October 16th News
This Week at WSRF
Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade
At the beginning of the school year, I was reminded how precious being together with the ones you love and care for can be. This time together is priceless yet can often be time we take for granted and don't realize what we have until it's gone (or at least "safer at home"). I think I can speak for every Waldorf teacher that I know and say the love and care we feel towards our students is real, enormous and true.
I can remember in mid-August that people would often turn to me with empathy when they found that I was a teacher and going back in person to join forces with other essential workers. After empathy was offered, the next response was often to ask how I felt about returning in person and in all honesty, I was nervous and felt some fear around moving up to the front lines after I had hunkered down and felt so safe at home. Initially, I did not quite know how to respond because we had not started in person teaching yet. I had no gauge. Since school has started and we remain in person, my response now is always the same... "Every day together is a great day!"
It's not just me who feels this way either. In fact, the first few weeks of our class coming back together, the students expressed their gratitude and continue to do so. At the end of the day before dismissal, I often ask the students what they are grateful for and they share their truth much of which is their thankfulness for all of us being together in person.
While there has been a bit of a learning curve along the way, I also have felt re-grounded and inspired in a new way for my love of teaching and my students. Like I said, sometimes it can be the case that we do not know what we have until it is gone. As far as school is concerned, I hope we don't have to learn this again.
As the seasons change and we sink into the beauty of this rhythm, may we all be blessed with the courage to make positive choices that help ensure our community's health so that our in person teachings continue to make everyday together a great day!
Blessings on the season!
Samara Noll
for the Faculty
The sixth graders have embarked on a meaningful journey during their class meeting time together. This class is called "The Art of Lemonade". When life gives you lemons, learn how to make lemonade! This class focuses on empowering and cultivating students to tap into their sense of power. In this class, we explore important growth mindset themes such as passion and perseverance, overcoming obstacles, reaching for the impossible, overcoming procrastination, striving to achieve your goals and so much more. Each theme is explored through a 3-week lens of class discussion, creative art and journaling.
Below are samples of student artwork after we completed our three-week theme of self-discovery and identity. This was an opportunity for students to connect with who they believe themselves to be with some juicy adjectives, where and how they are impacted and by what and the joys in their life. Students were partnered up and worked together to draw each other's profile and then asked to come up with visual metaphors that represented what they love.
-Mrs. Noll
The seventh grade is in the middle of their study of the renaissance. This block has them delving deep into the time when the world changed a great amount in a short amount of time. Students are learning about the changes in art, science, astronomy, medicine and navigation. They are also engaging in difficult Reproductions of famous masters paintings.
-Mr. Johnson
The eighth grade is embarking on an exploration of physics for the next few weeks. We will learn about aerodynamics, hydraulics, electromagnetics and circuitry. The class has been tasked to apply their knowledge of physics to create the ultimate piece of playground equipment as a group challenge. This class is full of creative energy, and will no doubt impress the review panel. We are thankful for the work of Nikole Hannah Jones and the 1619 Project. There is so much to learn about the connections between the birth of our nation, the American Revolution, and the social justice movements of today.
-Ms. Mullally
Last week the seventh and eighth grade cohorts concluded their study of land navigation with a day of orienteering on the Sunfire Ranch. Setting off with map and compass, small groups went searching for flags and words that, when strung together, created an inspirational quote. Time was also spent providing service to the ranch. A huge thanks you to the Sewell family for sharing their beautiful ranch and helping create a hands-on learning experience for our middle schoolers.
-Ms. Lichatz
School News
Halloween Tradition at school
It has been tradition for the students to bring a costume to school and celebrate in a small way, the celebration of Halloween. At this time, it would be likely that some form of the tradition be held, but not in the same ways as years past with costumes and the traditional parade around the field. While we continue to sort out what flavor this small celebration may take on, please read through the information following about the origins of Halloween. Please note that the day prior to Halloween, Friday, October 30 offers a 12:30 dismissal for all of the students from Kinderhaus through 8th grade with no aftercare offered after 12:30.
As you are aware, the celebration of Halloween is just two weeks away, a day loved and cherished by children and most adults.
We know today that Halloween is celebrated with warm cider, soups and to the joy of many, lots of treats. Yet, in times past, the day was celebrated in conjunction with May Day as days of renewal. In May, the day typically ushered in the heat and the vegetation of the summer. Halloween and the following days, All Saints and All Souls days from Christian traditions, ushered in Winter's cold and barrenness. The transition time in ancient cultures was thought to include the return of the souls of the departed to the warmth and light they remembered from their former lives. No only ghosts were anticipated, but general mischief, witchcraft, magic and goblins of every sort. Halloween was first recognized as a day of remembrance in 998 AD. There is an old English saying that on Halloween, a bogie or a ghost, sits on every fence post. It is said that in Ireland that the fairy hills are thrown open and the fairies swarm forth. Anyone bold enough may peep in the open green hills to see hidden treasure, if one dares. There was much fear that lived surrounding this holiday and plants and oats were routinely used to ward off bad spirits and were left outside people's doors. Naturally, this sounds reminiscent of our tradition of providing a treat to the "ghosts and goblins" that knock on our doors and threaten to trick us if a treat is not provided. In addition, people began carving scary faces on turnips to frighten away the spirits that came seeking, and now we use the pumpkin as that gourd of choice to carve our expressions to ward off the intruders.
As fear has subsided throughout the years, the themes of the past remain, yet the festival has been retained in a playful fashion
Halloween Guidance for Health and Safety from Garfield County Public Health
Garfield County Public Health has recently placed together a guidance for Halloween that you may find very useful. It covers the topics of candy distribution, in home parties and creative ideas that you may wish to use versus that of the typical traditions. Typically, at school we hold a Halloween parade with a few shared treasures along with a more "mature" Halloween story for the middle school students. As with each festival we wish to celebrate, we are working on ideas to reform our tradition or save it for next year, if that be the case.
In any event, we hope that you find the follow guidelines helpful as you navigate this treasured evening for many children in perhaps a different way.
Tim Connolly
Halloween guidance from Garfield County Public Health - COVID-19
Categories: COVID-19
GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Garfield County Public Health wants everyone to have a safe and healthy Halloween. It might look a little different this year, but it can still be fun. With the right precautions, families can plan costumes, eat candy, and even create new traditions.
Our community does not want to see an increase in COVID-19 cases or school quarantines due to Halloween.
If you are in isolation, quarantine, have been exposed to, or are sick with COVID-19, do not participate in any in-person activities, including handing out candy.
With a little effort and creativity, there are ways to enjoy this fall tradition while protecting everyone in the community.
Trick-or-treating guidance
If you choose to trick-or-treat please consider the health of everyone in the community. Trick or treating outside door-to-door may seem like lower risk, but if a lot of people participate and fail to take precautions, it raises the potential for disease spread.
Adults should trick-or-treat with kids. Most kids have difficulties remembering to social distance.
Limit time and maintain distance at doorways.
Wash hands and frequently-touched-surfaces often.
Unfortunately, costume masks are not a substitute for an approved COVID-19 face covering. Just like preparing a costume that can incorporate a winter coat, plan a costume that incorporates a mask.
Avoid crowds and crowding.
It’s safer to gather with people who consistently wear masks, keep physical distance, and follow prevention recommendations.
Halloween parties
Indoor Halloween parties are discouraged this year.
In some cases, it can be OK to host smaller and carefully organized events that promote safe practices like face coverings, hand washing and social distancing.
These events should be held outdoors, which can be challenging in late October in Colorado.
Consider projecting a Halloween movie onto the garage door. A small group or kids or families can watch as long as they are following all precautions.
The number of people that can gather should be determined by the social distancing calculator to ensure that everyone stays 6’ apart.
Organized church or community events
Adhere to state guidance for your specific event and see the Halloween Guidance for Event Planners link.
Consider a ‘hands-off’ period for collected candy
Children’s Hospital experts say one of the safest things you can do is have children wait 48-72 hours before digging into Halloween candy collected trick-or-treating.
This is because candy is coming from multiple households and mingling together in a bucket or bag.
COVID-19 can survive up to three days on some surfaces.
That is a long time for kids to wait, so parents should consider having a small stash of candy on hand that was purchased ahead of time for kids to enjoy immediately.
Creative ideas
Communicate with your neighbors to plan trick-or-treating this year.
Find ways to hand out candy while keeping appropriate distance.
Use a plastic slide, cardboard tubes or plastic pipes to deliver candy from a distance.
Take kids on an outdoor, distanced treasure hunt to look for candy or Halloween items.
Place candy at the end of a driveway or yard’s edge and watch the fun from a distance.
Visit Children’s Hospital of Colorado’s Halloween Tips, Tricks, and Treats page.
Helpful Halloween links
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Halloween Tips and Tricks
Children’s Colorado's Tips, Tricks (and Treats) for Celebrating Halloween During the COVID-19 Pandemic
American Academy of Pediatrics Tips for a safe Halloween
The School Store is now open for shopping by appointment!
Thank you to Robynn Dorffi and Kay Graybill who spent time getting the school store ready for shoppers over the fall break. We are excited to announce shopping in the school store is now available by appointment only during school hours. Please email robynn@waldorfschoolrf.org to set up a time to shop our incredible collection of gifts, toys and games.
Waldorf Curriculum Spotlight:
Why do we knit?
If you watch a 1st Grade class learn to knit, you’ll witness an incredible scope of engagement, dedication and focus at play. The act of using the individual human will to create a work of art draws on the deepest layers of learning, which is why knitting serves as a foundational medium in Waldorf Education. The structure, repetition and detailed oriented nature of the activity lends itself well to strengthening hand-eye coordination, building habits and focus, not to mention leveraging math and counting skills as students learn to manage, change and adjust their stitches and patterns in pursuit of their goals.
Rudolf Steiner said, “Children who learn while they are young to make practical things by hand in an artistic way and for the benefit of others as well as themselves, will not be strangers to life or to other people when they are older. They will be able to form their lives and their relationships in a social and artistic way, so that their lives are thereby enriched.”
The look of accomplishment, joy and pride on the face of a 1st grader who has successfully completed their knitted chicken gives the best window into the many benefits of learning to knit. Not only are students nurtured and stimulated by a new skill, they are given a sense of confidence in their own two hands that carries a lasting impact.
A Thank You to our Community and a Conversation on Resilience
We would like to take a moment to share our appreciation to each and every one of our community members. Your time, dedication and commitment continues to be be pivotal to our success and the strength of our entire community. We would like to give our message of gratitude through the following video as well as share a conversation a collection of our alumni recently engaged in around the topic of resilience; a capacity we all find ourselves in need of while navigating the world today.
Save the Date! Window Into Waldorf
November 12th 7:30pm-8:30pm
Our virtual early childhood event, Windows into Waldorf is back as a way for current and prospective families to catch a glimpse into our early childhood programs. A virtual video tour will be released next week and the live Q&A till take place on November 12th. This is a chance to ask questions of the early childhood teachers, enrollment coordinator and our current 1st grade teacher, Patti Connolly on how our early childhood programs prepare students for the journey ahead.
If you know families with young children who might be interested in exploring Waldorf Education, please pass along this warm invitation to join us.
Attendees must RSVP to this event here.
The Restorative Committee
Dear Parents,
Five years ago, current Board Member, Frances Lewis stepped into her second term as Faculty Administrator and one of her first calls to duty was to advance the faculty's efforts to evolve the school's behavior policy. For several years, the school had endeavored to explore and implement restorative justice and nonviolent communication practices, as these seemed to be in the spirit of the school's work. These explorations felt warm and good to the heart, however, when it came time to work with accountability, documentation, and process, it was felt that the community was falling short.
It seemed to Frances that teachers felt the approach was out of alignment. Parents struggled to understand or see efficacy in the efforts, and students did not take it seriously. This state of affairs set the stage for growing pains in the form of crisis. It was just a few short months later that a series of festering issues related to this weakness came to a head. The faculty and administration were forced to take decisive action. It was time to auger in and commit resources, time, and energy into creating something new, progressive, truly educational, and structured with clear process and steps of accountability.
As is often the case in such moments, new friendships can become beacons of light in the shadows. Frances found such a friend in Will Bledsoe of the Restorative Way. Will arrived at the school's doorstep with an impressive resume including extensive and experienced background in Restorative work at the university and judicial level. He is the kind of consultant often out of our humble reach. However, he felt a connection to us, recognized our values and seemed to have an innate understanding for our approach to education. Inspired by the work, a collective synergy was formed. With Will at the helm alongside many others, a yearlong earnest collaborative effort to create a policy and best practices centered on a mission, to serve this community with an approach to conduct and conflict that inspired the higher nature of everyone involved.
As Waldorf educators, there is high value placed in seeking to understand the child through non-judgmental observation. We strive to take a Geothean approach to working with the phenomena of the developing child in an effort to glean insight into the "who" of their unfolding. It is not an easy path and is an art we value. In so doing, we have come to appreciate behavior or misconduct as a mode of communication; a way of expressing an unmet need; an act of dis-regulation; a call for relationship and connection. We see behavior as separate from the intrinsic "who" of the child. We see that children are more than their behavior and it is our job to see through and beyond into their higher natures and do what we can to call this forth.
Even though we value this perspective, Frances along with her colleagues could see that our former policy and practices were more reflective of outdated, punitive, shame-based methods that did not foster the degree of reflective learning we wished for our students to experience. It was and is our goal to provide our students with a foundation in relationship building skills that upholds one of the central tenants in the founding of Waldorf Education; to inspire and nurture a sense of brotherhood amongst human beings. One of the fundamental and practical steps to achieving this goal is it to follow the steps of the restorative process: recognize one's behavior, own how it impacts others, and strive to make amends for one's actions and to compassionately support others in the process. It also involves knowing when to draw a line and hold fast to accountability.
As we have found, the restorative approach can take time and is not always a swift process as we strive for progress over perfection. Thus, we feel it is very important for families to know we are a school committed to such practices. Like Waldorf education, the practice of working with misbehavior is more like an inner tending akin to the slow growth of a study hardwood that can endure the test of time and grow through fire.
For those current parents who have read this far, to express our gratitude, please email Larry or phone the office for an entry into a drawing for free re-enrollment for 21/22 – a $175 value.
(Please note that this letter was written and published in the school newsletter last year by Frances Lewis, and has merely been updated with a dot and dash here and there. The Restorative Committee is active and comprised of Larry Smith, Pam Rosenthal, Patti Connolly, Liisa DeClute, Tim Connolly and Frances when she is available. Besides being a current school trustee and former Faculty Administrator, Frances was one of the original Class Teachers of the school and parent to Emory, Orson and Harper.)
An Early invitation to (Virtual) Grandparent’s Day!
Grandparent’s day is being re-imagined this year to allow families and friends to join from near and far in celebration of their support and dedication to Waldorf Education, plus enjoy a window into all the hard work taking place these days on our campus. Please mark your calendars and pass this early invitation along to grandparent’s and special grand friends who may be excited to hear about this upcoming event.
Stay tuned for more details and we look forward to this special opportunity!
Roaring Fork Healing
Thank you to parent Ann O’Brien for her desire to organize various service providers in the valley who would like to offer support to Waldorf families during COVID. If you are interested in learning more, click here for participating providers or contact Ann directly at: annobrien@rbox.co
In Loving Memory of Hartmut Schiffer
Sept 25, 1925 - Sept 27, 2020
Reflections on Hartmut Shiffer by Holly Richardson Oct. 2020
I met Hartmut Schiffer in the fall of 2000, the day of the Rose Ceremony. He loved to tell me the story of how I wore a long black dress and curtsied to the class I was about to teach, fresh out of my teacher training. When we were introduced afterwards, he remembers both of us remarking, “I feel as if I have known you before...”
Hartmut Schiffer had come to the Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork as a retired Waldorf teacher who had taught in Waldorf schools all around the world from Hanover, Germany to Washington, DC, Sacramento, CA and more. He loved to tell how he found the property by the American River in Fair Oaks where that school would eventually find its home. He was a beloved class teacher who also taught German, wood working, math and more. He found Waldorf education when his young daughter, Michaela, needed a school in Munich. Eventually, he and his wife would both become trained Waldorf teachers and his daughter would become a eurythmist.
Prior to coming to Waldorf education, Hartmut had a colorful history. He was a member of the German navy during WWII. He even escaped out of a Prisoner of War Camp in France. Eventually, he led tours through out Europe to sacred and historical sites such as Assisi, Chartres, and more. He also sold art and during this job, he would meet Americans. He liked the openness and enthusiasm of Americans very much. He became a US citizen in 1970.
Hartmut enjoyed very much working with his hands and keeping both his mind and body active. Even into his 90's, he walked nearly everyday and would do 12 pushups in addition to other exercises such as squats and more. He kept a little garden and grew potatoes. Some of our regular adventures together included walking to the river where we would sit on a bench and sing. Another favorite outing was going to the Glenwood Hot Springs pool where we would soak while he philosophized about things spirtual. I could even get him to swim laps and try somersaults and handstands under the water.
He kept his mind active by studying anthroposophy and listening to current events. His favorite work was “How to Know Higher Worlds” and would order many copies to give to other students of anthroposophy. He read much Steiner over the years and by the time I became his caregiver in 2010, he could no longer read on his own due to diminishing vision. Then, he very much enjoyed listening to a friend read to him. One of our daily rituals was reading the weekly Calendar of the Soul Verses by Steiner. At first, he would say it in German and then I would repeat it, then he would translate the verse into English. Then, I would offer another English translation. This was the start of my German lessons that would continue for the next 10 years. Eventually, he decided we needed to go to Germany and Switzerland together, to visit friends, sites, and the Goetheanum. We called that trip our “First Adventure Trip,” and would go on to have other adventures: to a lyre conference in Hadley Massachusetts, to Central City to the Opera, to the Aspen Music Tent, and more.
Waldorf education would live in Hartmut's consciousness and heart until his last days. Through out our visits, we would discuss the happenings of Waldorf education, both in Carbondale and around the world. He had a particular love for the music of the kinderharp and the lyre. He helped purchase a fleet of kinderharps as well as diatonic lyres for our school which led to the founding of the Rocky Mountain Lyre Choir. He sent me to lyre conferences in Portland, Oregon, East Troy, Wisconsin, Kimberton, Pennsylvania, all with the goal of learning how to play and then bringing it home to share with the community. He felt that this music brought peace to the world.
Hartmut was a student of life itself, always interested in what was happening in the world around him. I was continually impressed with his knowledge of world geography which was far superior to mine.
He spoke bits of many languages, in addition to being at home in German and English. Hartmut and I shared many passions: Waldorf education, learning new languages, classical music, cappuccinos, traveling, swimming, the river, singing in harmony, to name just some from a very long list.
He adopted the community at WSRF as his own, and in turn, we adopted him as well. Among his guardian angels were the families of Barbi Sheffer, Larry Cohen, Lorraine Curry, Eleanor Jacobs, Kearns Kelly, Frances Lewis, Kathryn Camp, Julianna Lichatz, the Richardson's and McSwains, just to name a few of us. One favorite memory was on a Christmas morning as we often included Hartmut in our seasonal celebrations. There was a blizzard and Dan, my boys, and I walked to Hartmut’s and picked him whereupon we continued to walk in foot deep snow, at least, to my parents for a Christmas morning together. He was almost completely blind and in his 80’s but was up for such an outing!
Hartmut had two siblings, a brother and a sister, both deceased. His daughter, Michaela, lives in Denmark with her family. Hartmut has grandchildren as well as extended family in Germany. I hope one day to take German lessons and go visit his family with my family.
Hartmut passed peacefully in his sleep on September 27, 2020, three days after his 95th birthday. We will have a celebration of his life on Wednesday, Oct. 21st at 5:15 PM by the apple tree in the preschool play yard that was planted in his honor, thanks to Barbi Sheffer and other helpers. There will be music, stories, and some merry making, in honor of our dear friend, Hartmut Ludwig Wilhelm Shiffer. May gratitude for the gifts he brought to us continue to ripple through all of us for all of our days.