News
One School, One Book
- Summer Reading Selection -
by Daniel H. Pink
This book will be the focus of the "Learning in the 21st Century" study group led by Joan Caldarera in the Fall of 2009.
Click here to read Joan's commentaries to date on this subject.
Book Inc. (Laurel Village) is offering SFWS parents a 20% discount on the book.
Click here for a printable flyer
Grade School Summer Reading Lists
These lists are created by GS Librarian, Ann Grandin, in conjunction with class teachers as a resource for parents and students. Many selections are also reflective of the Waldorf curriculum’s focus in each grade. Please remember that these lists are intended for a range of abilities and interests in each class. Parents know their children best and we encourage you to be involved in book choices. We hope that you find these lists to be helpful in guiding your children.
Lists are by grade level inb the 2009-2010 school year. Lists will be posted as they are finished.
8th Grade Summer Reading List (Barhydt)
7th Grade Summer Reading List (Van der Wyk)
6th Grade Summer Reading List (Jaquet)
5th Grade Summer Reading List (Wilson)
4th Grade Summer Reading List (Bolich)
3rd Grade Summer Reading List (Resnick)
2nd Grade Summer Reading List (Christofferson)
Kindergarten Summer Reading List
High School Summer required reading
The “all-school” book for the high school this summer will be Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. Gladwell is an exceptional essayist and social critic whose work often delves into the intersection between science and culture. Gladwell’s previous book, The Tipping Point, was an international bestseller, and his current work Outliers is already inspiring new approaches in fields as various as sports, teaching, music and business. All students and teachers at SFWHS should have read Blink by the time we return to school in August and should be prepared for evaluation of the reading in classes and discussion groups.
Additional required reading for each grade level will be forthcoming from the HS office via email and posted on the high school website. Please visit our high school site for individual grade level summer reading requirements.
Spring Night BENEFIT AUCTION 2009
Visit our Community pages for a wrap-up including Thank You's and Photos
Visit OUR High school site for the latest news from our high school program
Accreditation
We are very pleased and excited to have the bulk of the accreditation review process behind us! Both WASC and AWSNA will now review the report written by the visiting team, and they will communicate with us their decision about the term of our accreditation sometime in early February.
We are happy to announce that one of the core accreditation documents that we prepared for the visit is now available on our website: The Educational Program. In addition, copies of the complete provisional Self Study are available on loan from the school office. The Self Study is an in-depth report of every aspect of the school including philosophy, educational program, student services, governance, and resources.
Before Christmas, we will submit our Action Plan for the next six years to both WASC and AWSNA. This Action Plan will address the recommendations made by the visiting team in their final report. We will make that report available to members of our community once the accrediting commissions have completed their work.
With the preparation for the site visit and the visit itself now complete, we look forward to implementing our Action Plan and continuing our work to improve and strengthen our school. Thank you to everyone who participated in the process!
 Eager and enthusiastic families are sought to provide home stays for these international students. The cultural rewards are wonderful and lifelong friendships are formed.
ISP Coordinators provide a detailed in-home orientation for all host families and are available at all times throughout the year to answer questions and solve any issues that may arise.
ISP also provides guardianship service for minor children studying in the U.S.
If this opportunity has peaked your interest please review the ISP website at www.isphomestays.com. Most of your questions will be answered by reading the Host application and agreement as well as reading the Student agreement.
Once you’ve reviewed the ISP site, if you have further questions please contact the ISP San Francisco Housing Coordinator, Harriet Leff, at 415-771-5158 or by email: harriet@isphomestays.com.
Host families for international high school students are paid a monthly stipend of $900. ISP also places college students with host families.
(click here for pdf flyer)
conversations with a
Kenyan Waldorf Teacher
Philisia Shake, the current fifth grade teacher at the Rudolf Steiner School Mbagathi, visited our school for several days during April. She was hosted by Meg Gorman who met Philisia a year ago in Kenya during a around-the-world trip to Waldorf schools. Philisia is a lively, engaging woman who brought East African stories and experiences to our students and also to parents during an evening presentation. She told the children a true story about the time last summer when a lion entered the school compound and fatally attacked one of the school’s cows. She also shared insights into the current Kenyan political situation with high school students, and in one class she found herself explaining circumcision rites in her Taita tribe.
Philisia embodies a unique combination of traditional African ways, the modern African spirit, and Waldorf education. Her visit was a delightful inspiration for everyone.
Philisia ready take donated school supplies
back to Kenya.
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