WAC on Trach March 2021

WAC

ON TRACK March 2021

* Easter Online Bake Sale * Meet the New Board Nominees * Welcome to our New Head Librarians

The Monthly Newsletter of the WAC and Learning Tree Cooperative School in Uster

Contents 3. Letter from the Editor 4. Note from the Board 10. Learning Tree Cooperative School 14. COM Corner 17. New Board Nominations 22. Library News

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Letter from the Editor Hello All, March is here and with the recent sunny weather we’ve had, it’s really starting to feel like Spring. I love to see the Spring flowers and when the tulip and daffodil shoots make their annual debut, I can’t help but see it as a sign of new beginnings. Here’s hoping that there are signs of new life in the wider world as well - with vaccine programs well under way and businesses starting to open up again, it does give a person reason to be cautiously optimistic!

It’s also time for new beginnings at the WAC with the Annual General Meeting coming up this month and a new board of volunteers to vote in. You can find details of how to vote on page 16 followed by an introduction to this year’s nominees.

And once again a huge, huge thank you goes to everyone who has contributed, not only to this issue of the WAC on Track but to the WAC in general. All contributions, however big or small, go a long way towards making our club the fabulous and friendly place that it is.

Keep going everyone, we’re worth it!

Tamsin

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Note from the Board Amanda Carr Membership Chairperson Dear WAC Members, It’s my turn to introduce myself in the Board Members Notes section! I’m Amanda Carr and I took on the role in August 2020 as Membership chairperson on the WAC Board committee. I am excited to be part of the WAC Board and be more involved with what the WAC has to offer.

I have been coming to the WAC for the last 7 years. My first get together was at the playgroups when I was heavily pregnant with our first son Oscar. Then once we were in the swing of our new addition, we were very happy to have the WAC playgroups to attend for many years to meet other Mummies over a tea and cake whilst our children played. My second son Harry came into the world just 14 months after our first.

Needless to say we had our hands full!! There were times when getting out the house was an impossible task.

So all you Mummies, you are not alone! As soon as we can start the WAC playgroups again, do come along and join us again to meet new people and reconnect with each other. I know how much we all need this. It has been exceptionally difficult in Covid times and we all hope that everything can become easier soon. Fingers crossed! When we are able to, the playgroups will continue to run on Tuesday and Wednesdays 9.30-11.30am. Watch this space!

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So, to continue my story.... our 3rd child Isabella was born in 2017 making our family complete. And currently, all my children are attending the WAC for several different classes. The WAC has really become our place that feels like home from home, and our children feel so comfortable here. It’s not often you have this feeling about places, so we are so grateful to have found the WAC. If you haven’t already checked out all the offerings, I encourage you to take a look at our web page and see what classes look interesting for your children. Despite these difficult Covid times, we are so happy that the education for our children has been able to continue as best as it can. I would like to thank the teachers for all their enthusiasm, hard work and endless smiley faces!

I hope you have all been enjoying the Sportferien break. Perhaps you have been able to visit the mountains to play in the snow or ski? We have enjoyed taking our children to a local ski resort for lessons. We are so lucky to have such great places to visit right on our doorstep. I wonder if any of you managed to make any snowmen too? My older son was very proud of the snowman that he made. He was not very happy when his little sister tried to knock it down though! I expect you all have similar experiences of siblings being so nice to each other at times too!

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Lastly, I want to say a special hello to all our new members as well. We will be holding a New Members welcome meeting to welcome you to the WAC at some point when we are allowed. We truly appreciate that you have joined the WAC and we hope that your children are enjoying attending the classes so far. Please do get in touch with me if you would like to chat to me about anything. I am always happy to help all our members! And please do continue to spread the word about the WAC, we always love to have new members!

Please look out for our Easter Bake sale taking place. Lots of delicious treats on offer for you all to buy and support the WAC at the same time. I’ll be offering my British Victoria sponge jam cake!

I wish you a very happy and healthy March.

Best wishes and hope to see you all soon, Amanda

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LEARNING TREE COOPERATIVE SCHOOL

As I write this and look out the window at the glorious warm sunshine, I hope that you are all enjoying the “winter” holidays, without the usual busy school schedule!

Hopefully, some of you managed to get to the mountains and enjoyed some skiing or other winter activities. Skiing was a skill that I learnt when I turned 40. It was a birthday present from my family that I never thought I wanted nor would enjoy, but I surprised myself and I really love it now! Although when I tentatively come down the mountains on my skis, I often marvel at all these little people whizzing past me without the slightest bit of fear or thought of falling!

We are never too old to learn something new and to change our ways. So, with that in mind, I am excited to tell you that we are planning on making some changes to our classes for the next school year and are looking forward to steering our school into new beginnings.

Our parent-teacher conferences will be held from the 12th to the 23rd of April, so please make sure you sign-up, to speak to your child’s teacher about their progress and the class best suited for them for the next school year.

Sign-up sheets will be posted outside the classroom doors 2 weeks beforehand. (Please don’t forget to bring your face mask with you and rest assured that the room will be sanitized between each parent.) However, if you feel more comfortable to speak to your child’s teacher over the phone, please let them know and this can be arranged.

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I would like to share the following quote with you (source unknown):

“If a child can do advanced math, Speak 3 languages, or receive top grades, But can’t manage their emotions, Practice conflict resolution, or handle stress, None of that other stuff is really going to matter.”

As important as formal academic education is, holistic learning is equally as important!

Holistic learning is an approach that emphasizes the importance of the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of a child, particularly in early childhood.

Sometimes we get so caught up in all the pressures of our children being the best, that we forget to focus on their actual well-being. We as teachers at the WAC are striving to create an engaging, interactive and socially positive environment in which our most valued “members” can learn and develop!

Wishing you all a good and healthy start to the warmer springtime days Caryn

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COM Corner

By Ieva Ciceri- Club Office Manager

Dear WAC members, I hope you all have had a chance to enjoy this school break. With Covid19 restrictions slowly being eased we hope to also be able to restart some activities at the WAC that had been put on hold.

Little Scientists have had a successful Holiday Camp at the WAC in the last week of th th February and will be back with two workshops in March (6 and 27 March) for different age groups. For more information and for applying to the workshop please visit www.littlescientists.ch th Morning Book Club has postponed their meeting to 12 March (starting at 9:15) with discussions of “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman. If you have some time to spare for book reading and enjoy discussing the book afterwards then joining the book club would be great for you (and us – the more the merrier) and what a fun book to start with… th The hairdresser will be at the WAC on 14 March (10:00-16:00). You can already sign up – just send me an email to com@wac.ch with the time slot you would like to book.

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nd Important date to remember – Monday, 22 March at 19:30 the Annual General Meeting will be held. This year it will be held online and all members are encouraged to join the meeting where the ups and downs and financial situation of the club will be discussed. The link to access the Zoom meeting will be sent to all members on Monday nd (22 March) morning.

Pilates have started the new semester in February, but you are welcome to join any time. At the moment sessions are held online, but this will change depending on Covid19 restrictions. Every Wednesday at 18:30. Please contact me (com@wac.ch) if you would like to join or simply get more information.

Wishing you all to stay healthy, Ieva Ciceri

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Julya Savina-Weber Monika Kopriwa Tosyn Thomas Anja Hirt Amanda Carr Vacant Karin Weidner

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Oversees and promotes the welfare and goals of the club

Julya came to Switzerland from the U.S. as a tag-along spouse a few years ago. Her previous career positions ranged from supportive roles for executives, psychiatrists, and surgeons; in addition, for a short time she worked as an applied behavior interventionist for children on the spectrum. She enjoys working with her hands and learning about a myriad of social sciences: anthropology, psychology, biology, and history. For fun, she also dabbles in intricate astrology charts, coding, writing and existential humor. And of course, hiking in the Swiss outdoors.

Liases with the school and works closely with the President

I‘m Monika, running for a second year as Vice President.

Beeing born and raised in Switzerland, me and my husband always loved to travel. On our honeymoon we fell in love with Nevada and ended up living there and having our daughter. Back in Switzerland we came to the WAC looking for a place to keep up our English. With my daughter and later my son we were weekly joining the playgroups. Both of my kids got to go to the WAC's preschool classes which they both enjoyed very much.

This last year was a very challenging one for all of us at the board with Covid keeping us from going through with the bigger part of our events and lots of activities. I'm looking forward to seeing more of everyone in person again rather than on zoom! I'm looking forward to working another year on the board with everyone to keep the WAC a great place to be!

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Oversees Bookkeeper, WAC accounts and all outgoing payments.

Tosyn Thomas moved from Essex UK to Switzerland in 2014. Before relocating to Switzerland, she worked as a corporate tax specialist with finance and IT background for 15 years within several industries in the UK. She is currently the chief officer in charge of the home management team at Thomas household, which comprises of 4 beautiful children and a loving husband.

She has been a member of the WAC since she moved to Switzerland and all her kids have attended and still attending different classes at the WAC, which they really enjoy both its educational and social aspects.

Tosyn enjoys being part of the WAC's community, and is always happy to volunteer. She has volunteered previously as the Events chairperson and is now currently serving on the board as the Treasurer alongside 6 other wonderful ladies.

Tosyn says that being part of the WAC aided her family's settling down process in Switzerland.

Manages all documentation, policies and procedures.

Anja grew up in Germany, but has also lived in the U.S., Canada, Hungary and Poland. Before becoming a Mom she was a Project Manager and has worked on various global transformation projects for international companies.

Anja relocated to Lausanne, Switzerland in 2009 for her work where she also met her husband. Since 2016 they have been living in Zurich Oberland together with their 2 daughters, 3 and 9 years old.

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From day 1 they have all been enjoying the various WAC activities – the Science Club, ballet, Explorers, Reading & Writing, pilates, playgroup, Halloween and Christmas parties. Anja volunteered on the Board before for 2 years, as the Business Chairperson, and is looking forward to becoming part of a great team again!

Welcomes new members to the WAC and assigns volunteers

Hello, I’m Amanda. I am from the U.K. and I moved to Switzerland with my British husband in 2007. I used to work in the oil and gas industry as an Account Manager selling software and services to oil companies. I regularly travelled around Europe for my job. I decided to leave my job after my second child and become a full time mother.

I have been a member of the WAC for the past 5 years. We have three children and they all attend various WAC classes (Pre-school, Explorers and Reading & Writing). I have been attending the WAC playgroups for the last 7 years as a participant but also as a host and coordinator of the Wednesday playgroups.

My hobbies are walking, cycling, swimming, skiing and traveling to different places when we can do so.

I started the role of Membership Chairperson in August 2020. I would very much like to continue this role for the next year. I have really enjoyed being part of the Board and being more involved with the WAC. I would very much like to be re-elected again as Membership Chairperson. I look forward to seeing you all again soon at the WAC.

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Oversees all marketing activities, including publications, website and advertising.

Hi, my name is Karin and I am originally from Bavaria, Germany. Since spring 2018, I am living with my husband and our two kids, Adriana (4) and Marlon (3) in a GermanItalian bilingual home in Uster.

This is my second time living in Switzerland: 12 years ago, I called Bern my home for 4 years. After receiving my PhD in Chemistry and finding my future husband while doing so, we travelled the world as researchers and enjoyed our life together in Spain, San Diego and Japan. After living in Tokyo for 5 years, we decided to move back to Switzerland when I was pregnant with baby number 2.

Since then, I am a stay-at-home mom and cherish every single moment with the kids. On most weekday mornings, our kids attend preschool, which they both enjoy a lot! I get a quick kiss&wave before they run into the classroom. The classes are truly creative and when I pick them up, they are just so proud of the artwork they get to craft.

I am really glad to have found my way to the WAC. Here, I feel I have already made some good friends and hope to make many more in the years to come. WAC’s caring environment gives me the desire to give back and contribute to the Club. I believe in the Marketing role, I can put my intercontinental mindset, first-hand experience and passion for the WAC to good use.

Library News

Dear WAC friends, The WAC is getting two new librarians, Jinny Kim and Sharon Weyerman, to head up overseeing the library as Laura Horlacher starts a new chapter in her life.

A Little About Jinny: Hello! I’m originally from South Korea but lived in Switzerland, Singapore and Australia for the last 17 years. In the middle of the pandemic in June 2020, my Swiss husband and I came back to Switzerland with two children who are 11 and 5 years old.

I am a Polymer Engineer professionally but living abroad led me to explore different opportunities such as being a museum guide, a Taekwondo trainer and a teaching assistant, which I really enjoyed. Currently I am working professionally as an ecology adviser at a textile testing institute and teaching Korean on weekends.

In my free time, you can find me on a dragon boat paddling through Greifensee or playing Korean drums with Korean school community members.

A Little About Sharon: Hi! I grew up in San Diego, USA, but I have lived in Argentina, England and for the past 5 years, in Switzerland.

Professionally I’ve worked as an artist, a Spanish teacher and a literacy specialist, with adults and children, but most of my time is dedicated to raising four kids with my partner. Our youngest is in Reading and Writing at the WAC. I love drawing, reading, and bouldering. Since my California beach is nowhere in sight, I seek sunshine, long walks, and water play right here on Greifensee.

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Our Favorites at the WAC Library Jinny and I are both pretty new to the WAC. Even though the library has had these books for some time, we’re just discovering favorite stories on the shelves -- which feels a little bit like coming home. Here are some finds that our families enjoy.

Frances the Badger, book series, by Russell Hoban Frances is imaginative and energetic. She is usually full of good intentions as she navigates the complexities of everyday scenarios, like negotiating boundaries with friends and family.

These are lighthearted, gentle stories with lots of soft, sweet pictures.

Charlie and Lola, book and film series by Lauren Child Kids of a range of ages can enjoy how genuinely funny and endearing the characters are. The books and films have simple language, colorful pictures and engaging, true-to-life storylines.

Harry Potter, book and film series by J. K. Rowling Harry Potter's life is miserable. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Full of sympathetic characters, wildly imaginative situations, and countless exciting details, the series assembles an unforgettable magical world and sets the stage for many high-stakes adventures to come.

We hope you have a chance to stop into the library this month, once it opens again after Sportferien. For opening days and times see the calendar at wac.ch Happy reading, -Sharon and Jinny 23

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Next workshops at the WAC March 6th, See www.littlescientists.ch for more details