Restorative Justice & Waldorf Education

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“We can say ‘Peace on Earth.’ We can sing about it, preach about it or pray about it, but if we have not internalized the mythology to make it happen inside us, then it will not be.”

Betty Shabazz – American Civil Rights Educator

All human beings are valued and relational.  This is a tenet of Restorative Justice and a place where Waldorf Education and Restorative Justice principles completely align.  In Waldorf Education a meaningful bond between teachers and students is essential to both academic success and personal growth.  In Restorative Justice respect, dignity and mutual concerns form the three pillars of creating a cohesive and connected community.

This week the North Shore Restorative Justice Society worked with teachers to help us hold community building circles in an intentional way. Circles are a way people in many cultures have come together as a community to talk about important issues and resolve problems.  Circle process is facilitated through a talking piece, allowing for thoughtful reflection, attentive listening and an unhurried pace.

The objective for circles is that students will feel they have been seen, heard, understood and that they have given and received respect.

Rubeena Sandhu – Head of School

New Early Years Centre sneak peak…

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Our new Early Years Centre in Spring Creek is set to open on Dec. 2nd. The newly renovated space has wood furniture and accessories and a new circle carpet to welcome the children.

“It is looking great. So much natural light and lots of space. It’s hard to see from the pictures, but it’s long with two separate play spaces, a nap room, and two bathrooms. There are also two lovely outdoor play spaces”, says Jen Dodds, Admissions Manager.

Space is still available for the 2019-20 for children 30 months to school age.

If you’re interested in having a private tour, please email Jen.

 

Days: 2, 3, 4 & 5 Day options available – Monday-Friday.

Times: 7:30-5:30PM

Months: Care is offered year-round.

Location: Sea-to-Sky Services Building @ 1519 Spring Creek Drive.

Community Corner – Nov. 21

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WWS Spotlight

Zen Moses & Savannah O’Heany– Grade 9 students

I hear you are both life long Waldorf students.

SO: Yes, we’ve both been here since preschool.

ZM: We are two of the original group along with Kaia and Maya who have also been here that long.

 

You must have some thoughts about Waldorf having been here this long.

ZM: I really like the education and that we learn so many different perspectives. In history, for example, we don’t just learn about one religion, we learn about all religions.

SO: And I would say that I really like how accepting everyone is. It’s not just the teachers who are accepting; the students are also taught to be ok with other students and accept their differences and that’s cool.

ZM: Looking back I also appreciate that I wasn’t pushed into reading so early. It took me a bit longer – I was a little slow and I was allowed to develop at my own pace.

You both were chosen to participate in the RMOW’s Sister City Youth Exchange to Karuizawa, Japan. How was that experience?

SO: It was awesome. There were so many highlights. We spent a night in Tokyo, took the bullet train, did lots of sight seeing including seeing lots of shrines. A highlight for me was attending school. Everything seemed to be run by the students themselves – they have a lot of responsibility which was interesting to see. We really felt like honoured guests there & Zen got to make a speech in front of their whole school.

ZM: Yes, I made a speech to about 200 students and then they welcomed us with student performances including a full orchestral performance conducted by a student. There were so many highlights, but the three big ones for me include: purchasing a sword; seeing the shrines – they were truly amazing and the onsen (public bathing) was a great cultural experience.

Thanks, Zen and Sav. Congratulations on being chosen to participate in this program! It sounds like we were very well represented by your participation.

Bulletin Board Listings:

House swap available in France: Looking for a 3 bedroom plus home in Whistler over the Christmas break 2020 to swap with a Provençal farmhouse in rural area of France, 20 mins from Avignon. (Swap can be non-simultaneous).

Our home is a typical Provençal three storey 1860’s converted farmhouse with sitting room with large open fireplace, dining room, modern kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 3 modern bathrooms. Each room has heat pump heating/air conditioning units and all windows are double glazed. The house has its back to a local road to the north and overlooks a large 6000m2 garden to the south. The garden is mainly grass and trees with a secluded pool and a small vineyard.

Get in touch with Anna Earl for details or call 604-967-3648.

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Howe Sound Women’s Centre looking for donations: We are always in need of gently used women’s and children’s clothes, shoes and other items. All donations gratefully accepted. A donation box is located in the Field House. Feel free to contact France with any questions or check out the Women’s Centre for more info.

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WWS Family in Search of Housing: We are a Vancouver based family needing weekday housing (possibly excluding holidays) for one adult, one grade 8 student, in the short term.  A quiet one or two bedroom, reasonably-priced, non-smoking suite would be ideal.  Full time housing for three of us, plus our dog, would be the longer term goal.  If you have any leads for temporary housing for one to two months (excluding Christmas), or longer term beyond spring 2020, we would appreciate the community’s help! Thanks, Trista.

 

Community Corner – Nov. 7

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WWS Spotlight

Rebecca Povall  – Grade 2 Teacher

Share a bit about yourself:

Hello Whistler Waldorf community! It has been fantastic to join such a welcoming community and getting to know you all so far!

I grew up in the UK, near Liverpool, and originally moved to Whistler in 2012, spending a couple of years here before moving to Perth, Australia. I became a teacher whilst in Australia before deciding I needed a little more snow in my life again so came back to BC in August last year. I have spent the majority of my 20s travelling and living in different places, so I have been extremely lucky to experience different cultures and ways of life!

After all your travels, where would you recommend someone visit?

It would have to be Ghana. I spent a month volunteering and travelling there and really enjoyed experiencing a completely different culture and way of life. At times it was very eye opening and really made me appreciate how lucky I am. I would highly recommend a visit there to anyone who is looking for a completely different travel experience; the Ghanaian people are so welcoming and friendly!

Outside of all the prep work teachers do, what else do you do outside of school?

Of course, I enjoy all the mountains have to offer – skiing, hiking and getting outside as much as possible. I recently bought a paddleboard, so spent many happy days on the lake this summer. A little while back I taught myself to crochet, so try to (slowly!) make things when I can. I also used to have a pet turtle in Australia so loved taking care of him!

Thanks, Rebecca and welcome to WWS!

Bulletin Board Listings:

Howe Sound Women’s Centre looking for donations: We are always in need of gently used women’s and children’s clothes, shoes and other items. All donations gratefully accepted. A donation box is located in the Field House. Feel free to contact France with any questions or check out the Women’s Centre for more info.

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WWS Family in Search of Housing: We are a Vancouver based family needing weekday housing (possibly excluding holidays) for one adult, one grade 8 student, in the short term.  A quiet one or two bedroom, reasonably-priced, non-smoking suite would be ideal.  Full time housing for three of us, plus our dog, would be the longer term goal.  If you have any leads for temporary housing for one to two months (excluding Christmas), or longer term beyond spring 2020, we would appreciate the community’s help! Thanks, Trista.

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THIS FRIDAY – Freestyle Ski Fundraiser with a Film Premiere and Silent Auction – Supporting Whistler’s Freestyle A-Team. For more information: https://artswhistler.com/event/faction-skis-the-collective-bonus-films

  • Date: Friday, November 8, 2019
  • Times: 7:00pm Doors/Opening Party | 7:45pm Show | 8:45pm Prizes/Giveaways
  • Tickets: $15 Advanced | $20 Day of show
  • Venue: Maury Young Arts Centre

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Youth Band looking for members – If you’ve ever wanted to play a trumpet, now is your chance! Or a flute, guitar, drums or any instrument you would like. The Whistler Youth Band is looking for musicians from Grade 5 and up – beginners are welcome!

Come out and try it on Mondays from 6:30-8:00pm at Blackcomb Base.

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Volunteering Opportunities at Whistler Olympic Park – If you like Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, or just enjoy being outdoors, consider volunteering at Whistler Olympic Park! Applications are being accepted now for this ski season.

 

Early Years Centre Community Info. Session #2 – Nov. 21

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Join us to learn more about our new Spring Creek Early Years Centre opening on December 2, 2019!

We had such great turnout at our first Community Information Session that we’ve decided to host a second – this time in our new location in the Sea to Sky Services Building in Spring Creek.

Date: Thursday November 21
Time: 6:30-7:30 pm
Location: Early Years Centre in Spring Creek at 1519 Spring Creek Drive.

Our Early Years Program is offered for children 30 month-school age, 2-5 days a week throughout the year. The info session will include:

  • tea and snacks with a short presentation on program details
  • projected opening dates, rates, the admissions process & wait pool policy details
  • opportunity to ask questions and mingle with staff.

Please note: This is an adult oriented event.

Whistler Waldorf features a caring, thoughtfully designed learning environment integrating arts, movement, music and storytelling into the curriculum daily. This allows children to learn the best way they know how – by doing!

For more information or to submit an application for enrollment for your child for in the Early Years Centre, please email Admissions or call 604.932.1885.

Early Years Centre Experience Day

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Curious about the new Spring Creek Early Years Centre?

Join us and experience it in person.

Enjoy bread baking alongside your child, explore our classroom beauty, and have the opportunity to meet our faculty.

Whistler Waldorf features a caring, thoughtfully designed learning environment integrating arts, movement, music and storytelling into the curriculum daily. This allows children to learn the best way they know how – by doing!

Date: Wednesday November 20th from 1-3pm

Venue: Early Years Centre in Spring Creek located at 1519 Spring Creek Drive

Details of Schedule:

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Arrive & Explore the Classroom
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Bread Baking
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Circle Time
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM
Free Play & Q&A

Please RSVP to attend this event as space is limited. For more information or to RSVP please email Admissions.

 

 

Community Corner – Oct. 31

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WWS Spotlight

Bronwyn Preece  – High School Drama Teacher

You are joining WWS as the High School Drama teacher.  Please share a bit about your background.

It’s been such a treat to join the WWS team of amazing students and staff this fall: what an inspiring community and extended network of people to be surrounded by. I come to Waldorf as a multi-disciplinary professional artist, with a PhD in Performance, a Masters and BFA in Applied Theatre.  In addition to my performance work, I have two children’s books published, am a poet, a mother, a hiker…and have been living here for almost two years now!

Your first WWS performance was with Grade 8 this week and it’s Shakespeare. How has it gone?

The Grade 8 class and I have undertaken the challenging task of trying to mount a Shakespearean production in less than a month…and we have jumped right in!  The past 3.5 weeks have seen us wrapping our tongues around The Bard’s language, trying to decipher the layered and complex twists and turns of the intersecting plots, deepening our understandings of the nuanced subtleties of character traits…and connecting/questioning the relevance of Much Ado About Nothing to today’s issues…and trying to memorize many lines! What we aimed to share with parents and fellow school mates was not a polished, final product — rather an exciting glimpse into our continued understanding and embodying of one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies…with the personalization of the WWS Grade 8 touch!

I understand that your own work often explores ecological/social/political themes. Is there an all time favourite piece that you’d recommend?

One of my favourite performance projects I was involved in was titled The Trans-Plantable Living Room. This was a trans-national project, created for World Stage Design 2013 in Wales.  The project worked with community gardeners in Cardiff, who grew a ‘living’ set within which we performed. Sprouting Sofas. Flourishing furnishings.  Tables with tendrils.  The performance project explored how something as local as gardening could serve as metre for global climate change.  The project was later featured in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.

Thank You…and I am looking very much forward to working with the 9/10 and 11/12s in the Spring for their Play Blocks!

Thank you, Bronwyn!

Bulletin Board Listings:

 

Youth Band looking for members – If you’ve ever wanted to play a trumpet, now is your chance! Or a flute, guitar, drums or any instrument you would like. The Whistler Youth Band is looking for musicians from Grade 5 and up – beginners are welcome!

Come out and try it on Mondays from 6:30-8:00pm at Blackcomb Base.
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Freestyle Ski, Film Premiere and Silent Auction Fundraiser!  – Supporting Whistler’s Freestyle A-Team. For more information: https://artswhistler.com/event/faction-skis-the-collective-bonus-films

  • Date: Friday, November 8, 2019
  • Times: 7:00pm Doors/Opening Party | 7:45pm Show | 8:45pm Prizes/Giveaways
  • Tickets: $15 Advanced | $20 Day of show
  • Venue: Maury Young Arts Centre

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Volunteering Opportunities at Whistler Olympic Park – If you like Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, or just enjoy being outdoors, consider volunteering at Whistler Olympic Park! Applications are being accepted now for this ski season.

Community Corner – Oct. 24

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WWS Spotlight

Zalan Gloch (Gr. 11) – WWS International Student from Veszprem in Hungary.

What is your most memorable experience so far:

I loved the fall trip and wish I could stay for the winter one as well. It was beautiful scenery and I felt it pushed me out of my comfort zone being out in the wilderness. It was a great experience.

What class (es) are you enjoying?

I really liked Mr. Power’s physics class as I learnt a lot and have been able to expand my English vocabulary. It was really challenging but fun.

You’re a professional videographer. Is this something you would like to do after you graduate? 

I’m not sure yet. It’s definitely an option. I don’t have concrete plans yet, but I’d like to go to an English speaking university in the future so I can work on my English more.

Is there anything that you really enjoy at our school?

I really love the teachers. They are great and very helpful. I also like that we spend more time outside to learn and do more in the outdoors.

Thanks  Zalan and welcome to WWS! 

(Above Photo credit> Zalan is shown with Ms. Orsa Horvath, Waldorf’s Little Cedars Teacher, who is also from Hungary.)

 

Bulletin Board Listings:

 

Oct. 24 @ 7pm – Sea to Sky Orchestra in Pemberton:

If you missed the Sea to Sky Orchestra’s last performance at the Whistler Public Library, you can catch it free on Thursday, October 24 in Pemberton. The Sea to Sky Orchestra will play a collection of classical music along with some new favorites including selections from Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean and more.

Oct. 26 from 10-5pm – Sea to Sky Trans, Two-Spirit, and Gender Diverse: Learn + Share Workshop for all ages, their families, and loved ones in Squamish.

LEARN  …about Trans Care BC and what we do & SHARE  …what is important for you to feel supported as a trans, Two-Spirit or gender diverse person, parent/caregiver or loved one. The Parent Caregiver and Child/Youth sessions are both from 10am – 1pm, and Adult and Care Provider sessions are from 2pm – 5pm. For more details, or to secure your spot, contact Catherine or phone/text 604-341-8316

Volunteering Opportunities at Whistler Olympic Park:

If you like Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, or just enjoy being outdoors, consider volunteering at Whistler Olympic Park! Applications are being accepted now for this ski season.

Drama – an example of integration in Waldorf education

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” Speech and drama achieve one of the essential goals of Waldorf Education; to integrate thinking, feeling and willing. With this in mind, it is not surprising that this art form is present in every stage of our curriculum.”

Rubeena, Head of School
In our Early Years programs, creative free play makes use of drama and children become kings, queens, animals and more to complete their imaginative play. In our grades and high school classes teachers deepen main lesson learning with thematically linked performances. Every child in the class participates, uniting the class artistically and socially. Students gain self-confidence, appreciation and acceptance among their peers and completion of performances leads to a shared experience of pride.

Many students will likely never occupy a stage space again after school, but they will undoubtedly have gained a deeper understanding of themselves and human development along with a healthy dose of self-confidence.

Grade 8’s upcoming performance of Much Ado About Nothing marks the first class play of the year and I hope that you join us in celebrating these students’ efforts.

Rubeena Sandhu –  Head of School

The Importance of Teacher Parent Conferences

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“Often parents find that their peers have the same questions, struggles and successes with their own children. It is so good to know your experiences are not yours alone!”

Rubeena Sandhu – Head of School
In the chilly nights of autumn, the thought of leaving a nice, warm, cozy home to attend a class meeting evening can be difficult.  So, thank you for leaving the comforts of home and utilizing one of the many gifts a Waldorf Education brings – regular parent evenings.

While teacher/parent conferences focus on an individual child and his/her social and academic progress, class meetings can deal with class learning goals, social-emotional dynamics, developmental milestones and academic aims. Often parents find that their peers have the same questions, struggles and successes with their own children. It is so good to know your experiences are not yours alone!

Throughout the school years, there will be many celebrations and some challenges; regular class meetings help parents keep in touch with it all – worth braving the cold dark nights, to meet the warmth and light of your children’s learning.

Rubeena Sandhu -  Head of School