*Congratulations to* ***Amelie Ogilby (WSRF Class of 2020)*** *for winning the 3A state title in the 500 freestyle event! Read more in the* **Post Independent**.

WSRF COVID Protocols

2.18.2022

At the start of the year, our Re-opening Protocols included this statement:

To Act with Empathy and Flexibility: As we proceed through the year, our work is to avoid the hardening of beliefs, opinions, and policies. By focusing foremost on serving the child – with the goal of being In Person and In Community – we will regularly review and adapt our policies to the changing world.

Since the time this was written, we have all witnessed and have been impacted in some degree by COVID. Our understanding of the disease and the impact of our mitigation strategies has been evolving. Thank you for your cooperation and support as we’ve together navigated these trying times.

Administrative Council has conducted a thorough review of our practices. Based on consultation with medical and legal professionals, along with new guidance from CDPHE combined with supportive local covid statistics and national statistics, we understand a shift in our protocols to be low-rick at this time. Below are the school's latest protocols.

Effective February 28th 2022

All prior protocols are replaced

WSRF will make masks optional on campus, starting 2/28/2022 with one exception: there remains a federal mandate for masking on busses so all will be masked while being transported by bus (until such time as the federal mandate is rescinded).

This is a transition, which may be temporary. If conditions warrant (e.g. due to a new variant), the school protocols may revert to masks required. We hope this will not occur.

Please be advised that maskless individuals who are exposed to covid may be subject to either quarantine or a Test to Stay program and masking for 10 days to stay in school.

As always, we expect our community to be supportive and respectful of the choices individuals make. With this change in protocols, some will choose to continue to wear masks. We remain committed to treating all with dignity and will not tolerate behavior to the contrary.

Additional Protocols

Any symptomatic individuals, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection, should isolate from symptom onset and pursue evaluation, including testing as soon as possible. Use this screening tool: At-Home Symptom Screening for Parents and Staff 080221.pdf - Google Drive

If test negative and symptoms resolve Return to School using this flowchart Return to Learn January 2022.pdf - Google Drive

If positive test, or symptoms after recent exposure: Who needs to quarantine 1.18.22.pdf - Google Drive

If the school experiences an outbreak, GCDPHE will likely impose these guidelines: Outbreak Response Flowchart 02.11.22.pdf - Google Drive

2022-23 Re-enrollment

Re-enrollment has begun for the 2022-23 school year. Please be on a lookout for an email from TADS with re-enrollment instructions.

Our commitment is to not lose any families due to financial reasons. If your family is experiencing challenges in anticipation of the coming school year, please do not hesitate to begin the Needs Based Financial Aid process.

Simplicity Parenting Book Club

With Holly Richardson & Kerrie Schur February 28th 2022

Starting March 10th! Thursdays, 8:45am-10am (March 10, 31, April 14, 28, May 12, 26)

Hosted in the Parent Child room at WSRF or outdoors when possible.

Join fellow parents for conversation, coffee, tea and treats to learn, grow and explore approaches to parenting based on Kim John Payne’s Simplicity Parenting. Books will be provided to the first 10 registrants. All parents, parent child to 8th grade welcome.

Register here: https://bit.ly/WSRFbookclub

Faculty News

First Grade, 2022-23

It is with great pleasure and joy to announce that Sarah Darval will be joining us as the first grade teacher for the 2022-2023 school year. Ms. Darval has been working in our Kinderhaus this year and has been such a loving and warm presence in the Sunflower class. Ms. Darval is currently in her last year of teacher training and is humbled and excited to begin this journey.

Please see a short biography and a note from Ms. Darval below.

Biography

Ms. Darval received a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy and Environmental Studies from Prescott College. Since then she has worked primarily as a librarian and in the local food movement, sharing her love of literacy and gardening with communities. She has also been leading yoga classes and retreats for adults and children, creating a space of connection and joy. Her passion for supporting families led her to train as a birth and postpartum doula as well. She had lived with her family in Revelstoke, British Columbia for the previous 8 years and relocated to the Roaring Fork Valley in the spring of 2021 to join the WSRF community. Ms. Darval is entering her final year of Waldorf Grades Teacher Training with the West Coast Institute and after a working in the Sunflower Preschool this year, she is honored to join the WSRF Grades Faculty.

A note from Ms. Darval

It is such an honor to accept the role as teacher for our rising 1st Grade class at the Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork. I have been passionate about Waldorf Education for many years. The way the curriculum meets the child as they grow and develop holds them and nourishes them on a deep level, while bringing a love of learning to life. My family relocated to the valley one year ago because when we visited the school we could feel the presence of a strong, loving, supportive community that was thriving because of its deep roots and its willingness to grow and evolve to meet the students of today.

We are beginning a journey together. I commit to holding this group of children, supporting their experience of learning about the world and themselves, with joy and love. Your children will be held by me as their class teacher, but also by the web of support that is created by the WSRF faculty, staff, and greater community. Thank you for entrusting me with the joyful work of being their teacher!

In gratitude,

Sarah Darval

Middle School Math Teacher 2022-2023

With great excitement and gratitude, we would like to announce that Tim Connolly has accepted the offer to be the middle school math teacher for the 2022-2023 school year. Mr. Connolly has been a part of our school for many years, has been in many roles and has been an integral part of our math program through the years. We are very excited that Tim will be working with our middle school students next year.

A note from Mr. Connolly

Four years ago, I returned to the school to begin what was in my heart as my ideal job. I taught the math curriculum during the 2018-19 school year from 5th - 8th grade and loved the students, my colleagues, and the work. As that year closed, I was asked to step into the Faculty Administrator role due to circumstances, and I committed to that work for two years and now find myself almost three years later fortunate to be asked again to take on the role that again feels like my ideal work. Beginning this August when the 2022-23 school year begins, I will be teaching the 6th - 8th grade math curriculum and am very excited for the opportunity to step back into this world of numbers. Over the past year and one half, I have been fortunate to have taught the current 5th through 7th grade classes most of the past 18 months, and the thought of again working with them to achieve math fluency is exciting for me. My biggest hope as a Waldorf math educator is that students might see the beauty of numbers, the puzzles behind it and the mysteries that it can hold. Not everyone loves math equally, and that I totally understand, and yet keeping the doors open to a student's future is so very important to me so that as they graduate from our school, their math and science curriculum is equally balanced with all the other streams of education that we offer. I feel blessed for this opportunity and thank the faculty for having the belief in me that I can undertake this role with enthusiasm. The students at our school bring so much joy to teaching and I look forward to the work that lies ahead with a special gratitude for Mr. Johnson who has given so much of himself to this work over the past three years.

With gratitude,

Tim

The 24th Annual Rocky Mountain Medieval Games is coming to the Roaring Fork Valley!

This much loved regional Waldorf sixth grade event has moved to the Roaring Fork Valley. We are looking for alumni, alumni parents, current and future 6th grade parents who are interested in helping make the games a success.

We will be hosting a two day event on May 19th and 20th. If you are interested in joining the team, please email Ms. Lichatz at julianna@waldorfschoolrf.org or text her at 970 309 4158.

Huzzah!

Summer Camp at WSRF Coming Soon

WSRF will be offering summer camps beginning in June and going through July. Early childhood camps will be offered for ages 2.5 through 7. We will also be offering camps for older students ages 6 through 14.

All camp details will be published soon and registration will open in March. Please find the dates of the six sessions below.

Week 1 Jun 13-17

Week 2 Jun 20-24

Week 3 Jun 27 - Jul 1

Week 4 Jul 11-15

Week 5 Jul 18-22

Week 6 Jul 25-29

Seeking Spring Seamsters!

Ms. Baba is looking for a few parents to lovingly sew some simple spring eurythmy costumes for the middle school for upcoming spring performances. Any interested parents can contact Elena directly at elena@waldorfschoolrf.org