Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!

Summer has been alive here at Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork and we are so excited to welcome students and families back to campus! WSRF isn’t complete without you.

We have many exciting beginning of the year activities and everyone here - Faculty, Staff, and Administration, is ready to kick off a great year.

In this newsletter you’ll see information about our Back to School Picnic, how to access the new Parent Portal for school information, details on the first day of school (including information about the Rose Ceremony), along with other pertinent information for opening up the year. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your teacher or a member of Administrative Council- Morgan Jacober, Larry Smith and John Moffitt.

On behalf of everyone here at WSRF, welcome and we are excited to see you all!

John Moffitt

Faculty Administrator

Leadership Team

School News

All School Welcome Back Picnic hosted by the Parent Council

Please join us on campus on Saturday August 19th 3:30-6:00 pm (new family welcome from 3:30-4:00)

Please join us for a picnic gathering to meet & visit with new and returning families, enjoy a picnic on the lawn, pick up your welcome packet and have your child (ren) get reacquainted with campus.

Please bring your own picnic blanket and picnic for your family (including utensils and plates).

WSRF will provide water, lemonade and cookies!

The Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork Parent Council is comprised of dedicated parent volunteers and faculty who meet monthly, working to cultivate and strengthen community by generating and coordinating the efforts of parent volunteers. Our Parent Council has three committees allowing them to focus their efforts in specific areas:

Hands: contributes physical support to our school, from labor and handwork to gardening and site beautification and service projects in the community.

Heart: nourishes the community with food, socials, community-building events, and Good Shepherd support while nurturing a culture in which all feel welcome and appreciated.

Head: creates opportunities for parents to learn more about our school and Waldorf education. Has a partnership with class parents, streamlining parent volunteer systems.

If you are interested in learning more about the parent council, please email Morgan Jacober at morgan@waldorfschoolrf.org

First Day of School on Campus

First Day of School for grades 1-8 Monday, August 21st 8:15am-12:30 dismissal (aftercare not offered, regular bus service)

First day of school for Early Childhood (toddler, Preschool and Kindergarten) Tuesday, August 22nd 8:15am-3:00pm (aftercare begins)

Rose Ceremony-Monday August 21st 8:15-9:30am

At the beginning of each school year, the first grade is welcomed into the grade school by the eighth-grade class. The 8th graders will be meeting their buddies on the morning of the first day of school and shepherding the first graders across the stage during the ceremony. This is a rite of passage for both the first and eighth grades classes. All parents are highly encouraged and welcome to attend.

8:15-8:45 Administrative Council will host 1st and 8th grade parents in the sunroom with coffee, tea and sweets

8:45-9:30 Rose Ceremony outside on the sun porch

Location: Outside on the sun porch

Attire: Assembly dress for 1st and 8th graders

Friday Assemblies are Back!

We are pleased to share that our beloved Friday assemblies are back to being weekly. Please join us each Friday at around 8:30am for school announcements, birthdays, class performances and other exciting information through the year.

Introducing the FACTS Family Portal for WSRF

We’re excited to announce our new school management system – FACTS student information system (SIS).

Learn more by watching this video FACTS Family Portal on Vimeo. The password is "Portal".

For families signing up for aftercare or bus service, please log in and fill out the transportation or after school care webforms. Even if you have already submitted a rider form for the 2023-24 year, please complete the webform so that our notification groups and rider lists are up to date.

What else you will be able to find in portal?

Throughout the school year we will continue to roll out new features of the family portal. In the future parents can look forward to finding

Year End Reports · Attendance reports · School Calendar · School Announcements · Staff and School Directory · Family Account Balances with Online Payment · Teacher Email Addresses · And much, much more!

How to Access Family Portal:

1. From FACTSmgt.com, click Family Log In, then click FACTS Family Portal.

2. Type your school's District Code WSRF-CO

3. Click Login.

4. Click Create new account.

5. Type your email address.

6. Click CREATE ACCOUNT. An email will be sent which includes a link to HOW TO ACCESS FACTS FAMILY PORTAL

7. Click the Create your Family Portal Login link in the email.

8. Type a username and password.

9. Click Create Account.

10. Click Back to log in and use your new credentials to log in

Looking for other key Current Family Resources?

Current families resources such as the FACTS family portal, the Parent Handbook, School Calendar, past newsletters, WSRF’s Media & Technology approach and resources, and much more can all be found easily on the Current Family Page on our website here: https://waldorfschoolrf.com/current-families

Traffic Flow Reminder

Please note the one-way direction of traffic flow into our parking lot. Vehicles entering the main entrance are to travel one way in front of the school and then around to the parking lot. For the safety of all, please do not pull directly into the main parking lot.

To assure the smooth flow of vehicles, drop-off and pick up is permitted directly in front of the school when it can be accomplished quickly, otherwise please park your vehicle in the lot. To drop off or pick up quickly, please pull your vehicle to the right side of the driveway and stop just before the crosswalk to drop-off or pick up. Vehicles wishing to pull into the parking lot may proceed to the left of vehicles lined up on the right.

All vehicles traveling to the Kinderhaus are to proceed directly to the left when pulling into the main entrance, and around to the parking spots on the North side of the school.

Please also note the two disabled parking spaces and do not block these. Finally, please note that the Faculty lot is reserved for Faculty only.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Welcome, Ms. Isabel!

We are delighted to welcome Ms. Isabel into the front office in the role of registrar. Please stop by the front office to help welcome her into our community.

Isabel recently relocated to the Roaring Fork River Valley from New York where she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from The New School. She has been involved with Waldorf education through homeschooling as well as with her family members that have attended WSRF and is looking forward to being more involved with the community. Isabel has a passion for working with children and education, as she has worked with several families to facilitate homeschool education and create cohesive and collaborative family environments. She looks forward to expanding her experience with Waldorf education and working with children and families in a school setting.

Any correspondence that would have formerly been sent to Ms. Soozie should now be directed here.

Introducing the WSRF Chess Club with Mr. Arundale

Who: Available for Grades 4-8, for beginners on up!

When: 9 Tuesday’s 3:15-4:15pm from August 29 to October 24

Where: Room TBD

Limited # of Slots

Sign Up Now by emailing here.

All participants will learn chess through a hands-on approach. Students will have the opportunity to learn the beautiful game from scratch and will be encouraged to solve various tactical and strategic problems from various opening, middle-game, and endgame positions. Every class will be conducted in a manner seeking to foster high order character traits such as: patience, self-control, curiosity, honesty, fairness, perseverance, joy, diligence and creativity. No prior experience is required. Fee: $99

Mr. Arundale is a highly active chess amateur, and in addition to his music studio, has instructed chess students privately in the RFV for several years.

WSRF Spotlight - Administrative Council

Who is the Administrative Council and who should I contact for questions about…..

The Administrative Council (AC) is composed of three individuals who each guide and oversee the daily operations of WSRF and support the short and long term health of the school. They each have their own focus area and are all here to support your family as members of the WSRF community.

John Moffitt - Faculty Administrator (email him here)

Come to John for questions about: your student, happenings in your student’s classroom, faculty questions or concerns or other questions that fall in the realm of faculty

Morgan Jacober - Community Development Administrator (email her here)

Come to Morgan for questions about: volunteering, parent council, annual fund, community events or any other elements of community at WSRF

Larry Smith - Business Administrator (email him here)

Come to Larry for questions about: tuition, individual tuition adjustment program, financial concerns or other elements falling into the business operation realm of WSRF