Fun in the Autumn Sun

Sanderling hosted it’s first annual Craft Fair on November 14th. With over 20 local artisans, petting zoo, kids craft area, puppet shows, live entertainment & organic food – it was a wonderful time for kids and shoppers alike!

All proceeds went to benefit the school - many kudos to coordinator, Lindsy Richards, & her team of helpers for an amazing job!

My Lantern Shining Near & Far

The light from Spirit depths
Strives to ray outwards, sun-imbued;
Transformed to forceful will of life
It shines into the senses' dullness
To bring to birth the powers
Whereby creative forces, soul-impelled,
Shall ripen into human deeds.
-Rudolf Steiner

Our souls embrace the seasons - each shift awakens our senses to the earth’s breath. In autumn, we celebrate Martinmas, our lantern festival. We cherish Father Sun's last autumn rays, which we will carry within to guide & guard us in the cold, winter months ahead.

Our festival's namesake, St. Martin, was known for his generosity and ability to bring warmth and light to those in need. Hence, we celebrate with gifts of food, light and song.

Each class volunteers pots of soup, fresh breads & warm cider to be shared on the beach as the sun descends. When darkness falls, the children illuminate their hand-made lanterns, gathering on the sand as the waves crash in the distance.

Our children's lanterns protect their inner flames, shielding them from the dark winter nights. Let us celebrate the joy of giving and receiving & the beautiful light within each of us.

To Scare a Crow

The oldest surviving book in Japan, the Kojiki (compiled in the year 712), depicts a scarecrow, known as Kuebiko, appearing as a deity who cannot walk, yet knows everything about the world.

Miss Maxine’s Rose Nursery/Kindergarten class recently constructed our own all- knowing divine beings with the help of moms Mary Ann Sims and Maureen Feeney. The children stuffed clothing, tied corn husks and created facial features on pumpkin heads - alas, welcome Sanderling Scarecrows!!

Please feel free to ask our autumn visitors a thought-provoking question or two. We have yet to determine if they, like Kuebiko, know everything, or anything, about the world.

Food for Thought

There is something beautiful & sweet about packing your child’s lunch for the day. Almost serving as a bridge between home and school, food from mom (and/or dad) creates a sensory reminder for our little ones of where they are from and where they will return to.

Our nursery/kindergarten classes enjoy a snack prepared at home and brought in a basket. Lunch is a meal prepared together and shared together - usually in the form of an organic soup, homemade bread or grain. The grades children savor both a mid-morning snack and lunch from home. A communal table is shared by all children in our school as they converse and relish tasty, wholesome treats. Growing brains need nourishment – organic fruits, vegetables & grains are favorites.

In an attempt to reduce waste, children are encouraged to use canteens, cloth napkins and snack bags, recycled glass jars and stainless steel containers. Some favorite products include: semilla snack bags, klean kanteen and sigg .

Apple of my Eye

Fall evokes something deep within the soul - golden sun rays, dappled shadows, dark evenings, and cool, crisp mornings. For some of us, the time induces memories of trees changing color, harvests, and the sweet, smell of autumn. Whatever sensory perception you have of the season, it is sure to include apples.

The word apple comes from the Old English aeppel. It's been around since the Iron Age and was cultivated in Egypt. First brought to the United States by the Pilgrims in 1620's, apple trees can live hundreds of years - they are true kindred spirits of the season.

In tribute, Miss Melanie's 1st/2nd grade class embarked on a field trip to Julian to hand select some tasty specimens. The children enjoyed picking at RavenHill orchard, pressing fresh cider, and picnicking under a canopy of trees on Miss Melanie’s organic farm. Although temperatures were in the 90's and the Santa Ana's were blowing - it was a perfect autumn day - you could almost smell the fresh baked apple pie.

Strength of Spirit

"Through celebrations in their seasons are the deeper powers of human nature realized." -Rudolf Steiner

In my mind, the settling into the school year is marked by the celebration of Michaelmas.
Deemed the festival of strength, bravery and courage, the grades children partake in a short play depicting St. George's slaying of the venomous beast. After “taming” the dragon with hand crafted wooden swords, the children share bread baked in form of the beast himself - traditional dragon bread. Feats calling for the said characteristics are also played including a competitive game of tug of war. In summation, Michaelmas beckons us to find the spirit to come alive through the dying year.

However, if you wish to dig a little deeper and find the parallel between "Michaelmas" and "St. George slaying a dragon" please check out the following link from A Journey Through Waldorf Homeschooling.

Our Little Sunflowers

"There is a garden in every childhood,
an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer,
and the morning more fragrant than ever again." - Elizabeth Lawrence

On the first day of school each year, we hold a Flower Ceremony. As a rite of passage, the whole school joins together in welcoming the 1st graders, as they journey across the Rainbow Bridge to greet their new, 1st Grade teacher with a handshake and receive a flower from a 2nd Grader.

Ms. Melanie welcomed 11 new students this year into her mixed 1st/2nd Grade class. Settled under the shady canopy of a large tree in dappled morning light, the children listened to a fairy tale of strength and courage, concluding their journey with a walk through the “arches of love” into their classroom.

Behold the look of anticipation and excitement in their eyes....

Time to Say Goodbye

The end of each school year evokes a plethora of emotions - from a touch of melancholy, stemming from the passing of time, to anxiousness, as we anticipate future change.

Our school embraces this transitional time with its' annual Sundowner Gathering. Heading to Moonlight Beach on the last Friday of the school year, we partake in the merriment of our comrades under the canopy of the summer evening sky. Families picnic, children play & adults chatter. The event marks a beautiful finale to another wonderful year. For they are all wonderful aren't they...each in their own special way?

So the chapter closes & we bid adieu until we open the book again next fall.
Happy summer.

Cottonwood's Crawdads

Sanderling’s Sander-Scouts ( aka ADVENTURE CLUB ) are at it again! This month’s jaunt - fishing for crawdads at Cotton wood Creek park.

According to mom, Leslie Rucker, “deep in the tall reeds is a hidden swamp with hundreds of crawdads! These little guys were biting the turkey and salami bits hanging from our bamboo fishing poles! It was a magical misty day! :) “

The Sander-Scouts have adjourned for the summer – be on the look out next fall for upcoming outings!

Frogs, Fish & Snakes...Oh My!

Ms. Melanie's first grade boys enjoyed an end-of-the-year field trip to Quail Botanical Gardens. Mom, Lindsy Richards, escorted the "true blue boys" to an afternoon filled with frolicking in ponds and catching snakes - the flora and fauna were admired as well!

Quail opened the new Hamilton Children's Garden on June 13th providing an expanded environment for children and families to explore their natural world. Check out Quail Botanical Gardens for more information.

I Have Found a Golden Goose

As a final adieu to their beloved playmates, the students of Nursery/Kindergarten, who will be fledging into first grade next year, hosted a puppet show.

The Golden Goose was performed with a full cast of hand crafted puppets. Simpleton, his two brothers, a little gray man, a king, a princess, and let’s not forget the story’s namesake – the golden goose - were among the characters brought to life amid soft light and lyrical voices.

The Brothers Grimm would have been proud of this adaptation of their classic fairy tale. If you would like to relive the moment, check out The Golden Goose for a paper copy.

Hammertime

One of the unique aspects of our curriculum is that it reaches students on more than one level. These levels are often summarized as “head, heart, and hands” and “thinking, willing, and feeling.” A carefully integrated, rich and developmentally appropriate curriculum leads to growth in seemingly unrelated areas of life.

The inclusion of woodworking is a prime example. Woodworking encourages students to reach deep within themselves for unused and undiscovered skills and capacities. These new capacities are then available for other aspects of life.

Complex thinking, visualization skills, patience and feeling a part of a “society” all come together during this exercise. Each week, Lisa Pool leads “next year’s 1st-graders” in a project. We’ve seen fairy boxes, stomping blocks and even custom tool boxes emerge from their “wood shop.”

Making a Difference.

I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks. ~William Shakespeare

Sanderling School’s 2009 Silent Auction was a success - $15,000 was raised to support school programs! Under the canopy of a beautiful, southern California evening, the school yard was transformed into a casual enclave where twinkle lights sparkled in the trees; soft music tickled ears; tasty treats flavored palettes; and amazing items tempted eyes. A magical evening…not only for the event itself; but, the reaffirmation of the strength and commitment of our community.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated items, time & effort to create and support this event. You truly did a wonderful thing. You, by way of your generosity, have made a difference in our children’s lives.

" Come Join Me...Come Join Me, Please..."

Spring was officially welcomed on Saturday, May 2nd at our beloved May Faire festival.

Traditionally, this festival marks what is considered the first day of summer in Celtic lands, and also is connected to the Roman Flora, the goddess of spring. There are select places in the world where young maidens rise early on May Day (May 1st) and wash their faces in the morning dew. Thus, ensuring a beautiful complexion for the rest of the year!

Our children celebrated with festivities of a different kind. The traditional May Pole, with colorful ribbons hanging, provided the means for skipping, dancing and singing - while, flower crowns adorned sun-kissed heads and bell & ribbon bracelets created a sound with every step.

Embry Rucker captured a beautiful story of the day. Please check out the following URL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanderlingwaldorf/. Thanks Embry for the amazing photos!

Spring is in the Air.

Miss Megumi’s Nursery/Kindergarten class adjourned for spring break on Friday, April 3rd. Anticipation of holidays to be shared & travels to be embarked upon filled the children’s chatter. One common thread united them all, each child headed into spring with a hand-made stoneware pot filled with seeding “Easter grass” – a symbol of the season’s emerging life. Multi-talented mom, Deanna Gunn led the children in the tactile craft of creating pinch pots, which then were fired and filled with dirt and wheat berry seeds. Happy Spring!

New "Digs" for the Nursery/Kindergarten!

The nursery/kindergarten play yard welcomed a new sand area last week. Installation was enjoyed by a gathering of onlookers eager to participate! No sand hill to small to scale & no log to awkward to carry…Lisa Pool, Lisa Hochman, Chuck El-Ghoury, Maxine Garcia & “Grandpa Garcia” were the envy of the post-school crowd as the benefactors oversaw the construction of their new space. A heartfelt thank you to the construction crew!

Adventure Club

Inspired by 2008 Audubon Medal recipient, Richard Louv, several Sanderling families created ADVENTURE CLUB. Meeting on Saturday mornings at various locations county-wide, the club’s mission is to combat Louv’s “nature-deficit disorder” - a newly coined phenomenon centering on the disconnection between children and nature. With modern children spending less time outdoors, Louv claims behavioral problems are sure to follow. So if you’re interested in combating fears of nature and the lure of the screen, check out ADVENTURE CLUB on Saturdays…it looks like a great time for all, as witnessed in last week’s snaps from the San Elijo Lagoon.

For more information on ADVENTURE CLUB contact Lindsy Richards at lindsyrichards //@// mac.com...and if time permits, check out Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods hailed by the Boston Globe as “an absolute must-read.”