"Establishing lasting peace is the work of education.""Establishing lasting peace is the work of education.""Establishing lasting peace is the work of education.""Establishing lasting peace is the work of education." Maria Montessori

October October October October 2015201520152015

Dear Walden Families,

As the new guy on campus, I am honored to be part of this awesome community. In addition to teaching math and science, I have the good fortune of introducing Middle School students to the mini-course of Robotics. Lego Mindstorm Robotics will broaden the students horizons in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). With more STEM-related careers becoming available each year, exposure to and experience with these concepts will benefit our students.

Fifth through eighth graders will be following a program from the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) organization called the FIRST Lego League (FLL). Using Legos, FLL teams compete on a field in which their robot has to perform a series of tasks for scoring. Each team designs their robot to perform whatever tasks they choose on the playing field to score maximum points. Walden’s program will have its participants learn how to de-sign, build, program, and run robots in a similar fashion. This will prepare middle schoolers for starting a Walden FLL team(s) for competing next season.

While our Robotics mini-courses will feature the Lego-building aspect, we will also be learning two main concepts of FIRST, “Coopertition” and “Gracious Professionalism”. These concepts are taught so that students not only learn how to build a competitive robot, but to also help them understand about winning and losing graciously and understanding that, while winning is im-portant, what’s more important is the path taken getting there.

It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to teach … and I am happy to have landed at Walden!

~ “Dr. Doug” Williamson

Mark Your Calendars

October 9October 9October 9October 9 Professional Development/Early Dismissal Professional Development/Early Dismissal Professional Development/Early Dismissal Professional Development/Early Dismissal Preschool/Kindergarten students will be dismissed at 11:30 and Elementary/Middle School students will be dismissed at 12:00 to allow fac-ulty to meet for the purpose of professional development. There will be no afternoon Extended Day hours.

October 12October 12October 12October 12 School Holiday School Holiday School Holiday School Holiday in observation of Columbus Day.

October 23October 23October 23October 23 The Walden School Bingo The Walden School Bingo The Walden School Bingo The Walden School Bingo Wear your cutest costume and come to the Media Community Center, 301 N. Jackson Street in Media from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. for Halloween Bingo. Pizza, pret-zels, popsicles, and prizes … don’t miss this “frightfully” great time!

October 24 October 24 October 24 October 24 Delaware County Halloween Parade Delaware County Halloween Parade Delaware County Halloween Parade Delaware County Halloween Parade Show a little school and Halloween spirit by dressing up and parading with the Walden community at 2:00 p.m. More details will follow.

October 30October 30October 30October 30 Elementary/Middle School Conferences Elementary/Middle School Conferences Elementary/Middle School Conferences Elementary/Middle School Conferences There will be no school for students in grades 1 through 8 to allow parents and teachers to conference. Evening conferences are also held on the evening of October 29.

November 2November 2November 2November 2————6 6 6 6 Walden Book Fair WeekWalden Book Fair WeekWalden Book Fair WeekWalden Book Fair Week The theme this year is Monster Book Fair; Read-Monster Book Fair; Read-Monster Book Fair; Read-Monster Book Fair; Read-ing is so much fun, You’ll get Goosebumps!ing is so much fun, You’ll get Goosebumps!ing is so much fun, You’ll get Goosebumps!ing is so much fun, You’ll get Goosebumps! Great selections will be on hand in Room 110 dur-ing the following times: Monday through Wednesday from 8:30—3:15 and Thursday from 8:30—5:30. All profits will go toward new library materials.

November 12November 12November 12November 12 “Partnering with School to Support Young Readers” “Partnering with School to Support Young Readers” “Partnering with School to Support Young Readers” “Partnering with School to Support Young Readers” This impressive pres-entation is back by popular demand! Parent Education Evening continues to be a valued component of a Walden education and we are pleased to share that our first opportunity of the 2015-2016 school year will be offered on Thursday, November 12 at 7:00. All parents will enjoy and benefit from hearing the presentation by Literacy expert, Tracey Fritch. This is a “must see” for families new to Walden!

Tracey is a reading specialist and literacy guru who is always engaging and informative. She will be sharing strategies for supporting young readers by partnering with school and reading strategically to-gether at home. Mark your calendar for Thursday evening, November 12 at 7:00.

Krissie Essilfie, grade 7Krissie Essilfie, grade 7Krissie Essilfie, grade 7Krissie Essilfie, grade 7

(Photo by Shannon McAndrews)

Students are excited to ride the new Walden school bus! First

stop … Media Boys and Girls Club perhaps?

After school program participants are having a blast! Student/explorers experienced early ceramics by using clay rich soil to create containers that were then fired on a barbeque grill. Next, the children be-gan their individual projects that ranged from a marble-run to a flower vase. These creations will soon be fired in Walden’s brand new kiln!

Happy Birthday Fritz Navickas 10/12 Julia Borriello 10/15 Mickey Rymal 10/16 Liam McAnany 10/17 Halen O’Neill 10/23 Nina Lohin 10/25 Elsa Cybulski 10/31

CLASSROOM HIGHLIGHTS

Elise Justman 10/03 Benjamin White 10/03 Cameron Bachmeier 10/04 Maggie Searight 10/04 Emmet Meno 10/05 Olivia Friedberg 10/07 Jake Immordino 10/07 Kade Anderson 10/12

To stay more connected to your child’s school experience and to enjoy more candid To stay more connected to your child’s school experience and to enjoy more candid To stay more connected to your child’s school experience and to enjoy more candid To stay more connected to your child’s school experience and to enjoy more candid photos of your child’s day, please like The Walden School on facebook. Be sure to photos of your child’s day, please like The Walden School on facebook. Be sure to photos of your child’s day, please like The Walden School on facebook. Be sure to photos of your child’s day, please like The Walden School on facebook. Be sure to intereact with Walden posts by liking and commenting to continue to see The Wal-intereact with Walden posts by liking and commenting to continue to see The Wal-intereact with Walden posts by liking and commenting to continue to see The Wal-intereact with Walden posts by liking and commenting to continue to see The Wal-den School in your newsfeed.den School in your newsfeed.den School in your newsfeed.den School in your newsfeed.

Middle School students will be taking part in 4 different miniMiddle School students will be taking part in 4 different miniMiddle School students will be taking part in 4 different miniMiddle School students will be taking part in 4 different mini----courses this year.courses this year.courses this year.courses this year. Doug Wil-liamson shared in the newsletter introduction what is in store for the robotics mini-course. In addition to robotics, students will be taking part in 3-D Technology, Photography, and Communications mini-courses.

Mary Ward is leading the students in a photography course. Each week, a new photography concept will be presented along with examples. Students will learn to discuss the works and then create their own photographs. The following week students will then have the opportunity to present their work, dis-playing the previous week’s learned concept. Respectful peer critique will be encouraged amongst the group.

Jen Barkofski and Elyse Kirkpatrick will be leading the Communication mini-course. Each week students will practice part of a literary piece such as a poem, play, or famous speech. They will then gain oral speaking experience by reciting the part they learned. Students will then get to use their creative writ-ing skills when they write their own piece which models the literary piece. For their first week, stu-dents read and recited a verse of Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky, came up with the name of their own crea-tion, and wrote a verse or two that incorporated their creation and nonsense words they devised.

In the technology mini-course with Renee Baker, students will have the opportunity to explore the world of coding and 3D design/printing. They will begin with coding using studio.code.org, creating their own games to share within their mini-course group. Then, middle schoolers will use 3Dtin.com as well as tinkercad.com to create 3D projects that can be printed on Walden’s Makerbot 3D printer.

Maria Montessori believed that moving and learning Maria Montessori believed that moving and learning Maria Montessori believed that moving and learning Maria Montessori believed that moving and learning were inseparable. were inseparable. were inseparable. were inseparable. The child must involve her entire body and use all her senses in the process of learning. The pink tower is the most recognized Montessori material and it is also one of the first materials a new student is introduced to in the classroom. The pink tower has ten pink wooden cubes of different sizes, from 1 centimeter up to 10 cm in increments of 1 cm. The work is designed to provide the child with a con-cept of "big" and "small." The child starts with the largest cube and puts the second-largest cube on top of it. This continues until all ten cubes are stacked on top of each other. The con-trol of error is visual. The child sees the cubes are in the wrong order and knows that they should fix them. The succes-sive dimensions of each cube are such that if the cubes are stacked flush with a corner, the smallest cube may be fit squarely on the ledge of each level. The pink tower is a prepa-ration for mathematics.

October is Fair Trade MonthOctober is Fair Trade MonthOctober is Fair Trade MonthOctober is Fair Trade Month Walden continues its commitment to Walden continues its commitment to Walden continues its commitment to Walden continues its commitment to Fair Trade. Fair Trade is a tool for reducing poverty in developing nations. It’s a form of trade Fair Trade. Fair Trade is a tool for reducing poverty in developing nations. It’s a form of trade Fair Trade. Fair Trade is a tool for reducing poverty in developing nations. It’s a form of trade Fair Trade. Fair Trade is a tool for reducing poverty in developing nations. It’s a form of trade that builds equitable and longthat builds equitable and longthat builds equitable and longthat builds equitable and long----term partnerships between producers in developing regions of term partnerships between producers in developing regions of term partnerships between producers in developing regions of term partnerships between producers in developing regions of the world. Fair Trade includes: producers receive a minimum set price for their goods, financial the world. Fair Trade includes: producers receive a minimum set price for their goods, financial the world. Fair Trade includes: producers receive a minimum set price for their goods, financial the world. Fair Trade includes: producers receive a minimum set price for their goods, financial and technical support, healthy and safe working conditions, economic development for their and technical support, healthy and safe working conditions, economic development for their and technical support, healthy and safe working conditions, economic development for their and technical support, healthy and safe working conditions, economic development for their communities, and educational opportunities for their children. Consumers receive excellent communities, and educational opportunities for their children. Consumers receive excellent communities, and educational opportunities for their children. Consumers receive excellent communities, and educational opportunities for their children. Consumers receive excellent products plus the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are actively addressing poverty, products plus the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are actively addressing poverty, products plus the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are actively addressing poverty, products plus the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are actively addressing poverty, preserving the environment and promoting an end to child labor. preserving the environment and promoting an end to child labor. preserving the environment and promoting an end to child labor. preserving the environment and promoting an end to child labor.

The Walden School is America’s First Preschool—8th grade Fair Trade School

New Baby Congratulations are send out to preschool student, Max LuMax LuMax LuMax Lu, and his parents, on the birth of new baby brother, Miles JohnMiles JohnMiles JohnMiles John. Miles was born on June 16 and weighed 7 lbs., 2 oz. at birth!

Deepest sympathy is extended to Alyssa, JonAlyssa, JonAlyssa, JonAlyssa, Jon and Laura Wert Laura Wert Laura Wert Laura Wert on the recent passing of their grandfather/Sherryann’s father, Kenrick CarterKenrick CarterKenrick CarterKenrick Carter.