Spring 2014
WWS MESSENGER
News and Views from the Washington Waldorf School
A Year to Remember Jennifer Page, Faculty Chair
W
ith the school year drawing to a close, I have had the pleasure of observing our graduates as they prepare to begin new chapters in their lives. At this time of year we are drawn both to the future and the past. We look at our accomplishments with satisfaction and fond memories, and toward the future with expectations. Throughout my first year as Faculty Chair, I’ve been particularly impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication of our school community. Whether it was the Fall Festival, the Fall Bazaar, the Carol Sing, the Gala, or Grandparents’ Day, the commitment of our parent volunteers made the difference. Our cherished school traditions help us build a warm, inclusive community that supports and enriches the learning environment of our students. Similarly, the tireless efforts of our teachers to present dynamic, creative lessons in the classroom, engender continuous enthusiasm
and achievement from our students. One only need look at the muddy boots outside first grade, the table of homemade animal habitats outside fourth grade, the calligraphy-lettered quotes on the sixth grade bulletin board, or the self-portraits in the high school hall to appreciate the unique, creative work of our students. This issue of the Messenger highlights the many accomplishments and interesting lives of our alumni. Beginning with our graduation speaker this year, alumna Megin Charner-Laird (WWS 1993, Harvard EdD 2010), now an Assistant Professor of Education at Salem State University, you will meet other alumni who, like Megin, are
INSIDE:
Capital Campaign.................2 Senior Profiles......................4 Class Notes..........................6
shaping and making the world better. Moreover, numerous Waldorf alumni, including six of our own, have returned to WWS as parents. Their memories of their own Waldorf education enrich our community and give us a unique perspective from which to view and appreciate our school. We also want to highlight progress in the Build Our Vision capital campaign. Through the campaign we have an outstanding opportunity to secure our home for the long term, while improving our facilities, creating a greener educational environment, and laying the groundwork for our future gym. I hope you’ll join the Build Our Vision capital campaign and help us secure the presence of Waldorf education in our nation’s capital. It has been a rewarding, exciting year, and I’ve been honored to serve this fine institution as Faculty Chair. I look forward to 2014-15, our 45th Anniversary Year!
Our New Yurt and Playground!
T
his spring WWS capped off a two-year effort with the completion of a new Children’s Garden playground and construction of a new yurt (aka, the “garden house”). At WWS, we want our students—especially the younger children—to go outside and play. But the Children’s Garden playground, while spacious enough, has never quite met our vision for what a Waldorf playground should be. At the same time, growing enrollment in the Children’s Garden has created a demand for new space for additional programming. At our 2012 spring gala we asked our guests to donate funds for a yurt to be built on the playground, in order to provide new classroom and meeting space. Then, at the 2013 gala we asked for additional donations to renovate the Children’s Garden playground and install new basketball hoops on the Lower School playground. Altogether we raised about $25,000 for the yurt and $78,000 for the playground. As we navigated various county planning and permitting requirements, while also balancing our desires with our means, building the yurt and renovating the playground turned out to be quite challenging projects. But now they are finished, and what a transformation! We extend our deep appreciation to all the donors who made enormous improvement in our facilities possible. Please come by for a visit!
A view of our new yurt (the “garden house”) and play structures