to yet another exciting and fulfilling
athletics season at Anneliese Schools. GO EAGLES!
Best,
Spencer L. Kirksey
Athletic and Wellness Program Coordinator, Teacher
O
ur fall athletic season is in full swing, but we are already
setting our sights on our upcoming winter athletics
program, which includes girls and boys basketball!
What you need to know:
Season: December through February
Games: two per week (typically Monday and Wednesday)
Practice: once per week, Tuesdays for girls and Thursdays
for boys
Coach: Coach Joshua will be the head coach for both girls
and boys. He comes with great basketball knowledge and
coaching experience, we are very lucky to have him!
Cost: approx. $200 per student (we provide the uniform
and transportation to the games).
Tryouts: Although the location of tryouts and practices is
yet to be determined, tentatively, we expect it will be
November 14th for girls and 16th for boys.
Grade School News
Willowbrook's New Donkeys
Willowbrook Campus and Our Animal Program Welcome
Miller and Blue Moon
2nd Grade Geologist Visit
Mr. Mel, a professional geologist, visited the 2nd graders at
Willowbrook. Ms. Ginny, Maestra Veronica, and Madame
Roberta joined the group for a special presentation that
included various types of rocks and fossils. His visit coincided
with their Science chapter on rocks.
Why The Outside of a Horse
is Good for the Inside of a
Child
By Janet O'Faolain, PATH certified
therapeutic riding instructor
A crowd has gathered around something interesting in the
school yard. No one can resist having a look at the goingson. What is this fascinating occurrence? A horse is in the
school yard. Even the timid cannot resist watching the little
We are happy to announce that Anneliese Schools
has adopted two donkeys, which will reside at our
Willowbrook Campus. Miller is a nine-year-old male, who
was found wandering the streets of San Angelo, Texas
where he was rescued. Blue Moon is a one-year-old male
who was rescued after having been found severely
neglected in California. They are happy and content as
they settle into their new home with our miniature horses
and alpacas. We look forward to expanding our animal
program to include these two precious friends.
paint horse walk across the bridge. Is this out in the country
or a field trip, no it is happening at our very own Willowbrook
Campus.
While most parents I speak to are curious, if not completely
surprised, to see the mini Anneliese Schools ambassadors
(as I like to call them); most people aren't sure why they are
here. What purpose do they serve?
Willow and Katie were rescued by Frau Anneliese about five
years ago. Since then, they have brought wonder and joy to
all of us. More recently, I started working with Willow, Katie,
and their baby Baltazar to allow them and our students to
get to know each other better. Through our after school
Continued next page
Grade School News
enrichment class, the students are closely involved with the
horses' training.
While there has been much studied between the humananimal relationship and bond, there are observations I have
seen as a life-long lover of all things equine. Horses build
character in children. They teach children to have respect
for the animal and its personal boundaries all through nonverbal communication. Horses teach self-discipline and help
build self-confidence. Every week I see our students become
more self-assured and direct in their approach in handling
the horses. They learn how to work as a team as well as what
it takes to be a leader. You have to be a leader or the horse
will not follow you!
Children learn to be sensitive to each other as well as how to
relate to the horse and influence its movement. They are
indeed dancing with each other! You have to be patient to be
in a relationship with a horse. Once you have earned its trust,
it is your responsibility to maintain it. Children that feel
confident have fun, and isn't that a wonderful thing to have
fun while learning to be kinder, sensitive to others, trusting,
respectful, and show self discipline?
Working with horses has taught me how to be a better
person and friend. I continue to learn more about the
benefits of horsemanship every day, every interaction. We
who get to dance with the horses are deeply touched by
their quiet joy and sweetness, even when they are spunky. If
you see one of the mini horses out on campus, come on over
and say hi.
Horses are a gift for all of us to enjoy.
Grade School News
Tai Chi Quan:
A Lifelong Pursuit
By J. Matthew Brand
T
ai Chi Quan can be translated from Chinese as the
highest form of martial arts. As with all Chinese martial
arts, it developed from Shaolin boxing several hundred years
ago and has the distinction of being one of the three softstyle Taoist martial art forms, alongside Baguazhang and
Xingyiquan. On a purely physical level, these forms strive
toward harmony of movement, utilizing the entire body in
unison while helping establish good structure in the body.
On a spiritual and emotional level, one strives to transition
through the forms while quieting the mind in a moving
meditation.
What does this translate into, in terms of concrete,
daily practice? The slow pace that remains one of the
hallmarks of Tai Chi practice has the following goals: 1.
perfecting the movements themselves (and hence
reinforcing the understanding of these movements); 2.
calming the mind to the point of being able to enter into a
meditative state, and; 3. increasing awareness of one’s own
body and the world in which it is moving.
Scientific research about Tai Chi has shown that
there are indeed many health benefits from regular practice.
These benefits include training in proprioception (the
ability to perceive one’s body in space); improvement of
agility, balance, tendon and muscle strength and flexibility;
improvement in mood, even with depression, and hence
improved quality of life; reduction in the recurrence of
breast cancer in cancer survivors through reduced
inflammation; improved sleep quality; reduced blood
pressure; and improved immune response. Research studies
point toward the importance of incorporating this type of
regular meditative exercise into an otherwise healthy
lifestyle rather than considering Tai Chi as a panacea.
Tai Chi is a complete exercise system. By this, we
mean that it encompasses many different aspects of physical
activity, while having a concrete concept of the body’s
machinations. This also includes the concept of self-care, a
foundational feature of Taoist thought and Chinese
medicine.
In today’s world of sports and exercise, there appear
to be two types of physical exertion that dominate the
conversation: the short, high intensity training of Crossfitstyle boot camps, and the relatively static but intense
stretching of yoga. Tai Chi has endured for so long precisely
because it is able to bridge these two types of exercise by
building strength of mind and body. If practiced under
proper supervision, the propensity for injury is little to none,
especially as one builds confidence in one’s own body.
The concept of Tai Chi embodies the one constant
embraced by Taoist thought: change. The Tai Chi
practitioner regularly works on joint mobility, tendon
strength and flexibility, and proper posture. Strength, agility
and fluidity of movement are goals that one pursues in
practice. The more that one practices, the more there is to
learn. Thus, Tai Chi becomes a study of one’s own body, that
body’s relationship with gravity, and the changes that occur
as one gets stronger and older. It’s for this reason that it can
be a long-term pursuit, an exercise for people of all ages.
Editor’s Note: Mr. Matt has been offering Tai Chi to our
Grade School students at Willowbrook Campus as part of
our After School Enrichment Program.
Grade School News
October
Activities Calendar
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
3
K2 Picture Day
10
4
1st Picture Day
4th Plein Air Art
Volleyball Game
11
4th Picture Day
2nd ENC
Football Game
17
18
WB K1 Tanaka
Farm
Football &
Volleyball Games
24
25
WB K2 Tanaka
Farm
30
31
5
2nd Picture Day
Football &
Volleyball Games
12
6
3rd Picture Day
1st Long Beach Aquarium
14
3rd Segerstrom
5th Picture Day
20
WB K1 Tanaka
Farm
26
MZ/AL K2 Tanaka
Farm
8
6th O’Neill Regional Park Overnight
13
19
7
6th Picture Day
In-Service Half
Day
21
MZ/AL K1 Tanaka
Farm
Football & Volleyball
Games
27
Oktoberfest
22
4th Before The Mast Overnight
28
5th Museum of
Tolerance
15
29