Goings On and All School Meeting with Kim John Payne
On Monday, January 12, we will hold an All School Meeting that will include a simple meal and a zoom presentation with Kim John Payne. We request that every family is represented. Please RSVP so that we can plan accordingly.
Kim John Payne is an internationally respected Waldorf educator, counselor, and author known for his work in child development, behavior, and family well-being.
During this presentation, Kim will present themes from his book, The Soul of Discipline. Here is his overview:
A parent’s journey is filled with both precious moments and difficult situations. Our sense of how we are doing is often determined by the way in which we respond to the flashpoints of parenting. These moments will either refine or consume us. This presentation will set out three cumulative discipline phases. Firstly, training creative compliance for the young child, secondly, building emotional skills for the elementary age, and lastly, for the teenager, managing critical choices.
Because so many of our parenting and teaching challenges occur naturally as part of child development it is possible to anticipate these difficulties and to prepare for them in advance. For discipline to be effective it must always begin with preventive discipline. This presentation will provide a developmental roadmap to help parents and educators establish the kind of discipline that is both nurturing and effective.
Attached here is a podcast by Kim John Payne titled, Deep Connection Through The Simple Ordinary. Give it a listen!
Important Dates
Monday, December 15: Grade 7 & 8 Play - A Christmas Carol at 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 16: Grade 7 & 8 - A Christmas Carol at 8:45 a.m.
Wednesday, December 17: Winter Performance 6 to 7 p.m.
Friday, December 19: Strings Assembly 12 to 12:30 p.m.
Friday, December 19: Last Day of Term (12:45 p.m. dismissal and no after care)
Wednesday, January 7: First Day of Winter Term
Monday, January 12: All School Meeting at 5 p.m.
Monday, January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday - No School
This Week at WSSB
This week marked the second week of Advent. The Grades students celebrated the Light of the Plants during our Advent Assembly:
The Second Light of Advent is the light of the plants,
Plants that reach up to the sun and in the breezes dance.
Grades 4 and 5 camped on Monday night at the Santa Barbara Zoo. The students had the opportunity to tour behind the scenes of the zoo during the evening, including a visit to the rarely seen vet hospital and the animal kitchen. They spent Tuesday visiting the animal exhibits, especially enjoying the red pandas! They completed their day with an afternoon at the beach.
St. Nick also made an appearance on Tuesday, bringing golden messages, tangerines, and walnuts to all classes.
On Thursday, Grade 3 spent the day at El Chorro Ranch where they had the experience of a working ranch. They learnt how to lasso, branded their drop spindles, polished saddles, and learned about plumbing.
Friday brought the Grade 2 procession of Santa Lucia. The students, dressed in white and adorned with candles, sang the traditional song as they walked through each class, sharing traditional saffron buns.
Winter Faire Gratitude
Last Saturday our community gathered at the Winter Faire. Parents shopped, enjoyed delicious food and beverages, and connected with each other. Children danced, listened to stories, created holiday treasures, and visited the Angel Room and the Sleeping Giant. We send a heartfelt thank you to the many helpers that made this such a beautiful event!
Annual Giving Campaign
Thank you to the many families and teachers who have generously donated to our Annual Giving Campaign. Our campaign continues with a goal of 100% participation. We ask you to consider giving to WSSB, if you haven’t already. No gift is too small and none too large.