Greetings MLWS Families…
We have shifted the clocks forward by an hour, the days are perceptibly longer and Spring will be upon us shortly, along with warmer temperatures and likely wet weather. Please read on to find out what is blossoming within our school community! We hope you enjoy this issue of our newsletter, which includes a Parent Council update, highlights the activities of various classes and other school-related topics, offers Classified listings, and provides information about upcoming events in the MLWS community.
Parent Council Update
Parent Council is delighted to share that we are meeting on a regular basis during the 2019-20 school year. Please join us at our next meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, March 24 at 1:30pm at the school. We will discuss our priority projects and form small working groups which will continue to meet as necessary to advance their efforts. These include Faculty Nourishment, Food Drives, a Welcome Committee for new families, and this newsletter. If you are interested in working on one of these priority projects, or if you have an idea for another initiative you would like to work on through Parent Council, please send an email to us at parentcouncil@mountainlaurel.org. Please consider getting involved and offering some of your time to one of our projects. Many hands make light work!
A Peek Into the Classroom
From Ms. MacKenzie:
The Kindergarten children have been painting, finger knitting, and getting ready for spring! This week they were finally able to take off their snow pants. As always, they’ve been busy at play: building, sharing, and filling themselves with wonder while taking in these warmer days. The rising First Grade children are also preparing for a visit from Her Majesty, The Red Queen! There is a lot in store this month for Early Childhood.
From Mr Lundin:
Back from the Hawthorne Valley Farm trip last month, the Third Grade brings a new self-awareness to the MLWS campus. Whether its the significant lifestyle change from meat-enjoyer to vegetarian, greater ease about expressing oneself verbally, or a startling new enthusiasm about playing stringed instruments, together the class returned with innumerable self-anchoring experiences to treasure. At the closing circle on the last day, the Farm leaders agreed that this group strongly brought two qualities to the week: they were game for tackling any task without fuss or complaint and they were very easy to talk with during mealtime table conversation. As a bonus, because of the exceptionally warm weather this winter, the class was able to add an activity that is normally done in March; maple sap tapping and syrup boiling augmented their mighty week of vital farm life.
And congratulations to Ms. Gill’s Eighth Grade class on their spectacular performances of “Into the Woods, Jr.”
News & Happenings
The Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra’s “Transformation”
The Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra will be performing on Saturday March 14th, 2020 at 7:30 pm (Snow date, March 15th at 4pm) at Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY. The program centers around the idea of transformation. With Richard Strauss’ incredible tone-poem Death & Transfiguration that looks back over the hero’s life and then culminates in his ascent, Wagner’s alternately earthly and celestial Lohengrin preludes, an exciting work by living female composer Missy Mazzoli about the Detroit skyline, and Tchaikovsky’s irresistible Sleeping Beauty Suite, this concert is certain to be a winner. Donna Gray Kushner, one of MLWS’s own violin and viola teachers will be performing with the orchestra. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://www.newburghsymphony.org/concerts-tickets
Fencing & Eurythmy
Did you ever wonder what fencing and eurythmy have in common? Both arts are taught by our teacher extraordinaire, Cezary Ciaglo. Eurythmy is taught as part of the Waldorf curriculum from Nursery through eighth grade and fencing is offered as an after school club. Visit our website for info on our after school clubs: https://mountainlaurel.org/curriculum/after-school-clubs/
Waldorf Tour 2020
The Mountain Laurel Recorder Ensemble and Mountain Laurel Chamber Group will be performing at the Berkshire Waldorf School, previously the “Great Barrington Rudolph Steiner School,” on Thursday, April 2. We will spend the day with their students, rehearsing music, and sharing food and activities. The day will culminate in a concert featuring ensembles from both schools, followed by dinner in Great Barrington and a sleepover! The concert will begin at 2:00 PM and is open to the public. On Friday, April 3, the MLWS tour bus will travel to the Hartsbrook Waldorf School in the Pioneer Valley region of western Massachusetts for another concert, slated to begin at around 11:00am.
Calling All Parents!
We are asking our generous families to procure two auction items by March 13th for the Mountain Laurel Waldorf School Online Auction. Bidding will open Friday, March 28th and will culminate at our Spring Gala on April 18th, where we will swing the night away (details on our Gala are forthcoming!)
Please fill out our online donation form for each item procured.
Make sure to include a picture with your form!
Click Here for Donation Form
All proceeds from this year’s Spring Gala and Online Auction will go toward maintaining Eurythmy at MLWS. Click here to learn more about Eurythmy.
Thank you in advance for your support!
The Annual Giving Campaign
We are off to a strong start for this year’s Annual Giving Campaign.
Our goal is 100% participation and we hope you will consider donating today! For more information on why the Annual Giving Campaign is so important
and to Donate click here
