Weekender
A Newsletter from the Youth Initiative High School Waldorf Initiative
Viroqua, Wisconsin, USA Friday January 05, 2007 Editor: Conrad Rehbach
Calendar
Every Wednesday
3:15 PM Administration Group Meeting
Monday Jan 08
3:15 PM Faculty Meeting
Tuesday Jan 09
3:15 PM Personnel Committee Meeting
Monday Jan 15
3:15 PM Long Range Planning Meeting
Monday Jan 22
3:15 PM Faculty Meeting
Sunday Jan 28—Friday Feb 02
Junior Class College Trip
Monday Jan 29
3:15 PM Long Range Planning Meeting
Feb 19—23
NO SCHOOL — Parent Teacher Conferences and Faculty In-service
Needs List
1. Volunteer(s) to clean out and sort through items in our storage room and costume room. Come in any time for any amount of time to help with this. See Conrad for list of tasks and instructions
2. Seats for 15 passenger shuttle bus
3. Flat panel LCD computer monitors
4. Curtains or shades for all rooms
5. Beautification of an area of your choice at school
6. Cleaning services
7. YIHS sign for Landmark Center building (12’ x 8’)
8. Someone to make and install a door with a lock for the costume room
9. Someone to fix/caulk leaking sky lights
10. Couches and Easy Chairs in good and sturdy condition
Comings and Goings. Welcome Katherine Fisher who is joining the YIHS 10th grade. Katherine and her mom Deborah moved here from Pennsylvania. They will be living temporarily at 416 E South St, Viroqua. 608-637-8304. Vaughan Aue will be attending grade 11 part time during the spring semester. Teaching at YIHS can make you want to come back to Viroqua: Shawn Lavoie has returned and will be co-teaching (with AnnaJo Doerr) a Dance course for the 3rd quarter 2006/2007 (that is now!) Shawn’s address: Shawn Michael Lavoie, Mobile: 774.254.4925, S 2982 Nustad Road, Westby, WI 54667. And Andrea Brennen is back to teach an Architecture course for grade 12 (January 08—26, 2007).
New
Courses
Announcements.
Spring Play Announcement. After careful consideration of many plays I have chosen the French classic comedy TARTUFFE by Moliere to be presented as the spring play at the Temple Theatre. This play has a cast of 8 men and 5 women and will be offered to the senior and junior class through an audition process of 2 minute monologues to be presented at a date to be determined before Feb. 9. Many students in the play will be required to enroll in the drama class of Feb. 27-May 11 plus the final two week class. The object of choosing this play is not only to provide top quality acting, but also to introduce all the backstage elements of a production. We will need a costume, wig and make-up crew to design and construct outrageous and wacky outfits. We will need a construction crew to design, build, paint and prop the set. A sound designer and lighting assistant is needed. These jobs can be done during the drama class, after school and during service week. For those who are unable to be part of the cast of Tartuffe, John Madden will be directing another play, possibly scripted by him and interested students. This play will be contemporary, done on the Tartuffe set, with little costume and props. Our plan is to offer five shows—a Thursday Tartuffe, Friday 'other play', (possibly a Friday matinee of Tartuffe for local schools) Saturday matinee of 'other play' and a Saturday evening Tartuffe. Many details are needed to be worked out, this is all in the preliminary stage. Please give feedback and interest to John Madden or K O'Brien so we can start shaping our plans.
Forensics Program. Forensics will meet after school on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:15-5:00. Schedules will be made - not everyone will be needed at all times. There are several catagories to choose from - SOLO ACTING, PLAY ACTING, INTERPRETATION OF POETRY or PROSE, RADIO ANNOUNCING, plus various others. Many monologues and skits from the dinner theatre and drama class can be considered for use.
Important dates - Monday Feb. 19 @ Westby
Saturday March 17 @ UWL
Fri & Sat April 13-14 @ State (tba)
This will be a great opportunity to test and improve your acting and public speaking skills, also a good warm up for the spring play. Bring your questions and interest to the auditorium on Wed. Jan. 10 or Mon. Jan 15 and we will start forming a plan. —K O'Brien
Junior Class College Trip Rescheduled: January 28-February 2, 2007. The Junior Class College Tour has been officially rescheduled for the week of January 28-February 2. This will allow us to visit colleges at a time when they will be in session and able to host us, as well as allowing the 11th grade class to participate in Theme Week in April. For this trip we will need at least one adult driver/chaperone and two vehicles suitable for 5 or 6 passengers. This is an excellent opportunity for a parent to get a close look at colleges and to have a great time traveling with the students. Chaperones should be willing and prepared to camp out on floors throughout the week. Depending on the willingness of colleges to host us, I plan to arrange visits to the following schools:
--Knox College, Galesburg, IL
--Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, IA
--Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA
--Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA
--Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA
--Luther College, Decorah, IA
--St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Driver and Vehicles needed for 11th Grade College Tour: Jan. 28-Feb. 2. An adult driver/chaperone and two mini-van sized vehicles are needed for the Junior class college trip to Iowa and Illinois on the week of January 28- February 2. Driver should come prepared to camp on living room floors, eat cafeteria food, listen to newfangled and challenging music, and have a blast hanging out with the students for the week and exploring colleges. Sound like fun? Contact Jacob at 637-6445 or jacob@yihs.net. For testimonials about past trips, contact Marjorie Rehbach, Philothea Bezin, Kim Chotzen, or George Franklin.
Driftless Folk School seeks instructors for Spring/Summer 2007. The Driftless Folk School is in the process of planning its catalog of classes for the Spring and Summer of 2007, covering the period from April to September, and we are seeking instructors for new classes. If you have a skill or knowledge that you would like to share, we invite you to write a brief statement answering the following questions:
1. What course are you interested in teaching at Driftless Folk School?
2. Fully describe the course that you envision teaching. What skills will students gain in this course? What activities will be included during the class?
3. What background do you bring to the teaching of this class? What qualifies you?
4. Please provide some brief biographical information that tells a little more about who you are. This may be used in the teacher description section in the catalog.
5. For the catalog we would also need the following information: For what ages is this class appropriate? Can families be involved?
Is this a half, full, or multiple session class?
What space/facility needs do you have for the class?
Would there be a material fee? If so, how much?
Do you have any photos of your work or of you working with students that could be used for the catalog?
Please send your application to the Driftless Folk School, S6904 Gardner Rd., Viroqua, WI 54665 or to Jacob Hundt at jacob@yihs.net. Submission deadline: January 15. For more information about Driftless Folk School, visit www.driftlessfolkschool,org, or call (608) 675-3115.
Introduction to World Religions Class: There is still time to sign up for the Driftless Folk School’s course on World Religions! But the End is Near: Sign up today! On Saturday, January 13th, YIHS faculty member Lars Bergan will offer the first session in a course for adults entitled “An Introduction to World Religions,” modeled on the World Religions courses that he has taught at YIHS over the past five years. This course, which is being offered through the Driftless Folk School, will consist of six Saturday evening sessions beginning on January 13th and ending on February 17th. Classes will be held in the Landmark Center. For more information about registration, please contact Driftless Folk School Registrar Ruth Kittleson at (608) 675-3115 or registrar@driftlessfolkschool.org or download the DFS Fall/Winter Catalogue at www. driftlessfolkschool.org.
Sophia Institute.
Adult Education/Teacher
Training in Viroqua, Wisconsin, USA. Foundation Studies Courses in
Anthroposophy and the Arts. New Course Starting January 27, 2007. Part I:
Introduction to Waldorf Education/Introduction to the Path of Self
Development as given in Anthroposophy/Artistic Courses.
Detailed
Course Description at
www.sophiainstitute.us or contact
Conrad Rehbach at
sauerkraut@mwt.net or 608-637-7091. Registration
deadline: January 15, 2007.
Sessions:
Saturday January 27, 2007 (10:00 AM—3:00 PM)
Saturday February 10, 2007 (10:00 AM—3:00 PM)
Saturday February 17, 2007 (10:00 AM—3:00 PM)
Saturday March 03, 2007 (10:00 AM—3:00 PM)
Friday/Saturday/Sunday March 16-18 (Weekend Workshop)
Saturday March 31, 2007 (10:00 AM—3:00 PM)
Saturday April 21, 2007, 2006 (10:00 AM—3:00 PM)
Saturday May 05, 2007 (10:00 AM—3:00 PM)
Midwest Anthroposophy Conference - March 16-18, Viroqua, WI with James Ulness, Ph.D., keynote speaker. "Facing Karma: How Our Lives are Affected from Out of the Blue" is the 2007 theme. Workshops include: Facing Life with Meditation: How to Begin Your Daily Practice (for all levels); Creative Writing as a Preparation for Meditation; Centering and Posture to Prepare for Meditation through Spatial Dynamics Movement; Watercolor Painting; Drawing with Light and Darkness, and discussion group on the theme. Community meals and Saturday night dance. Cost is $90 for the full conference; or $15 per talk/workshop. $80 if pre-registered by March 2. Contact Sheila Andersen, (608) 637-7206; sheila@leadingedgereview.com. Brochures may be downloaded next month at www.facingkarma.com/metadot/index.pl
5th Annual North Central Region Biodynamic Group Gathering is January 19-20-21, 2007 at Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School in Viroqua, WI . The gathering is open to anyone interested in Biodynamics. Cost of the weekend is $30.00. Contact Brian Wickert for more details and brochure. 637-8890 or bwickert@frontiernet.net. Friday night potluck hosted by the Viroqua BD Group. Saturday we will have the farmer stories, Bob Bowers & Parker Forsell presenting the E-Myth and its application at Angelic Organics,the largest CSA in the midwest. Mac Mead will be speaking on Saturday night. Title of his talk: The Connection Between the Plants, the Planets, and the Metals in the Workings of Nature. This talk will be open to the publilc for $5.00 admission at the Old Main Building (321 E. Decker Street) at 7:00pm.
Teachers
Speak Out. Care Groups.
One of the most important characteristics of the YIHS in my estimation is
its lack of bureaucracy and its real appreciation for human interaction
and the fluidity and patience that this usually requires. Although there
is always the danger that chaos can ensue when forms are vague and not
spelled out, the other danger, which I think can be far worse, is of a
hardening of forms and a loss of face to face conversation between people
when a problem arises. This can then lead to a tendency to hide behind
rules and traditions, to refer to print instead of facing the real
situations - the human situations - that challenge us. To deal with
conflicts in a school we need to be creative, bold and willing to think
flexibly. Having a bare minimum of rules and
regulations enhances such abilities. I am fairly new to this school but
have been involved in quite a number of Care Groups. One of the things I
value most about them is the possibility for different kinds of Care
Groups to arise to meet the needs of different circumstances. This has
included Care Groups where only one other adult and I sat with the student
in question and two other students supporting her. Had she been required
to have a whole slew of other adults present, she would not have managed.
At other Care Groups only the student was present, perhaps with a peer and
many teachers and other adults. Circumstances vary and the key point here
is that in order to be effective, the principles and essence of the Care
Group must come to the fore, not legalistic rules and regulations which
attempt to fit all Care Groups into one mold. One of the reasons that I
worked hard to get the Houses going was so that there is a place for an
on-going friendly and informal relationship to develop between students
and a particular faculty member outside of the usual classroom situation.
The Houses are new and experimental at the moment - but as we feel our way
into it, I am sure that the students and Houseparents can come up with
various innovative and interesting ways to support students. One of the
key functions of the Houses is preventative - any student having
difficulties has a faculty member to go to; and, perhaps, more
importantly, each Houseparent has a number of students to cast a benign
eye over, to keep tabs on if one or more is, for instance, falling behind.
In my House, for instance, I have several students whose weekly reports
(with their permission) are sent to me. I can then have a friendly (or not
so friendly!!) word with that student if needs be. Potential problems can
then be nipped in the bud and a Care Group does not have to be called. I
think we also need to remember how Care Groups arose. A founding parent
shared with me that Care Groups arose in the days when the faculty was
very unformed, as a way of helping very part-time teachers cope with, for
instance, phoning up the parents of several students with late homework.
It was meant to assist and help the relationship between the students and
the teachers, which is, of course, the primary relationship in a school.
And so what we are calling for is a reaffirming the need for
Communication, Trust and Love to grow in our school. And that takes human
relationships. It takes time. It takes tact, warmth and a raised eye-brow
or a pat on the back there or a "let's go for a cup of tea" here. It has
nothing to do with rules. I (or we if others agree with this) feel we
should therefore simply clarify the following with regard to the Care
Groups:
(1)That the rules
concerning the Care Groups already in place in our Rule Book remain as is
with one addition— (2) That addition being that the ultimate
responsibility for Care Groups as a whole and any Care Group in particular
rests with the Faculty. Therefore if a Care Group is not functioning
properly, the Faculty, in consultation with the student whose Care Group
it is, will re-form Care Groups as necessary. (Could I have some feedback
on this please? Please send me feedback and any ideas on how/where to
proceed with this.) —Best wishes, Donna
(morningglory@frontiernet.net)
About Waldorf Education. Waldorf Education has its roots in the spiritual-scientific research of the Austrian scientist and thinker Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). According to Steiner's philosophy, man is a threefold being of spirit, soul, and body whose capacities unfold in three developmental stages on the path to adulthood: early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. Today there are more than 800 Waldorf schools in over 40 countries. In North America there are over 150 schools affiliated with the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America, and several public schools using Waldorf methods to enrich their teaching. There are also over 50 full-time Waldorf teacher-training institutes around the world; of these eight are in the United States and one in Canada. No two schools are identical; each is administratively independent. Nevertheless, a visitor would recognize many characteristics common to them all.