Special Event: Laurie Clark on Executive Functioning

Join us for a presentation by visiting ECE Expert & longtime Waldorf Educator Laurie Clark on Preparing Children for Successful Executive Functioning! The ability to self-regulate, have flexibility and focus are crucial abilities for academic achievement, learn how Waldorf teachers help strengthen these emerging skills and how parents can cultivate these capacities at home. If you are unable to attend but wish to receive a recording of the presentation, please complete the rsvp form below!

What: Preparing Children for Successful Executive Functioning with Laurie Clark

When: Monday December 13th 8:30am-10am

Where: the Hall @ WSRF

Cost: Free! (Rsvp required, masks required indoors)

Learn More & RSVP: https://bit.ly/WSRFSpecialEvent (to attend or receive a link to watch!)

*Chalkboard drawing by WSRF teacher, Thea Pratt for a 7th grade Anatomy Main Lesson Block*

Waldorf Curriculum Spotlight: What is a Main Lesson Block?

Main Lesson (sometimes referred to as the ‘morning lesson’) is a central element of Waldorf Curriculum. This is the place where all our students, 1st to 8th grade, begin their days and is typically about two hours in length (8:15am-10:15am for example).

A Main Lesson block typically lasts 4-6 weeks and refers to the subject that is the central focus of Main Lesson during that period of time. For example, you might find the 8th graders in the midst of a Physics block while the 4th graders are working their way through a North American Geography block.

This approach to focusing on areas of study allows the classes to build on subjects over a concentrated period of time as well as allows students to fully immerse themselves in a given topic while having time to digest, consider and contemplate the area of study.

While teaching in blocks is a long standing element in Waldorf Education, the approach has gained attention with higher education and our reorganized learning environment as schools seek new ways for students to absorb lessons more deeply. To explore elements of Waldorf Education more deeply, explore our blog here.

Upcoming Events

Music Performance December 16th

Music performances are back and we, along with the students, are excited to offer the parents of each class a short evening of string performances on Thursday, December 16th.

We are asking only families of the students performing to attend the individual performances in order to minimize the number of people in the hall at any given time. Please see the schedule below:

5:45pm – 4th grade

6:25pm – 5th grade

7:05pm – 6th grade

7:45pm – 7th & 8th grade combined

We look forward to seeing you there!

Winter Solstice Performance: Behold the Night, Holy and Vast

Join True Nature Healing Arts and Dance Initiative, CoMotion Dance Company, for Winter Solstice! Sip on hot drinks while you explore the Peace Garden lit up with a light installation for the Winter Solstice!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

4 PM: Children’s Puppet Show with Singing Bone Medicine Show in the Center Studio

5pm: Holiday Children's Dance Performance

6:15 PM: Welcome Ceremony at the Fire Circle

6:45 PM: DANCE INITIATIVES PRESENTS: Behold the Night, Holy and Vast! Performance

For tickets and more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winter-solstice-celebration-behold-the-night-holy-and-vast-tickets-210160725387

School News & Gratitudes

WSRF Annual Fund Update

We are almost there! We are overflowing with gratitude for this community's commitment to the WSRF Annual Fund! Our goal is for 100% of our families to contribute to our Annual Fund and many classes have reached 100% already!

We cherish every gift, large or small. You can make your gift today!

Starflower 57%

Sunflower 57%

Moonflower 91%

Willow Forest 75%

1st grade 57%

2nd grade 100%

3rd grade 94%

4th grade 100%

5th grade 100%

6th grade 78%

7th grade 100%

8th grade 83%

All donations to the WSRF Annual Fund are tax deductible and eligible for the Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit (CCCC), giving a generous 50% of contributed amounts back to the donor. (Learn more). Please check out this link to understand the impact for you!

We would like to acknowledge our 2021-22 Annual Fund Class Captains for their commitment to our 2021-22 Annual Fund!

Alicia Nolfi

Jennifer Paradis

Rachel Poirier

Lisa Speaker

Jess Jacobson

Katie Bailey

Windy Gillespie

Cory Didier

Meredith Carter

In gratitude for Diana and the entire Baetz family

We want to extend a sincere thank you to Diana and the Baetz family for their time at WSRF. The family has supported the school in many ways for many years and we wish them the best as they transition to a new chapter in their lives.

Giving for Faculty & Staff

For families wishing to give a holiday gift to faculty or staff members this year, gifts will be collected at the front office throughout the week of December 13th.

Please know that giving is absolutely optional; we only want to ensure that there is a process in place for those who would like to give. We are grateful to all of our families who give so much in so many different ways!

Thank You For a Fantastic Winterfaire!

We are sending a HUGE message of gratitude to all of our families for making Winterfaire 2021 such a success! It took each one of us to bring this event to life! From leading crafts and working the Winterfaire store, to decorating the campus and cleaning up, families showed up with smiles on their faces, ready to roll up their sleeves.

It was a magical day, unlike any other Winterfaire, and a great gift to our children. It was lovely to see our community come together and enjoy the sunshine! Thank you!

COVID testing FAQ

If your child is at home sick, and you’re wondering about testing, the recommendations are:

To test as soon as possible. If your child has covid, the sooner they isolate the better to reduce chance of spread.

If you child has only minor symptoms that have resolved in 48 hours they may return to school. Minor Symptoms - Sore throat - Runny nose or congestion - Muscle or body aches - Headache - Fatigue - Nausea or vomiting - Diarrhea

If your child has any major symptoms, or mild symptoms that have persisted longer than 48 hours, a negative PCR test is required prior to returning to school. Major Symptoms - Feeling feverish, having chills, temperature of 100.4o F or greater - New or worsening cough - Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing - Loss of taste or smell

See here for a flow chart:

The Little Acorn Shop is Open!

New WSRF youth and adult t-shirts and sweatshirts are available in our school store!

Job Openings

Seeking Grades Teachers for 2022-23

The Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork is seeking grades teachers for the 2022-2023 school year. We are looking for passionate and dedicated teachers that have either completed or willing to complete Waldorf teacher training.

The Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork (WSRF) is located in the Rocky Mountains of Western Colorado close to Aspen. We are celebrating our 30th anniversary this year with a dedicated faculty, robust student body, supportive board and a comprehensive preschool through 8th grade Waldorf curriculum.

Our school is set in the beautiful Roaring Fork valley where the community enjoys a multitude of outdoor recreational opportunities year-round. Our campus is all straw bale construction and designed based on Steiner’s architectural indications, providing a beautiful space for our faculty and children to thrive. Our faculty works cooperatively and collaboratively together within a greater community that is progressive and has a small town feel while benefiting from the multi-faceted cultural opportunities of Aspen and surrounding towns.

We offer a strong benefits package, competitive salary, and remission. WSRF embraces the opportunity to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, marital status, gender, sexual orientation or any other classification protected by applicable law.

If you are interested in applying please send an inquiry to John Moffitt, Faculty Administrator, at john@waldorfschoolrf.org or you are welcome to us at (970) 963-1960.

Year-round Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Position Available

We are currently seeking candidates who are interested in pursuing a position in our toddler class starting immediately.

The part time assistant teacher would ideally have a background and possibly training in early childhood with a strong ability to work joyfully and diligently with young children. This position requires working from 1pm to 3pm each week on a set schedule Monday through Wednesday. This position pays starting at $18.50 an hour commensurate with experience with no allocated benefits. This position has the potential to being full time salaried with benefits as the toddler program expands. The selected candidate would need to either possess Early Childhood or Assistant Early Childhood Teacher certification as required by the State of Colorado or immediately pursue required early childhood classes to achieve Assistant Early Childhood Teacher qualifications.

We look forward to discussing further details with interested candidates. Please send your questions and resume to Sigrid Fischbacher at sigrid@waldorfschoolrf.org.

WSRF embraces the opportunity to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, marital status, gender, sexual orientation or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Grades Handwork Assistant Position Available

We are currently seeking candidates who are interested in pursuing a position in our handwork department starting immediately. The handwork assistant works closely with our lead handwork teacher Ms. Pratt has been in this role at the school for a decade and as previous assistants will tell you, she is a master at what she does.

Duties of the role include:

Reading aloud – read stories to students in an engaging, yet not overly dramatic, way. The hope is to help children quietly focus on their work. Clear diction and good articulation is a must.

Helping with Handwork projects – assist with knitting, crochet, hand sewing, machine sewing, cooking, and other craft projects. A candidate for this position need not be proficient at all types of handwork listed but needs to have the capacity to learn these skills on the job.

Class holding – The handwork assistant helps to hold the class energetically with a calm, supportive mood. Keen intuition is needed to know when to stand aside and when to step in, taking cues from the lead teacher.

Student relationships – The handwork assistant should strive to create positive, supportive relationships with all students.

Cleaning and prep – This position has light cleaning and project prep duties. For example, clean up after 3rd grade cooking class, balling yarn, cutting project pieces, etc. directed by the lead teacher.

Bonus!! - The handwork assistant has the unique opportunity to learn so much about handwork, classroom management, and the Waldorf curriculum.

This position works with students grade 1–8, 13-14 hours a week.

This position is paid at $18.50 per class with the students and includes no benefits.

We look forward to discussing further details with interested candidates. To apply, please send your questions and resume to John Moffitt at john@waldorfschoolrf.org or call 970-963-1960. Candidates will be screened through the faculty’s Pedagogical Development Committee in conjunction with the school’s lead handwork teacher.

WSRF embraces the opportunity to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, marital status, gender, sexual orientation or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Seeking Substitute Teachers

WSRF is in need for substitute teachers. If you have teaching experience or are interested in gaining experience, we need you! Please reach out to John as soon as possible! john@waldorfschoolrf.org